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
Saturday, August 31, 2019
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
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