Today I received a call from a close friend of mine & fellow believer. She was distrought about a reaction she had to a friend of hers who had done her wrong. We had this interesting conversation about what had happend and what she needed to do to make it right. What I love about this person is that she was real with what she was feeling. She had been treated unfairly by someone whom she trusted & who was also a believer. Her first reaction was to close off in hopes that she wouldn't get hurt or hurt more from what had happend between the two. What was in my heart to tell her was that she now had to make it right if that friend of hers wasn't. Apparently the friend kept sending messages to her that were trying to aggrivate her and make the situation bigger than what it had become. This friend of mine acknowledged that her behavior was in the wrong & it may not have been the best way to handle it at the time. So she became the bigger person in this & made things right.
After the call I did some thinking. This phrase came to me and I wanted to share it with you. A while back our former pastor spoke to us about Christians being "different" & not better than anyone else. The way we, my friend & I, worked out her problem was just that. She responded in a sincere way letting her friend know that she reacted the way she did because she was hurt & caught by surprise. The second thing she did was asked her friend to forgive her if she offended her with her actions towards her. This friend of mine could have simply responded back in strife & kept on about her business or lost a friend today because neither one of them would fix this.
Today I want to understand that statement more and more. We're not better we're just different. As believers, and just as human beings, we should always consider the better way to go. We should make things right that we know need to be fixed. No matter the cost, we should be the bigger person by being different. I told my friend that the best thing to do was to ask ourselves what would Jesus have us do. Would he have us be like the people who are just out to hurt & destroy? Or, would he have us go the different route & bless those who curse us? I know my Bible says to bless those who curse me. So, I am going to conquer doing just that. When someone wrongs me, I will not turn my cheek in hate, or hurt. I will love them & make things right. And if I miss the mark, which I'm sure we all do from time to time, I know that God's Love will love me as I am & I am to do the same for others.
Forgive, & you shall be forgiven. Let it go & Let God take control. Our hate, our disappointments, our mistakes, our worry, our emotional walls, & our stubborness can only take us so far. In most cases, not so far at all.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Keys
God gave us the keys to the kingdom. There have been many times that I’ve seen God supernaturally open doors that no one else could open for me, but there have also been moments in my life where I initiated those doors to open. I activated my faith. I believe there are doors we are needing to open for ourselves. Luke 11:9 says to Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Jesus is giving us instructions on how to obtain, press in to, to possess the good life. Not everything in life is handed to us, sometimes it requires us to work it. For example. A kid on Christmas morning receives a Remote Control Car. As he unwraps it he realizes it is no good without the batteries it “Requires”. So either A, someone already took the initiative to purchase them or B, the next person to go to store will pick some up. Until that moment, the Remote Control Car is useless.
How many of us are still waiting for God to give us the batteries? God’s given us the Remote Control Car we’d believed for, now its up to us to get the batteries for it.
What are some of the things you are needing the door to open to? Is it that new job, new car, relationships, your ministry? I encourage you to go out, step out in faith, and show God that you are using the keys he’s given you.
In Matthew 14 Peter saw Jesus walking on water. Although he wasn’t completely sure that it was him he asked Jesus to call him out to the water with him to prove himself. So, with no hesitation Jesus told him to come, come to me & I will show you what your faith can do (Paraphrasing of course). Many people who read that passage bring out the negative in Peter. Many have said that it just showed how much Peter didn’t trust Jesus, that he had “little faith”, and of course, that it wasn’t a miracle because Peter sank. I am here to show you that Jesus gave Peter the key to faith, the key to believe in himself to prove to himself (Peter) what he could do if he just “opened the door”.
The moment Peter started to sink, the bible goes on to say in verse 31 that immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
So many people are hesitating, waiting to see which door God will open next for us. Sometimes it requires us to act out our faith, walk it out. In doing so, we’ll see what God can do. Don’t stand back wondering about the what if’s. Peter surely didn’t stop to think about what if he’d sink. Today, think about Jesus being right there with you every step of the way waiting to catch you if you begin to sink. If its healing, think about the lady with the issue of blood. Many people around her could have easily hurt her for daring to get close to Jesus. She knew that Jesus gave her the “key to her healing” and she was determined to “open that door” to receive her healing. She did. Are you like Zacchaeus the Tax Collector staying away from Jesus, but wondering on the inside if he truly is the Son of God? Is this Jesus I’m talking about really the One who can make you whole again? Then Come, receive the key to Salvation & let Him show you, Who can be for you. What he can & will do for you.
Jesus is giving us instructions on how to obtain, press in to, to possess the good life. Not everything in life is handed to us, sometimes it requires us to work it. For example. A kid on Christmas morning receives a Remote Control Car. As he unwraps it he realizes it is no good without the batteries it “Requires”. So either A, someone already took the initiative to purchase them or B, the next person to go to store will pick some up. Until that moment, the Remote Control Car is useless.
How many of us are still waiting for God to give us the batteries? God’s given us the Remote Control Car we’d believed for, now its up to us to get the batteries for it.
What are some of the things you are needing the door to open to? Is it that new job, new car, relationships, your ministry? I encourage you to go out, step out in faith, and show God that you are using the keys he’s given you.
In Matthew 14 Peter saw Jesus walking on water. Although he wasn’t completely sure that it was him he asked Jesus to call him out to the water with him to prove himself. So, with no hesitation Jesus told him to come, come to me & I will show you what your faith can do (Paraphrasing of course). Many people who read that passage bring out the negative in Peter. Many have said that it just showed how much Peter didn’t trust Jesus, that he had “little faith”, and of course, that it wasn’t a miracle because Peter sank. I am here to show you that Jesus gave Peter the key to faith, the key to believe in himself to prove to himself (Peter) what he could do if he just “opened the door”.
The moment Peter started to sink, the bible goes on to say in verse 31 that immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
So many people are hesitating, waiting to see which door God will open next for us. Sometimes it requires us to act out our faith, walk it out. In doing so, we’ll see what God can do. Don’t stand back wondering about the what if’s. Peter surely didn’t stop to think about what if he’d sink. Today, think about Jesus being right there with you every step of the way waiting to catch you if you begin to sink. If its healing, think about the lady with the issue of blood. Many people around her could have easily hurt her for daring to get close to Jesus. She knew that Jesus gave her the “key to her healing” and she was determined to “open that door” to receive her healing. She did. Are you like Zacchaeus the Tax Collector staying away from Jesus, but wondering on the inside if he truly is the Son of God? Is this Jesus I’m talking about really the One who can make you whole again? Then Come, receive the key to Salvation & let Him show you, Who can be for you. What he can & will do for you.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Burned Biscuits
Author Unknown.
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner
every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when
she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that
evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and
extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to
see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit,
smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't
remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching
him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my
mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never
forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him
if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and
said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real
tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people.
I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and
anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each
others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences
- is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing,
and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the
good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the
feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able
to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is
the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or
friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket
keep it in your own."
God Bless You...... Now, and Always.... So Please pass me a biscuit,
and yes, the burnt one will do just fine!
And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life...
I just did!
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner
every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when
she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that
evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and
extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to
see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit,
smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't
remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching
him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my
mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never
forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him
if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and
said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real
tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people.
I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and
anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each
others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences
- is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing,
and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the
good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the
feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able
to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is
the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or
friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket
keep it in your own."
God Bless You...... Now, and Always.... So Please pass me a biscuit,
and yes, the burnt one will do just fine!
And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life...
I just did!
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