It was my lunch hour. I went to eat in a local family owned Asian restaurant. I don't go there often, but I always enjoy it when I do.
As I ate my lunch, I could hear a young boy on the other side of the restaurant. "A is for apple, B is ball, C is for Cat.." and he continued all the way through the alphabet. I thought perhaps he was looking at a picture book. Almost as soon as he finished, he would start over again.
This continued for quite some time. Every once in a while, an even younger voice joined in for a few of the letters. Occasionally, I heard an adult encouraging and cheering him on.
I could not help but smile as I listened to the young voice. He sounded so earnest. He wanted to get it just right. We don't often hear someone so young one with so much determination.
Almost immediately I began to think how wonderful it would be if parents were as concerned with their children learning about God as they were about them learning their ABCs and 1,2,3s! That scripture from Deuteronomy came to mind. Know the one I'm talking about? ....It is where God tells the Israelites:
"And these words that I command you shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise."
You can read these beautiful words in Deuteronomy 6:6-7. They are repeated almost word for word in chapter 11:8-19.
God loves us so much!! He wants us to be in heaven with Him. The question is do we love our children enough to tell them this? Do our children know first and foremost that God loves them?
His love is more important than our own love because God is the one who sent us a Savior. We cannot save our children's souls. We can only teach them about the One who can -- if they choose to follow Him.
I remember when we were growing up we brought our Bible class books home with us. Every Sunday morning on the way to worship, Dad would ask if we had our lessons up. Keeping up with our school work was important to our parents; but our Sunday school lesson was even more important! We better make sure those lessons were done! Mom and Dad wanted us to understand God comes first.
Christianity is maligned in the media these days. Christians are portrayed as hateful and intolerant. This is totally false. Please teach your children how good God is. Let them know Christ came to earth for all of us ... loves all of us ... died and rose again for all of us!
The gospel is a gospel of peace and joy. We need not only tell our children this -- we need to show them. We need to teach them good manners. They need to see us being courteous and respectful.
If we don't want our children to be bullies, maybe we shouldn't yell at umpires and referees at ballgames. If we want our children to learn about compassion, they should be able to see us being compassionate. If we want them to believe God answers prayer, we should pray with them. And when a prayer is answered give God the glory.
When we help them learn the alphabet, teach them about a book called the Bible that talks about the God who loves them. When they learn about our vast universe, tell them about the God who created it. When they study how the planets revolve around the sun, tell them a Christian's life should revolve around Christ, the Son of God.
When our children learn about caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies let's teach them Jesus rose from the grave and reigns in Heaven at the right hand of God. And when they learn about 'how babies are made' -- please tell them God is the giver of life! Teach them how precious every life is!
I finished my lunch that day and went to pay for my food. I saw the young man whose voice I heard during my meal. He was probably five or six. The other little boy appeared to be about four. They were both adorable!
All children should be cherished. They are priceless gifts from God! We should take great care in teaching them about the God who loves them.
"One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts" (Psalm 145:4)
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
A Conversation for a Never Time
Recently one of my sons and I were having a conversation via text. We were primarily just touching base with each other. Then a particular subject and he said, "That's another conversation for a never time." I thought that was not right, so I asked "You mean another time?"
Even though we were only texting, I could almost hear him chuckle when I read "No, I meant what I said." Then I got it. He didn't want to get into it because he thought we would disagree and then argue. So we changed the subject.
Now please don't get me wrong. I'm close to all three of my sons. I love being around them. I enjoy their very different styles of humor. I cherish my time with them (which isn't often anymore). And I love sinking into their big bear hugs. But we are all different people and we don't always agree on everything.
Still that phrase, "a conversation for a never time" stuck with me. I've been thinking about it for several days now. Adam was right. There are some conversations which should never take place. Sometimes we should simply choose not to talk about things we know would either cause strife or sadness.
There are some things we should simply never say. Ever. Think about it. The world would be a better if we realized some conversations were left unspoken. As Christians we are supposed to build people up - not put them down. We should encourage each other along the way -- not trip each other up.
Oh sure there are times when we must stand up for what's right. We have to correct one another sometimes. I have friends and sisters who love me enough to hold me accountable. Galatians 6:1 tells us to restore those who are caught up in sin; but in a spirit of gentleness.
The Bible also says there are times we need to keep our peace. Insisting on have a conversation we should never have could cause irrevocable damage. Why on earth would we want to do something like that?
We should never want to cause an argument. For instance (and this is a little thing compared to others), right now my husband is in the living room watching sports. I am in the kitchen typing this blog.
What good it would do either of us, if I told him we needed to talk about his watching sports too much or tried to insist on watching another channel? None. Nor would it be beneficial if he told me to stop with this blog. A statement becomes an argument - over something unimportant.
Let's give another example. Say for instance, someone in our family loves to tell the same stories or jokes over and over again. Most of us know someone like that. Should we tell Uncle So and So we really wished he would just be quiet? Maybe - if his jokes are vulgar or derogatory in some way. But if they cause no harm other than hearing them for the thousandth time, is it really worth hurting his feelings?
Maybe your son or daughter likes wearing the same shirt every day. If they are washing it every night - what's the big deal? Believe me, where our children are concerned, there are much more serious matters to consider.
Jesus didn't want his apostles to argue and He doesn't want us to either. The Savior said we should love one another as He has loved us. This means keeping the peace, not stirring the pot.
If your sister in Christ loves to sing and praise God loudly but she is really tone deaf, don't tell her. Don't steal her joy. Besides, she probably knows it already. Let her sing - let her rejoice in the Lord. Isn't that one of the reasons we all sing anyway?
All of this is Biblical folks. There really are "conversations for a never time." Some things are much better left unsaid. Several scriptures make this point. I was actually surprised at how many verses I did find.
Proverbs 15:28 says "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer; but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." (ESV) When we ponder how to answer (think about our responses) we can avoid saying something we might regret later. We certainly don't want to be known as someone who is hurtful or spiteful with our words.
Here is another good one. Proverbs 30:33 says, "For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife." God just doesn't want His people to cause strife.
We find similar scriptures in Paul's writings. When he mentions the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19 -21 along with sexual immorality and drunkenness, he also lists enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions and divisions. Ephesians 4:29-31 and Colossians 3:8 are very similar readings.
I encourage to read all three passages and the verses surrounding them. They are all slightly different and carry their own significance. I think these scriptures make it pretty clear. Some conversations really are for a "never time." Sometimes we need to leave things alone.
What we say carries so much power. Our words can cut to the heart, or comfort the heart. They can tear someone down or build someone up. We are the ones who make that choice. No one else controls our tongue.
Our words might stick with someone forever. They may never be forgotten. Wouldn't we rather these words be kind, gentle, positive and loving?
"Gracious words are like a honeycomb;
sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Proverbs 16:24
Christ above all things,
Robin
Even though we were only texting, I could almost hear him chuckle when I read "No, I meant what I said." Then I got it. He didn't want to get into it because he thought we would disagree and then argue. So we changed the subject.
Now please don't get me wrong. I'm close to all three of my sons. I love being around them. I enjoy their very different styles of humor. I cherish my time with them (which isn't often anymore). And I love sinking into their big bear hugs. But we are all different people and we don't always agree on everything.
Still that phrase, "a conversation for a never time" stuck with me. I've been thinking about it for several days now. Adam was right. There are some conversations which should never take place. Sometimes we should simply choose not to talk about things we know would either cause strife or sadness.
There are some things we should simply never say. Ever. Think about it. The world would be a better if we realized some conversations were left unspoken. As Christians we are supposed to build people up - not put them down. We should encourage each other along the way -- not trip each other up.
Oh sure there are times when we must stand up for what's right. We have to correct one another sometimes. I have friends and sisters who love me enough to hold me accountable. Galatians 6:1 tells us to restore those who are caught up in sin; but in a spirit of gentleness.
The Bible also says there are times we need to keep our peace. Insisting on have a conversation we should never have could cause irrevocable damage. Why on earth would we want to do something like that?
We should never want to cause an argument. For instance (and this is a little thing compared to others), right now my husband is in the living room watching sports. I am in the kitchen typing this blog.
What good it would do either of us, if I told him we needed to talk about his watching sports too much or tried to insist on watching another channel? None. Nor would it be beneficial if he told me to stop with this blog. A statement becomes an argument - over something unimportant.
Let's give another example. Say for instance, someone in our family loves to tell the same stories or jokes over and over again. Most of us know someone like that. Should we tell Uncle So and So we really wished he would just be quiet? Maybe - if his jokes are vulgar or derogatory in some way. But if they cause no harm other than hearing them for the thousandth time, is it really worth hurting his feelings?
Maybe your son or daughter likes wearing the same shirt every day. If they are washing it every night - what's the big deal? Believe me, where our children are concerned, there are much more serious matters to consider.
Jesus didn't want his apostles to argue and He doesn't want us to either. The Savior said we should love one another as He has loved us. This means keeping the peace, not stirring the pot.
If your sister in Christ loves to sing and praise God loudly but she is really tone deaf, don't tell her. Don't steal her joy. Besides, she probably knows it already. Let her sing - let her rejoice in the Lord. Isn't that one of the reasons we all sing anyway?
All of this is Biblical folks. There really are "conversations for a never time." Some things are much better left unsaid. Several scriptures make this point. I was actually surprised at how many verses I did find.
Proverbs 15:28 says "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer; but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." (ESV) When we ponder how to answer (think about our responses) we can avoid saying something we might regret later. We certainly don't want to be known as someone who is hurtful or spiteful with our words.
Here is another good one. Proverbs 30:33 says, "For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife." God just doesn't want His people to cause strife.
We find similar scriptures in Paul's writings. When he mentions the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19 -21 along with sexual immorality and drunkenness, he also lists enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions and divisions. Ephesians 4:29-31 and Colossians 3:8 are very similar readings.
I encourage to read all three passages and the verses surrounding them. They are all slightly different and carry their own significance. I think these scriptures make it pretty clear. Some conversations really are for a "never time." Sometimes we need to leave things alone.
What we say carries so much power. Our words can cut to the heart, or comfort the heart. They can tear someone down or build someone up. We are the ones who make that choice. No one else controls our tongue.
Our words might stick with someone forever. They may never be forgotten. Wouldn't we rather these words be kind, gentle, positive and loving?
"Gracious words are like a honeycomb;
sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Proverbs 16:24
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Did You Do That on Purpose?
"You did that on purpose!" Sound familiar? Most of us have heard children use that phrase during a quarrel. Sometimes the accusation comes from a toy being broken.
Other times it happens when one wants to be first to do something and the other races ahead to do it. It could be to open the door for Dad or take Grandpa his glasses or give Mom her birthday present. And sometimes we hear it when one child pushes, hits or kicks the other child.
All of these incidents are unfortunate but they happen among siblings and playmates. Almost always the one who "did it on purpose" ends up being punished. Albeit the one who is punished has been provoked in some way.
Wouldn't it be nice if "you did that on purpose" meant something good? A story about my youngest nephew comes to mind. He was in first grade and the school year had just begun. For days, he asked the teacher when they would get to go the playground.
Well, it had rained a good bit that year and the ground in the play area was quite muddy. Naturally, this made the playground off limits. It didn't stop my nephew from asking his teacher every day if the kids could go out and play.
Finally, the day came when the playground was dry enough for the children to go outside and enjoy it. When my sister in law picked up Will after school that day, he was so excited. "Mom," he said proudly. "We got to go to the playground today and it was all my fault!"
Asking every day "on purpose" turned out to be a good thing. Actually when we stop to think about it, many good things we do for each other are done intentionally. Oh sure, sometimes we might be at the right place at the right time and keep someone from stumbling -- or warn someone to stop because a car is coming. Even when the situation isn't one we planned, we are still acting with a purpose.
We should remember when we are the recipient of a good deed, a smile or a hug it is because the other person was "doing it on purpose." If your spouse brings you flowers or your child draws a picture for you, they meant to do it. If your co-worker says something encouraging it is because they made a deliberate choice to do so.
Let's think of it another way. God's favor is bestowed upon those who actually seek it. Noah and his family were not chosen by some willy nilly notion. Why do you think Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord? (Genesis 6:8). It is because he sought it!
Noah wanted God's favor. Do you think God would have chosen to save someone like all the rest of the people on earth at the time -- someone whose every intention was to do evil continually? No- Genesis 6:5 tells us everyone else on earth (except for Noah's family) were evil on purpose. It was what they chose - it was the intention of the thoughts of their heart.
If Noah had chosen the same evil ways, he would not have escaped the flood. But Noah intentionally sought God's favor. We have to be looking for something to find it folks! Noah made a deliberate choice different from everyone else. He and his family purposely chose to follow God. No one else made that choice.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us "And without faith it is impossible to please Him for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." Do we get that? We have to seek God to find Him.
Seeking is a deliberate action. It is a choice - something done on purpose. We will not draw near to Him by some crazy accident. We will only do so if we want to. Believe me, there are plenty of people who do not want to. We need to pray for them.
Who does God reward? Those who seek Him through faith. What does that mean? Well, Hebrews chapter 11 explains it very well. Every person named in the chapter not only had faith but acted on it. They did something. They obeyed God's commands.
In verse 5, we are told Enoch was commended as having pleased God. How did he do that? By doing what God commanded him to do. Abraham left the land he knew. Why? He had faith in God. Abraham wanted to be near to God. He chose to obey God's command because he knew God would reward him.
Read through the chapter and see verse 6 in action over and over again. These people wanted to be near to God. They believed in His existence. They wanted Him to be part of their lives. So they obeyed because they had faith that He would reward them.
Faith is a deliberate purposeful lifestyle. It is choosing to study and obey God's word. It is "doing it on purpose." It is seeking to know the things He would have us do and the life He would have us live. It is having faith in His reward.
I want to live for God on purpose. Don't you?
Christ above all things,
Robin
Other times it happens when one wants to be first to do something and the other races ahead to do it. It could be to open the door for Dad or take Grandpa his glasses or give Mom her birthday present. And sometimes we hear it when one child pushes, hits or kicks the other child.
All of these incidents are unfortunate but they happen among siblings and playmates. Almost always the one who "did it on purpose" ends up being punished. Albeit the one who is punished has been provoked in some way.
Wouldn't it be nice if "you did that on purpose" meant something good? A story about my youngest nephew comes to mind. He was in first grade and the school year had just begun. For days, he asked the teacher when they would get to go the playground.
Well, it had rained a good bit that year and the ground in the play area was quite muddy. Naturally, this made the playground off limits. It didn't stop my nephew from asking his teacher every day if the kids could go out and play.
Finally, the day came when the playground was dry enough for the children to go outside and enjoy it. When my sister in law picked up Will after school that day, he was so excited. "Mom," he said proudly. "We got to go to the playground today and it was all my fault!"
Asking every day "on purpose" turned out to be a good thing. Actually when we stop to think about it, many good things we do for each other are done intentionally. Oh sure, sometimes we might be at the right place at the right time and keep someone from stumbling -- or warn someone to stop because a car is coming. Even when the situation isn't one we planned, we are still acting with a purpose.
We should remember when we are the recipient of a good deed, a smile or a hug it is because the other person was "doing it on purpose." If your spouse brings you flowers or your child draws a picture for you, they meant to do it. If your co-worker says something encouraging it is because they made a deliberate choice to do so.
Let's think of it another way. God's favor is bestowed upon those who actually seek it. Noah and his family were not chosen by some willy nilly notion. Why do you think Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord? (Genesis 6:8). It is because he sought it!
Noah wanted God's favor. Do you think God would have chosen to save someone like all the rest of the people on earth at the time -- someone whose every intention was to do evil continually? No- Genesis 6:5 tells us everyone else on earth (except for Noah's family) were evil on purpose. It was what they chose - it was the intention of the thoughts of their heart.
If Noah had chosen the same evil ways, he would not have escaped the flood. But Noah intentionally sought God's favor. We have to be looking for something to find it folks! Noah made a deliberate choice different from everyone else. He and his family purposely chose to follow God. No one else made that choice.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us "And without faith it is impossible to please Him for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." Do we get that? We have to seek God to find Him.
Seeking is a deliberate action. It is a choice - something done on purpose. We will not draw near to Him by some crazy accident. We will only do so if we want to. Believe me, there are plenty of people who do not want to. We need to pray for them.
Who does God reward? Those who seek Him through faith. What does that mean? Well, Hebrews chapter 11 explains it very well. Every person named in the chapter not only had faith but acted on it. They did something. They obeyed God's commands.
In verse 5, we are told Enoch was commended as having pleased God. How did he do that? By doing what God commanded him to do. Abraham left the land he knew. Why? He had faith in God. Abraham wanted to be near to God. He chose to obey God's command because he knew God would reward him.
Read through the chapter and see verse 6 in action over and over again. These people wanted to be near to God. They believed in His existence. They wanted Him to be part of their lives. So they obeyed because they had faith that He would reward them.
Faith is a deliberate purposeful lifestyle. It is choosing to study and obey God's word. It is "doing it on purpose." It is seeking to know the things He would have us do and the life He would have us live. It is having faith in His reward.
I want to live for God on purpose. Don't you?
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Glowing or Growling?
I was talking with my partner Wednesday at work. Somehow we got on the subject of our outward appearance. It was a very personal conversation but one of the things we discussed is how emotions affect how we look. Most likely we all know someone whose mood directly influences their appearance.
We talked about how some people just seem to glow from the inside when they are in a good mood. Happiness radiates from them. Everyone who sees them knows they are happy simply by observing how they look.
An inner glow is attractive. It looks good on anyone and everyone! People want to be around other people who are joyful. We always feel better around someone like this, right? Their mood is infectious!
Most of us already know happy people attract others to them, but studies have proved it. We like to be around people who like to laugh and smile. These are the folks who are positive, who always try to find the good in any situation and who have the gift of making others around them feel special.
There are many scriptures relating to happiness, and others relate to sadness, but Proverbs 15:13 actually touches on both.
"A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed" (ESV).
Just as we can often tell when someone is in a good mood by looking at them, we can usually tell when someone is not in a good mood. We can see the "glow" of joy; but we can also see the "growl" of discontent. And who wants to be around that?
Sometimes when we see the growler headed our way, all we can think in our head is "run, kid, run." We don't want to be the recipient of their wrath; nor do we want to hear the endless complaints. A growler's spirit can be many things: angry, bitter, pessimistic, or just apathetic.
Being in a bad mood effects a person's appearance. They look more harsh. Their faces are often full of frowns - with brows knit together. They have a dull, dark look about them.
The point is most of us don't want to be around a growler. These folks also have a heavy influence. They bring others down instead of lifting them up. They find something wrong with almost everything. There is no glow about them.
Almost all of us would rather be glowing than growling. Yet, the struggle is real. The truth is most of the time we are somewhere in between. I want to smile -- I want to be the one who encourages others - who lifts a friend's spirits -- who is joyful and happy.
Then somehow I let something or someone get in the way of that. Pooff! My balloon is burst. The joyful glow is gone. I don't think I'm alone in this struggle. I only mentioned myself because I know it isn't easy to keep a good attitude going.
It could be a new policy at work we don't like, or we might hear someone brag about themselves or say something negative about someone else. Maybe someone pulls out in front of us on the way to work and we end up letting it ruin our whole day. It could be a child who forgot his homework or it could be a spouse who made a careless comment which hurt our feelings.
The point is it takes diligence -- deliberate effort to find joy in your day. It is much easier to either be neutral or to be a growler. Letting our happiness shine through is much more difficult. Yet it is worth it.
Christians are commanded - yes commanded to "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians 4:4). We must do this -- we must learn to do this. We represent Christ - how can we draw others to Him if we make them run the other way because of our sour faces?
Christians should be the happiest people in the world because of the hope we have. We should "glow" because we have the love of God within us. Knowing the blood of Christ freed us from our sins should help us understand how precious we are to our Savior. We have so many reasons to rejoice in Christ.
One thing which has helped me lately is to remember to be thankful. Besides thanking God through prayer, I started a "thankful journal." This is not an original idea. I read it in a book and it is probably not original with the author either.
Anyway, the idea is to write in a journal on a daily basis. List three new things to be thankful for. At first I just listed three things - #1, #2, #3 that's it. I would close the book and go on with my daily routine.
But after a few days I began to write a couple of sentences for why I am thankful for these things. My journal got more and more detailed and my thoughts focused on my blessings more and more.
Yes it helped me develop a greater sense of joy.
Remember we are about the Father's business. Choosing to serve Him and bring others to Him will help us understand how important it is to exhibit a joyful heart. Besides that, it improves our looks too!
"Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to His holy name."
(Psalms 97:11-12)
Christ above all things,
Robin
We talked about how some people just seem to glow from the inside when they are in a good mood. Happiness radiates from them. Everyone who sees them knows they are happy simply by observing how they look.
An inner glow is attractive. It looks good on anyone and everyone! People want to be around other people who are joyful. We always feel better around someone like this, right? Their mood is infectious!
Most of us already know happy people attract others to them, but studies have proved it. We like to be around people who like to laugh and smile. These are the folks who are positive, who always try to find the good in any situation and who have the gift of making others around them feel special.
There are many scriptures relating to happiness, and others relate to sadness, but Proverbs 15:13 actually touches on both.
"A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed" (ESV).
Just as we can often tell when someone is in a good mood by looking at them, we can usually tell when someone is not in a good mood. We can see the "glow" of joy; but we can also see the "growl" of discontent. And who wants to be around that?
Sometimes when we see the growler headed our way, all we can think in our head is "run, kid, run." We don't want to be the recipient of their wrath; nor do we want to hear the endless complaints. A growler's spirit can be many things: angry, bitter, pessimistic, or just apathetic.
Being in a bad mood effects a person's appearance. They look more harsh. Their faces are often full of frowns - with brows knit together. They have a dull, dark look about them.
The point is most of us don't want to be around a growler. These folks also have a heavy influence. They bring others down instead of lifting them up. They find something wrong with almost everything. There is no glow about them.
Almost all of us would rather be glowing than growling. Yet, the struggle is real. The truth is most of the time we are somewhere in between. I want to smile -- I want to be the one who encourages others - who lifts a friend's spirits -- who is joyful and happy.
Then somehow I let something or someone get in the way of that. Pooff! My balloon is burst. The joyful glow is gone. I don't think I'm alone in this struggle. I only mentioned myself because I know it isn't easy to keep a good attitude going.
It could be a new policy at work we don't like, or we might hear someone brag about themselves or say something negative about someone else. Maybe someone pulls out in front of us on the way to work and we end up letting it ruin our whole day. It could be a child who forgot his homework or it could be a spouse who made a careless comment which hurt our feelings.
The point is it takes diligence -- deliberate effort to find joy in your day. It is much easier to either be neutral or to be a growler. Letting our happiness shine through is much more difficult. Yet it is worth it.
Christians are commanded - yes commanded to "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians 4:4). We must do this -- we must learn to do this. We represent Christ - how can we draw others to Him if we make them run the other way because of our sour faces?
Christians should be the happiest people in the world because of the hope we have. We should "glow" because we have the love of God within us. Knowing the blood of Christ freed us from our sins should help us understand how precious we are to our Savior. We have so many reasons to rejoice in Christ.
One thing which has helped me lately is to remember to be thankful. Besides thanking God through prayer, I started a "thankful journal." This is not an original idea. I read it in a book and it is probably not original with the author either.
Anyway, the idea is to write in a journal on a daily basis. List three new things to be thankful for. At first I just listed three things - #1, #2, #3 that's it. I would close the book and go on with my daily routine.
But after a few days I began to write a couple of sentences for why I am thankful for these things. My journal got more and more detailed and my thoughts focused on my blessings more and more.
Yes it helped me develop a greater sense of joy.
Remember we are about the Father's business. Choosing to serve Him and bring others to Him will help us understand how important it is to exhibit a joyful heart. Besides that, it improves our looks too!
"Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to His holy name."
(Psalms 97:11-12)
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Lighting Up the Whole Room
Most of you who know me know how I love children. I love to be around them, to talk with them, and to listen to them. We really can learn so much from them if we truly listen to what they have to say.
Perhaps this is why I love being a part of Maywood Christian Camp every year. I get to be with beautiful children for an entire week. We had the best little girls in Ashdod cabin this year! Before you ask, yes I say that every year. 😊 But every year it is true because all children are a gift and every child is special in God's eyes, so they should be in ours too.
Anyway, this year one young lady in our cabin was very gentle, calm and soft-spoken. She was at Maywood last year with her aunts, who are counselors of older girls; but this was the first time she was in a cabin as a 'real' camper. We are so glad she was in Ashdod with us this year!
It was early in the week when I complimented this sweet child on her smile. She wasn't too talkative; but she was always bright and cheerful! Seeing her happy face made me happy too! "Your smile just lights up the whole room," I said. Naturally, she beamed at my comment.
A couple of days later we were in the mess hall eating our lunch. I was finished with the main course and walked up to the dessert table. There was my little camper talking with another counselor who knew her.
As I stood beside her, I put my hand on her shoulder and told the other counselor, "You know I'm SO glad I have this sweet girl in my cabin."
"Oh I'm sure you are," she responded. "She's pretty special alright."
As she chose her dessert and walked away, our young friend looked up and said proudly, "I light up a whole room, too!"
My counselor friend looked surprised. I have to admit I was too. She chuckled and said, "You can?"
This precious little girl was standing there - tall and proud with that beautiful bright smile. She looked at me and then I remembered. It is exactly what I told her a day or two ago. I quickly chimed in, "She certainly does!"
This cute little moment hit home to me. It proved a point most of already know. When we think about it, it is pretty important.
Our little camper remembered what I told her. She believed it and she was doing her best to live up to it!! Children hear what you say about them. Not only do they hear it - they believe it.
If you want to make a difference in a child's life -- if you want to make a difference in the world - tell a child something good about themselves. They will believe it ... and try their best to live up to that goodness. They will want to be the very thing you said they are.
We must be sincere when we do this. I can assure I definitely was. Children can detect a con job from a mile away. Many of them seem to be experts at it.
See God says children are special. The Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to write: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3). God loves little children. He is the giver of life. When the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, refused to murder Hebrew baby boys - God blessed them (Exodus 1).
Do you remember when the disciples rebuked the people when they brought children to Jesus? Christ stopped them and said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14).
God knows what we tell our children is important. Why else did He tell the Israelites to be so earnest in teaching them about Him? If we want good children, we must tell them they are good. We must expect them to be so.
I know children misbehave. I'm not saying we shouldn't discipline them when it is needed. I am saying we should never tell them they are stupid or worthless or mean.
Let's love our children. Tell them they make us happy. Let them know they are a great blessing to others and you hope they always will be.
Pray for them - in front of them. Children will know they are valued if they hear their name brought before the Heavenly Father. Tell them they not only light up a room; they light up your whole life -- and they will!!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Perhaps this is why I love being a part of Maywood Christian Camp every year. I get to be with beautiful children for an entire week. We had the best little girls in Ashdod cabin this year! Before you ask, yes I say that every year. 😊 But every year it is true because all children are a gift and every child is special in God's eyes, so they should be in ours too.
Anyway, this year one young lady in our cabin was very gentle, calm and soft-spoken. She was at Maywood last year with her aunts, who are counselors of older girls; but this was the first time she was in a cabin as a 'real' camper. We are so glad she was in Ashdod with us this year!
It was early in the week when I complimented this sweet child on her smile. She wasn't too talkative; but she was always bright and cheerful! Seeing her happy face made me happy too! "Your smile just lights up the whole room," I said. Naturally, she beamed at my comment.
A couple of days later we were in the mess hall eating our lunch. I was finished with the main course and walked up to the dessert table. There was my little camper talking with another counselor who knew her.
As I stood beside her, I put my hand on her shoulder and told the other counselor, "You know I'm SO glad I have this sweet girl in my cabin."
"Oh I'm sure you are," she responded. "She's pretty special alright."
As she chose her dessert and walked away, our young friend looked up and said proudly, "I light up a whole room, too!"
My counselor friend looked surprised. I have to admit I was too. She chuckled and said, "You can?"
This precious little girl was standing there - tall and proud with that beautiful bright smile. She looked at me and then I remembered. It is exactly what I told her a day or two ago. I quickly chimed in, "She certainly does!"
This cute little moment hit home to me. It proved a point most of already know. When we think about it, it is pretty important.
Our little camper remembered what I told her. She believed it and she was doing her best to live up to it!! Children hear what you say about them. Not only do they hear it - they believe it.
If you want to make a difference in a child's life -- if you want to make a difference in the world - tell a child something good about themselves. They will believe it ... and try their best to live up to that goodness. They will want to be the very thing you said they are.
We must be sincere when we do this. I can assure I definitely was. Children can detect a con job from a mile away. Many of them seem to be experts at it.
See God says children are special. The Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to write: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3). God loves little children. He is the giver of life. When the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, refused to murder Hebrew baby boys - God blessed them (Exodus 1).
Do you remember when the disciples rebuked the people when they brought children to Jesus? Christ stopped them and said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14).
God knows what we tell our children is important. Why else did He tell the Israelites to be so earnest in teaching them about Him? If we want good children, we must tell them they are good. We must expect them to be so.
I know children misbehave. I'm not saying we shouldn't discipline them when it is needed. I am saying we should never tell them they are stupid or worthless or mean.
Let's love our children. Tell them they make us happy. Let them know they are a great blessing to others and you hope they always will be.
Pray for them - in front of them. Children will know they are valued if they hear their name brought before the Heavenly Father. Tell them they not only light up a room; they light up your whole life -- and they will!!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Who You Are
I once heard a lady tell another who was going through a rough time - "This is not who you are. It is only where you are right now. Don't let this situation define you."
What excellent advice! This really hit home to me. I've used these words in my own life. I find it encouraging. It helps me keep my wits gathered about me. I've even shared with other friends who are going through hard times.
I understand there is another side to this thought. I know our experiences do contribute to our character. We've heard that everyone we meet becomes a part of us somehow. People, circumstances, environment -- and what God gives us all shape our lives. This is true enough.
However, as adults we choose how we respond to our environment and circumstances. We decide what effect others have over us. This is what defines us. The choices we make - the things we do when we encounter any situation, good or bad - comes from who we are.
Maybe this is what Christ meant when he told his followers "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matthew 5:41 NKJV). Do not let the behavior of the Roman soldier change who you are. Do not allow him to negatively influence you.
Instead - be the better person. Walk with him two miles. This gives you the opportunity to make a positive impact. Let your response define you - not what happens to you.
We face all kind of difficulties in this life - illness, pain, divorce, and the loss of loved ones are part of the major ones. We see people overcome all sorts of obstacles and triumph over tragedy. We rejoice with them!
See the thing is they chose to react positively to their particular situations. We can either choose where we are in our journey to deepen our faith and strengthen our character or we can allow it to embitter and destroy us.
Right now I know of a young man facing upcoming chemotherapy treatments. Before I say anymore, the most important thing about him is he is a very faithful Christian. I know in my heart he would want you to know that.
He has a rare type of bone cancer. He is married and has three small children. From day one - yes, day one - this godly man has inspired and encouraged others with his amazing faith. He finds good things to be thankful for. Even with his illness, he looks for blessings to share with others. Why? Because of who he is.
Throughout my life, I've known numerous men and women who continue to be faithful and active servants of the Lord after the death of their spouse. They face the heartbreak of walking into the same church building every Sunday (and Wednesday) alone - with no one to hold their hand or sit by them on the pew.
They didn't give up on God, just because they lost their life partner. They gather their strength and courage about them and walk through the doors of the church building. This is who they are.
I know a woman whose child was bullied at school. He became terribly depressed and talked about suicide. What did she do? She got help for her son immediately.
Then she went to the school and fought for him. She faced the principal and the teacher and had that long and difficult confrontation. This is who she is -- a mother who loves and protects her child. She was a force to be reckoned with.
I know of at least three Christian families who love and care for children with special needs. They are different children with different needs of varying degrees. All of these families have continued to be loving and caring parents. They have risen to the challenge of facing medical concerns, tests, procedures and treatments. They developed whatever skills they needed to care for their child. Yet, they still live their lives as families - together. They go to ballgames their other children play. They take vacations, they play together and learn together.
The dedication of these parents is almost unbelievable. The depth of compassion they have teaches me about compassion. Their courage, patience and wisdom shows me who they are.
I've known Christians who faced the heartbreak of divorce. The pain of betrayal seems to be unbearable. Yet, they refused to be "the woman whose husband walked out on her" or "the guy whose wife ran off with another man." Instead, they held their chins up and faced life head on. Some of them faced single parenthood. Some dealt with financial insecurity. Yet they found a way to make their lives work. Their inner strength and continued devotion to God told the world who they are.
I'm sure we all know someone who didn't give up when something bad happened to them. This doesn't even scratch the surface of all the tragedies people face in this life. But I hope it helps explain my point.
We are not always in control of what happens to us. We are in control of our actions and attitudes. It is not what happens to us that defines us; but how we live our lives.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
Christ above all things,
Robin
What excellent advice! This really hit home to me. I've used these words in my own life. I find it encouraging. It helps me keep my wits gathered about me. I've even shared with other friends who are going through hard times.
I understand there is another side to this thought. I know our experiences do contribute to our character. We've heard that everyone we meet becomes a part of us somehow. People, circumstances, environment -- and what God gives us all shape our lives. This is true enough.
However, as adults we choose how we respond to our environment and circumstances. We decide what effect others have over us. This is what defines us. The choices we make - the things we do when we encounter any situation, good or bad - comes from who we are.
Maybe this is what Christ meant when he told his followers "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matthew 5:41 NKJV). Do not let the behavior of the Roman soldier change who you are. Do not allow him to negatively influence you.
Instead - be the better person. Walk with him two miles. This gives you the opportunity to make a positive impact. Let your response define you - not what happens to you.
We face all kind of difficulties in this life - illness, pain, divorce, and the loss of loved ones are part of the major ones. We see people overcome all sorts of obstacles and triumph over tragedy. We rejoice with them!
See the thing is they chose to react positively to their particular situations. We can either choose where we are in our journey to deepen our faith and strengthen our character or we can allow it to embitter and destroy us.
Right now I know of a young man facing upcoming chemotherapy treatments. Before I say anymore, the most important thing about him is he is a very faithful Christian. I know in my heart he would want you to know that.
He has a rare type of bone cancer. He is married and has three small children. From day one - yes, day one - this godly man has inspired and encouraged others with his amazing faith. He finds good things to be thankful for. Even with his illness, he looks for blessings to share with others. Why? Because of who he is.
Throughout my life, I've known numerous men and women who continue to be faithful and active servants of the Lord after the death of their spouse. They face the heartbreak of walking into the same church building every Sunday (and Wednesday) alone - with no one to hold their hand or sit by them on the pew.
They didn't give up on God, just because they lost their life partner. They gather their strength and courage about them and walk through the doors of the church building. This is who they are.
I know a woman whose child was bullied at school. He became terribly depressed and talked about suicide. What did she do? She got help for her son immediately.
Then she went to the school and fought for him. She faced the principal and the teacher and had that long and difficult confrontation. This is who she is -- a mother who loves and protects her child. She was a force to be reckoned with.
I know of at least three Christian families who love and care for children with special needs. They are different children with different needs of varying degrees. All of these families have continued to be loving and caring parents. They have risen to the challenge of facing medical concerns, tests, procedures and treatments. They developed whatever skills they needed to care for their child. Yet, they still live their lives as families - together. They go to ballgames their other children play. They take vacations, they play together and learn together.
The dedication of these parents is almost unbelievable. The depth of compassion they have teaches me about compassion. Their courage, patience and wisdom shows me who they are.
I've known Christians who faced the heartbreak of divorce. The pain of betrayal seems to be unbearable. Yet, they refused to be "the woman whose husband walked out on her" or "the guy whose wife ran off with another man." Instead, they held their chins up and faced life head on. Some of them faced single parenthood. Some dealt with financial insecurity. Yet they found a way to make their lives work. Their inner strength and continued devotion to God told the world who they are.
I'm sure we all know someone who didn't give up when something bad happened to them. This doesn't even scratch the surface of all the tragedies people face in this life. But I hope it helps explain my point.
We are not always in control of what happens to us. We are in control of our actions and attitudes. It is not what happens to us that defines us; but how we live our lives.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 10, 2019
The Balance Beam
Today Robert and I went to Health Works in Tupelo for a birthday party for one of our great nephews. He is 3 now. Several children in our extended family turned 3 this year.
Anyway, the party room was filled with all sorts of fun things for the kids to do. The main attraction was a fairly large inflatable bouncy house. The room also sported a toddler sized slide and basketball goal, three mini trampolines, and several cushioned blocks for stacking and climbing.
What caught my attention was - well, I'm not sure what they called it. I'll call it a balance beam square.
The birthday boy climbed up on one of the corner stations. It happened to be the same station his older brother (who was walking on the 'beams') was about to approach. Big brother went on around the little one. Grayson watched him go, reluctant to follow.
Grandpa (my brother in law) stood close by watching all this transpire. Grayson was about to cry when Grandpa stepped up and offered his hand. That was all it took. He smiled and reached for Mike's hand. Then I noticed Grayson was actually only holding on to his grandpa's pinky finger. But that was enough to give him the confidence he needed to walk across that beam.
I smiled as I watched. I could not help but think of our Heavenly Father. We always - ALWAYS - do better when we hold His hand as we walk this "narrow way." God is always there for us - always waiting for us to reach out for Him in faith.
Life is not always easy. Being a Christian in this dark old world is not always easy. Sometimes we have trouble keeping our balance. We stay SO busy. We work - go to school - run to and fro. Our children or grandchildren are involved in all sorts of activities. We have to keep a calendar updated to remember it all!
Then there is a household to run. Laundry, cooking and cleaning have to be done. Oh yes, and there is a yard to be mowed, animals to feed and the list goes on and on. Somewhere along the way, we leave God out of it all.
It's no surprise we lose our balance sometimes. It is very easy to do. When we do though, we become less than what we could be. We have less energy, become less productive, and our attitude changes. Everything is off kilter.
How do we regain that balance and get back to where we need to be? What can we do? Turn back to God. Let Him back in. Reach for His hand. He is right there - ready for us to hold on to Him.
Put the Heavenly Father back into the daily routine. Start praying on a more regular basis again. We can pray as we drive to and from work. We can pray in the shower or while we brush our teeth. We don't have to close our eyes to pray. We really can talk to God anytime and anywhere.
Spend time in His word. God deserves our attention. He created us. He is the One who gave us the lives we have. God sent His Only Son to die for us.
Think about this. Do we want to keep our lives in balance - or get them back in balance? Do we want to better days? Do we want strength when we're weary? Study - find some time to reflect on the scriptures. It IS that important.
What about the kids? Well how about singing 'Jesus Loves Me' on the way to the ballgame? And when the game is over and everyone is back in the car, what about a prayer to thank God for keeping everyone safe?
We can thank Him (in front of our children) for their good health. Thank God for giving them good legs to run and play. It doesn't matter what we pray about or what we thank Him for - just pray and be thankful! We need to let our children know where our blessings come from!
Be creative with ways to remember God throughout the day. I did some of these things while my boys were growing up; but I must admit hindsight is much better than foresight. I wish I'd thought of some of these other ideas back then.
The point is life is infinitely better with God in it! He longs for us to choose a life with Him - a life of obedient faith and bountiful blessings! He is there watching and waiting - just like Grandpa was with Grayson.
So the next time life gets a little off balance. Check yourself - is something missing? We need Him. Reach out and take the Father's hand. He will be there and He will walk with us every step of the way!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Don't Quit
Sometimes it is hard to hold our chins up and keep going - even in the smaller endeavors in life. We get frustrated when things don't go right. Then we allow this frustration to cloud our minds. We may begin to doubt ourselves. What once seemed trivial has now stymied our progress. We stop moving forward.
That is the way I felt about three weeks ago. The laptop I borrowed to start blogging again was a pretty old one. Alas, after only two or three uses the little laptop ceased to function. I was bitterly disappointed.
This morning was a different story. By the time I woke up I had already made up my mind. I didn't want to stop posting to this site. So here I am on my Kindle tapping away with my thumbs. It isn't the most convenient way to go; but it isn't impossible either. There is usually more than one way to get something done.
I know this is trivial compared to some obstacles others might face. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't that big a deal at all and I should not have even let it go this long. We all face hurdles in life and some are more serious than others. And yes sometimes something or maybe a series of things happen and we reach the point where we don't want to try anymore. What once seemed a believable goal is suddenly out of reach.
God would not want us to feel that way! He is our Heavenly Father and He only wants the best for us. He wouldn't want us to give up. God wants us to succeed so that we can do good works for Him.
Besides, how can we glorify God when we are known as quitters? Consider Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." If we wear the name of Christ we should live our lives in such a way as to honor Him. We should always strive to do our best. The words "whatever" and "everything" means there are no exceptions.
So whether we are working on a personal goal, like sticking to a budget or a professional goal like boosting our productivity, we should keep working on those goals. We should do our best. All the time. Don't stop.
If we go off our budget one weekend, we shouldn't just lay it down and quit trying altogether. Pick up that budget and try again - commit to doing better the next week. If we have an off day at work and fall below our goal, we shouldn't get discouraged. Let's not beat ourselves up. Everyone has an off day now and then. Pick right up again the next day - try a different approach - and go for it again!
I am not saying we should all go and try out for the Olympic ski team. I am saying we represent God in this world. Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. How can we win others to Christ if we don't do our best - if we are known as quitters?
Back to what I was saying at the beginning, I know it is easy to get discouraged. It is easy to be distracted. We will mess up sometimes. We tell ourselves all sorts of things to justify stopping what we started. Stopping is easier than going. Why fight it? I have done this to myself many times. Yet it really isn't the right thing to do.
Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control and maybe we have to change directions. There may be times when we must take a detour or maybe rest a while. We may have to take a different path altogether. But God never wants us to just stop in our tracks. We don't glorify Him by doing that.
Have you ever watched a toddler trying to learn to jump? At first she bends her knees and propels her body upward as she throws her arms above her head. After the first few times she may make it to her tip toes. She may lose her balance and fall.
But she really wants to jump - so she keeps trying and trying and trying some more. Finally one day as she pushes her body upward with as much energy as she can muster both feet leave the floor!! For that split second she is in the air. She has done it! She squeals with delight and for the next several days not only does she tell everyone she meets, she proudly demonstrates her newfound skill.
We learn when we try. We learn more and more if we keep trying. We gain strength. Our determination turns into enthusiasm. The learning, the growing, the enthusiasm-- all that stops when we stop trying.
I had rather learn to jump, hadn't you?
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Christ above all things,
Robin
That is the way I felt about three weeks ago. The laptop I borrowed to start blogging again was a pretty old one. Alas, after only two or three uses the little laptop ceased to function. I was bitterly disappointed.
This morning was a different story. By the time I woke up I had already made up my mind. I didn't want to stop posting to this site. So here I am on my Kindle tapping away with my thumbs. It isn't the most convenient way to go; but it isn't impossible either. There is usually more than one way to get something done.
I know this is trivial compared to some obstacles others might face. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't that big a deal at all and I should not have even let it go this long. We all face hurdles in life and some are more serious than others. And yes sometimes something or maybe a series of things happen and we reach the point where we don't want to try anymore. What once seemed a believable goal is suddenly out of reach.
God would not want us to feel that way! He is our Heavenly Father and He only wants the best for us. He wouldn't want us to give up. God wants us to succeed so that we can do good works for Him.
Besides, how can we glorify God when we are known as quitters? Consider Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." If we wear the name of Christ we should live our lives in such a way as to honor Him. We should always strive to do our best. The words "whatever" and "everything" means there are no exceptions.
So whether we are working on a personal goal, like sticking to a budget or a professional goal like boosting our productivity, we should keep working on those goals. We should do our best. All the time. Don't stop.
If we go off our budget one weekend, we shouldn't just lay it down and quit trying altogether. Pick up that budget and try again - commit to doing better the next week. If we have an off day at work and fall below our goal, we shouldn't get discouraged. Let's not beat ourselves up. Everyone has an off day now and then. Pick right up again the next day - try a different approach - and go for it again!
I am not saying we should all go and try out for the Olympic ski team. I am saying we represent God in this world. Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. How can we win others to Christ if we don't do our best - if we are known as quitters?
Back to what I was saying at the beginning, I know it is easy to get discouraged. It is easy to be distracted. We will mess up sometimes. We tell ourselves all sorts of things to justify stopping what we started. Stopping is easier than going. Why fight it? I have done this to myself many times. Yet it really isn't the right thing to do.
Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control and maybe we have to change directions. There may be times when we must take a detour or maybe rest a while. We may have to take a different path altogether. But God never wants us to just stop in our tracks. We don't glorify Him by doing that.
Have you ever watched a toddler trying to learn to jump? At first she bends her knees and propels her body upward as she throws her arms above her head. After the first few times she may make it to her tip toes. She may lose her balance and fall.
But she really wants to jump - so she keeps trying and trying and trying some more. Finally one day as she pushes her body upward with as much energy as she can muster both feet leave the floor!! For that split second she is in the air. She has done it! She squeals with delight and for the next several days not only does she tell everyone she meets, she proudly demonstrates her newfound skill.
We learn when we try. We learn more and more if we keep trying. We gain strength. Our determination turns into enthusiasm. The learning, the growing, the enthusiasm-- all that stops when we stop trying.
I had rather learn to jump, hadn't you?
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, July 13, 2019
About a Year Ago
It has been about a month since the 3rd session of Maywood Christian; but I looked forward to it for quite some time before it finally came around. My plan for the week was to fully savor each moment. I wanted to store treasured memories in my heart. It turned out to be one of the best weeks I ever had!
It began on the way to camp. Our great nephew rode with me. As any 9 year old would be he was excited to be on the road. He talked non-stop all the way there. Naturally his enthusiasm fueled my own.
"I've been waiting ever since I woke up this morning!"
"Oh, I can't wait to get there!"
"Will Nathan be there this year?"
"I wonder if any of the other friends I made last year will be there."
"Do you think I will be in the same cabin as last year?"
These were just a few of the questions and comments tossed my way. About three quarters of the way to Maywood, he started recognizing landmarks. I thought it was amazing he could remember so much when he'd only been that way once - and a year ago at that.
"We don't take this exit do we? It's the second one right?" he asked.
"That's right," was my reply.
"Hey, Aunt Robin - we've been on this road before."
"Yes - about a year ago," I said. He smiled.
It became our running joke. He would say something like - "we were here before" or "I remember this." And I would say, "about a year ago." I could see his smile; but I only knew he was laughing because his shoulders were shaking. Hunter is a great kid. I love being around him. We were both happy to finally arrive at Maywood Christian Camp.
Now, imagine longing for a place filled with joy and love - where beautiful songs of praise are heard on a regular basis. Everyone is happy to see everyone else - there is no hatred - all prejudices are gone. The worries of the world are gone. This place is full of love and light.
Am I talking about Maywood Christian Camp? No. I am not talking about this great place on earth, although much of what I described is true. I have never seen the place I'm talking about -- I have never been there; but it is real and I long to go someday.
Heaven is a REAL place - a wonderful place filled with mercy, and joy and love- a place of indescribable beauty where peace abounds because God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are all there. Oh how I want to be in this place prepared from "before the foundation of the world" for those who choose to serve Christ!
The good news is we can be there. It is not an impossible dream - if we are willing to love Christ enough to follow His commands. See it takes more than saying we love Him. As the apostle John says,we must not only love in word; but in deed and truth. Love is an action word.
Consider a young couple who have dated for several months. Perhaps the young man tells the young lady he loves her. He treats her with kindness. He respects her body. He encourages her dreams and ambitions. In other words, he shows her he loves her by his actions.
But what about the young lady? Perhaps she says she loves him too; but she does not return his kindness. She demeans him and expresses no faith in his abilities. She dashes his dreams and expects him to pay attention only to her. Does she love him? What do her actions say?
So many times our actions show the exact opposite of what we say!
Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments."
"Oh, but I do love you, Jesus."
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
So what are the commands of Jesus? Love God above all else. Seek His kingdom first. Love others as yourself. Treat others as you would have others treat you. Forgive others - even your enemies.
Umm, what was that? Forgive my enemies? Surely Jesus didn't say that? Yes - yes He did. I know it is not an easy thing to do - sometimes it is the most difficult thing we will ever do; but through the love and strength of Christ we can learn to forgive.
These are only some of the basic tenets of the Christian lifestyle - one that is fully focused on loving God and living for Him. There are others such as repenting of any unrighteousness in our lives and being baptized to wash away our sins.
The thing is we have to study the Word of God to know what Jesus tells us to do and how He wants us to live. In order to get to the place we long for, we have to know what Christ wants us to keep (obey).
We learn this through the gospels and the other books of the Bible. This is where we learn about Christ, His love and His commandments. The scriptures are the only thing we have to go by in order to get to that beautiful place called heaven. Nothing else can get us there. Nothing.
Yes, heaven is real. God is real. He is the one true and living God. Jesus is real. He reigns in heaven with God. The Holy Spirit is real too.
The thing is we have to choose. We have to choose to believe in God and Christ and the Spirit. We have to choose to believe heaven is a real place waiting for those who make this choice. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (ESV).
God will reward the ones who believe in Him - who seek Him. Jesus declared oneness with the Father. He said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Just a few verses later Jesus said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (v.15) - which is about where we started. :) So we've gone full circle on this.
Hunter and I (and a lot of other folks) wait all year long for one wonderful week at Maywood Christian Camp. This year my week was very special indeed. I have many precious memories stored up in my heart. I will always cherish them.
Yet the place I long for most is more wonderful than even the best week at Maywood. Let us show our love for Christ by keeping His commandments. Let's study the Word so we can know all about Him and what He would have us do. Remember heaven is our goal and it will be so worth it!
Christ above all things,
Robin
It began on the way to camp. Our great nephew rode with me. As any 9 year old would be he was excited to be on the road. He talked non-stop all the way there. Naturally his enthusiasm fueled my own.
"I've been waiting ever since I woke up this morning!"
"Oh, I can't wait to get there!"
"Will Nathan be there this year?"
"I wonder if any of the other friends I made last year will be there."
"Do you think I will be in the same cabin as last year?"
These were just a few of the questions and comments tossed my way. About three quarters of the way to Maywood, he started recognizing landmarks. I thought it was amazing he could remember so much when he'd only been that way once - and a year ago at that.
"We don't take this exit do we? It's the second one right?" he asked.
"That's right," was my reply.
"Hey, Aunt Robin - we've been on this road before."
"Yes - about a year ago," I said. He smiled.
It became our running joke. He would say something like - "we were here before" or "I remember this." And I would say, "about a year ago." I could see his smile; but I only knew he was laughing because his shoulders were shaking. Hunter is a great kid. I love being around him. We were both happy to finally arrive at Maywood Christian Camp.
Now, imagine longing for a place filled with joy and love - where beautiful songs of praise are heard on a regular basis. Everyone is happy to see everyone else - there is no hatred - all prejudices are gone. The worries of the world are gone. This place is full of love and light.
Am I talking about Maywood Christian Camp? No. I am not talking about this great place on earth, although much of what I described is true. I have never seen the place I'm talking about -- I have never been there; but it is real and I long to go someday.
Heaven is a REAL place - a wonderful place filled with mercy, and joy and love- a place of indescribable beauty where peace abounds because God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are all there. Oh how I want to be in this place prepared from "before the foundation of the world" for those who choose to serve Christ!
The good news is we can be there. It is not an impossible dream - if we are willing to love Christ enough to follow His commands. See it takes more than saying we love Him. As the apostle John says,we must not only love in word; but in deed and truth. Love is an action word.
Consider a young couple who have dated for several months. Perhaps the young man tells the young lady he loves her. He treats her with kindness. He respects her body. He encourages her dreams and ambitions. In other words, he shows her he loves her by his actions.
But what about the young lady? Perhaps she says she loves him too; but she does not return his kindness. She demeans him and expresses no faith in his abilities. She dashes his dreams and expects him to pay attention only to her. Does she love him? What do her actions say?
So many times our actions show the exact opposite of what we say!
Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments."
"Oh, but I do love you, Jesus."
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
So what are the commands of Jesus? Love God above all else. Seek His kingdom first. Love others as yourself. Treat others as you would have others treat you. Forgive others - even your enemies.
Umm, what was that? Forgive my enemies? Surely Jesus didn't say that? Yes - yes He did. I know it is not an easy thing to do - sometimes it is the most difficult thing we will ever do; but through the love and strength of Christ we can learn to forgive.
These are only some of the basic tenets of the Christian lifestyle - one that is fully focused on loving God and living for Him. There are others such as repenting of any unrighteousness in our lives and being baptized to wash away our sins.
The thing is we have to study the Word of God to know what Jesus tells us to do and how He wants us to live. In order to get to the place we long for, we have to know what Christ wants us to keep (obey).
We learn this through the gospels and the other books of the Bible. This is where we learn about Christ, His love and His commandments. The scriptures are the only thing we have to go by in order to get to that beautiful place called heaven. Nothing else can get us there. Nothing.
Yes, heaven is real. God is real. He is the one true and living God. Jesus is real. He reigns in heaven with God. The Holy Spirit is real too.
The thing is we have to choose. We have to choose to believe in God and Christ and the Spirit. We have to choose to believe heaven is a real place waiting for those who make this choice. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (ESV).
God will reward the ones who believe in Him - who seek Him. Jesus declared oneness with the Father. He said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Just a few verses later Jesus said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (v.15) - which is about where we started. :) So we've gone full circle on this.
Hunter and I (and a lot of other folks) wait all year long for one wonderful week at Maywood Christian Camp. This year my week was very special indeed. I have many precious memories stored up in my heart. I will always cherish them.
Yet the place I long for most is more wonderful than even the best week at Maywood. Let us show our love for Christ by keeping His commandments. Let's study the Word so we can know all about Him and what He would have us do. Remember heaven is our goal and it will be so worth it!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 27, 2019
All That I Can Do
For the past two Sunday mornings we sang "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed." It's a beautiful song and I've sung it many times; but two weeks ago the words touched me differently and perhaps more strongly than ever before. They hit home with me.
I'm sure many of you know the words. It is about the Savior's love and sacrifice as He was crucified for our sins. The words are beautiful and sad at the same time. They bring our attention to the terrible agony He suffered. They remind us of the awesome love of Jesus.
We should be reminded of Christ's death more frequently. His death and resurrection should be at the forefront of our minds and embedded deeply in our hearts. As Christians it should be what shapes our thoughts and guides our lifestyle every day.
God loves us. Jesus loves us. The Holy Spirit - the Comforter - loves us. The Bible tells us so. The hymns we sing emphasize this truth. The words which touched my heart so strongly are in the last verse. "Here Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do."
These are the words which occupied my mind for two weeks now. I was glad we sang it the second time. The words are so true. Giving ourselves to Him really is all we can do.
We are most certainly not able to save ourselves. We are totally dependent on God for our eternal life. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. His blood paid for our sins and His resurrection conquered death. It is the resurrection which gives us a confident hope of eternal life in heaven with our Savior. Sadly so many people fail to recognize this.
The fact is what we do for Jesus will never come close to what He has done for us. But our love for Him should prompt us to do just what the words of the song say - give ourselves to Him. Nothing else will do. God is not impressed with riches or monuments, or feats of strength, or worldly fame.
Jesus does not concern Himself with the size of our home or the kind of car we drive. The Father and Son only care about our hearts (minds). Our good works are done in God's name so He might be glorified. The light we shine in this dark world is His light.
In short, Jesus wants us to want Him. He wants us to desire heaven so we can be in fellowship with Him. From the time God created man all He has ever wanted to do is be with us. We should want the same thing.
He doesn't expect us to climb the highest mountain or strive for something we cannot do. God only wants us do as much as we can -- in His name -- for His glory; not for our own. If we are willing to give ourselves to Him, we will gain plenty of opportunities to serve Him.
Still I don't suppose many of us like this idea - the idea of giving ourselves away. That's asking way too much, isn't it? It is so much easier just to live our own lives and do our own thing.
Our time is our own. We don't want to spend an afternoon going to the hospital or cooking a meal for a family in need. It takes too much energy to sit with a young mother during worship while her husband is away serving our country. And no one likes to go to the funeral home to be with someone who has just lost a family member.
What about the song? Is giving ourselves to Him totally necessary? We know. The answer is a resounding yes!
We all have good intentions. As Christians, we want to serve God even when it requires time and effort - and even when it means doing things we don't like to do.
These are small prices to pay compared to our Savior's sacrifice. The apostles and other early Christians gave their very lives for the cause of Christ. So many others have too, from that time until now.
It makes me think about all the things I should be doing. Still, it isn't about the things. To be honest, it never has been. It has absolutely everything to do with our hearts. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13 it is not what we do but why we do it. It is the LOVE we have for God that matters. We do what we do out of love.
It doesn't matter how small or big our acts of service are. What matters is the love we have as we serve Him! It is love that guides our walk with Him. It is love which prompts our study of God's word so we can know what to do to serve Him. It is love which leads to obedience and service.
Giving our love causes us to give ourselves away. It isn't always easy and it may actually involve suffering; but it is always worth it! God promises us that.
Christ above all things,
Robin
I'm sure many of you know the words. It is about the Savior's love and sacrifice as He was crucified for our sins. The words are beautiful and sad at the same time. They bring our attention to the terrible agony He suffered. They remind us of the awesome love of Jesus.
We should be reminded of Christ's death more frequently. His death and resurrection should be at the forefront of our minds and embedded deeply in our hearts. As Christians it should be what shapes our thoughts and guides our lifestyle every day.
God loves us. Jesus loves us. The Holy Spirit - the Comforter - loves us. The Bible tells us so. The hymns we sing emphasize this truth. The words which touched my heart so strongly are in the last verse. "Here Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do."
These are the words which occupied my mind for two weeks now. I was glad we sang it the second time. The words are so true. Giving ourselves to Him really is all we can do.
We are most certainly not able to save ourselves. We are totally dependent on God for our eternal life. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. His blood paid for our sins and His resurrection conquered death. It is the resurrection which gives us a confident hope of eternal life in heaven with our Savior. Sadly so many people fail to recognize this.
The fact is what we do for Jesus will never come close to what He has done for us. But our love for Him should prompt us to do just what the words of the song say - give ourselves to Him. Nothing else will do. God is not impressed with riches or monuments, or feats of strength, or worldly fame.
Jesus does not concern Himself with the size of our home or the kind of car we drive. The Father and Son only care about our hearts (minds). Our good works are done in God's name so He might be glorified. The light we shine in this dark world is His light.
In short, Jesus wants us to want Him. He wants us to desire heaven so we can be in fellowship with Him. From the time God created man all He has ever wanted to do is be with us. We should want the same thing.
He doesn't expect us to climb the highest mountain or strive for something we cannot do. God only wants us do as much as we can -- in His name -- for His glory; not for our own. If we are willing to give ourselves to Him, we will gain plenty of opportunities to serve Him.
Still I don't suppose many of us like this idea - the idea of giving ourselves away. That's asking way too much, isn't it? It is so much easier just to live our own lives and do our own thing.
Our time is our own. We don't want to spend an afternoon going to the hospital or cooking a meal for a family in need. It takes too much energy to sit with a young mother during worship while her husband is away serving our country. And no one likes to go to the funeral home to be with someone who has just lost a family member.
What about the song? Is giving ourselves to Him totally necessary? We know. The answer is a resounding yes!
We all have good intentions. As Christians, we want to serve God even when it requires time and effort - and even when it means doing things we don't like to do.
These are small prices to pay compared to our Savior's sacrifice. The apostles and other early Christians gave their very lives for the cause of Christ. So many others have too, from that time until now.
It makes me think about all the things I should be doing. Still, it isn't about the things. To be honest, it never has been. It has absolutely everything to do with our hearts. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13 it is not what we do but why we do it. It is the LOVE we have for God that matters. We do what we do out of love.
It doesn't matter how small or big our acts of service are. What matters is the love we have as we serve Him! It is love that guides our walk with Him. It is love which prompts our study of God's word so we can know what to do to serve Him. It is love which leads to obedience and service.
Giving our love causes us to give ourselves away. It isn't always easy and it may actually involve suffering; but it is always worth it! God promises us that.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Let's Be Weight Lifters
So I've started exercising .... again. It's been several months since I was on any kind of regular routine. Yesterday, after using the elliptical I used the gym training station for a little weight lifting. It was only two sets of 15 reps with 20 pounds. That's really all I can handle for the time being. I will have to build up to more.
Anyway, while I was working with those weights, I thought about how good it felt when I stopped. Haha! How good it was not to be bearing all that extra weight. My thoughts turned to all the other extra weights we carry around with us.
The cares and concerns we deal with in this world can become quite burdensome. The weight can wear us down.
But we aren't meant to bear these burdens alone. We are supposed to help each other. We've all experienced tough times. And we know they are easier to get through when we have friends to help us. The church needs weight lifters!
Do you remember when Christ talked about the extra mile? The concept was probably quite shocking for those who heard it. At the time, the Jewish nation was under control of the Roman Empire. It was law that a Roman soldier could require a Jew to carry their gear for a mile. Needless to say, this law was not in favor among the Jews.
Yet, Jesus said - "if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Knowing this, can you imagine how some of His audience reacted? Yet if we combine the commandment and concept of the extra mile with the commandment to love one another we become weight lifters. We willingly bear one another's burdens.
We are not to be like the Pharisees were. Jesus condemns them for being hypocritical and prideful.
"For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up
heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing
to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:3b-4).
Can you imagine causing more burdens for a brother or sister in Christ? No!!
Instead we are supposed to lift one another up. Help those who are weak. Again, combining the extra mile concept with love we strengthen one another. We build each other up. Those who follow Christ should always be willing to do this for another.
In the gym, I can only lift 20 pounds right now. I don't have enough physical strength to do more. But if someone helped, we could probably double that or more. Sometimes, the devil finds us in a weakened state. We don't have enough strength to face a struggle on our own. So we ask for help and our strength increases!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another, and build one another up." And Galatians 6:2 tells us "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We know from the scriptures Christians are to help one another with all sorts of burdens.
We should be there for one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We need to be able to lean on someone when we feel we can't go on.
As members of the same body, we should realize when one is suffering, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). Think about our own bodies. When we have a stomach ache or sore throat or headache, we hurt all over. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, certainly we will hurt when they hurt or in need -- physically, emotionally or spiritually.
So reach out to someone who is lonely -- pray with and for one another. And I'm not talking about only during the worship assembly. If you remember some kindness - some act of grace and mercy given to you, then find someone else who needs a similar act of kindness and grace.
There are so many ways to lift someone up. Sit with the mother of young children who brings her family to worship without her husband. Make sure you spend a few extra minutes with the widow or widower who attends worship alone week after week, month after month. Let the parents of a child serving overseas in the military tell you about their child.
These are not new ideas. When we know someone needs help --whether it be buying a bag of groceries, cooking a meal or crying with someone who lost a loved one we should show them we care. Be there for them! Be a weight lifter!!
Just like in the gym, I can only do twenty pounds at a time right now - we may have to start off small. Remember though, exercise makes us stronger. The more we help others the stronger we will be. Another thing to remember is we are not working alone. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is right there with us.
We help ourselves when we help others. It is simply a fact. The gratification which comes from being a weight lifter cannot be measured!
I could go on and on about this topic; but it is already getting late. Maybe another time. :) For now, I will leave you with a two more passages from God's word.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10b).
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Anyway, while I was working with those weights, I thought about how good it felt when I stopped. Haha! How good it was not to be bearing all that extra weight. My thoughts turned to all the other extra weights we carry around with us.
The cares and concerns we deal with in this world can become quite burdensome. The weight can wear us down.
But we aren't meant to bear these burdens alone. We are supposed to help each other. We've all experienced tough times. And we know they are easier to get through when we have friends to help us. The church needs weight lifters!
Do you remember when Christ talked about the extra mile? The concept was probably quite shocking for those who heard it. At the time, the Jewish nation was under control of the Roman Empire. It was law that a Roman soldier could require a Jew to carry their gear for a mile. Needless to say, this law was not in favor among the Jews.
Yet, Jesus said - "if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Knowing this, can you imagine how some of His audience reacted? Yet if we combine the commandment and concept of the extra mile with the commandment to love one another we become weight lifters. We willingly bear one another's burdens.
We are not to be like the Pharisees were. Jesus condemns them for being hypocritical and prideful.
"For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up
heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing
to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:3b-4).
Can you imagine causing more burdens for a brother or sister in Christ? No!!
Instead we are supposed to lift one another up. Help those who are weak. Again, combining the extra mile concept with love we strengthen one another. We build each other up. Those who follow Christ should always be willing to do this for another.
In the gym, I can only lift 20 pounds right now. I don't have enough physical strength to do more. But if someone helped, we could probably double that or more. Sometimes, the devil finds us in a weakened state. We don't have enough strength to face a struggle on our own. So we ask for help and our strength increases!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another, and build one another up." And Galatians 6:2 tells us "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We know from the scriptures Christians are to help one another with all sorts of burdens.
We should be there for one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We need to be able to lean on someone when we feel we can't go on.
As members of the same body, we should realize when one is suffering, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). Think about our own bodies. When we have a stomach ache or sore throat or headache, we hurt all over. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, certainly we will hurt when they hurt or in need -- physically, emotionally or spiritually.
So reach out to someone who is lonely -- pray with and for one another. And I'm not talking about only during the worship assembly. If you remember some kindness - some act of grace and mercy given to you, then find someone else who needs a similar act of kindness and grace.
There are so many ways to lift someone up. Sit with the mother of young children who brings her family to worship without her husband. Make sure you spend a few extra minutes with the widow or widower who attends worship alone week after week, month after month. Let the parents of a child serving overseas in the military tell you about their child.
These are not new ideas. When we know someone needs help --whether it be buying a bag of groceries, cooking a meal or crying with someone who lost a loved one we should show them we care. Be there for them! Be a weight lifter!!
Just like in the gym, I can only do twenty pounds at a time right now - we may have to start off small. Remember though, exercise makes us stronger. The more we help others the stronger we will be. Another thing to remember is we are not working alone. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is right there with us.
We help ourselves when we help others. It is simply a fact. The gratification which comes from being a weight lifter cannot be measured!
I could go on and on about this topic; but it is already getting late. Maybe another time. :) For now, I will leave you with a two more passages from God's word.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10b).
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Christ above all things,
Robin
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