Like many other Americans, we have recently celebrated Thanksgiving. We gathered with family and friends and stuffed ourselves with turkey, vegetables, potatoes, and pies. There was probably enough food to feed a small army. We watched football and enjoyed a day off from our normal work routines. But did we remember to be truly thankful for our blessings?
Some times we take our life for granted. We assume we will have a hot meal or warm clothes to wear. Instead of being grateful, we complain about not liking something or our lack of. We complain about our jobs. We argue with our families. We complain about our difficulties. It is so easy to look at the negative things and get sucked up into that black hole of ungratefulness.
When you find yourself drifting towards that black hole, stop. Just stop and try to see it from another perspective. Perhaps that difficult person is in your life to teach you tolerance. Or your “lack of” is to teach you humility. Or a lack of finances is to teach you to be more dependent on God. Whatever the situation, try to see what you can learn from it. Ask God to help you see it from His perspective.
Remember, there were thousands of Americans that didn't have a warm house or a turkey to eat. There were those that spent Thanksgiving day alone. And yet, there are still reasons to be thankful. Sometimes we just need to look for them.
In difficult situations, it is sometimes hard to find your blessings, but they are there.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Keep on Keeping on
There are some situations in my life that I have earnestly been praying about. I have prayed, cried, and begged God to answer them. Yet I have not seen any changes. The other day, as once again I prayed, I also asked, “Why are my prayers not being answered?” Lo and behold! I felt God answer my question. He asked me how I knew they were not being answered. Well, duh, I am not seeing or experiencing any answers. It must have been the way Adam and Eve felt when God asked them why they were hiding themselves.
God reminded me that His ways are not our ways. He also reminded me that we are dimensional beings with our lives divided up by time. God is omnipotent, He was, He is, and He will be. He sees all time at once, not in segments. He is not limited by time.
So while we are praying, He is already answering. We may not see the results of our prayers when we are expecting to, but we will see results. I think about how my grandmother always told me she was praying for me. She was asking God to grab hold of me and help me to know Him. Her prayers were answered, but it wasn't until years later. Although she was no longer on earth, I believe she saw the answer to her prayers.
Some of our prayers are answered immediately, some when we least expect it. Several months ago I was praying and whining about a situation, when God spoke the answer very clearly. My first thoughts were “this could never happen”. But now, almost a year later, it is happening. For me, it has been a long time. But for God, it was a blink of an eye.
So when you have something you are earnestly praying about, remember that God is answering.
God reminded me that His ways are not our ways. He also reminded me that we are dimensional beings with our lives divided up by time. God is omnipotent, He was, He is, and He will be. He sees all time at once, not in segments. He is not limited by time.
So while we are praying, He is already answering. We may not see the results of our prayers when we are expecting to, but we will see results. I think about how my grandmother always told me she was praying for me. She was asking God to grab hold of me and help me to know Him. Her prayers were answered, but it wasn't until years later. Although she was no longer on earth, I believe she saw the answer to her prayers.
Some of our prayers are answered immediately, some when we least expect it. Several months ago I was praying and whining about a situation, when God spoke the answer very clearly. My first thoughts were “this could never happen”. But now, almost a year later, it is happening. For me, it has been a long time. But for God, it was a blink of an eye.
So when you have something you are earnestly praying about, remember that God is answering.
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Woman of Worth
As a wife, a mother, a woman, have you ever had days that you just felt worthless? Days where your self confidence hit a new low? I have. One day while I was in my pit of self pity, I picked up the bible. What a revalation God revealed! No matter how bad things in my life seemed to be, they were a lot better than the days of old where considered lower than slaves.
Throughout the old and new testaments women were generally considered property. The world at that time did not view them as much more than slaves. Yet, the times the bible talks about Jesus being ministered to, it was by angels and women. They followed Him and ministered to them. They were taught by Him and loved Him. A lot of these woman were healed but more importantly, they were treated with love and respect.
Look at what Jesus did for Mary Magdalene, the crippled woman, the Samaritan woman, to point out just a few. He talked with them, he healed them, He loved them. He didn't them like an outcast.
Are we any different than these woman? Their self-worth was defined by society. They were considered inferior and acted as such. Do we let society today define our self-worth and beauty by using this product or that? By knowing and socializing with the 'right' crowd? By how much money we have or don't have?
We all have a need to belong, to be accepted, to be loved. And that is what Jesus did. He looked past the social stigmas and treated them as people, as “daughters of Abraham”.
Let our prayer be that God would allow us to see our self-worth and beauty through His eyes.
Throughout the old and new testaments women were generally considered property. The world at that time did not view them as much more than slaves. Yet, the times the bible talks about Jesus being ministered to, it was by angels and women. They followed Him and ministered to them. They were taught by Him and loved Him. A lot of these woman were healed but more importantly, they were treated with love and respect.
Look at what Jesus did for Mary Magdalene, the crippled woman, the Samaritan woman, to point out just a few. He talked with them, he healed them, He loved them. He didn't them like an outcast.
Are we any different than these woman? Their self-worth was defined by society. They were considered inferior and acted as such. Do we let society today define our self-worth and beauty by using this product or that? By knowing and socializing with the 'right' crowd? By how much money we have or don't have?
We all have a need to belong, to be accepted, to be loved. And that is what Jesus did. He looked past the social stigmas and treated them as people, as “daughters of Abraham”.
Let our prayer be that God would allow us to see our self-worth and beauty through His eyes.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Be a Verb - take action
When you see someone going through a tough time, have you noticed how easily the words “just have faith”, (or something very similar), come out of your mouth? Or you pat them on the back and tell them things will work out. But is that really helpful to them? Think about the times you were troubled and someone said that to you? Did it help you feel at peace, or did it make you feel more troubled, irate, or bitter? Sometimes the best meaning intentions are not really helpful at all. I know that when I am in a tough spot, my perspective is blurred and my confidence is usually lacking. Instead of speaking mere words to someone, try doing something.
You can be a good listener. Sometimes all that person needs is for someone to listen, to actually hear them, to know that there is someone that really cares.
Be encouraging. Perhaps you can share a difficult time you experienced and how you got through it. It may not work the same way for them, but it gives others hope.
Offer some practical help, if possible. For example, someone is distraught because they broke their leg and can't get around. Perhaps you can offer to do some grocery shopping. Or prepare them a meal.
Most importantly, put yourself in that person's place. How would you want others to respond to you?
Remember, James 2:14-16 “What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?"
You can be a good listener. Sometimes all that person needs is for someone to listen, to actually hear them, to know that there is someone that really cares.
Be encouraging. Perhaps you can share a difficult time you experienced and how you got through it. It may not work the same way for them, but it gives others hope.
Offer some practical help, if possible. For example, someone is distraught because they broke their leg and can't get around. Perhaps you can offer to do some grocery shopping. Or prepare them a meal.
Most importantly, put yourself in that person's place. How would you want others to respond to you?
Remember, James 2:14-16 “What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?"
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