We're Blessed! Why?

When you look at all the things you’ve accomplished and accumulated in your life, what do you think?  Sometimes, I get away with myself and think about how smart I am or what a good job I’ve done of managing the money I’ve made over the years.  I mean I have multiple degrees and I’m not doing too shabby for a single female who’s in a position to pretty much go where I want and do what I want.   And then I’ll catch myself and think how crazy I am.  Everything I have and have ever accomplished is all do to God’s hand on me and my life.  And it wasn’t even about me.

Don’t get me wrong, God loves me.  That’s not bragging, that’s a fact.  After all, He sent His son to die for my sins...and yours.  He does not want me to suffer and He wants me to have joy in life and the things He has given me a love for.  But, He has not just blessed me so I can say that He did.  He has blessed me so I can bless someone else.  Whether it is with my time, my money or my space, who am I to be selfish when they all belong to God anyway.  This same thing applies to you.  We all need a blessing.

Make sure you can reap the harvest you’ve planted.  Bless others with the gifts you have, even if it’s a kind word when they need it most.  Don’t just walk past people who are hurting when you’re moved to act.  Don’t be afraid of ridicule from those around you who don’t understand, even if it’s family.  Remember where your blessings come from and pass that on. 

You're Not Alone

How often do you find yourself wondering, what am I doing here?  “Here” could be the city where you live, your job or your major in college.  I’ve been there before and I visit on occasion now.  Not because I question whether I’m in the right place, but because there are some days that are difficult to get through.  I sometimes forget that I can’t fix every situation myself and that even I have to depend on someone else sometimes. 

Years ago, I was working in Florida and I found myself miserable in the job.  I didn’t understand at the time that I was going through that situation to show me that I couldn’t make it better for myself…only God could.  For months, as all the friends I’d made at work in Florida slowly moved away, I searched for another job.  Nothing came.  I was so desperate at one point that I was ready to pack up my car and move back home with my parents. 

I can remember practically hearing God’s voice say to me that it didn’t matter what my parents said about me moving home, He wasn’t done with me in that place.  It wasn’t until weeks later that I realized that as long as I was fighting it, I would continue to be miserable.  With that in mind, I made a decision…to be content with where I was.  Not necessarily pleased, but satisfied with where God placed me.  I was determined to be satisfied with my position until God moved me.  In order to make that happen, I focused on Him.  I learned many lessons over the next few months, but during that time, I was not focused on my situation but on God’s promise that He would never leave nor forsake me.  Things got better and then one day I got a call about a job that I hadn’t even applied for.  The job was one I’d prayed about years before.  My time definitely wasn’t God’s, but His time was absolutely perfect.  The experience I’d obtained in that job I had grown to hate was invaluable in my new one. 

God knew better than I ever could.  Had I not listened to Him, I would not be where or who I am today.  So, just remember even when you’re in that place and you don’t understand how you got there or why you haven’t left, trust God and act when He tells you to, not before.  Don’t move on your own.  We inevitably make bad decisions because we can’t see all the angles.  Only God can and He has your best interests are heart.

Treat Others Right

When was the last time you did something for someone else just because . . . you knew they would enjoy it or it was just the right thing to do?  If you haven’t in a long time, you should try it.  Not for their gratitude, because you might not get that.  Not even for their friendship.  Sometimes it’s just right to do something for someone else.  Whether it’s buying a meal for someone whose hungry, giving a friend a pair of shoes that they mentioned loving, or dropping off a bag of fruit at the local nursing home, the sacrifice (no matter how small) will make you better understand that this life is not really about you. 

We are here for a short time (even if you live to be 100 years old) and ultimately, the most important thing we can do, is show others the love of God.  His sacrifice was more than I can really understand.  I mean its one thing to buy groceries for a needy family, but it’s something entirely different to sacrifice your only son to save a group of people who don’t even really appreciate it.  By doing something for someone without them even asking, you’re sharing a little bit of that love God continually shows to us.  After all, we should be treating people the way we want to be treated.

So, the next time you find something that you know a friend of yours would love or you see someone hungry on the street, just think of what you’d want if you were in their shoes and try to do that.  But for God’s grace there go all of us.  We’re only a breath away from losing everything God has entrusted to us.  Never forget that.

Reminded of Jesus

So Easter Sunday was the culmination of our Easter celebration at church.  After a Passion play on Friday night and an Easter party for the many children in the neighborhood around the church on Saturday, Pastor ministered on how God, through Jesus' sacrifice, provided us a way from condemnation to justification to salvation to reconciliation with Himself.  How awesome is that?  Pretty awesome.

But what's even more awesome is the fact that Jesus made that sacrifice with full knowledge that we, the chosen, still wouldn't fully treat Him with the respect or love that we should. Don't get me wrong there are others who deny who He is.  But for those of us who claim to know Him, we treat Him worse.  We say He is God's son and our saviour but we only spend time with Him when it is convenient for us and even then, we are easily distracted.  But let there be something that we want to see - a TV show, a movie, a concert or a football game - that has our full attention.  And God bless anyone who dares to interrupt us, because we certainly won't. 

As I was watching The Bible's final installment (not completely accurate according to historians and the scripture but still a pretty good adaptation) Easter Sunday night on History, I was convicted.  I watched as Jesus was beaten,  ridiculed and killed for me - someone totally unworthy of His love.  I watched how the disciples and other followers of Jesus were persecuted for the Gospel and now we have the freedom to worship as we choose and we take it for granted.  I thank God that He is not like us, but I also know that there are consequences to our choices.  When we don't do what we are called to as Jesus' followers, for what ever reason, not only do we suffer but the world suffers.

What if I am the only example of Jesus someone sees?  What kind of example am I giving them? Am I just as worldly as they are? Can people tell any difference between me and my coworker who can't even spell Jesus?

Please be reminded of who Jesus is and how much He loves you.  Do what He's called you to.  Don't delay, for tomorrow is not promised and I, for one, don't want to have to explain that I was too tired or busy or just didn't want to do what He called me too.  What kind of punishment might that bring?  I hope to never find out.

Be blessed and remember God loves you so much.  Give Him His due!