Ghosts

Ever miss that person who at one point was so special in your life? A friend, relative, spouse…. Time has gone by but you are still missing them. From all you can tell, they have moved on with their life. They have no intention of trying to contact you or make amends. You, yourself, have gotten to the point where you have given up trying. Despite everything that has passed between you two, you still miss that person. It doesn’t seem like that feeling will ever go away. Something small will remind you of that person. This reminder turns into a rather long daydream of thoughts that you would rather put behind you. Yet, there you are, thinking about everything – the memories, how much you really did care for that person.

At this point, maybe God has healed our hearts. Or maybe we haven’t asked him to yet. For the most part, it may seem that our heart is healed, that it is whole again. But each memory causes a fracture in our hearts. We might not see it or notice it but it is there. Every time we refuse to let go another crack forms in our hearts. We are resisting the healing that God wants for us.

He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds. ~ Psalm 147:3 

We are haunted by the ghosts of our pasts because we let it haunt us. Maybe we are afraid to admit we made a mistake and so we feel the need to reconcile the past or the person we thought they were. Nevertheless, memories don’t fade as fast as we would like sometimes. They can be what keeps the cracks in our heart from being sealed, keeping us from being whole.

We need to turn wholeheartedly to God. We need to learn to let go of the things we cannot change and look to the future. We need to look forward to the new and better things that God has in store for us.

Jesus said to her, “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your trouble. ~ Matthew 5:34

We might never see that person again but if we can honestly say that we tried to put the relationship back together, then that is all we can really do is try. We can’t force a relationship to work.

Our ghosts don’t have to consist of past relationships. They can surface in the form of regrets, missed opportunities, embarrassments, mistakes….

What are you holding on to that God wants you to let go of?

Whatever it is, nail it to the cross. Lay it down at the feet of Jesus. He wants to lift the burden from you. He wants you to have a whole heart. God doesn’t want us to be consumed with the ghosts of our past.

Find peace in God’s healing.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. ~ Psalm 31:24

The Playing Field

Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

You are the quarterback of a football team. Let’s call it Team Jesus.

Your coach: God. He calls the shots. He formulates the plays. He encourages you and supports the players on the field.

Next we have Jesus, standing in front of you, forming the offensive line. He blocks the attacks of the other team or in this case, the enemy. You are playing against the evil one, Team Evil. When the evil one has the ball, he entices you to come to his side; wants you to think that his team is the winning team. But Jesus separates you from the evil one. He protects you from temptation and the enticing calls of the evil one.

The Holy Spirit constitutes the other players. The Holy Spirit backs you up, supports and encourages you. The Spirit helps to bring guidance and to help you make the right decisions.

So now you have a team, a position and team mates. As the quarterback, you make the plays. You can decide to follow the plays that God recommends and has laid out for you or you can go your own way. But here’s the deal: if you decide that your decisions are better than the one true coach, God, well your own decisions could lead to a bad relationship between player and coach. If this occurs, you could be traded to the evil one’s team. Therefore, you need to work hard to maintain a good working, positive relationship between you and God. Relationships take work. Winning the game takes work. Don’t let the evil one get a grasp on the ball.

Further, the crowd is a swaying factor. You can let them encourage you as you strive for a win on Team Jesus. You can play the game for them. In essence, you can serve and put others first. Yet, if you let the cheering that’s meant to encourage become pride and an over abundance of self-confidence, the evil one starts winning the game again. In another instance, the crowd can be cheering for the other team, and encouraging the actions of the evil one. If we keep company such as this, we are at risk of being swayed over to the other side. Let the company you keep strengthen your faith.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:33

If we let God lay the foundation, we are a winning team. You and God. If we let others falsely build on the foundation, we start to stumble, and the foundation isn’t as strong as it should be.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:11

In summary, the rules of the game ares:

One: we need to decide which team we are playing for and stick with it.

Two: we need to keep working at our relationship with God.

Three: we need to decide on the swaying factor of the company we keep.

Four: we need to consciously decide to live third putting God first, others second, self third.

Five: we need to be aware of the evil one’s schemes and make every effort to avoid developing a relationship with him instead

After all, that’s what the game of life is all about!

Love Without Hinderance

Read Romans 12:9-21

Do you know that person who seems to frustrate you to no end?

That person who doesn’t stop talking and won’t give you enough personal space?

That person who thinks they are always right?

That person who comes on a little too strong?

Whatever it is that frustrates you, it makes you want to run away.

You want to avoid that person.

But before we turn away, I think we need to stop and take a second look.

Think twice.

For whatever reason, God has placed certain people in my life.

People that frustrate me.

I have asked a few people for advice about what the best course of action would be.

I was looking for worldly reassurance, I guess.

A reason to walk away or a reason to put aside the frustration and stay.

But I never liked the answer I got back.

No one could understand why I kept holding on and why I didn’t just walk away from those who frustrate me.

From the start, there was that still small voice in the back of my mind.

A voice that said to love.

To stay.

Hearing that voice should be enough reassurance.

It should be all we need.

These people needed a friend.

They needed to feel loved.

I couldn’t walk away from that.

We need to look beyond the surface of things.

Jesus loves these people as much as he loves you.

He created them.

Gave them a purpose.

Jesus wouldn’t walk away.

Neither should we.

Jesus ate with sinners.

He went out and found that one lost sheep.

He forgave the unforgivable.

So we must forgive and love in the same way.

God calls us to love one another.

We shouldn’t pick and choose who we love.

We need to love EVERYBODY.

We need to love without worrying if it is reciprocated.

There is absolutely no exception to the love commandment.

God puts people in our lives for a reason.

We might not know that reason but we know that we need to love them no matter what.

We need to put aside that which frustrates us or angers us and just love.

We need to forgive the transgressions of others because we sin also and want to be forgiven.

By forgiving, we can love without hinderance.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. ~ Romans 13:8

Similar Post: God of War

Love Anyways, Love Always

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping your heart intact you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safely in the casket of your selfishness. And in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will not change, it will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable and irredeemable. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the dangers of love is hell.
C.S.Lewis

God Is Up To Something Great

Compliments & Feedback

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

The idea of leadership is blown out of proportion. We believe that we have to be this great person that everyone stands in awe of. We think we need to be outgoing, smart, charming, fun, inspiring….. The list goes on. But who can actually live up to this “ideal person”? The honest answer is we can’t. Nobody can be everything to everyone. Instead we need to use what we have to inspire and lead people.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function….We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; if it encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ~ Romans 12:4-8

Moreover, leadership doesn’t have to mean we have to stand in front of a group of people and direct them. Leadership doesn’t have to mean organizing a big event. However, it can mean doing something small for someone else. It can mean encouraging someone. It can be helping someone carry their groceries or helping them with their work. It’s the little things that can make a big difference. It is stopping for a minute to show someone that we care that can change a life or have a lasting impact on that person.

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ~ Romans 2:13

I encourage you to lead, not in the typical way that leadership is defined (although there is nothing wrong with that), but in the small ways. How? Be yourself. It is key. If you lead with your heart and do all things through Jesus, you will be amazed at where God will take you. By following Jesus, we can lead and, hopefully with God by our side, be an example for others.

Second, with leadership redefined, I want to point out that  all too often we don’t realize we are making a difference. We may end up feeling discouraged or unappreciated if we feel like our efforts didn’t make a difference or went unnoticed. As the TED Talk posted below points out, we have these lollipop moments. In these moments, we impact people a lot more than we realize but if no one tells us how are we to ever know? Often we don’t ever find out.

I don’t mean that you should go around asking for feedback from people to see if you had an impact on them. Don’t get me wrong asking for feedback can be good but instead I have a different suggestion. Rather than going around asking for people to compliment you, give other people feedback instead. If they have touched your life in a way that has changed you personally, TELL THEM! If you like the way they did their hair or their outfit, TELL THEM! If you thought what they did was nice or if you find their inner strength or strong faith admirable, you should TELL THEM! By complimenting people and giving positive feedback, we can make someone’s day, make them feel important and appreciated. In a way, the helper gets helped.

This suggestion means that we don’t directly hear for ourselves if we have made a change in someone’s life or done something for someone that was greatly appreciated but wasn’t voiced. This doesn’t mean we lose out though. First, we are blessed when we bless others and make them feel important. Second, if we treat others the way we want to be treated, it just might come back around. Those we compliment just might compliment us back one day!

Here is my challenge for you: Try and find a way to compliment every person you come across. It could be talking to someone in line at the grocery store or telling a friend that they mean the world to you. I would love to hear how this challenge goes for you. Finally, let’s redefine what leadership means!

God’s Time Not Mine

I lift my eyes to the hills –

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip –

he who watches over you 

will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Lord watches over you – 

the Lord is your shade at

your right hand; 

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm –

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming

and going

both now and forevermore.

~ Psalm 121  

Lately, God has shown me that I need to rely on Him and trust Him a lot more than I have been. God has shown me that He already has planned things out right down to the smallest details. He has a reason for His timing, We might not always understand why He makes us wait or why things are happening as they are but God knows. That fact should be comfort enough. He has shown me this through three instances this past week which I would like to share with you.

Lately, I have been searching for a job. I received plenty of interviews but for someone reason none of them were panning out. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. Other variables added pressure to the stress I already was feeling. To top it all off, I had to make a decision soon about how I was going to spend my summer. And every time I thought I had a decision made, something would change and my plans were up in the air again. I prayed. I waited.

Then Thursday, my deadline for a decision, came around faster than I wanted. I could have felt all the pressure and weight of this decision that day. Instead, I decided to let whatever happens happen and let God control everything. And He did!

That Thursday morning, I had an interview for another job. I was still waiting to hear back from this one particular job that seemed perfect for me. Coming out of the interview, my friend told me that I got a call. Having shut my phone off for the interview in the morning, I didn’t receive the call but thankfully my friend was there to take the message. I don’t know what would have happened if my friend hadn’t been there to take the call. I don’t know where I would have ended if I got a different job. See, God knew what was best for me. He knew before I did that the perfect job would be coming for me. It wasn’t that I wasn’t capable to do any of the other jobs. It was that God had a better idea in store for me. I may have waited a long time for things to start falling into place but I’ve been blessed by God. Not only this, but the wait made my faith in God stronger. I also want to mention how I think it’s funny God waited until the last day for things to fall in to place. It shows all the more that He knows exactly what’s going to happen.

My second story revolves around a friend telling me about a time where God was working in his life. For all intents and purposes, lets call my friend James. At the time, he was in a different country from his homeland. He was carrying quite a bit of valuables and money as he was moving. Having stepped away for a few minutes, everything was stolen. Can you imagine what would be going through his head? As soon as he realized, James spent a long time in prayer. For whatever reason, he woke up in the middle of the night and had this feeling to go outside. After a short walk, he found some of the stolen money! Mind you, he didn’t recover everything but it was more than enough to get by. If he hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night and taken that walk, who knows where James would be. But God was looking out for him. James’ faith and diligence in prayer was rewarded.

Third, another friend, Tara, missed a really important meeting. It was essential to be there and had strict consequences if it were unattended. It was an honest mistake of mixing up the times. I also had to attend this meeting but having finished what I was to do, I was allowed to go early. Thankfully, I did get out early and was able to contact Tara. She came as fast as she could and was able to catch the end of the meeting. The coordinator was gracious, knowing it was an honest mistake, and let the consequences slide. A stressful situation was averted because of timing and God’s graciousness.

In all these situations, I was so aware of how things were timed, the order of events and how they played out. God was showing me that He has it all under control and we need not worry about a thing. Everything played out as if it was following a strict algorithm made by God. Certain events needed to happen before the end result occurred. The blessing will come we just have to faith to wait!

Questions:

What is God asking you to wait for?

How is it testing your faith and how can you grow from it?

Is this what God wants or what I want?

Have you ever wanted something so bad? You tried so hard to make it work but it just wasn’t working. So you get frustrated and get down. You can’t figure out why it isn’t working. You’ve prayed continually. You’ve been patient. Yet, you haven’t gotten anywhere. You feel like you are following your heart and that it is in God’s will for you to reach this goal. Yet, it seems like God is making you wait for something that he could put in motion in mere seconds. But why isn’t he?

Maybe God really does want you to achieve that goal, get that job, or receive healing. However, His good and perfect timing is usually a lot different from ours. Maybe there’s some obstacles in our path that God foresees but we aren’t aware of. Maybe we need to overcome those obstacles before we get to where we want to be. Or maybe God just doesn’t think it is the right time.

Further, there’s another possible explanation. What if God doesn’t really want that for us? He very well might have something completely different planned for us. Maybe it’s something we never would have previously considered. Maybe He has a better way of bringing a blessing to you or wants you to bless someone else. What if He is testing your faith and wants you to take the proverbial road less travelled? The path might be rough but the blessings will be great! God could be stretching our comfort zones, asking us to do a task that would require a lot of courage on our part.

All in all, we can’t give up. We might have to let go of our wants and change our plans but, in the end, it is for the better. God knows what is best for us, even if we think we should be taking another path. Keep a strong faith, pray diligently, and trust that God will lead you where you need to be. Don’t be afraid to follow your goals and dreams but also listen to what the Spirit is telling you.

The Drought

Does it ever feel like it’s taking a long time for life to get better again? Are you still stuck in that dark tunnel, thinking that you can see the light at the end? Yet, every time you start to see the light, you feel like you get pulled right back into the darkness, away from the light? 

You ask God why. You ask Him to fix it. You ask God for patience but your patience is wearing out fast. You don’t know what path to take and are left utterly confused. As a result, your spiritual life seems to hit a huge bump.

Like the dry ground, you still hope for rain. You reach out to God, hoping things will get better, trying to trust in Him. You want to feel Him near.

In these moments, in the months that we slowly move through, ever conscious of the time and how things don’t seem to change or get better, we start to lay blame. We get impatient. We start trying to do things our own way because we feel God isn’t doing much.

What does that say about our faith? What kind of example are we setting if our faith wavers in a drought?

In times like this, we get told that God has a plan for us and that it will all work out. Why do we find it so hard to believe sometimes? It is so easy to believe this is true for others but when it comes to ourselves, we have second thoughts. God isn’t going to forget us. He knows absolutely what He is doing. It may be hard to believe when nothing seems to be happening but God hasn’t left us.

Once we realize this, the so-called drought we are experiencing might not feel so much like the land without water or rather a soul running low on spiritual fulfillment. What seems like the hardest moments of our life, may very well be our biggest blessings.

Maybe we need to put aside whatever it is that is haunting us and leaving us in the drought. Give your problems to God. 

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:15 

God is in control. Have patience. Believe! Trust! Don’t ever let your faith waver for God’s love for you is unshakeable. 

Comments/Questions For Thought: 

What are you going through right now?

How are you getting through it?

How is God blessing you through this?  

* Prayer Requests always welcome. * 

 

     

Acknowledging Our Sinfullness

Read John Ch 13:18-30, John 20:24-29

Currently, I am reading a book called Iscariot by Tosca Lee. It recounts the Gospel story through Judas Iscariot’s point of view. Personally, I never wondered what Judas’ life might have been like. I couldn’t understand why he would betray Jesus like he did. To have followed Jesus so faithfully before, that he was called a friend of Jesus, only to deny the life that Jesus was offering.

Before reading this book, I had always put a distance between Judas and myself. In a way, it was almost as if Judas was far from human because of the evil that seemed to reside in the one who betrayed Jesus. I don’t think anyone wants to identify with Judas. But after reading some of this book, I realized that we are ALL exactly like Judas.

We might think this is a crazy notion because we think that we could never turn away from God. But the truth is we have all turned away from God. We have done things thinking that God will forgive us for our sins. Maybe we don’t even see these actions as sins. Maybe because we don’t want to believe them to be. We have all said, “this is the last time” but that never seems to be the case. We might not have betrayed Jesus in the flesh by trading Him in for thirty silver shekels but every time we lie, steal, cheat we become just like Judas. Every time we turn away from someone in need, every time we don’t take that step of faith and just trust God, every time we deny God, we are just as sinful as Judas.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ~ Romans 3:23

Likewise, there are times where we are just like Thomas. We doubt. We don’t trust God as much as we should.

All of this might sound extreme, but it might be something we need to hear. Nobody wants to be told they have fallen short or sinned because we don’t want to be told that we are anything less than perfect. We want to feel like we are good people. But, the fact is Judas and Thomas were only human like the rest of us. Our human nature means that we are going to fail sometimes. We are going to have regrets and mistakes but God through his mercy has forgiven us. He sent His son for us, to die for us, so that we may be forgiven.

While God forgives our sins, it is important that we recognize our own short comings so that we can better prevent them next time. We need to understand what tempts us, so we can overcome the desire when it hits.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted  beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

All in all, God loves us despite every sin we commit. He forgives us when we repent. He never stops loving us!