Meaning

The Bible tells us in Matthew 16:26 “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”  

Great questions!    But if we are told that what we gain here doesn’t matter as much as our relationship with Christ... why are so many after the applause of men?   Why do people pursue trinkets and trophies... when God has an infinitely better plan for their lives?  Comedian Jim Carrey once said, “I think everyone should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.”  So what do we do?  

Keep in mind that meaning doesn’t come from anything that man creates.  God has designed us to be connected to Him... and when we remember that and pursue Him passionately,  we gain what really matters.  

Yourself

A former chaplain of the US Senate, Richard Halverson once said... "Want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else. Outrunning your rival doesn’t mean you ran your best race. You can win over another and still not fulfill your potential. It’s true in all of life. To be your best, you must compete with yourself. It’s life’s biggest contest.”

In Galatians 6, the Bible says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions.".   One of the biggest barriers to personal success is the comparison of ourselves to others.  You are the only one qualified to be you... and that’s what God made you to do!    Are you ready to move forward and improve?  Stay in your lane, check your own motives, work on improving yourself, and remember... your only real competition is the you of yesterday.  Keep moving forward!

An Ordinary Friday

Do you feel ordinary today?   Plain?   

Good.  

You are exactly the type of person God uses to change the world.  Joseph was a prisoner... Gideon was a farmer... David was a shepherd... Mary was a teenager... Luke was a doctor... Matthew collected taxes... and Peter caught fish long before he was called a “fisher of men”.   

When we read that list, we think “God’s all-stars”  But they didn’t think of themselves that way.  In their minds, they were just regular people doing what God had asked them to do... and changing the world in the process.  

Fact is, every person He creates is knitted together with a purpose.  A destiny.   That includes you.  You may have opened your eyes this morning feeling plain but you aren’t.  God had a plan for those He used in the Bible... and He has one for you.  He specializes in doing extraordinary things through ordinary people who are committed to fulfilling His purpose in their lives.  There’s nothing common about that!

Athletes

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Researchers have discovered that athletes have a higher pain tolerance than non-athletes. It seems both men and women who play team sports can stand more pain than those involved in other less intense activities.  Their recommendation?  If you deal with a lot of everyday pain... get active... you’ll feel healthier and more resistant to discomfort.  

Great advice!  But when it comes to the pains of life... many of us do the opposite.  When it hurts...we retreat... we become afraid.  Timid.  Unsure of what God can do or if the pain will ever end.  Scripture tells us in Joshua 1:9 to be strong!  Be courageous when it hurts because God is with us!   When life gets challenging, don’t shrink back or  just stand there in pain... step boldly forward... stay active and connected to God...  and soon you’ll find yourself stronger and more tolerant to what used to hurt you.  

Caught

Billy Graham once said... “Children will talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents. Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern which they can see clearly, and you give them something that gold and silver cannot buy.”  

Parenting is caught not taught.  No matter how we much tell our children to behave, be kind, share, tell the truth, and mind their manners... they will struggle if they don’t see it lived out in our own lives.  God tells us in Proverbs 22 that we should train up our children in a way that honors God... and once we do so, it will stick with them forever.  How do we do this?  Demonstrate integrity... be true to our word... give second chances.. love them like Christ does... and face challenges with courage not complaints.  Telling our kids about Christ is important.   Living out His values in front of them is equally so.  

Sleepless?

In August of 2010, Ron S. of Brewester, Massachusetts had a problem.  Doctors discovered an “ominous dark spot” on one of his lungs. They feared the worst.  Multiple tests were run but all came back inconclusive.  There was only one thing left to do... surgery.  The mass was removed and sent to the labs.  After a couple of days it was concluded that it wasn’t cancer at all... it was a pea that had somehow worked its way into his windpipe and then his lung.  The moist environment of the lung had caused it to sprout.  

How much time do we spend dreading those “ominous dark spots” in our lives.  We work ourselves up... preparing ourselves for doom and gloom... only to find that what we dread isn’t what comes to pass.  Over 90% of what we worry about never happens.  9 out of 10 sleepless nights are pointless.   We allow the unknown to grow in the dark damp environment of our minds..holding us prisoner to fear and worry.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans for us... He knows what’s coming... and He’s already ahead of us preparing the way.  No need to doubt, dread, or waste time wondering where the next “dark spot” may come.  Take time to trust!   When we do so, life gets easier and our faith grows stronger!

Heavier

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she asked: "How heavy is this glass of water?"  Some guessed 8 ounces... others 20 ounces... She replied, "The weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

Stress is the same way.  Hold it for a little while...no problem.  A little while longer...a little more weight.  All day?  A week?  It quickly becomes unbearable.  So how can we control the pressure on our lives?  Take Jesus up on what He offers in 1 Peter chapter 5  verse 7:  “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”  God wants us to turn to Him when times get tough... We weren’t created to carry the weight of the world... so today, let’s choose to trust in His strength and not our own.