Under the Gift Wrap

I love pretty wrappings. There's something about making a present look beautiful and even sometimes fun too that makes the receiver excited about opening it. Of course it always boils down to what's inside that counts, but getting to that point of finding out what's inside sure is fun!

I love watching my family open their presents at Christmas. Sometimes they open them slowly and other times they dive right in and rip off the wrapping so quickly you almost miss watching them open the gift.

Watching my sons face and his reactions is one of those things we love as parents. Later on we usually know what gifts he likes the best by how much he gets it to play with it or use it.

I'm sure God is the same way when He looks down at us. He's given so much for us through the gift of His Son, Jesus. He knows when we appreciate His gifts too. He sees our thankful hearts or not so thankful hearts. He knows when we get out His Word and find all those things He's left for us or if we've left them under the tree. 

John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He gave us His Son. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can have so much. 

Here are some things that we find under the tree just waiting for us to unwrap.

Unwrap the Gift of His Love.

Have you pulled off the wrapping of the love of Christ and accepted Him as your Savior? If you haven't that's the first step in unwrapping what God has given us.

I'm so grateful that Christ loved us so much that He wants to take us to Heaven to be with Him, but I love the fact that His love sustains us here on earth. Everyday I wake up I find the love of Christ.

The love of Christ is one of those gifts that we share with others too. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." - Ephesians 3:19

Nothing can take that gift of love away from us either.

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " - Romans 8:39

Unwrap the Gift of Grace

Another thing we can unwrap is the gift of grace. Through Christ we have access to that wonderful grace that's given to us. Not a gift we deserve but because of Christ we can have it. 

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." -Romans 5:1,2

" But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. " -Romans 5:15

"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:7

Unwrap the Gift of the Resurrection.

This is one of those gifts that it's worth getting excited about. Without the resurrection of Christ, we have nothing. 

"And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."  

-1 Corinthians 15:17

When we unwrap this and dwell on it awhile and really think about how much it does for us as Christians, if makes you want to shout, jump up and down, or maybe even do a cartwheel or two!

" O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:56,57

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." -1 Peter 1:3

Unwrap the Gift of Inheritance

Because of Christ, we can become heirs to God. What a gift! To know that we are the children of God.

That passage in 1 Peter 1 goes on to say, 

" To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" - 1 Peter 1:4

" The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." - Romans 8:16-17

Unwrap the Gift of His Word

When we rip off the wrapping paper and find the Word, it's one of those gifts that never runs out, never wears out, and never gets old. Don't you love that?

Everyday we can find new things in it just for us to give us strength, sharpen us, build us up, and even rebuke us, but it's something that the Lord knew we needed.

I hope the Lord doesn't find me throwing his gift of the Word down or never getting it out to use. It's a precious gift to us.

" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." - Colossians 3:16

There's just so much that we are given through the gift of Christ. The ones I listed are just some of the things we gain with a life in Christ. It's like there's this big tree with the bottom piled high with gifts and all the branches bulging with gifts nestled in just for us. 

We have wonderful and precious promises, strength, the Holy Spirit, peace, joy, and on and on just because of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of Christ our lives become so full, so rich, so meaningful.

"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." -John 10:10

Most of  us don't leave our gifts unwrapped under the tree. We want to see what's inside.

Maybe we should spend more time in the Word and in prayer finding those things that the Lord would have for us. Perhaps we should spend more time saying, "thank you" for our gifts and appreciate them more.

I know that I need to work on this. I don't want to miss out on anything or forget to say "thank you".

So, have you unwrapped all of your presents?

Let's pray:

Father, 

We come to you with great thankfulness in the gift that you have given us. We thank you for sending your only son to us when the world most needed it. We are reminded that you continue to give us gifts through your written word. Bless those who already know of your gifts, bless those who are in need of your gifts, and give courage to those who must share your gift to others. 

Amen.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and remember why we celebrate this time of year. 

From our family to yours: Merry Christmas.

With Love,

"B"

Thank-Full

But I have all, and aboud: I am full.... Philippians 4:18

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and I was thinking about my blessings and everything that goes along with the holiday. Of course my mind couldn't help but wonder to a little turkey, dressing, and sweet potato casserole. How full you can feel when you indulge in such a big holiday meal, let alone adding a piece of pumpkin pie on top of it.

When we start dwelling on the Thanksgiving holiday, we sometimes think of all those list of things we are thankful for and we seem to think of them as separate items, but Thanksgiving is more than that. 

It's seeing how God works everything together until we are "full" of His blessings and of His care even through times when we don't seem to have everything we need (or want). It's at those times that we should be thankful too.

I've read through that fourth chapter of Philippians many many times but when I read through it recently, the word "full" really jumped out at me.

Paul is writing to the Philippians and expressing his thankfulness at their care for him and how God had supplied. You really do need to read the entire chapter to get things in perspective but look at what it says in Philippians 4:11,12.

Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where in all things I am instructed both to be FULL and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

Paul says, "both to be full and to be hungry:. He goes on to say in verses 18,19.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4;18,19.

It's wonderful the way that God supplies our needs. When I read through that chapter, I notice that Paul seems to be looking at the whole picture. He saw how God had worked through everything for him and how God would supply the need of those at Philippi.

I don't think Paul was just making a thankful list but he was really seeing how God had worked through this situation and on into that situation and so on. He surveyed the whole of how God had been working and supplying and Paul was "full."

I don't think there is anything wrong with writing out a list of things to be thankful for. I think that's great and sometimes we all need to do that just to reflect on how the Lord has blessed us but I think sometimes we forget to see the whole of how God supplied. 

I know personally I don't always think of those lean times or the times Paul was talking about when he said, "to suffer need". Not the things I put right up there at the top of my "thankful" list. I think especially at the Thanksgiving holiday, we put those things in the back of our minds, but that's how God takes care of us. He does it through everything.

Even in those times where we don't feel so blessed, the Lord is still there supplying our needs and working through our lives. When I think of it that way, it tends to make me even more grateful and thankful for all of the ways God supplies. 

So, how thank-full are you?

Let's pray:

Father God, 

As we come upon a day of Thanksgiving, let us not forget to thank you for each day that you provide for us on this earth. Let us remember that it is you who supplies and sustains us at all times. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

God Prepares You for Great Things

God puts dreams in our hearts and writes a destiny over our lives. And if we trust Him enough to take Him at His word, we will find ourselves on a journey toward the fulfillment of that dream. 

Unfortunately, the path that takes us to the promise is always wrought with thickets and thorns. Nothing worth having ever comes easy or without opposition. Storms will come, lions will roar, and our fears will be confronted. God allows the path to be difficult because He intends on refining us and preparing us for our place of promise. He is intent on extracting from us, that which our enemy would love to leverage against us. 

God loves us too much to promote us before we are ready.

And so, as we follow His lead, we will at different times, find ourselves in a valley-a valley of decision. Marriages die there. Dreams die there too. The flesh dies hard and unfortunately for many, they've opted to let their dream die before they'd ever allow their flesh to be confronted. 

We all have weak spots and areas of inconsistency in our character. Until we see Jesus face to face, we will need His guidance and correction. He wants to take us from strength to strength; from glory to glory. 

Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He wants to do abundantly above and beyond ALL that we could ever ask or think, but there's a clincher in this verse...it's according to His work within us. To the extent that He's allowed to work in us, will be the extent that He does great things through us. 

After pondering this idea a little more, I envisioned a valley of dry bones. Bones from marriages, relationships, and dreams abandoned because many people refused to die to themselves, to humble themselves, and to let God have His way in our lives. 

Don't let your dream die in the valley!

If you're in a season of refining, lean in. Trust the loving hand of your precious Savior and know that He will lead you to the other side. Refuse a sense of entitlement and don't demand to be understood. 

Instead, humble yourself and seek to understand what the Lord is doing around you. 

He will faithfully lead you and you will be strengthened as you go. 

On the other side of this refining time is a fresh perspective and new mercies. 

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God; in due time you will be lifted up and honored before a watching world. 

Here's my question to you: Do you have a sense of how God is using your current circumstances to prepare you for a great calling?

Let's pray:

God, 

We come to you today to thank you for all that you have done and are doing for us. We ask that you make us aware of what you are doing in our lives to prepare us for the greatness that is coming. To help us to see that when we give all to you it is for the good. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen. 

With Love, 

"B"

God is Bigger and Stronger

We've all had days (and maybe even years) when life just doesn't seem to be going our way!

I've had long seasons of life where I felt like nothing was working and everything was out of whack, and I've had frustrating days where I just can't seem to get anything accomplished. We all go through these times, but if we recognize that God's power during these troubled times, we learn to that He is much bigger than what is going on!

In the grand scheme of things, a stressful morning doesn't impact life or eternity all that much, but in those longer seasons of joblessness, sickness, financial stress, marriage strain and other ongoing life events, the stress and frustration can seem overwhelming. Below are four things I've learned to remember in those challenging seasons of life that have helped me and I pray that they will help you as well!

1. Your character should always be stronger that your circumstances. 

We can't always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we choose to respond. In those moments when I choose to stop complaining and instead give thanks to God for the good in my life, the parts that seem bad start to seem much less significant. Choose to keep  a positive attitude and thankful heart regardless of what you're going through. 

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. 

2. Your struggles always lead to strength. 

Every difficulty in your life, whether big or small, is something God will use to produce more strength, faith and perseverance in you if you let Him! All your pain has a purpose. 

" And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28.

3. God's timing is always perfect.

God's plans are almost always different from our plans, but His plans are always perfect! Have the patience to wait on His timing instead of forcing your own. 

" For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11.

4. God will never leave your side.

You may feel like you're going through this struggle all alone, but from the moment you ask Jesus to bring you into God's family, He will be by your side to the end so never lose hope!

" Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6.

Let's Pray:

Father God, 

We come to you in prayer of thankfulness for all that you do. We ask that you help us to remember that you are bigger and stronger than anything we will ever face. That you are facing it with us and not having us face it alone. Teach us to stop and lean on you in all situations not just in troubled times. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

With Love, 

"B"

Drawing Closer to God, Bringing Family Back Together

Life is busy. Life is complex. Everyone is always pushing and pulling to get things done, to run errands, to make dinner and basically just accomplish anything at all. Kids have games and recitals and lessons and often times may feel lost in the shuffle. Husbands and wives forget to make time for each other and start drifting apart. And then we lie awake at night asking ourselves the same question over and over, "How can I do better? How can I help my family come back together?"

I know that many times in my life I feel overwhelmed and find myself at a loss as to how I could possibly pull my head back above the surface. At times it seems that my family is going through the motions of life without really feeling the love that exists. Day after day of screaming and fighting children, losing patience and feeling lonely and exhausted leave me empty and devoid of emotion.

And then it strikes me - when is last time I really prayed to God? When is the last time I really studied the Holy Scriptures? And can these things really help to strengthen the love within my family?

*Pray for them. 

Prayer is something that can be either routine or quick, or deep and heartfelt. The routine and quick kind are the ones most of us probably would admit to doing much of the time. But ask yourself this, when was the last time I got down on my knees in a quiet moment and poured out my heart to God?

Prayer is one of the best ways to start getting out of those overwhelming life modes and can bring a struggling family back together. If you take the time to start having sincere prayers on your own and then make a concerted effort to pray together as a family, the Spirit of the Lord will come into your home and your family will feel it. Praying specifically for certain family members helps them know how much you love and care about their own trails. It often takes time, but God does hear your prayers and will answer them in his own time.

* Study his word.

Studying the scriptures is one of the ways that God answers prayers. If you are praying for your family to be closer and more tightly knit together, the answers you need are waiting in the scriptures. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (KJV Luke 11:9)

*Practice obedience.

Other simple acts of obedience are good ways to draw closer to God and subsequently strengthen the love in your family. Attend church services, visit your neighbors and friends, serve others in need. All these small acts of charity and love will demonstrate what kind of person you are to your family. The spirit of God will be in your heart and help you to be more kind and loving at home. And the others around you will feel the love that you have for them. 

These small acts of obedience to God can sometimes be seen as a way to take away time from your family. But God will bless your family as a reward for your service to him. He will help things be a little easier for your family or give others the opportunity to serve your family. Your family will be blessed for your obedient acts. 

You might be thinking, "That all sounds well and good, but if I don't have time for everything that is already on my plate, how can I possibly fit in time for God?" God is always there. It is always a good time for him to hear your prayers. Pray whenever you might have a moment to yourself, even if it's in the shower or driving in the car. Make a habit of reading at least one verse of scripture each day. These small efforts will be rewarded by continually keeping God's spirit with you, to help guide your daily decisions in all things. And your good decisions will help your family to grow and thrive and come together. 

Let's pray:

Father, 

We know that you are in control of everything. We know that you want and need our families to be close and strong in your word. Help us look to you to gain that closeness and strengthen our family through your grace. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

With Love, 

"B"

Casting the first stone...is yours jagged or smooth?

"...This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand;....for the battle is the LORD's..." - 1 Samuel 17:46-47.

We all face giants in our lives at some point. By giants I mean challenges, people, hard situations..etc...but how do you deal with those when that happens? I think some of us are quick to cast the first stone. But when casting that stone are we really doing what God is asking us to? Do you cast jagged edged stones or do you graciously cast good smooth stones? 

When David took on Goliath he cast 3 stones....lets take a look at 9 different stones that you could cast and do God's will. Ready in our pouch to sling at those giants that come out to do us battle.

Our Smooth Stones to Have Ready:

1. Smooth Stone of Joy. There's nothing more fulfilling to have than the joy of the Lord when the giants come out to fight us. When those giants show up, whether they be financial, health related, or whatever the situation, we need to just stick that stone of joy in our sling and hurl it. It can help knock those giants flat. 

"...for the joy of the LORD is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10.

2. Smooth Stone of a Good Attitude. Ever notice how we let things bother us when we've got a bad attitude? If may be a small giant that shows up, but when we've got a bad attitude, it can look as big as a Goliath. If we throw the smooth stone of a good attitude the giants way, it becomes a much smaller giant.

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:25.

3. Smooth Stone of God's Word. This smooth stone we need to carry around with us all the time. We need to have it hidden safely away in our hearts so that when we need to reach in and place it in our sling, all we have to do is get it out. Recalling comforting and assuring Scriptures when faced with our giants can make a big difference in the outcome of our battles.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12.

4. Smooth Stone of Wisdom. There's something powerful when we use a little wisdom when facing giants. The Bible is full of such wisdom where raising our kids, financial matters, and everyday life is concerned. If we'd just heed the wisdom that's afforded us, sometimes we wouldn't get faced with such big giants. 

" For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." - Proverbs 8:11.

5. Smooth Stone of Gratefulness. When we are counting our blessings, the giants that come to call don't have such a big impact on us. Grateful hearts give us a different perspective. The giants seem small and more surmountable.

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in on body; and be ye thankful." - Colossians 3:15.

6. Smooth Stone of the Promises of God. When the giants come out, call our name, and are just waiting to do battle with us, recalling the promises of God can send those giants running. So many promises are given to us to use for our strength. We are promised eternal life, sufficient grace, guidance, that God will never leave us, that He'll keep us from falling, and many others.

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises..." - 2 Peter 1:3.

7. Smooth Stone of Prayer. What a giant slayer prayer can be! It can bring such satisfaction when facing a trial or some type of roadblock in our lives. If we'd just get this stone out first and use it, our giants might not stick around so long. 

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." - Philippians 4:6.

8. Smooth Stone of Hope in the Lord. We have to remember that our hope is in the Lord. He already knows the outcome of our fights with our giants. It is Christ who we rest our hope in. 

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God." - Psalm 146:5.

9. Smooth Stone of the Strength of the Lord. What power we have over our giants when we rely on God to take care of them for us and not ourselves. David faced Goliath with that prevailing strength of the Lord and it can zing the giants of our lives right in the middle of the forehead too.

"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mind hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." - 1 Samuel 17:45-47.

When giants come at us, we sometimes pick up those jagged rocks of anger, disappointment, worry, and frustration. We wind those things up in our sling and let them fly. We forget that God has already given us some powerful weapons to destroy our giants with.

Just one of these smooth stones can bring the biggest giant to his knees if we just think a little bit before going to battle.

Lets Pray:

Father God, 

We come to you reminding ourselves that you already know what we face and have a hand in the outcome. That we need to be thankful to you for all that we are and are to become. We need to remember to stop and turn to you when we face our giants, be them big or small. For it is in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

With Love, 

"B"

Being Thankful to the Unthankful

" But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil" 

-Luke 6:35

During our tenure here on earth, we will meet our share of unthankful individuals. These people are presented in our lives by God to test our faith and our patience. However, we have a tendency to look at the naturally, instead of spiritually. But once we see what God is trying to do, we will be able to understand the bigger picture of His divine plan. This will force those who believe in God to be kind to those who really don't deserve it. 

Personally, I find it very difficult to deal with a person who is not appreciative of the things that others do for them. Even the things that we try to do for them aren't good enough. Dealing with this could make anyone act in an ungodly fashion. But, would God be please with us if we did that? No he would not. 

It's even harder to be kind to those unthankful individuals who are supposed to be Christians. When you think of Christ, you think of love, kindness, humility, and more. So when you meet people that claim to know and follow His word, it's disheartening to witness their ungratefulness. This is especially true being that the bible says, " In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

But today I challenge you to be like Jesus. When you come across unthankful individuals, I urge you to be patient and long suffering. Even though it may be frustrating to deal with, I encourage you to remember how we used to be before we accepted Christ. Jesus would wake us up and we wouldn't say "thank you". Jesus would protect us and we wouldn't say "I appreciate you God". Jesus died for us and we wouldn't even give our lives back to him. But today, I challenge you to change your way of handling unthankful individuals and to bless those who curse you!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father, 

At times we forget that we should all love one another and be thankful to you in all that we do. I ask you to remind us daily that we should be thankful for everything. Even in the times that we are struggling we should thank you, for we know all that you have your hand in is for the good. Father God, bless those who struggle with this on a daily basis and touch their hearts, so that they may be more like you. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

With Love, 

"B"

A Day to Honor Life...

Memorial Day- to some it's merely the beginning of summer and to others it's a solemn day to remember those who have passed from this life. However, to the war veteran and to the families of fallen soldiers, Memorial Day carries significance so deep that words cannot express their hearts.

When we look into the eyes of those who still mourn these once vibrant men and women, we often sense their loneliness and pain. We hear them choke back tears as they simply say the ranks and names of their military brothers and sisters at a Memorial Day service. White gloves, dress uniforms, rigid posture, and perfectly precisioned salutes represent the reverence and respect flowing from within. Those who have been personally affected by war understand and appreciate this day of remembrance.

What should we say to those who sincerely honor this day? "Happy Memorial Day" doesn't seem fitting. "I'm sorry for your loss" may be closer to appropriate. What would the fallen soldier want from their comrades and the rest of the country on this day?

In an often quoted Memorial Day speech given in 1884 by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the speaker ended his address with these words, "Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death--of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will."

The American solder who gave his or her life for U.S. citizens to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness won't be telling us how to observe the holiday. But I believe that Holmes' proposition to "think of life, not death" would honor the fallen soldier. Their sacrifice follows the example of Jesus Christ laying down His life for our freedom. It's selfless love for others-not so they can mourn forever, but live!

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave us his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." - 1 John 3:16.

Notice that in scripture and in military service, the willingness to give up one's life is not dependent on the worthiness of the people who benefit from the honorable act. In a perfect world, all who receive freedom and grace would be worthy of such a sacrifice and full of gratitude. But that's not the way it is anywhere on Earth or in Heaven.

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." - Romans 5:8.

We are blessed to be living in a free society. May we honor our American soldiers for the liberty we have in this country. May we also give thanks to Almighty God for the freedom we have to spend eternity with Him because of His gift of forgiveness through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

With Love, 

"B"

This post in written in honor of:

My Father: Retired Airforce  Richard H. Brown.

My Father-In-Law: Retired Navy George W. Ross , deceased.

My Brother: Army Kevin R Brown, KIA Iraq, 2007

Privacy Fences

...Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they strength, and with all they mind; and thy neighbour as thyself..- Luke 10:27

....And who is my neighbour? - Luke 10:29

We have a privacy fence around our entire backyard and I probably wouldn't want it any other way, but it still makes me feel closed in. That's one thing about a fence. There are two sides to it. You shut out intrusions, people, and everything else, but on the other hand, a fence closes you in. 

I read a statistic the other day that said a third of Americans have never met their neighbors. From what I read, I guess that number has increased dramatically over the last several years. I know we've lived in places where we didn't know our neighbors at all. 

I don't think people consciously want to block their neighbors out of their lives...well some might. I guess it depends on what your neighbors are like. In general though, I think we just get so busy and content in our own busy lives that we don't slow down and make an effort to interact with our neighbors.

I think we kind of get like that in how we live in general too. We tend to want to put an invisible privacy fence all around us. We don't let people in. We keep our distance. We don't talk to the neighbors.

It gives me cause to pause because Jesus was the very opposite of that. He was all about the neighbors! He was all about people. He loved them. He cared for them. He got right up next to them. He made room for people in His life.

I think about how close Jesus was with people. Look how much He was on the water with His disciples. They weren't on cruise ships. Fishing boats have close quarters. Jesus was rubbing elbows with those disciples. Look how people followed Him everywhere. I think of the story of the woman who touched the garment of Jesus and how the crowds were pressing on Him.

I tell my teenage son all the time to get out of my personal space. Give me three feet around is what I always tell him. Doesn't work though, but I just don't like people up that close to me. Then I think of Jesus. He really allowed people to get close to Him even physically. We have trouble just allowing people into our lives, let alone dealing with the physical aspect of it.

I think though if we are going to make an impact on people we are going to have to start getting to know them. We have to start investing in the lives of others. We have to stop building up those privacy fences all around us. We can say hello to people once in a while. It won't kill us. We can be kind to people. We can encourage people in some way.

I think of how the early Christians went fellowshipping house to house. You can't really do that without getting to know people. Can you? There is so much in the Bible about encouraging each other and praying for each other as believers. We are to be building people up but we can't do it when we are hiding behind our invisible privacy fences. We have to stop closing ourselves in.

Not only that but in order to spread the Gospel, we have to talk to people. We can't do that behind a fence. We have to make some effort in order to share Christ. 

Sure getting to know people is a little scary. People can dice us up with their words, hurt our feelings, and make us feel small and miserable. It happens. But we just can't stay behind our fences blocking out everyone. Jesus told us how to treat our neighbors when He answered the lawyer in Luke chapter 10.

"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all they strength, and with all thy mind; and they neighbour as thyself."

The lawyer then asks Jesus "...and who is my neighbour?"

This is where Jesus proceeded to tell the story of the Good Samaritan. I love this story. Talk about neighborly. The Samaritan helped the man who had been beaten. He bound up the man's wounds, gave the man a ride (on his own donkey), took him to a motel, and even paid the bill. 

That's how Jesus said to treat people. That's loving our neighbor.

The Good Samaritan knew how to get out and invest in people. Look at the things he did:

*The Good Samaritan had compassion on the man.

*The Good Samaritan took care of the man's physical needs.

*The Good Samaritan lifted up the man.

*The Good Samaritan went out of his way for the man.

*The Good Samaritan wasn't selfish toward the man.

I think of all the ways the Good Samaritan acted towards this man shows us exactly how to get out from behind our "privacy fences". We need to have compassion that moves us. We need to lift people up and be encourager's. We need to go out of our way. And then we need to be willing to give. 

I don't know about you, but I know I need to start really investing in other people. I need to break out and find out who people are. I need to get to know the neighbors. 

I need to build more friendships and get to know other believers more. I need to be more of a blessing to people. I can't do that if I never leave my yard. 

I hate to admit it, but sometimes I find myself cowering behind my privacy fence. It is hard to just step out and get involved with other people. I'm going to have to try to stop being scared of the unknown.

We can't witness for Christ to those who don't know Him and we can't have fellowship with other Christians if we don't have any interaction with them.

So, what kind of fence have you built?

Lets pray:

Father God, 

Only you know the fences that we have built around our lives to keep others out. But only you can help us to break those fences down and live according to your will. Guide us to fellowship and bond with other believers on a whole new level to serve and love you.

Amen.

With Love, 

"B"

Here's My Cup

" Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ..." - Hebrews 13:21

I love cute coffee mugs and pretty teacups too. I have several different ones I've collected over the years. I drink coffee out of a bigger cup, just because I feel I really need a big cup for that. I tend to drink tea in a smaller cup. Just seems like teas should be sipped from a daintier cup or something. Not sure why. There is a certain type of cup I pick from the cupboard for hot chocolate too. 

Maybe I'm just picky but for certain drinks, I like particular cups or mugs. Each one has specific details I like. What about us? What details do we have?

*Chipped or Whole

What kind of shape are you in? Feel like you've been battered around the sink a few times or tossed around in the dishwasher? The hot water of this world hitting you hard?

We all have some flaws or maybe we are a little bit damaged but God can make us whole. We don't have to dwell on our misfortunes but we can choose to allow God to use those things to mold our lives into what He wants. We are made up of our experiences but we don't have to allow them to slow us down in our Christian living. We need to go to the Lord for His Strength. 

*Clean or Dirty

One thing I can't stand is to run the dishwasher and pull out a dish and it is still dirty. Why do we get upset about that? Because it is supposed to be clean and we expect it to be clean. None of us wants to drink out of a dirty cup or eat off a dirty dish.

What about us as Christians? We are supposed to be clean. We aren't supposed to have any crusty stuff or greasy slime of the world on us. We've accepted Christ. We are supposed to be living close to the Lord and living holy and clean lives. 

*Empty or Full

Now some people may like pouring only a half a cup of coffee into their cup at a time but not me. I want a full cup. When I have hot chocolate, I definitely want a full cup of that. Love that stuff.

As Christians are we full of Christ? Or are we only partly full. Do we go to His Word constantly to be filled? Are we continually praying and communing with God? Are we allowing that filling of Holy Spirit?

*Decorative or Practical

I love pretty cups and mugs. I especially like those little tiny teacups that are just so dainty with pretty little etchings on them. Sometimes those decorative cups aren't too practical though. Maybe they are too tiny and won't hold enough to wet your whistle. Maybe they have funny little handles that are hard to grasp and hold. Maybe the paint on them will just rub off if they are used too much.

What about us as Christians? Will we hold up with use? How strong is our faith? Look at those faith heroes in Hebrews 11. We are capable of such big things for God but our faith has to be strong. Strong faith helps us survive the weight of this world.

*Seasonal or Everyday

I have some Christmas cups that I just love taking down to use. I've got some with cute snowmen, Christmas trees, and all kinds of pretty Christmas scenes on them. For it is a lot nicer to fill up a cup of hot chocolate into a pretty Christmas mug. I try to keep them just for around the holidays because I'd probable get tired of them so I pack them away in a box and it's out of sight. I keep my other cups where I can reach them and use them everyday.

What about us? Are we seasonal or everyday Christians? Do we just go to church every week, do a few good works, and say all the right things on the outside but really don't want to be used any more than that?

Remember what Paul told Timothy? "...be instant in season, out of season...".

I know you all heard of those "C&E" Christians who only attend church on Christmas and Easter but I'm not talking about that. We can attend church each week and still end up a "seasonal" Christian, only really serving the Lord when we see fit, when we feel like it, or when there's an activity going on at our church. We shouldn't be weekly Christians but we should be everyday Christians. We should be like the cups and mugs sitting in the front row of the cupboard, ready to be taken down and used. 

I hope my cup has all the details that Christ wants me to have. Ready to be filled, used, faithful, and available so that everything I do is pleasing to Christ.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."- Hebrews 13:20, 21.

So what kind of cup are you?

Let's Pray:

Father, 

We come to you asking that you keep our eyes open to your will. That you help us to keep our faith and serve you, not till we are just filled up, but that we be overflowing with your joy. 

Amen.

With Love, 

"B"