Hello there. It's pretty late in my part of the world --it's after midnight, but I know it's been a while since I posted. I really shouldn't let so much time lapse -- I don't mean to be so sporadic. All that aside, tomorrow morning I leave for Maywood Christian Camp - so I will be away from my computer for a while. I've been very excited about camp for several weeks now. I love going to work as a counselor and Bible class teacher. I learn so much from those young ladies!
Today, I watched a television show with my husband. It was an educational show about bee colonies. I enjoyed it. It was quite interesting, but I heard a man say something that set me back a bit. He was a commercial owner of several hundred bee colonies. As he was discussing his business, he said people are motivated by two things: fear and greed.
I immediately began to feel sorry for this man. He went on to talk about how successful his business and the expensive lifestyle he enjoyed. How tragic! In my opinion, the person who is motivated only by greed must live a sad life indeed. Fear and greed are not the only two things that motivate humans.
What about love? Many people are motivated by love. We act on behalf of the folks we love. Love prompts action. We want the best for those we care about and we do our part to help make that happen. We reap what we sow ...that's a Biblical truth. It is as true now as it was the day it was written. If we sow love -- we will reap love.
Christ told us the greatest commandment is love. We are to love our God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. Love God ... love your fellow man. This love should be our motivation for life.
Faith in and love for God and for Christ our Redeemer should be the focus of our entire lives. When we pray we should pray with love in our hearts. When we sing praises to Him, we should smile and happily sing to declare our love for God. After all, He has done so much for us.
God sent His only begotten Son to this earth ... for us. This is a love that we cannot fathom. But it was His love for us that prompted this action. He wanted to give us a chance to be with Him in heaven. When we love someone, we want to be with them, right? Well, God loves us and wants to be with us when our time on earth is done.
There was a price to be paid. Christ left heaven and came to earth because He loved us. He was motivated by love. He hung on that cross and suffered all that pain because He loved us. There was no greed in His sacrifice.
The human part of Jesus did not want to go through what He did. He prayed to the Father for another way. But His perfect blood was the price to be paid for our souls. In the end, He wasn't motivated by fear. The greater emotion was love ... love triumphed over fear.
S0 - now the question is what motivates you? Fear? Maybe it is greed. What about love? Do you center your life wholly around Christ and let your love for Him be the guiding force in everything you do? It's our choice. Christ left it up to us ....
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
My Favorite Song
Contrary to my youngest son's belief, I do like music. Like most teenagers, I listened to the radio and had my share of favorites. I loved The Monkees. That's probably thanks to my Grandmother (believe it or not). She used to allow me access to my Uncle David's albums when he wasn't home. T0 this day, I still like "I'm a Believer."
Although, I have several favorites I wouldn't say I'm a very knowledgeable fan. I might like a particular song, but wouldn't be able to name the singer or group who recorded it. I certainly don't know any of the songs my 21 year old likes, unless he's listening to some of the "oldies."
The songs I like best though, are hymns and praise songs, even the children's Vacation Bible School songs. These are the songs I know and love. These are the songs you will catch me singing around the house as I work. I love them all.
My all time favorite is the children's song "Jesus Loves Me." Though in my opinion, this isn't just a song for children. It is a song rich in meaning and applies to all of us. Yes, Jesus loves little children. Most of us easily understand that. What we forget is that in the eyes of God and His Only Son, we must all be little children. Perhaps that is why I find this song so comforting.
I imagine that the apostles would have liked this song. After all, they were the ones reprimanded for trying to prevent the little children from coming to Jesus. They saw His gentleness as He was with those children. They saw the love in His face as He blessed them.
The apostles were also the ones who saw Jesus as the Son of God. They saw Him at His mightiest. I can imagine how they must have felt seeing Him after His resurrection. How small they must have felt. It must have been an awesome experience to see Jesus and be able to touch Him again - knowing He had conquered death itself. Oh, how weak they must have felt in the presence of His power!
Yet, Jesus still loved them. He loved them all. He had chosen them to establish His kingdom. Yes, when I think of the words of this precious song I think the apostles would have sung it with full zeal.
Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves us .... me and you. The song has universal appeal because Jesus does love us all. But His love is intensely personal and this song rightly proclaims that aspect of His love. That is why little children like it so much.
Little children are so much into ME. When I watch them sing in Bible class -- they often point to themselves or hug themselves. The word "me" is often sung more loudly than the other words. That's OK. As an adult I like the thought of Him loving "me" too.
After all I've done in my life ... after living for years without walking in His way .. Jesus still loves me. It is a an awesome thing to think that Jesus - the Son of God has a perfect unconditional love for the person I am. He allowed me to repent .. to change my life and come back to Him.
That's another reason I think the apostles would like this song. They understood His love ... if Jesus could come back to them after they deserted Him at the cross (all but one) -- then they certainly understood the meaning of His love.
We come to know about the love of Jesus through the Bible. It is in itself an act of love by the Father that we have the Bible to read and study. The Bible tells us all we need to know about our Savior and Redeemer. I am so thankful God sent His Spirit to inspire the writers of the scriptures.
Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong. We all belong to Jesus. He bought us with His precious blood. But we all know Jesus especially loves the little ones. He cares for them -- for their innocence. He is their protector. He is our Protector, too - if we've turned our lives back over to Him.
There are other verses to this sweet song. It was originally written by Anna Bartlett Warner in 1860 as a poem. Her sister Susan Warner used the poem in a novel called Say and Seal. In the context of the book, the poem was read as a comfort to a dying child. Two years later the words were put to music by William Batchelder Bradbury, who also added the chorus. It has become a song loved by many around the world.
The tune is appealing in its simplicity. The words are simple and clear. The message is full of purity and truth. We are all God's children. God sent His Son to live and die for us. Jesus really does love us this much. His blood was pure and it took His blood to buy us back.
In His presence we are weak. Without His love we are weak to the power of sin -- and bound to pay for our sins eternally. But Jesus -- Jesus is strong. Jesus resisted the devil and lived a perfect life. And the Bible tells us that because He loves us - He gave Himself for us. He was our perfect sacrifice.
We all know that isn't the end of the story. Jesus showed the devil the power of His strength. He conquered death. Through His strength, we have hope of eternal life. We have a chance to live with The One who loves us so. We have to love Him back .. to live for Him. I guess that is why the song is my favorite.
Yes, Jesus loves me. And He loves you, too. I know this. Without a doubt I know this. The Bible tells me so.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Although, I have several favorites I wouldn't say I'm a very knowledgeable fan. I might like a particular song, but wouldn't be able to name the singer or group who recorded it. I certainly don't know any of the songs my 21 year old likes, unless he's listening to some of the "oldies."
The songs I like best though, are hymns and praise songs, even the children's Vacation Bible School songs. These are the songs I know and love. These are the songs you will catch me singing around the house as I work. I love them all.
My all time favorite is the children's song "Jesus Loves Me." Though in my opinion, this isn't just a song for children. It is a song rich in meaning and applies to all of us. Yes, Jesus loves little children. Most of us easily understand that. What we forget is that in the eyes of God and His Only Son, we must all be little children. Perhaps that is why I find this song so comforting.
I imagine that the apostles would have liked this song. After all, they were the ones reprimanded for trying to prevent the little children from coming to Jesus. They saw His gentleness as He was with those children. They saw the love in His face as He blessed them.
The apostles were also the ones who saw Jesus as the Son of God. They saw Him at His mightiest. I can imagine how they must have felt seeing Him after His resurrection. How small they must have felt. It must have been an awesome experience to see Jesus and be able to touch Him again - knowing He had conquered death itself. Oh, how weak they must have felt in the presence of His power!
Yet, Jesus still loved them. He loved them all. He had chosen them to establish His kingdom. Yes, when I think of the words of this precious song I think the apostles would have sung it with full zeal.
Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves us .... me and you. The song has universal appeal because Jesus does love us all. But His love is intensely personal and this song rightly proclaims that aspect of His love. That is why little children like it so much.
Little children are so much into ME. When I watch them sing in Bible class -- they often point to themselves or hug themselves. The word "me" is often sung more loudly than the other words. That's OK. As an adult I like the thought of Him loving "me" too.
After all I've done in my life ... after living for years without walking in His way .. Jesus still loves me. It is a an awesome thing to think that Jesus - the Son of God has a perfect unconditional love for the person I am. He allowed me to repent .. to change my life and come back to Him.
That's another reason I think the apostles would like this song. They understood His love ... if Jesus could come back to them after they deserted Him at the cross (all but one) -- then they certainly understood the meaning of His love.
We come to know about the love of Jesus through the Bible. It is in itself an act of love by the Father that we have the Bible to read and study. The Bible tells us all we need to know about our Savior and Redeemer. I am so thankful God sent His Spirit to inspire the writers of the scriptures.
Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong. We all belong to Jesus. He bought us with His precious blood. But we all know Jesus especially loves the little ones. He cares for them -- for their innocence. He is their protector. He is our Protector, too - if we've turned our lives back over to Him.
There are other verses to this sweet song. It was originally written by Anna Bartlett Warner in 1860 as a poem. Her sister Susan Warner used the poem in a novel called Say and Seal. In the context of the book, the poem was read as a comfort to a dying child. Two years later the words were put to music by William Batchelder Bradbury, who also added the chorus. It has become a song loved by many around the world.
The tune is appealing in its simplicity. The words are simple and clear. The message is full of purity and truth. We are all God's children. God sent His Son to live and die for us. Jesus really does love us this much. His blood was pure and it took His blood to buy us back.
In His presence we are weak. Without His love we are weak to the power of sin -- and bound to pay for our sins eternally. But Jesus -- Jesus is strong. Jesus resisted the devil and lived a perfect life. And the Bible tells us that because He loves us - He gave Himself for us. He was our perfect sacrifice.
We all know that isn't the end of the story. Jesus showed the devil the power of His strength. He conquered death. Through His strength, we have hope of eternal life. We have a chance to live with The One who loves us so. We have to love Him back .. to live for Him. I guess that is why the song is my favorite.
Yes, Jesus loves me. And He loves you, too. I know this. Without a doubt I know this. The Bible tells me so.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
At the Dollar Tree
I love going to the Dollar Tree. Sometimes I don't buy anything; but I enjoy looking around. It's amazing to me what they manage to sell for only a dollar. Not only are there interesting things in the store; but often there are interesting people too. Everyone knows I love little ones, but I especially like to watch interactions between children together or between parents and children.
So a couple of days ago, I'm in the store picking up some cards and other things. I'm a couple of aisles over from where the toys are; but I hear a conversation between a little boy and his mother. She must have come in between errands because she seemed to be in a hurry. The little boy was in quite a dilemma. He wanted to continue looking at all the toys; but Mom needed to go.
The little boy did not want to leave the toys. I don't even know if she had told him he could buy something or not. He just didn't want to leave the toy aisle. And at the same time, he didn't want his mother to leave him either. In an attempt to get him to come with her, she started to walk away a couple of times. He began to cry and begged her not to leave him. A small battle was taking place. Mom won.
Hearing this little drama unfold started me to thinking. That little boy was stuck. He had to make a choice between the allurements of the toy aisle and the safety of his mother's presence. How often do we do this to ourselves?
Are we ever tempted by the allurements of "the toy aisle" of our lives? Are we ever get enticed to leave the safety of God's company by trying something out in the world? Certainly, I am. The devil is a great deceiver. He is an expert at making something look charming. He might whisper in your ear -"It's OK, you can stay here with me." Be careful - that is a spiritual death trap.
Maybe we try to argue with God. We might be happy with where we are in the world. Maybe we say, "I don't want to leave my worldly ways, Father. But can't you stay here too?" The Father is always within our reach ... but that's the key. We must reach for Him. We can't try to stay between two worlds. We have to choose.
God wants us to walk with Him. But we can't get stuck trying to hold on to parts of the world. Our walk with Jesus must be pure and righteous. We have to put our worldly toys away. Jesus told us in Luke 16:13 - "No one can serve two Masters."
Yet it is not always easy. Paul talks about the struggles between the flesh and the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 reads: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." ( NIV) This sounds a little bit like being stuck in the toy aisle to me.
BUT - we are not to despair. God is on our side. He wants us to win! Paul tells us that in I Corinthians 10:13.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (ESV)
Going back to the verses we mentioned from Galatians 5, we know as long as we walk by the Spirit, we will not have the desire to follow the works of the flesh. But it does take diligence on our part. Walking by the Spirit means moving away from the sin. Studying the Spirit inspired words of the Bible helps us learn to walk with the Spirit. Knowing how much God loves us and that He will always provide a way of escape is of great comfort.
We are to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." (Ephesians 6:10 ESV) It is through Christ's power that we gain the strength to move out of the aisle (so to speak). Every day we grow as a Christian is another day we grow away from the world and draw closer to Him. It may not always be easy, but if we walk in the Spirit we can do it.
Remember Paul's encouragement to Timothy:
".... I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1: 6-7 ESV) It is through God's power - and through God's love - that we develop our self-control.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Sunday, May 3, 2015
How Firm Is Your Foundation?
Yesterday as I was putting a bowl in my cabinet, I nearly toppled over a stack of other plastic food containers. They are rectangular in shape and made in such a way that I can stack the containers and lids together. But when I set the bowl beside them, I bumped the container at the bottom of the stack. It went sideways and when it did all the ones on top of it began to sway back and forth until I righted the one on the bottom.
I thought about how easily that bottom container moved sideways when I bumped it. I realized my containers didn't really have a firm foundation. How could they when they were only depending on each other to hold them up?
We need Jesus to hold us up. We can't stack our hopes on one another. The One we depend on is our Lord Jesus Christ. The song "How Firm a Foundation" almost immediately popped into my mind. The song is an old one - a very old one. It was first published in 1787, yet it is still used in many churches today.
The author of the lyrics is not definitively known; but the words of the song have undoubtedly encouraged many souls through the years. The truths are timeless and based on the truth of God's word.
There are five verses to the song; but for the sake of time, we will only look at three. Some of us may know the words; but I will post the verses under consideration. The first verse explains the origin of our foundation:
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said,
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
This verse assures us as Christians that our faith in Him is because of our faith in His Word. Every Christian should have a deep respect for and love of the scriptures. The Bible is how we know about our great God.
The first verse also reminds us that the Bible is complete. We have all that we need to build on our faith. Through the Word of God we have what we need to know how to live for Christ. We don't need anything else and we shouldn't expect any new revelation. He has already said it all. God has given us all we need through the scriptures.
The words of verse 2 are absolutely beautiful to me:
Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
How wonderful is it to know that God is with us!??! I didn't realize until I "googled" this song that this second verse is taken almost word for word from Isaiah 41:10. We don't have to worry or be afraid because God is in control. He is our God and we are His. The Heavenly Father takes care of His own.
We find words very similar to this in the first chapter of Joshua. God tells the new leader of Israel that he has nothing to fear. God promises to be with him.
The truth is He promises to be with all of us who follow Him. He will strengthen us. He is our Great Helper. We will stand because of Him. God is all powerful and He will hold us up. The next time you feel like you are about to fall, imagine the Father holding you up. It is quite a comforting thought, right?
The fifth verse concludes the song and reinforces the beauty of turning our life over to Christ. We are reminded of how firm our foundation --the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ --- truly is. It is soul-saving -- literally.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
God loves those who love and obey Him. Scripture is full of reassurances that He will take care of us. If we lean on His Son, He will not desert us. God and Christ will not allow our enemies to defeat us. Even in the face of death, God will bring us home. If we don't surrender, HE won't surrender us. If we don't forsake Him, He will never forsake us.
The world will let us down, trust in riches will let us down. Fame and success could come and go. Our friends or family may let us down sometimes. People are not perfect. We don't always live up to the expectation of others. That's where forgiveness comes in.
There are times when folks take a totally different path and betray or desert us. Those hurts go deep. Jesus will not do that. He will not betray us.
We can always count on Him. This beautiful song reminds us of that. We shouldn't build our lives on anything except our Redeemer. If we build on a weaker foundation --- well, then we topple over like so many plastic containers.
A faith built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ our Savior is invaluable. For Christians, He really is the rock that keeps us going. Our faith in Him gives us the peace that passes understanding. Jesus gives us our hope of eternal life. For the Christian, it is our faith - our knowledge of Him that makes life livable.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Footnote: http://www.covlife.org/static/hymns/how_firm_a_foundation
I thought about how easily that bottom container moved sideways when I bumped it. I realized my containers didn't really have a firm foundation. How could they when they were only depending on each other to hold them up?
We need Jesus to hold us up. We can't stack our hopes on one another. The One we depend on is our Lord Jesus Christ. The song "How Firm a Foundation" almost immediately popped into my mind. The song is an old one - a very old one. It was first published in 1787, yet it is still used in many churches today.
The author of the lyrics is not definitively known; but the words of the song have undoubtedly encouraged many souls through the years. The truths are timeless and based on the truth of God's word.
There are five verses to the song; but for the sake of time, we will only look at three. Some of us may know the words; but I will post the verses under consideration. The first verse explains the origin of our foundation:
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said,
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
This verse assures us as Christians that our faith in Him is because of our faith in His Word. Every Christian should have a deep respect for and love of the scriptures. The Bible is how we know about our great God.
The first verse also reminds us that the Bible is complete. We have all that we need to build on our faith. Through the Word of God we have what we need to know how to live for Christ. We don't need anything else and we shouldn't expect any new revelation. He has already said it all. God has given us all we need through the scriptures.
The words of verse 2 are absolutely beautiful to me:
Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
How wonderful is it to know that God is with us!??! I didn't realize until I "googled" this song that this second verse is taken almost word for word from Isaiah 41:10. We don't have to worry or be afraid because God is in control. He is our God and we are His. The Heavenly Father takes care of His own.
We find words very similar to this in the first chapter of Joshua. God tells the new leader of Israel that he has nothing to fear. God promises to be with him.
The truth is He promises to be with all of us who follow Him. He will strengthen us. He is our Great Helper. We will stand because of Him. God is all powerful and He will hold us up. The next time you feel like you are about to fall, imagine the Father holding you up. It is quite a comforting thought, right?
The fifth verse concludes the song and reinforces the beauty of turning our life over to Christ. We are reminded of how firm our foundation --the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ --- truly is. It is soul-saving -- literally.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
God loves those who love and obey Him. Scripture is full of reassurances that He will take care of us. If we lean on His Son, He will not desert us. God and Christ will not allow our enemies to defeat us. Even in the face of death, God will bring us home. If we don't surrender, HE won't surrender us. If we don't forsake Him, He will never forsake us.
The world will let us down, trust in riches will let us down. Fame and success could come and go. Our friends or family may let us down sometimes. People are not perfect. We don't always live up to the expectation of others. That's where forgiveness comes in.
There are times when folks take a totally different path and betray or desert us. Those hurts go deep. Jesus will not do that. He will not betray us.
We can always count on Him. This beautiful song reminds us of that. We shouldn't build our lives on anything except our Redeemer. If we build on a weaker foundation --- well, then we topple over like so many plastic containers.
A faith built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ our Savior is invaluable. For Christians, He really is the rock that keeps us going. Our faith in Him gives us the peace that passes understanding. Jesus gives us our hope of eternal life. For the Christian, it is our faith - our knowledge of Him that makes life livable.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Footnote: http://www.covlife.org/static/hymns/how_firm_a_foundation
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Crank It Again!
As most of us know, there's rarely a dull moment when young children are around. They can say some of the funniest things! Young children are so honest and innocent.
They perceive the world differently. I suppose that's why some of the things they say seem to be so amusing. But if we keep our hearts open we can usually gain some insight or learn from what our children say.
From time to time I post cute or funny things my 2 and 3 year old Bible class students say. Two of my friends from another congregation also teach a pre-school Bible class. Their students are aged 2 and under. Last week they shared a cute story with me.
Many teachers use visual aids and even hands-on items. Cathy and Kay were teaching a lesson called "God Made Everything." Various animals are used in this lesson to teach the concept that God truly did make everything.
Last Sunday morning they used wind up toy chickens. After winding it and putting it down the children watched with delight as the little chicken hopped around on the table. One little boy was so excited that when it stopped, he said "Crank it again!" He was definitely ready to see the chicken go into action once more.
I love this story! He was so excited about seeing that chicken move around, he wanted to see it again. I wonder if God feels that way about us sometimes? Think about how happy we make Him when we are busy working in His kingdom. And think about how disappointed He is when we suddenly stop.
God loves us so much! Christ gave up heaven for us.
While Jesus was here on earth, He never forgot His mission. He worked and served His Father constantly. Sure, the human side of Him had to rest from time to time; but after resting, He always continued His labor for the Father.
Throughout His short earthly life, Jesus remained focused on teaching us about God .. and then He died on the cross for us. Christ is our example. He gave us a pattern to live by. We should strive to live as He did. We should remain focused on serving the Father.
I believe the Father wants us to stay cranked up for Him. Two passages come almost immediately to my mind. Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (NKJV) We benefited from the death of Jesus. He is our Savior - our Redeemer. He reconciled us to God. If He died for us, how can we help but live for Him?
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul says our lives should be spent in service to God. He reminds of God's mercy. Because of His sacrifice for us, it is not surprising that God asked the same from us. His sacrifice for us leads us to a loyal and obedient faith. We willingly desire to serve Him because He has taken our sins to the cross with Him.
The second passage I think of is I Corinthians 15:58. In this verse Paul again calls his readers brethren. We know Paul had a great love for his fellow Christians. Getting his message across was very important to him. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
Paul knew how important it was to stay cranked up for the Lord. He also knew that sometimes Christians get discouraged. The fellow brothers he wrote to were under persecution. What did he tell them to do? In essence he said, - "Don't stop - keep going. Don't let your faith waver. And keep working for the Lord!"
Why did Paul want his readers to know this? Because he wanted them to know the other part -- the best part. He wanted his brothers to know that their labor would not be in vain. Our labor for the Lord will not be wasted. We must stay cranked up God. He will reward His faithful.
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
(Galatians 6:9 NKJV)
Hang in there. If you wind down, get cranked up again. It will surely be worth it.
Christ above all things,
Robin
They perceive the world differently. I suppose that's why some of the things they say seem to be so amusing. But if we keep our hearts open we can usually gain some insight or learn from what our children say.
From time to time I post cute or funny things my 2 and 3 year old Bible class students say. Two of my friends from another congregation also teach a pre-school Bible class. Their students are aged 2 and under. Last week they shared a cute story with me.
Many teachers use visual aids and even hands-on items. Cathy and Kay were teaching a lesson called "God Made Everything." Various animals are used in this lesson to teach the concept that God truly did make everything.
Last Sunday morning they used wind up toy chickens. After winding it and putting it down the children watched with delight as the little chicken hopped around on the table. One little boy was so excited that when it stopped, he said "Crank it again!" He was definitely ready to see the chicken go into action once more.
I love this story! He was so excited about seeing that chicken move around, he wanted to see it again. I wonder if God feels that way about us sometimes? Think about how happy we make Him when we are busy working in His kingdom. And think about how disappointed He is when we suddenly stop.
God loves us so much! Christ gave up heaven for us.
While Jesus was here on earth, He never forgot His mission. He worked and served His Father constantly. Sure, the human side of Him had to rest from time to time; but after resting, He always continued His labor for the Father.
Throughout His short earthly life, Jesus remained focused on teaching us about God .. and then He died on the cross for us. Christ is our example. He gave us a pattern to live by. We should strive to live as He did. We should remain focused on serving the Father.
I believe the Father wants us to stay cranked up for Him. Two passages come almost immediately to my mind. Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (NKJV) We benefited from the death of Jesus. He is our Savior - our Redeemer. He reconciled us to God. If He died for us, how can we help but live for Him?
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul says our lives should be spent in service to God. He reminds of God's mercy. Because of His sacrifice for us, it is not surprising that God asked the same from us. His sacrifice for us leads us to a loyal and obedient faith. We willingly desire to serve Him because He has taken our sins to the cross with Him.
The second passage I think of is I Corinthians 15:58. In this verse Paul again calls his readers brethren. We know Paul had a great love for his fellow Christians. Getting his message across was very important to him. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
Paul knew how important it was to stay cranked up for the Lord. He also knew that sometimes Christians get discouraged. The fellow brothers he wrote to were under persecution. What did he tell them to do? In essence he said, - "Don't stop - keep going. Don't let your faith waver. And keep working for the Lord!"
Why did Paul want his readers to know this? Because he wanted them to know the other part -- the best part. He wanted his brothers to know that their labor would not be in vain. Our labor for the Lord will not be wasted. We must stay cranked up God. He will reward His faithful.
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
(Galatians 6:9 NKJV)
Hang in there. If you wind down, get cranked up again. It will surely be worth it.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
2 - 4 - 6 - 8 - Who Do We Appreciate?
Who remembers that cheer? Being genuinely appreciated is definitely a morale booster. Everyone longs to be appreciated. It is a basic human need. But how often do we remember to do this for others? We all know how it feels to be under appreciated.
Think about it. How many of us have plugged away on a project to meet a deadline, then watch someone else take credit for all our hard work? Maybe some of us shared a new idea with our boss or co-worker only to have them bring it up in a meeting like it was their own? What a downer! It is a lousy feeling to be overlooked and unappreciated.
We all want to be valued for who we are and what we do. When our contributions are not recognized we feel an emotional sting. I believe Jesus felt that sting when only one of ten lepers came back to thank Him for healing them. (Luke 17:12 -20)
I was the back up for one of them while she was on vacation. Sometimes we stay so wrapped up in our own little worlds we fail to notice what others are going through. We don't realize or totally understand exactly what is on their plate.
Becoming more familiar with all the tasks my co-worker did helped me gain a new appreciation for her. I made sure I told her when she got back to work. Actually, I ended up telling both of them how much I appreciated what they do.
God wants us to show appreciation for Him. He wants us to value Him as our creator. He is all powerful and merciful and deserves our praise. When we worship our God we are showing appreciation for Him and what He has done for us. How can we not appreciate the One who knows even how many hairs we have on our head?!
We should realize God knows us intimately and loves us ultimately. If we are faithful to Him -- obedient to Him, then we know He is always with us. God is truly good to those who love Him.
The Heavenly Father sacrificed His Only Son for us. Jesus voluntarily left Heaven for us to die for our sins. We can show our appreciation by putting God first in our lives always. “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” (Psalms 9:1 NKJV)
The Lord also wants us to show appreciation for others. Paul often commended those who labored in the Lord's kingdom with him. One such example is found in Romans 16:3-4 - "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well." (ESV)
Expressions of appreciation are a form of encouragement. When we recognize and acknowledge the contributions of others we lift their spirits. Appreciation can empower someone to do more good works. A well-timed word of appreciation can mean the world to someone.
Words are so powerful and we can use our words to do so much good in the world, if we only would. Proverbs 10:11a says "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life." And Proverbs 25:11 tells us "A word fitly spoken are like apples of gold in a setting of sliver." (ESV) How wonderful it would be if would could be known for our words of encouragement and appreciation!
Expressing words of appreciation for one another promotes love and unity within a church family. We are actually commanded to use our words for God to build one another up. Even Christ's words from Matthew 7:12, often called the Golden Rule applies here. "So whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them." (ESV) We know we enjoy being appreciated. If we understand this about ourselves, wouldn't we do well to remember to show appreciation for others?
Paul told the Thessalonians to "encourage one another and build one another up." (I Thessalonians 5:11a ESV) One of the best ways to build someone up .. to encourage them.. is to tell them you appreciate them for things they already do. People love to be acknowledged and appreciated. Hebrews 10:24 gives instruction to stir up one another to love and good works. I know of no better way to stir someone up to do good than showing them you truly appreciate what they have already done.
When Barnabas and Paul delivered the letter from the apostles in Jerusalem to the Gentile Christians in Antioch, it was one of great encouragement to those believers. The Gentiles understood that the gospel was meant for all. They were welcomed into God's family. Acts 15:32 says, "Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers."
What a wonderful feeling it must have been to have the leaders of the church at Jerusalem accept them.
God wants the church to have strength and unity among its members. "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus." (Romans 15:5 ESV) If we are to be found pleasing to God, we will want to give others the same endurance and encouragement that He gives us through our faith in His Son.
Many, many verses tell us to love one another. When we love as God loves we want the best for them. The church is His family. We should long to glorify His name by building up His family. Appreciating one another is one way to show our love.
Paul warns in Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." What a powerful impact our words can have! We have a marvelous opportunity to serve God by showing our appreciation for others.
Each one of has an effect or influence on those with whom we come in contact on a daily basis. Showing appreciation for someone can be as easy as thanking the cashier at Wal-Mart for taking the time to double bag some of your heavier grocery items. Just a simple acknowledgement that you noticed their extra efforts can go a long way.
It is important to remember another admonition from our Lord and Savior. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37 KJV). We must be very careful of our words.
What a difference we can make in someone's life if we show them we care by letting them know we appreciate them. It is one simple way to do good for others. By building one another up, we will all be stronger.
I leave you with one last verse: Proverbs 16:24: "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Christ above all things,
Robin
Think about it. How many of us have plugged away on a project to meet a deadline, then watch someone else take credit for all our hard work? Maybe some of us shared a new idea with our boss or co-worker only to have them bring it up in a meeting like it was their own? What a downer! It is a lousy feeling to be overlooked and unappreciated.
We all want to be valued for who we are and what we do. When our contributions are not recognized we feel an emotional sting. I believe Jesus felt that sting when only one of ten lepers came back to thank Him for healing them. (Luke 17:12 -20)
Appreciation is more than just showing gratitude for someone. It is tied to thankfulness, yes - but it also means understanding what they have done. We realize the thought and energy put into what they do. Appreciating someone means we value their work. We have respect for them because of their actions.
Over the past couple of weeks I've had the opportunity to appreciate some of my co-workers in a way I never have before. I was the back up for one of them while she was on vacation. Sometimes we stay so wrapped up in our own little worlds we fail to notice what others are going through. We don't realize or totally understand exactly what is on their plate.
Becoming more familiar with all the tasks my co-worker did helped me gain a new appreciation for her. I made sure I told her when she got back to work. Actually, I ended up telling both of them how much I appreciated what they do.
God wants us to show appreciation for Him. He wants us to value Him as our creator. He is all powerful and merciful and deserves our praise. When we worship our God we are showing appreciation for Him and what He has done for us. How can we not appreciate the One who knows even how many hairs we have on our head?!
We should realize God knows us intimately and loves us ultimately. If we are faithful to Him -- obedient to Him, then we know He is always with us. God is truly good to those who love Him.
The Heavenly Father sacrificed His Only Son for us. Jesus voluntarily left Heaven for us to die for our sins. We can show our appreciation by putting God first in our lives always. “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” (Psalms 9:1 NKJV)
The Lord also wants us to show appreciation for others. Paul often commended those who labored in the Lord's kingdom with him. One such example is found in Romans 16:3-4 - "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well." (ESV)
Expressions of appreciation are a form of encouragement. When we recognize and acknowledge the contributions of others we lift their spirits. Appreciation can empower someone to do more good works. A well-timed word of appreciation can mean the world to someone.
Words are so powerful and we can use our words to do so much good in the world, if we only would. Proverbs 10:11a says "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life." And Proverbs 25:11 tells us "A word fitly spoken are like apples of gold in a setting of sliver." (ESV) How wonderful it would be if would could be known for our words of encouragement and appreciation!
Expressing words of appreciation for one another promotes love and unity within a church family. We are actually commanded to use our words for God to build one another up. Even Christ's words from Matthew 7:12, often called the Golden Rule applies here. "So whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them." (ESV) We know we enjoy being appreciated. If we understand this about ourselves, wouldn't we do well to remember to show appreciation for others?
Paul told the Thessalonians to "encourage one another and build one another up." (I Thessalonians 5:11a ESV) One of the best ways to build someone up .. to encourage them.. is to tell them you appreciate them for things they already do. People love to be acknowledged and appreciated. Hebrews 10:24 gives instruction to stir up one another to love and good works. I know of no better way to stir someone up to do good than showing them you truly appreciate what they have already done.
When Barnabas and Paul delivered the letter from the apostles in Jerusalem to the Gentile Christians in Antioch, it was one of great encouragement to those believers. The Gentiles understood that the gospel was meant for all. They were welcomed into God's family. Acts 15:32 says, "Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers."
What a wonderful feeling it must have been to have the leaders of the church at Jerusalem accept them.
God wants the church to have strength and unity among its members. "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus." (Romans 15:5 ESV) If we are to be found pleasing to God, we will want to give others the same endurance and encouragement that He gives us through our faith in His Son.
Many, many verses tell us to love one another. When we love as God loves we want the best for them. The church is His family. We should long to glorify His name by building up His family. Appreciating one another is one way to show our love.
Paul warns in Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." What a powerful impact our words can have! We have a marvelous opportunity to serve God by showing our appreciation for others.
Each one of has an effect or influence on those with whom we come in contact on a daily basis. Showing appreciation for someone can be as easy as thanking the cashier at Wal-Mart for taking the time to double bag some of your heavier grocery items. Just a simple acknowledgement that you noticed their extra efforts can go a long way.
It is important to remember another admonition from our Lord and Savior. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37 KJV). We must be very careful of our words.
What a difference we can make in someone's life if we show them we care by letting them know we appreciate them. It is one simple way to do good for others. By building one another up, we will all be stronger.
I leave you with one last verse: Proverbs 16:24: "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Flip-Flop, Flip-Flop - Don't Be a Flip Flop
Well, it's been about a month since my last post and what a month it's been! Thankfully we've gone from the icy cold to milder spring weather. I think most folks were quite happy to see warmer temperatures. I know I certainly was. It is now flip-flop weather! Oh, how I rejoiced a couple of weeks ago when I donned my flip-flops for the first time this season.
As I listened to the flip-flop of my steps walking about to prepare for work I reveled in the joy of the nicer weather and the resulting freedom for my feet. Flip flopping through the house, I suddenly thought that God doesn't like flip-flops. Now I'm not talking about what I had on my feet. Instead I was thinking about the double-minded man mentioned in James.
The book of James is full of practical advice about how to live as a Christian. He writes to encourage us. But in James 1:8 he says "a double minded-man is unstable in all his ways." God wants us to be fully committed to Him. We cannot allow ourselves to be double-minded. Do you want a stable life supported with wisdom and strength from the Almighty God? Commit yourself to Him. We can't be wishy-washy about this.
Although this verse does seem to speak for itself, studying it in context will help us more clearly understand the importance of avoiding the instability of a double mind. After his introductory greeting, James gives strong words of encouragement to the Christian facing various trials. We are to count it all joy to meet these trials, knowing our steadfast perseverance will make us "perfect and complete." (James 1:2-4 ESV)
In verse 5, our brother James tells us if we lack wisdom, we are to ask God and wisdom will be given to us, for God "gives generously to all without reproach." (ESV) Then we get to the heart of the matter. We should ask in complete faith. We cannot doubt God. If we waver in our faith - if we doubt the power of our God -- then we are like a wave of the sea that is tossed by the wind.
In other words, we cannot be flip flops. We must hold fast to our commitment to the Father. James' illustration of the wave being tossed about to and fro is easy to picture in our mind. We can't let ourselves be led away from God by first one thing and then another. We can't believe He will give us the wisdom we seek to get through our trials one minute and then decide He isn't there to help us.
Verse 7 says the person who asks and doubts can't think they will receive anything from God. That wave is restless. I can imagine that there is no peace for a double minded man who is always doubting, never fully confident -- never having the peace God offers. Being double minded means being unstable. A fully committed faith in God lends itself to a stable life knowing we can always depend on He who loves us.
This passage brings to mind the warning of Christ in Matthew 6:24 --"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (ESV) We can't be flip-flops folks. It just won't work.
We cannot let our faith waver. We must hold fast to our faith in God's care and His promises. Paul mentions the unwavering faith Abraham had in God's promise that he would be the father of many nations. Romans 4:20 is a beautiful passage: "No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew storing in his faith as he gave glory to God." Abraham was certainly not a double minded man. He remained focused on serving God and giving glory to Him.
We must be single minded in our vision -in our faith. Peter doubted when he tried to walk toward Jesus on the water. He took his eyes off the Savior, but turned back to Him just in time. Jesus loved Peter and saved him. He loves us too -- just as much as He loved Peter.
Later, we see the apostle became faithful to Christ. He lived and died for his Master. In I Peter 1:9 he says the outcome of our faith will be the salvation of our souls. What a wonderful promise!
Peter goes on to tell us in verse 13, "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (ESV) Peter had gained the peace, strength and comfort of an unwavering faith in the Savior. He was not tossed about by the wind.
Paul said: "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13b - 14) Paul was focused on the goal of the prize for serving Christ. We should be too. Abraham, Peter and Paul all had complete faith in God. They served Him and brought glory to Him. And the Father kept His promises to them. We need to know He will also keep His promises to us.
Enjoy your spring and summer. Let your feet be free. Wear your flip-flops as often as you like. But keep them on your feet. Don't BE a flip-flop yourself. Stay single minded. Enjoy the stability and peace of your unwavering faith.
Christ above all things,
Robin
As I listened to the flip-flop of my steps walking about to prepare for work I reveled in the joy of the nicer weather and the resulting freedom for my feet. Flip flopping through the house, I suddenly thought that God doesn't like flip-flops. Now I'm not talking about what I had on my feet. Instead I was thinking about the double-minded man mentioned in James.
The book of James is full of practical advice about how to live as a Christian. He writes to encourage us. But in James 1:8 he says "a double minded-man is unstable in all his ways." God wants us to be fully committed to Him. We cannot allow ourselves to be double-minded. Do you want a stable life supported with wisdom and strength from the Almighty God? Commit yourself to Him. We can't be wishy-washy about this.
Although this verse does seem to speak for itself, studying it in context will help us more clearly understand the importance of avoiding the instability of a double mind. After his introductory greeting, James gives strong words of encouragement to the Christian facing various trials. We are to count it all joy to meet these trials, knowing our steadfast perseverance will make us "perfect and complete." (James 1:2-4 ESV)
In verse 5, our brother James tells us if we lack wisdom, we are to ask God and wisdom will be given to us, for God "gives generously to all without reproach." (ESV) Then we get to the heart of the matter. We should ask in complete faith. We cannot doubt God. If we waver in our faith - if we doubt the power of our God -- then we are like a wave of the sea that is tossed by the wind.
In other words, we cannot be flip flops. We must hold fast to our commitment to the Father. James' illustration of the wave being tossed about to and fro is easy to picture in our mind. We can't let ourselves be led away from God by first one thing and then another. We can't believe He will give us the wisdom we seek to get through our trials one minute and then decide He isn't there to help us.
Verse 7 says the person who asks and doubts can't think they will receive anything from God. That wave is restless. I can imagine that there is no peace for a double minded man who is always doubting, never fully confident -- never having the peace God offers. Being double minded means being unstable. A fully committed faith in God lends itself to a stable life knowing we can always depend on He who loves us.
This passage brings to mind the warning of Christ in Matthew 6:24 --"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (ESV) We can't be flip-flops folks. It just won't work.
We cannot let our faith waver. We must hold fast to our faith in God's care and His promises. Paul mentions the unwavering faith Abraham had in God's promise that he would be the father of many nations. Romans 4:20 is a beautiful passage: "No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew storing in his faith as he gave glory to God." Abraham was certainly not a double minded man. He remained focused on serving God and giving glory to Him.
We must be single minded in our vision -in our faith. Peter doubted when he tried to walk toward Jesus on the water. He took his eyes off the Savior, but turned back to Him just in time. Jesus loved Peter and saved him. He loves us too -- just as much as He loved Peter.
Later, we see the apostle became faithful to Christ. He lived and died for his Master. In I Peter 1:9 he says the outcome of our faith will be the salvation of our souls. What a wonderful promise!
Peter goes on to tell us in verse 13, "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (ESV) Peter had gained the peace, strength and comfort of an unwavering faith in the Savior. He was not tossed about by the wind.
Paul said: "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13b - 14) Paul was focused on the goal of the prize for serving Christ. We should be too. Abraham, Peter and Paul all had complete faith in God. They served Him and brought glory to Him. And the Father kept His promises to them. We need to know He will also keep His promises to us.
Enjoy your spring and summer. Let your feet be free. Wear your flip-flops as often as you like. But keep them on your feet. Don't BE a flip-flop yourself. Stay single minded. Enjoy the stability and peace of your unwavering faith.
Christ above all things,
Robin
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