TURN IT AROUND

Start anew this year and make up your mind you are not going to let things fluster you or make you angry. I was waiting for a store to open one day and the girl who opened up was 15 minutes late. Another lady was waiting as well and said to me "I am going to tell her when she gets here how I feel and let her know I am angry." Hmm, I am thinking, what an excellent time to show Jesus' love and mercy to the late employee and set an example to the disgruntled patron. What good does it do to fume when this young woman had a legitimate reason for being behind schedule?

When you are around people who get this way use it as an opportunity to just let things go and move on and thus display kindness. Human nature says get back and get even. God's nature says to show love.

Are you able to turn an ugly situation around in your life? Think of things you may encounter on a daily basis at work or out and about in the marketplace. Even in your own home! Go the extra mile and be nice. Smile. Forgive. Love.

When my children were small, I would play this song over and over each morning while we were at the breakfast table. It was a sung by Richard Roberts and was called "Turn It Around". Basically the lyrics were " turn it around, turn it around,don't let the devil get you down." If you have a chance to turn a situation around, do it!

Romans 2:4(NIV) basically says 'Kindness leads to repentance' and that is true in most all scenarios. Why not try being kind today?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus use me in your kingdom to spread your love to others who are having a bad day or are angry. Help me learn to turn the other cheek so to speak and display your love to others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

WOULD JESUS GO TO STARBUCKS?

 

I have shocked a few Christian friends I think when they hear I go to Starbucks. They remind me of this chains support for radical anti Christian causes and their dissing of Christians. But today while attempting to write, at yes,,Starbucks, a young girl at the table next to me engaged me in conversation. Basically I could not write at all. At first I was a tad miffed but then remembered that I was here to represent Jesus and be a witness for Him no matter where I was or how inconvenienced I was. So basically that is why I continue to go to Starbucks off and on. I do not think Jesus would just go to church but He would go out where the people were. Where do you find hurting people? Perhaps at Starbucks?

Today this young girl was fascinated  by what I was doing. I gave her my business card and proceeded to try to write. She was relating to me how she had been there for two hours and has no car and was killing time till the rain stopped so she could walk home. During the course of the conversation I found out that she liked vampires. Now that was interesting. She asked me what type writing I did and I told her a Christian blog. She eventually left but before she left she had asked me how I got the ideas of what to write and what was my subject for tomorrow. I never did say the title but maybe I should have.

Never the less, the point being that if we as believers seclude ourselves in "holy huddles" and only go to places deemed "okay" by the Christian world we may never have the opportunity to be a witness for Him and to be "His hands and feet." Now I am not saying it is okay to go to strip clubs. Common sense has to be applied. An interruption may be a God moment to a hurting or lonely person. Keep that in mind as you go about your day and interact with people around you.

Jesus hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, drunkards, and all sorts of people burdened with a weight of sin. In Matthew9:10-12(NIV) it says 'When Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this Jesus said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick."'

Where are you today? Do you only go to places that are "okay" or do you go about your day no matter where you are and shine Jesus light bright?

PRAYER: Lord today I thank you for the opportunities you place in my path to be a witness for you. Help me to stop for a moment dwelling on my own problems and try to reach out and be kind to a hurting person. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ARE YOU CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD?

Truly think about that question for a while. Do you let the world squeeze you into what is popular and cool? Do you often go against what you know to be right only to please a crowd or someone? Do you catch yourself doing something you know will not make you closer to the Lord? If Jesus were here to see you right now would what you are doing or believing make Him sad? Remember He is here. These are just some questions to ponder. 

We live in this world but if you name the name of Christ you are to be different and set apart for kingdom work. This does not mean you have to act and dress alike and get self righteous. 1 Peter 3:15(NIV) says 'But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to give a reason for  the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect.'  Do you think people know you are "different" or do you pass by opportunities to speak out for Christ or set an example because of fear or embarrassment? Mark 8:38(NIV) says 'Anyone who is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with His Holy angels.' 

The following verse is good to end on. It was one of the first Bible verses I first  learned when i rededicated my life to Christ back in 1975. See if you can memorize it. Romans 12:2(NIV) 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.' 

PRAYER: Lord I daily need my mind renewed so I can recognize if I am slipping into the pattens of this world. I know I am sent here to be your ambassador. Give me discernment of right and wrong and good and evil. Help me shine your light and show love to others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

CITIZENS OF WHERE?

Many reading this when asked where you are a citizen of would  reply

by saying the country they live in currently. As a believer the place

on earth we live is only a temporary home for us. We are here as

ambassadors or representatives for Christ.

Think about the job of an ambassador. It is to represent his or her

country in an excellent manner in a foreign country. Are you a good

ambassador for Jesus where He has placed you on His earth? Are the

things you do daily bringing glory to His name or embarrassment?

Philippians 3:20(NIV) says 'But our citizenship is in heaven and we

eagerly await a Savior from there.' Ephesians 2:19(NIV) also says

'Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow

citizens with God's people and members of God's household.'  Isn't

that comforting to know?

Remember if your name the name of Jesus and claim to be His follower

your job is to shine the light of Jesus in the world around you. Go

out now and brighten the world around you. Where others are down help

lift them up. Remember in Philippians 4:13(NIV) it says ' I can do all

things through Christ who gives me strength.'

PRAYER: Lord I take my job seriously as a representative of the

heavenly kingdom. Forgive me when I forget that I am representing  you

and start to "act up" and do not shine your light. Every day I need

your help. I thank you for being there for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below and praise God in song:(You have got to listen to this one!)

http://youtu.be/mkEQGYApkVU

WHY BE ANGRY EXCEPT AT EVIL?'

The Bible has much to say about anger. We all probably get mad or upset sometimes but we need to try to not let our emotions boil over and cause trouble.Anger hurts people and breaks things. None of us are perfect. Things make us mad. Traffic jams, rude drivers, slow waiters, litterbugs, tailgaters, people who lie, long check out lines, disrespectful children, and a myriad of other things. In Matthew 21:12 it says "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.My house shall be called a house of pray er but you have made it a den of robbers."  He had human emotions too but the thing is he was sinless. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that "we do not have a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been  tempted in every way yet did not sin." Psalm 7:11 says "God judges the righteous and is angry with the wicked every day." Men seem to be the most common with anger management problems. Not sure why that is but as a Christian man or woman anger,  needs to be handled differently. Some of the verses dealing with anger are as follows: Ephesians 4:26  In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. James 1:19  My dear brothers take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Ecclesiastes 7:9. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry for anger resides in the bosom of fools. Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger  and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself, it tends only to evil Proverbs 15:18  A hot tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Why not 'put off' an angry spirit and 'put on' love and peace instead?  If you are spoken to rudely by a friend, family member or stranger,  return kindness instead as it helps to defuse things. Some  people are unaware of how their words wound people. There are those out there who are guilty of verbal abuse which is indeed a form of anger. If you are spoken to harshly just walk away. Only God can straighten this person out and change their  heart. So do you want to be guilty  of being a 'fool' as the Bible calls angry people or do you want to be able to control your emotions and  have peace in your heart PRAYER: Lord forgive me when I  let my anger get the best of me. Help me Lord to choose my battles but help me to never be guilty of keeping a quarrel going. Help me strive for peace in all relationships. In Jesus name. Amen.

RELIGION IN VAIN??

Sometimes 'church people' can be some of the meanest and most cruel. You can go to church but what good does it do you if you do not follow the teachings of Jesus in loving one another for instance?  To make up your own standards of who you will love and accept is not God's way.  Erasing the part of the Bible that is not modern enough will not cut it either. A church full of judgmental condemners needs to think again. If you are like this then you need to examine your heart.

Churches are for imperfect people and if you are perfect then you can probably stay home. The Bible says in Matthew  9:10-13 says "While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

I was in a church service somewhere recently where a lady who looked like a waitress at Hooters walked in, low cut top and all. Now mind you this is very distracting for the menfolk of the church but if this lady has been out of church awhile she probably needs love, not condemnation. Eventually she will perhaps dress more in more modest attire so as to not distract the men. If you are a woman who likes to wear low cut tops maybe you need to think of how this distracts. Now I am not saying you have to dress in pentecostal garb or have some dress code but some do not know better and some do. If a lady of the street comes in to hear God's word you need to show Jesus love to her. Say what? You are not in church to be in a Holy Huddle. 

 In the Bible in James 1:26 "if you claim to be religious but do not control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless."  Do you have a problem with gossip, cursing, judging, backbiting or some other areas of loose lips? Read what this verse says. I did not make it up. This says our so called 'religion' is in vain if we can not control what we say or talk about. It is certainly easy to slip into a gossip mode or a critical spirit mode against others when talking. You have to be on your  guard. Ask yourself, "Is what I am about to say going to help or hurt?" What good do you achieve by ruining someones character or divulging something by gossiping?"

Committing to keeping your speech 'filled with grace' is a challenge .The brain works, and out come thoughts from the mouth. We can get caught up talking about people, putting them down, talking about what you saw 'so and so' doing, and a host of other things. If you claim to know Jesus even if you are with a Christian friend, doing this and having unedifying conversations is it really right? The answer is NO!

Finally there are those who call themselves 'Reverend' in the news lately that are vile and spewing forth racial hatred which in my estimation does not emulate a loving God and one who loves all people. What is in a 'title' if you do not honor and respect that title anyway? Leaders in the church have the biggest responsibility to act like Jesus.  So are you religious or are you a follower of Christ?


PRAYER: Lord I love you and it is my desire to glorify you in what I say each day. It is so easy to speak and not think. Forgive me when I have talked and hurt someone. And help me forgive when I have been hurt. Help those 'reverends' who spew hatred instead of love come to know you and love all mankind. I thank you for loving me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below and worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/cyy6UDGjBdc

BIG RESPONSIBILITY

As a believer we have a huge responsibility to be examples for Jesus Christ where he places us in life. That means even if you are the only one in your office who is a believer you still need to stand up for what is right. Don't hide your light under a basket but shine for Jesus! If you are with people who want to go in a questionable establishment and you know it is not right, you need to dismiss yourself in a kind way. For teens under peer pressure to do wrong, such as stealing a road sign for 'fun' (still a crime) or drinking underage, you need to be firmly grounded and ready to speak up and run from evil. No one is going to make fun of you and if so, so what? There many other examples. Do not be forced or coerced into doing some thing you know is wrong.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." If you were the United States Ambassador to a foreign nation you would not want to do anything to bring shame upon your country.Likewise as Christians we do not want to bring dishonor upon the body of Christ. Big task,  wouldn't you say? Amos 5:14 says "Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the LORD God of Heaven's Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed."

Ephesians 6:19 says "as for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel." Our mouth can be our downfall to as we seek to be Christlike and his 'minister' out in the world. If we act so 'holy' then can't get a grip on our mouth and what we say it can backfire on us. James 1:26 says "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." Ouch! Our mouth should also be a representative of Jesus Christ. Does it spew forth gossip? Does it rattle on saying meaningless things? Does it hurt people? Does it boast? Does it spread lies?

Remember you may be the only Bible some people ever 'read' so be alert to how you represent Christ.  You are His ambassadors and his missionaries wherever He has you in life. Let your actions and your speech reflect that.

PRAYER: Thank you father for the opportunities you give me to be a witness for you. Forgive me when I mess things up by not watching what I say or do.  Help me be an excellent ambassador for you. In Jesus Name. Amen.