Worthy Words

The 80-20 Rule

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:01:00 +0000

In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that twenty percent of the people owned eighty percent of the wealth. The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Although this rule was first applied in Italy when Pareto was looking at the dispersal of wealth, it has since become a rule of thumb for many businesses. It has been said that 20% of your workforce does 80% of the work, or 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients. I think this law comes into play in our lives as well. Life is 20% what happens to you and 80% what you make of it.

There are tons of stories about people who come out of difficult situations — gang life, in and out of jail, drug addiction, broken families, abuse – yet still seem to rise to the top. And of course, there are many stories of those who have been given everything they would need to succeed, only to wind up in the depths of despair and a broken life. How you choose to respond to what life hands you not only says a lot about you, but has a huge impact on your life. You can choose to either spend your life blaming your circumstances for misfortune or heartache, or you can learn from those things and move on.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”—James 1:2-4

When James writes his letter, he tells the people to “consider it joy when they face trials.” This is so contrary! Joy? How can you consider it joy when you are robbed, raped, lied to, fired, are having marriage difficulties or friendship problems? James is not saying to pretend to be happy about a painful situation, but simply to have a positive outlook and know you can learn from it and not let it drag you down. The only thing we have control over in this life is how we choose to respond. And how you choose to respond, especially under pressure, shows the depth of your character. Instead of complaining about your struggles or blaming your trials for the bad choices you make, look at them as opportunities to grow, not opportunities to assign blame for your misfortune.

If life is truly 20% what happens to you and 80% what you make of it, think carefully before you react to something that has happened or each time you make a decision.

Control Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:33:00 +0000

When it comes to our life, we have nothing to say about our birth and little say about our death, but in between these two events most of the decisions are ours to be made. Are you letting life and circumstances control you, or are you controlling your own life and destiny with God’s help. Don't let life pass you by when you have the God-given ability to make things happen. I've heard it said:

You can't control the length of your life, but you can control its use.

You can't control your facial appearance, but you can control its expression.

You can't control the weather, but you can control the moral atmosphere that surrounds you.

You can't control the distance of your head above the ground, but you can control the height of the contents in your head.

You can't control the other fellow's annoying faults, but you can see to it that you do not develop similar faults.

Why worry about things you cannot control? Get busy controlling the things that depend on you. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Righteous Hunger

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:49:00 +0000

There is a saying that too much of something is not good for you. I’ve been told too much alcohol can make you drunk. This is true. I’ve been told too much smoking can cause cancer. That’s valid. I’ve been told too much food can make you fat. I’m a witness to this fat fact. And, I’ve been told that too much Bible can make you crazy! Well, all things being equal, I guess that explains why so many who have a Bible don’t read it for fear of insanity. LOL!

Mother Theresa once said, "Our progress in holiness depends on God and ourselves, on God's grace and on our will to be holy." The apostle Peter made this statement in his letter to Christians living under great persecution and suffering; “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy"—1 Peter 1:14-16. Every Christian is called to live a life of holiness. Sadly, I've been guilty of desiring impressive results in my Christian life but only giving a half-hearted effort.

Christ-followers today lack a hunger for holiness—that’s insane. The definition of holiness is “separate from” or “purity.” Holiness makes you different than the crowd and you will be noticed by the way you live your life. For holiness to work it must be the everyday business of a Christ-follower. The proof that it’s working in your life can be seen in the decisions you make and the lifestyle you live, hour by hour, day by day. Andrew Murray said, "The starting point and the goal of our Christian life is obedience." In living obedience to God and His Word your life will become more holy. The goal to living a life of holiness is a process—a lifelong process. It won’t happen in a single moment of devotion but given to it you will mature spiritually and be set apart to be an instrument of His grace.

Some people never strive to become full-grown believers. They are on a spiritual diet—which is spiritual insanity. The first step of holiness is a willingness to be obedient. The end result of holiness is a fuller and deeper life with God. Jesus, as he began the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, put it this way: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Are you hungry? Stop the insanity!

Mask Off

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:36:00 +0000

Have you ever noticed how many of the superheroes put on masks when it’s time to do their “superhero jobs”? Batman and Robin, Spiderman, the Green Lantern, Captain America and Wonder Dog all wear the mask to fight against evil. There they are, with their colored masks hiding their true identity.

My personal favorite is Superman. When he’s fighting back evil, it is full disclosure time. He is being who he truly is, when he takes OFF his mask — those oversized black-framed glasses. When he’s doing what he was made to do, doing it fully revealed, he’s more himself than at any other time.

In today’s world, there is a crying-out by the public at large for genuineness. We’ve been disappointed over and over by those who, after it’s too late, aren’t who they said they were. If we’re honest, maybe it’s true in our own relationships with other believers. If we’re even more honest, maybe we’ve been the cause of someone else’s disappointment. And perhaps that disappointment wasn’t due to something sleazy uncovered in our lives, but because we were unwilling to demonstrate anything real in our lives. Why the masks? I wonder sometimes if our very DNA includes the chromosome known as “image.” Concealed behind image resides the word “pride.” Proverbs 11:2 says; “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Imagine for just a moment what would your life look like if you took off the mask and depended completely on God’s power to do what He’s planned for you to do? It would mean getting down off the pedestal. It would mean being just the “signpost.” It would indeed be humbling. Think further— Consider the impact of God’s people in this country and worldwide if, we would once and for all chose to remove the masks and defeat our own pride and fight for truth —real, authentic, bona fide life-altering, humble truth. It’s time to come out from under the mask.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:59:00 +0000

I’ve noticed how my three young grandsons have become professional questioners? At some point in their development when everything is normal, life is humming along quite nicely, a shift took place. “Grandad, why is the sky blue? How did it get to be blue anyway? Is there something behind it?” “Grandawn, why is yellow called ‘yellow’?” This how they roll now.

I remember Art Linkletter, long ago, back in the 1960’s had a very popular daily variety show with a segment titled, “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” took this childlike questioning routine and reversed it to get laughs. Many times the endless questions children ask parents is no laughing matter and can sometimes be a source of irritation and nuisance because kids ask the darndest things. The reason, kids ask their parents questions, is because they believe their parents truly know the answers. In a strange sort of way, it is the asking of the question that shows their greatest sense of faith. This has all kinds of implications.

For instance, some people believe that to question God is the ultimate form of disobedience. Questioning God shows a lack of faith. I don’t agree. Time and again in the Bible you come across people who cried out to God. They cried out to God because they knew that He had been faithful in the past, and that they needed Him to be faithful once again in the present. “God, where are you? I thought you were a loving God. Where’s this loving God that I thought you were?” Perhaps you’ve asked the same kinds of questions. When you ask hard questions of God, you are standing in the flow of this ancient tradition, one that is captured time and again in the Scriptures. “How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? Lord, where is your former great love, which in your faithfulness you swore to David?” (Psalm 89:46, 49)

It is in the asking of your honest, gut-wrenching questions, the ones filled with doubts and frustration, that you are expressing a deep sense of faith. You are His child! Cry out to God! When in your frustration and doubt, cry out to Him because you believe that He is the only one who can do something about it. Wherever you are in your faith journey, know that you can come to your Heavenly Father honestly with your questions, your doubts and your frustrations. It just might be the most faith-filled thing you can do.

Needing Knees

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 16:49:00 +0000

In Luke 7:44-47 we find these words: Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. ⁴⁷ I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."

This text is a story of two people and their interaction with Jesus. One is the dinner host, and the other was uninvited. One was called a teacher; the other called a sinner.

These two people both had access to forgiveness. One was a religious leader, the other a person with a sordid reputation.

This event followed on the heals where Jesus tells a story to his host, about two people who owed debts, one much more than the other—but both debts were such that neither could repay—yet both are forgiven. Jesus asked his host, Simon, “Which will love him more?” What Simon does not realize is that his answer will expose that he still sees with unforgiving eyes. The issue is not that one is allowed to love less, while the other is required to love more. The issue is that there is only one response to being made whole and free, and the only one who gets it is on her knees.

How about you? How will you respond? Will it leave you still living with labels and levels of grace, or will it leave you on your knees?

RAINY DAYS

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:21:00 +0000

Here in north central Texas, there’s little doubt that winter is rarely distinguishable from the fall. We typically expect the weather to be dry having moderate temperatures blanketed by brown grass with few leaves on the trees. This part of the country has a saying; “If you don’t like the weather stick around it will change.” That phrase certainly rings true this season. Winter has been…well, winter-fall-like! There have been cold days followed by rain followed by sleet/snow followed by temperatures in the seventies. In fact, Sunday (today) through Tuesday it’s to be raining again. I’m sure the birds and fish are enjoying this. Me not so much! My mood is beginning to match the damp weather. I find myself longing for a few back-to-back bright sunny days than cloudy dark days.

I just feel like it’s time to repeat the well know refrain; “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down!” There are people at any given time, somewhere, experiencing rainy seasons, not climatically produced by weather, but of life’s climate change soaking and drenching them to the depths of their soul. Life isn’t working out the way they had hoped. The storms of life have poured pain and despair, and the forecast isn’t changing. Their prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, unheeded.

Jesus implies that the storms of life are inevitable. “Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against the house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” — Matthew 7:25. We all experience these seasons. Yet, while we can’t change the “weather,” we can be prepared to handle the rainy seasons of the heart that come our way.

Christ said that we weather the storms of life by listening to what He commands and by obeying Him. He likened this to a house being built on a rock instead of on sand. He said that those who follow Him in this way are wise. By contrast, those who do not, Jesus calls foolish. This is simple but profound. It is Christ-following 101.

So, even if we aren’t experiencing a rainy season in our own life, we can and should come alongside those who are—by our prayer, encouragement and support. We can make a difference in their lives through our involvement. It may not seem like much, but to those who are struggling, it’s a big deal to know that they do not have to face hardships alone.

Therefore, wherever you find yourself, remember that somewhere it’s raining again and someone’s pleading from the debts for their soul— “rain, rain go away.” Your response through Christ to others can bring a ray of sunshine into the face of their storm.

Messed Up!

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 21:37:00 +0000

I read a story of a man who was being disorderly in a supermarket deli. When the clerk threatened to call the police, he grabbed a hot dog from the market counter, shoved it in his mouth—and walked away without paying for it. The clerk called the police, who upon arrival, found the man who had stolen the hot dog lying dead in front of the market—having choked on the six-inch hot dog. Now that’s messed-up! Another story I read reported the sad tale of a man who was killed instantly when a deer fell from an overhanging rock above him. The man, unfortunately, had shot the deer from below. Now that’s messed-up!

Messed-up stories like these remind me that we—you and I—are the most responsible for the majority of the mess-ups / troubles we find ourselves in. I know almost every day; I wish I had “do-over” or two. Don’t you? Maybe you’ve said something to someone that you wish you could take back. Perhaps you didn’t follow through on something you promised to someone else. Sometimes the troubles we get ourselves into are just part of being human and no big deal. But, at other times, our troubles are directly related to the problem of sin. “Some people think they are doing right, but in the end, it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25 NCV).

The bottom line of sin is we’ve messed-up when we live our lives as if God doesn’t matter. We may never say those exact words, but so often by the way we live our lives, we might as well shout, “God doesn’t matter!” from the rooftops. Whenever we live life on our terms, we cement another brick in a wall that separates us from having an intimate, vital relationship with God. The momentary pleasures we find in making our own choices, leave us empty. And, eventually we end up saying to ourselves, “How did I get myself into this mess?”

In order to break down the wall and reconnect with God, we’ve got to face up to the fact that we need Him—and without yielding control of our lives to Him—our lives will never be as complete and satisfying as He’s designed them to be. When we come to the point where we can truthfully admit to God, “I’ve messed up! I know I fallen short of what you want for my life and I need you to help with the mess-up I’ve created,” it’s then that we start down the path to living a great life.

Fear-Less Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 15:28:00 +0000

I was afraid of the dark when I was a child. I remember thinking monsters were outside my window because strange sounds would come from that direction while I lay in bed trying to go to sleep. I’m sure today’s children when they go to bed at night also fear the dark where the imaginary world of monsters, bogeymen, and things that go bump in the night come to life. The most reassuring word came from my mother who would sit by my side calm my fears and say a prayer with me; “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray dear Lord my soul will keep…”, that brought back a sense of peace to my troubled heart and allowed for restful sleep.

Adults often laugh off the fears that seem so real to children. But the fact is that many adults experience something very similar. After the lights go out and the sound of silence fills the air, we are forced to face the things that hide in the busyness of the day. The grown-up monsters of deadlines, pressure at work, addictions, marital strife, abuse, declining health, employment status, financial difficulties, parenting, issues of self-worth and more are very much alive. Fear invades and sleep is not sweet.

“I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O, Lord, keep me safe” (Psalm 4:8). The psalmist understood where to place these fears—right in the lap of his loving, protective Heavenly Father. Is this a promise that nothing bad will ever happen? No. It is trusting that God is with you even in the midst of your fears. The first part of Psalm 23: 4 reads, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” God did not deliver King David from the valley; He walked with him through it.

Tonight, when you are tempted to allow fear to overwhelm you, trust God, your Heavenly Father, instead. Speak your fears to Him. Name them out loud and allow Him to walk with you through the fear. Trust that His word is true, and enjoy the night as you sleep in His peace.

EVERY DAY NEW

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 19:11:00 +0000

"Give me liberty or give me death," was the phrase that contributed in putting Patrick Henry in history books. He made another statement that appears in a number of quotation collections. He said, "I know of no way of judging the future but by the past."

Repeat this before an audience and you'll see many heads nod in agreement. It has the ring of good common sense. However, some caution needs to be taken here. Be careful, this axiom might be true when applied to politics or history or investment strategies, but it provides a lousy foundation for developing relationships. And it certainly doesn't reflect the way God relates to us.

God gives individuals a chance to let go of the past and start over — each and every day. Jeremiah wrote, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God doesn't judge our future by our past. He didn't do it with Moses or David or Peter or Paul or countless other Bible characters. What’s more, He does not do it with you and me. Psalm 103:10 tells us, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve.” With the LORD, every day is a new day.

A good way to begin each day with God is to remember that you've just been given brand new mercies — another chance to start the day with a clean slate. It's also a good way to start the day with others. God doesn't allow your past to prevent you from a having a great future, so let's give the same gift to others.

CLEAN INSTALL

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:47:00 +0000

Early last year, with no warning, the computer I was upgrading shut off. My insides screamed, “No, no, no, no!” while on the outside I somehow maintained a relatively calm composure. Silently, I begged for a favor from God to bring the computer back to life. I hit the power button and held my breath. Nothing. I slammed the side of the PC, made sure the memory modules were secure, shook it around a bit and tried again. The glorious sound of the computer turning on chimed through the speakers. “It’s alive!” I screamed in triumph. Quickly, I backed up all of data. But it didn’t last long. Within a few minutes, the computer died once again.

To fix the computer, I had to delete everything on the computer and reformat the hard drive then preform a clean install of the operating system back onto the hard drive. After reloading the original software, I added the personal files I had saved. As I did, I couldn’t help but think about the way God preforms a clean install on us when we crash.

God molds us, and designs us. He gives us each some similar components, making us in His image. Then, He goes beyond creating carbon copies. He gives each of us a little of this, a bit of that—those things that make us unique—something like the personal drivers and varieties of software and files we add to make each of our computers unique.

In a way that also reminds me of computers, people often get overloaded with information, worry, struggles and, of course, we all get infected with that nasty virus we call sin. These problems will cause trouble in your life and without the right remedy, you will crash. Fortunately, your remedy, Jesus Christ, is always there for you with open arms, ready to help troubleshoot your problem areas. God is always available to repair and restore your soul. When you seek Him, He comes to put the pieces back together. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering…” (Romans 8:1-3).

Each of us has our own set of struggles, sins and failures. Isn’t it great to know that Jesus has already paid the price to have us cleaned up? He has paid the full price. He is waiting for each of us to ask Him to repair our souls.

NEED TO EXCHANGE

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:07:00 +0000

This past week, stores have been busy processing exchanges. This happens every year right after Christmas. But have you ever thought about spiritual exchanges? They are always in season. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30; “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you have anything that you need to exchange with God today? I know I do. Is there anything going on that is particularly burdensome? Then God wants to take your burden and exchange it with His presence. Here is a prayer that you can pray that will give you a better perspective.

Lord, away from the world and hidden from public view,

I exchange my weariness for Your strength,

I exchange my weakness for Your power,

I exchange my darkness for Your light,

I exchange my problems for Your solutions,

I exchange my burdens for Your freedom,

I exchange my frustrations for Your peace,

I exchange my turmoil for Your calm,

I exchange my hopes for Your promises,

I exchange my afflictions for Your balm of comfort,

I exchange my questions for Your answers,

I exchange my confusion for Yours knowledge,

I exchange my doubt for Your assurance,

I exchange my nothingness for Your awesomeness,

I exchange the temporal for the eternal,

I exchange the impossible for the possible,

I exchange my fear for Your love.

BUILDING LASTING FAITH

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 15:57:00 +0000

I am a fan of the DIY home renovation TV shows that are out on cable these days. One that is a long time favorite and is the original home makeover show is “This Old House.” Most of their shows deal with homes throughout the New England states where there are big, beautiful old homes that were built in the 1700’s and 1800’s. Thanks to historical committees, the vision of their owners and the hard work of the This Old House crew, many of these homes end up looking virtually the same as they did two hundred years ago but with more efficient materials.

The seasons come and go with the summer sun beating down on these homes year after year. Wind, rain, snow and ice batter them winter after winter. The homes have weathered repeated blizzards and hurricanes. Yet, they have stood the test of time.

I find it fascinating that these old homes not only retained their value, but often surpassed the value of newer homes. It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and in this region when new homes are built, many are constructed to resemble the old ones.

Similarly, our faith is designed to last. Our life of following Christ is not without its seasons or its struggles. Doubts, life circumstances and even crises of faith batter us season after season. Yet, like an antique house, these seasons provide us with an opportunity to strengthen and build value to our lives as we, by faith, invite God’s partnership with us step by step along the way. And, faith that stands the test of time is beautiful to behold. “But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith” —Jude 20 NLT. Christ-followers should look to more “seasoned” Believers as role models. In them, we see the value of long-term faith and we can seek to imitate their lives.

Remember that God is in the business of building your faith — a faith that will stand the test of time. Invite Him to build your faith whatever experiences your day brings.

Heart Change Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:05:00 +0000

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26

In Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the meaning of Christmas. As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes! This heart change makes a big difference in his life.

I’m not sure what Dr. Seuss’ intentions were when he wrote the story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a person’s life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, who was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart – and a new person emerges. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

O Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in;

Be born in us today!

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel!

(from O Little Town of Bethlehem)

It might just make all the difference in the world to; “Welcome Christmas – While we stand – Heart to heart – And hand in hand.”¹

Celebrate the Wonder of Christmas because of the power Jesus brought to change your heart.

Sharing Shepherds

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 17:25:00 +0000

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. - Luke 2:17-20

Having heard the angel’s pronouncement concerning Jesus’ birth, and having heard the heavenly army praising God, the shepherds left their fields and flocks to find Jesus. They wanted to see for themselves.

After they had seen Jesus, they didn’t keep the amazing circumstances to themselves. As the Gospel of Luke records, “they spread the word.” Then, they returned to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God.

No further description is provided about these shepherds in the Scriptures regarding how their lives were impacted by what they had heard and seen. But, it’s easy to imagine that they were never quite the same. It’s not difficult to believe that they kept telling the story to anyone willing to listen.

Today, we’re not much different than the shepherds were. We, like them, have the opportunity to encounter Jesus. We, like them, can be changed by the encounter. We, like them, can share the Good News about Jesus wherever our journeys take us. We, like them, can praise and glorify God. And we, like them, can return to our responsibilities and stations in life and keep telling others about the King of Kings.

Celebrate the Wonder of Christmas, choose not to keep the Good News of Jesus a secret, but out of thanksgiving for what God has done for you and in you, praise and glorify God, and share the Good News with whosoever is willing to listen.

MARY’S EXAMPLE

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 15:40:00 +0000

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:35-38

Mary has an honored place as being the mother of Jesus. In our Christian circles, we celebrate Mary as a virtuous young woman willfully taking on the responsibility of becoming mother of the Son of God. Still, it’s easy to overlook the difficulties Mary faced in accepting this role. She was likely in her mid-teens at the time of the angel’s announcement. An unmarried teen pregnancy in Jewish culture at the time would have been quite scandalous. She faced the prospect of being an outcast in her hometown. Further, imagine Mary attempting to explain the circumstances of her pregnancy to her parents and to Joseph, her fiancé. Being part of God’s plan was no doubt very difficult for Mary.

One of the characteristics that set Mary apart for her role was her willing to surrender to God’s plan for her life. “May it be to me as you have said,” was Mary’s reply to the angel. This is simply amazing.

Just like Mary, we are part of God’s plan to carry His light and love to a needy world. Each of us has been given different roles in His plan. None of us are unimportant. It might be difficult to see ourselves as being active participants in what God is doing in the world. It’s not always easy to say yes to God. Saying yes can mean facing difficulties and persecution. But, God always provides the means of sustaining us when we choose to surrender to His desires for our lives.

Celebrate the Wonder of Christmas this year by remembering Mary as an example of the surrender God desires of you.

Angels Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 14:49:00 +0000

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)

Angels from the realms of glory

Wing your flight over all the earth

Ye, who sang creations story

Now proclaim Messiah's birth

Come and worship, come and worship

Worship Christ the newborn King

(from Angels from the Realms of Glory)

To the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, angels appeared to announce the birth of Jesus. Today, we don’t need angels to appear in the sky in order to hear the great news of Jesus. We have the Bible, our church, fellow-believers, music, and so much more to know that God became man. But, it’s worth noting 2,000 years after the fact; the celebration of Jesus began in a lonely field, to lowly shepherds, who received the news through perhaps one of the most spectacular displays ever seen by human eyes.

LEARNING TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 15:21:00 +0000

Fulton J. Sheen wrote: "An interesting phenomenon in children is that gratitude or thankfulness comes relatively late in their young lives. They almost have to be taught it; if not, they grow up thinking that the world owes them a living."

A friend once told me that she didn't want to force her son to say "Thank you" unless he really felt like it saying it. "If I teach him to say 'thank you' when he doesn't feel thankful, I'm teaching him that it's OK to be a hypocrite."

That's not even close to what gratitude is. Our feelings have nothing to do with why we express it. Gratitude is not an emotion, it's an action. The act of saying "thank you" is for the benefit of the other person. It's about their feelings, not yours.

The same is true when it comes to say "Thank you" to God. Thankfulness is the proper response to the goodness of God. We say "thank you" because he is good, not just because we happen to feel good.

That's why the Psalms so often refer to the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" — it's an act of obedience, not just an emotional outburst.

David said, "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord." (Psalm 116:17)

Like children, believers need to learn how to be thankful. Most of the time, when we consider all the good things God has done for us, we'll feel thankful. Even when our feelings don't cooperate, we need to properly express gratitude, offering God a sacrifice of thanksgiving for the kindness and mercy he has shown us.

RULE AND REIGN LORD

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:57:00 +0000

If truth be told, I’m reasonably sure, no one knows what it is like to serve a “Lord” these days. The true meaning of the word originates form an earlier time back in history. From generation to generation the expanse of time makes it difficult for our contemporary culture to fully appreciate the depth of its significance. We have elected local, state, and national officials along with others in our society to whom we “give” authority. By contrast, in those by-gone days, “lords” had complete and sovereign control over everything within their territory. They had unrestricted control over everyone and everything under their authority. To acknowledge someone as “lord” meant that you obeyed their ownership and authority over your life without hesitation.

Using the focal lens of history, stop and think for a moment about the following question: Is Jesus the Lord of your life? Really? I confess there are times when Jesus is NOT Lord of my life in the way that He should be. There are parts of my life that become basically “mine,” and I struggle to give them over to His lordship. For many Christians Jesus is simply reduced to a convenience or merely someone who can pull them out of trouble when they get in too deep.

Jesus calls us to give our lives over to Him as Lord. If He is Lord, doesn’t it just make sense that we would obey everything He calls us to do? The apostle Paul put it this way; “It's God we are answerable to — all the way from life to death and everything in between …. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Lord and Master across the entire range of life and death”— Romans 14:8-9 THE MESSAGE.

God designed life to make sense when we let Him rule and reign in our lives. Thank God that He is perfect in our every weakness and in our stubbornness! Thank God that Jesus is patient with us even in our stubbornness, and continues to call us to give over our lives in obedience to Him. May we all have the courage to let Jesus truly be Lord of our lives.

MYSTIFYING QUESTIONS

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 15:54:00 +0000

The Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus late one night. He, like many others, had seen and heard Jesus teaching. He had witnessed the miracles. He began to realize something was acutely different about this man, and he had to know. Who was he? Who was he really?

In the course of the conversation that night Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be “born again.” To understand the strength of this statement, you need to put yourself in the place of Nicodemus. You see, for us on this side of the cross, the term “born again” has all kinds of images and theological meaning tied to it. For Nicodemus, he had never heard of that concept before. What could this mean? What on earth is Jesus talking about?

What Christ-followers often forget about this exchange is that Jesus is not finished after telling Nicodemus that he needs to be “born again.” Jesus offers a glimpse of the mystery of what He is talking about. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit”—John3:8.

What Jesus has to say is brilliant... and mystifying. The term for “wind” and the term for “spirit” are one and same word—pneuma. What Jesus is saying to Nicodemus is this: The ways of God are mysterious, as inexplicable as the wind. You can’t fully explain it; you can’t fully grasp it. Trying to fully comprehend the spirit (pneuma) is like trying to fully comprehend the wind (pneuma).

Somewhere along the way, we’ve fallen in love with certainty. We feel that in order to “know” something we need to have an ironclad understanding of that thing. Questions that are left unanswered are seen as quests to be conquered. What results is a reduction of the mystery to mere formula.

What I find fascinating is that Nicodemus walks away from Jesus without a clear understanding of what Jesus is talking about, and that’s okay with Jesus. He doesn’t walk away with a three-step formula for being “born again.” The story, much like the point Jesus is getting at, is unresolved, a mystery that forces Nicodemus, as well as the reader, to walk away... thinking, pondering, wondering, and searching.

Faith is a lifelong journey. Just when you awaken to a deeper understanding of the vastness of who God is, you discover there is something still beyond. It’s okay not to have it all figured out. It’s okay not to have all the answers worked out in a nice and easy package. Apparently, seeing faith as an open-ended mission is okay. It was for Nicodemus that night with Jesus.

If we had all the answers, it wouldn’t be called faith, now would it?

BOUNCE SKILL

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 14:28:00 +0000

I received a brochure a while back from a company specializing in "resilient furniture": simple, sturdy, water resistant tables and chairs — not fancy in any way, but built to last. They're not cheap either; a plain white folding chair is about $60. They're not as pretty as the chairs at Sam's for about the same price, but those chairs don't have a long life-span.

There's something to be said for basic, unadorned resiliency—the ability to get through, get over, and thrive after trauma, trials and tribulations. In this sense, sturdy beats stylish every time.

USA Weekend did a cover story a few years ago on the subject of resiliency, asking the question, "Why do some people bounce and others break?" The article noted how some people who experience trauma withdraw into a shell, while others facing the same crisis not only bounce back, but bounce back stronger than ever before. It talked about how resiliency is being studied in universities and taught in corporate seminars. Resiliency, the article said, could become the most important skill of the 21st century.

Why do some people break down while others bounce back? Unlike furniture, I don't think it has to do with our design. A chair can only be as strong as it was made to be; it can't decide to be more resilient or less resilient. We, on the other hand, have access to support beyond ourselves.

Our "design" — our emotional make-up resulting from parental and societal influences — can be overcome. A person who is naturally weak and easily discouraged doesn't have to stay that way.

There's a verse in Philippians that is so often quoted its meaning is sometimes overlooked. Paul is talking about being able to face hard times as well as good times, and he states confidently, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Resilience often comes down to a decision: whose strength will I draw from — my own, or God's? One of the wonderful truths of the gospel message is that if you will look to God for strength, he will give it to you.

Meaning Lost, Too Familiar

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 13:22:00 +0000

“Only Use the Left Lane To Pass.” That’s what the sign said. Strange, I don’t remember seeing that one before. This time, I noticed it—and it was all along every highway that led to the mountains of Colorado. And it looks like the signs have been there for a long while. Apparently, that particular sign has become so familiar to me that it simply blended into the scenery. It had lost its meaning. Yet, this time I noticed. Probably because I spend most of my time in the left lane. It’s there for a good reason. The sign is posted to warn drivers that it is not safe for slow vehicles to be in the left lane and impeding the vehicles behind them. Passing another car on the right would be dangerous. Frankly, I’ve been tempted on more than one occasion to pass another car that is on the left from the right side.

Perhaps I’m taking this too seriously, but it bothered me when I realized that I don’t usually notice the sign. What other signs; what other warnings am I ignoring? Familiarity can cause complacency that can potentially place me in danger.

The problem of familiarity can also affect our spiritual lives. I am reminded that there are many familiar warnings in the Bible—strategic warnings. Good warnings. Warnings like “Don’t commit adultery,” “Don’t show favoritism,” and “Don’t repay evil for evil.” God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness instructs us through the Bible that there are things in life we need to avoid. He does this not because he wants to contain our behavior for his own amusement or control, but rather because He loves us and warns us for our own benefit. His warnings are real warnings about real dangers. “So, we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it”—Hebrews 2:1.

How often have you, as Christ-follower, been tempted to ignore God’s warnings because they have simply become too familiar? The signs no longer look like red warnings but have become grayed out in your consciousness. They are not as dramatic or noticeable. Can it be that you read right by them without thinking about their meaning? I’m guilty of this. How about you? Don’t let familiarity get the best of you.

HANDS ON PRAYER

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 15:51:00 +0000

Lately there are an abundance of things to pray for on my prayer list. I want to be efficient and thorough when I go to the Heavenly Father with my list. I searched for an archived email I received some time back that demonstrated how to use your fingers to pray. Each finger serves as a reminder of different ways to pray for others. If you’re looking for ideas to improve your prayer life, give it a try. It does help.

Thumb: The strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, or relationships that support and sustain you.

Index finger: This is the pointing finger. Pray for those people and things that guide and help you in your life. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.

Middle finger: The tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and governments, members of congress and local officials, city mayors and aldermen, our president.

Ring finger: The weakest finger on your hand. It cannot do much by itself (ask anyone who plays piano). Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.

Little finger: The smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.

One of the things I like most about this guide to prayer is that it reminds me to keep others before myself. Too often when I pray, I immediately present God with my needs, wants and desires, and then lose my train of thought before I even think to pray for anyone else. Try using this tool as you drive home from work or go out for a walk. Prayer is something we can do at all times and this may be just the tool to make it a part of your life, not just something you do before you go to bed or face a difficult situation. Prayer is an activity we can’t engage in enough. Because the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God hears our prayers and your hand is a good way to remind yourself to pray for someone else.

LOOK FOR GOOD

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 14:52:00 +0000

Before a new school year starts, high school and college students network with each other to gain insight on who is the best teacher to have for a particular class. They know there are teachers out there that they hope and pray they don’t end up with. They want to know which teachers are known for their tough demeanor, their difficult class requirements, or their huge homework assignments. These are teachers who make you stay in at lunch if you speak out of turn or who seem to be out to get you for no reason at all!

These teachers don’t stand a chance! Kids know these teachers by their reputations. Students who are assigned to these teachers are already expecting the worst. No matter how nice the teacher may be, how often the teacher compliments the children or gives them treats, an impression already exists. When kids expect a hard, mean and unfair teacher, they usually find one!

Abraham Lincoln once said, “When you look for the bad in man you shall certainly find it.” The opposite of this is also true. When you look for the good you will find it as well. If you sit down with anyone long enough, you can find something good.

Behind a rough exterior may be a man who is scared because he has never known to trust anyone. Behind a gossipy encounter may be a woman who is insecure because she never had a supportive family. Behind a bad first impression, may be a woman who just found out she had cancer. Behind the man who cut you off in traffic, may be a man whose wife is about to have a baby.

We cannot tell about a person based on what others say about them, or even based on our own first impression. Proverbs 11:27 says; “He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.” Look beyond their reputation to the reality. When you look for the good in someone you will find it. But, you have to take the time to look.

MADE AMAZINGLY

noreply@blogger.com (worthy1) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 15:28:00 +0000

I’ve been taking more and more time to reflect on the fast pace of life and how quickly I arrived at my middle sixties. I’ve been thinking this through at length, looking for excuses to how I blew through life at a supersonic pace. You know what I’ve found? There are so many things that you rob yourselves of when the pace of living goes up and up. It seems like the faster you move, the more you miss.

Not only do you miss the wonders of God’s creation all around you, such as sunsets, flowers, the beauty of a smile, and the awesomeness of the changing of the seasons, but you also miss out on one of the greatest wonders in life—the person who God has created you to be.

You are incredibly complex. When you consider just the physical aspect of humanness, you have reasons to be amazed! For instance, scientists tell us facts like:

• In just one year, a person’s heart beats 40 million times.

• 50,000 of the cells in your body will die and be replaced with new cells, all while you have been reading this sentence.

• Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour.

That’s simply amazing, isn’t it? What a wonder you are! I love this quote from Augustine, “People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long course of rivers, and they pass by themselves without wondering.”

Psalm 139:14 says: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Today, take time to recognize and thank God for the wonder of who you are!