Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 26-27 GW; Matthew 7 GW

If you don’t want judging, don’t judge.

Judging is something we all do.  Assessing other people is so much a part of our lives; we don’t even realize we do it.  Nicholas Rule, in his article Snap-Judgement Science, defines our quick decisions this way:

“Whether we’re selecting a cashier at a grocery store or picking players for a neighborhood ball game, we go through a detailed and complicated process of noticing cues that give away other people’s traits, and then we unconsciously run a series of calculations to make predictions about how they might act.”

As a human being, you make snap judgments.  Judging is natural for us.  Part of surviving in life is the ability to decipher between good or bad.  If you can judge a situation as dangerous, you can avoid it.  The same applies to people; identifying unhealthy people in your life helps set appropriate boundaries in the relationship.  

Judge on facts, not fiction.  Recognize your snap judgments are uninformed.  The knowledge you have is limited; people always have untold stories you don’t know.

When you stop judging, so will others.

Understanding we all judge helps us stop judging.  Often, when we are talking about people, stereotypes are a factor.  Having an “oversimplified image or idea of a particular person or thing” is common for all of us.  We have to fight past our preconceived notions of people to get to know them.  In other words, look past the surface.  Ask questions that will take your relationship to a deeper level.

Stop judging; start loving.  Everyone you meet today is someone God loves.

Lord, forgive us for judging others incorrectly.  Help us do better.  When we meet people throughout this day, help us remember, You love them.  Instead of looking at the surface, help us go more in-depth.  We all carry pain within us, pain we don’t expose to the world.  Help us not add to others pain.  As we seek You today, fill us with what we need to love the world around us.  The hurting, the sick, the weak, let us see them all.  And then help us to love them as You would have us do.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who have you passed judgment on too quickly?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 25 GW; Matthew 6 GW; Psalms 127 GW

Intent is key to receiving God’s reward.

At first glance, this verse seems harsh, but it isn’t.  God’s reward in this situation is found no other way and is hard to describe.  When you do something to attract people’s attention, you’re not attracting God’s.  But when you do something inspired from your heart, because of Jesus, that God sees.  

Heart inspired actions reflect God to the world.  Random acts of kindness (RAK) is a phrase everyone hears.   The first time I did a RAK I found it challenging.   What seems like a simple gesture is anxiety-ridden for me.  Because of past experiences, I’m shell shocked. People have hurt me in ways I didn’t know they could.  Determined to push past my fear of people,  I paid the check for the person in line behind me at a drive-thru. No one knows my deed but God.  And His reward is great.  For me, the reward is overcoming my fear of people.  Which is greater than any material gift I could receive.

God rewards pure intent.

What God desires is pure intent.  Our motives are to please God, not people. Gaining the right attitude means making God a priority.  Instead of caring what people think, care about what God thinks.  No matter who you are, or what you do, you will never please everyone.  Someone will not like what you do.  Please God, let Him deal with the people.  When you focus on His goodness, it will flow from you.  His rewards are plenty when you honor Him with your actions.

God’s reward isn’t man’s.  People’s approval isn’t necessary to receive what God has for you.

Lord, Your ways are not our ways. We’re grateful Your grace covers our flaws.  Help us today to have hearts of pure intent.  Let our actions reflect Your love to the world.  Help us believe that You do know all we do.  As we strive for obedience, show us the steps we need to take to honor You.  Strengthen us as only You can.  Your strength allows us to do the things that alone we cannot do.  Your reward is the one we crave.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What is a random act of kindness you can do today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 24 GW; Matthew 5 GW

Recognition is the key to spiritual growth.

If you don’t recognize your need for God, you won’t develop a relationship with Him.  Each of us has a void inside of us; only Jesus can fill it.  Unfortunately, most people don’t understand they need God in their lives, especially living in America.  Everything is in abundance in the United States.  Where I live, I’m a mile from anything I could want.  Food, clothing, and shelter are readily available for anyone.  Non-profits organizations offer help for the homeless.  Physical needs met; we think we don’t need God.  But that is a lie from the pit of hell.

Life is about more than stuff.  Spiritual life is unseen with the naked eye.  God’s presence in our lives is necessary if we’re to live life to the fullest.  If we don’t recognize our need for Him, we’ll miss out on the life He intends for us.  As we embrace our limitations and accept God’s infinite power within us, we begin to live fully.

Jesus makes you an heir.

On a recent camping trip, a cold snap in weather caused a shortage of firewood.  We spent hours looking for wood to no avail.  Even though simple, the lack of readily available firewood reminded me of my dependence on God.  He is the one who provides all of our needs.  My helplessness to solve the situation reminded me of the One who isn’t helpless.

Just like we depend on God for physical needs, we do the same for spiritual needs.  Only when we recognize our human condition do we turn to Jesus.  When we turn to Jesus, He makes us an heir with Him in the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who recognize their spiritual helplessness; let them call on Jesus to fill the void.

Lord, we’re thankful You help us see our need for You.  As we experience the void, only You can fill, help us turn to Jesus.  Don’t let the availability of physical comforts keep us from experiencing life with You.  Instead, help us live our lives to the fullest as we place our trust in You.  Keep us moving forward in our relationship with You.  Each day, draw us into your presence as we inherit Your Kingdom through Christ.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Have you recognizes your spiritual helplessness?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 21-23 GW; Matthew 4 GW

Follow Jesus to learn how to fish for people.

When you put into practice the teachings of Jesus, you will become a fisher of men.  People are drawn to the light of God when we let it shine through us.  Understanding of Jesus’s teachings comes when we do what He did.

What did Jesus do?  He noticed people, from the beggar on the street to the rich man. Jesus sees everyone.  Jesus loved everyone; He died on the cross for all, not just the select.  None of us know who will choose to follow Jesus.  For those who have decided to do life like Jesus, you will know it by their actions.

Jesus will help you fish.

Loving like Jesus means doing it anyway.  Mother Teresa is a woman who knew how to fish for people. She had a close relationship with Jesus and used a poem to remind her of her calling.  As Kent Kieth’s words inspired Mother Teresa, let his poem inspire you today:

Lord, thank You for the example Jesus gives us.  As we move through our day today, help us love people anyway.  When we see the heavy-hearted, help us lighten their heart.  Whatever need we see today, help us meet it.  Let us not take offense when people don’t respond in kind, but instead, love.  As we cast our nets into the world today, let Your light shine through us.  Help us draw people to You by the love we share with them.  Let love flow through us to others anyway.  Help us share what you abundantly give us.  IJNIP. Amen 

Question for reflection

Who do you need to love anyway today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Psalms 11 GW; Genesis 19-20 GW; Matthew 3 GW

Righteous life creates decent people.

According to Webster’s dictionary of 1828, righteous “denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of divine commands in practice.”  From a Christ-follower’s perspective, putting your faith in Jesus and practicing His teachings makes you righteous.  In essence, live your life doing what Jesus did.

My husband and I traveled over Christmas.  RV’ers, our truck requires diesel fuel; we use truck stops when traveling.   Because paying with cash is more manageable at these facilities, my husband uses this method.  When we topped off on a restroom break, he prepaid $30.  However, the pump stopped at $30.05.  Sitting in the passenger seat, I watched as my husband got a nickel from the middle console and went in to pay the difference.  As he grabbed the coin, he looked at me and said, “It’s the right thing to do.”  Righteous life is doing the next right thing.

God’s principles makes you decent.

People don’t get mad at people who consistently do the right thing.  When you follow Jesus, that is what you are to do.  A common prayer I pray, “What’s the next step?  Show me the next right thing to do.”  Gratefully, Jesus sets the example for all of us.  If we search the scriptures, we’ll find God answered already.  Seeking requires setting time aside for God.  When we commune with God through His word and prayer, He’ll highlight the path we are to take.

Righteous living requires consistency with God.  Daily interactions with Him will give you the next right thing to do in your life.

Lord, we’re grateful You show us the way.  As we strive for decency in our lives, guide us, direct us.  Give us the next right thing to do in our lives.  Open our eyes to the work You are doing, not only in our lives but those around us.  Strengthen us to take the hard steps as well as the painful steps.  Letting go of our desires and bring them in line with Yours is challenging.  Help us overcome the obstacles that keep us from doing Your will.  Get our desires out of the way as we align our hearts with Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection:

What is the next right thing for you to do in your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 16-18 GW; Matthew 2 GW

God keeps His promises.

When God made a promise to Abraham, He promised it to his descendants as well.  God changed Abram’s name, which meant “Exalted Father,” to Abraham, meaning “Father of Many” (Genesis 17:5 GW).  At this point, Abraham was 99 years old; the only child he had was Ishmael by his maidservant.  His wife Sarai, who God renamed Sarah, was never with child.  However, God promises to give Abraham many descendants.  What God was promising to Abraham, and what He did, made the impossible possible for him.  A year later, Sarah had a son, Isaac.  Through him, Abraham became the father of many.

When God makes a promise, He keeps it.  How, when, and where are for Him to know.  We have to do what Abraham did, trust.  After God made the promise, Abraham did what he knew to do.  God’s servant got up the next day and went about his business.  Abraham didn’t try to fulfill the promise himself; he waited for God to do it.  All the while, he lived his life.

The God of Abraham is your God too.

We are Abraham’s descendants, his God, ours.  The life we have fulfills the promise God made centuries ago.  Because God made the impossible possible for Abraham, we can trust He will do the same for us.

Whatever impossible situation you are facing today, give it to God.  Trust that He will take care of the circumstance as only He can.  Then go about your business as you wait for His answer.  Love those you meet, spread His peace to all you encounter.  Wait with anticipation for God to work in your life.

Lord, we’re grateful you make the impossible possible.  As we face the day ahead, fill us with the hope of Abraham.  Let us look expectantly to the upcoming days, knowing You are working Your plan out to completion in us.  As we meet people today, let us pass Your peace to them through our actions of love.  When we speak, let hope fill our words.  In all things, help us trust You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What promise are you waiting for God to fulfill in your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 14-15 GW; Psalms 47 GW; Matthew 1 GW

God is your shield.  

In Him, the rewards of a life lived to the fullest are experienced.  When God made the covenant with Abraham to give him descendants that outnumbered the stars, He first told Him today’s verse.  God has a plan for your life, just like He had one for Abraham.  He will keep you safe while you live out His purpose.  At an appointed time, He calls us all home.  But while in His service here on earth, He is our shield.  Do not be afraid of what God’s plan is for your life.

Questions I hear often, “Why didn’t God protect so-and-so from this situation?” Or, “Why didn’t God heal so-and-so, but someone else died?”  God is God.  He gives and He takes away.  God is the same when we praise Him, as well as when we don’t understand Him.  God never intended us to know everything.  What God wants is for us to trust Him, no matter what the situation, He has a plan.  In God’s timing, all things work for the good.  

God will keep you safe.

One concept that is difficult to accept, God doesn’t change.  What we want as safety in life isn’t what God necessarily wants for us.  We think of security as having no problems, bills paid, relationships intact, health is strong.  But God may not define safety the same way.  His idea of safety might take us through a violent storm, or unimaginable tragedy.  In God’s sovereignty, He remains the same, no matter what the circumstances.

If we stop asking “Why God” questions, we can begin to ask “What God..”.  What is God doing in this circumstance to grow His Kingdom.  His bird’s eye view is much different than ours. God’s purpose is for us to become the person He created.  Our journey is never ending while on earth.  God keeps us safe for our purpose on earth.  He is our shield.

Lord, thank You for Your divine protection.  We are grateful that You are our shield.  Protect us as we serve You.  Help us fulfill the purpose You have for our lives as we continue the journey to become.  Let us seek You today and every day, with hearts open to receive what You have for us.  In You, we find freedom.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What step of faith can you take today knowing, God is your shield?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Genesis 11-13 GW; Ephesians 6 GW

In the 10 Commandments, the sixth comes with a promise.  Honor your father and mother so that you may have a long life on earth.

Honoring our parents is something we can all do.  Whether you consider your parents worthy of honor or not, you wouldn’t have a life without them.  Their actions are what God used to create you.  Just like He planned you before you were born, He also knew your parents.  God expects you to honor them.

What honoring parents looks like differs for everyone.   My father passed when I was young; in his last days, my siblings and I honored him by helping my mother take care of him.  After he died, we helped my mother to the best of our ability.  In her last days, we cared for her and honored her wishes to die at home.  As she took her last breath, my brother and I held her hand.  We met all of her wishes for her funeral, but one, the pastor she requested, wasn’t available to do the service.  

Honoring our parents is more than just listening to them as children; it’s a lifelong journey of growth.

Long-life comes from honoring our parents.

Eleven years ago, a dear friend lost her son in a car accident.  He snuck out his bedroom window on the night of her birthday to go to a party.  Just sixteen years old, he died immediately when the car flew into a tree.  Not until hours later did someone discover the car, stuck in a tree.  At his funeral, she warned his friends; this happens when you don’t listen to your parents.

Honoring our parents is a daily choice we must make.  Whether listening to them when we are young or caring for them when they are old, each day is a new opportunity to honor them.

Lord, thank You for the parents You used to give us life.  Without them and You, we wouldn’t exist.  Help us today to honor them.  Show us what actions we can take today to honor those who gave us life.  Help us forgive any offensives we may feel.  Refocus our energy into a positive activity that will bring life to our relationships with them.  IJNIP Amen

Question for reflection

What is one thing you can do to honor your parents today?

2 minute read

Daily Reading: Psalms 8 GW; Genesis 9-10 GW; Ephesians 5 GW

God’s covenant with Noah is the reason He will never flood the earth again.  After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, once the waters receded, God made a pact.  A rainbow in the sky is the symbol of His promise.

Rainbow formation is the result of light passing through water droplets.  The light slows as it enters a water droplet, bending because of the passage from air to denser water.  Colors generate from inside the water droplet, separating into different hues.

God’s light creates rainbows in the sky and our lives.  As we let God’s light enter into our lives, it reflects from within our hearts to the world.  Just like the rainbow colors come from inside the water droplet, God’s love shines out to the world from within our hearts.  The more light we let into us, the more light we reflect to the world.

God promised no more floods.

Raindrops are the tiny prisms that allow God’s light to shine through them, creating a rainbow.  As we ground our lives in God’s promises, His light in us floods the world.  He won’t cover the earth with water, but He does desire us to cover it with His love.  In all cities, all nations, we’re to share the good news of Jesus’ with the world.

Our tears can become prisms of light for the world to see.  As we lay our pain at God’s feet, He renews us with His strength.  In our weakness, He is strong.  His light shines brighter than any star, flooding the world with colors of love.

Lord, we are grateful for the rainbow.  Thank You for the reminder that you will never flood the earth again.  As light reflects from within the raindrop, let Your light reflect from our tears.  Let us all lay our struggles and hardships at Your feet, trusting You have a plan for us.  May we find rest in Your promises as we strive to reflect Your love to the world today.  Help us honor and glorify You in all we do.  In Jesus’s name, I pray.  Amen

Question for reflection

How can you reflect God’s light to the world today?

2 minute read

Daily Reading: Genesis 7-8 GW; Ephesians 4 GW

Grow with purpose.

God designed you for a specific job.  No one else on the planet is capable of completing your task.  When we are proactive in our relationship with God and others, we will find our purpose.  Each step we take will grow us individually and collectively.  We are in a constant state of becoming as we pursue God.  He uses everything to mold us and shapes us.  Our jobs change as we change.

My husband and I’s first volunteer job together was cleaning the bathrooms at church between services.  To this day,  filling the mints was my favorite task.  As I poured the bite-size candies into their bowls, I prayed for the people who would eat them.  Joy would overflow in my heart as I thought of people praying, worshipping, and learning about Jesus, all with fresh breath.  Even menial tasks have a kingdom impact.  Whatever God is calling you to do, big or small, you will grow as you complete your assignment.

God’s plan for you is to grow.

The reason we are part of a body is because iron sharpens iron:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.” (Proverbs 27:17 GW)

The people in your life are the ones God uses to help you mature.   The annoying family member who makes your skin crawl just thinking about them, Christ died on the cross for them too. Your co-worker, who talks too loud, essential in your growth. Even the stranger on the street is a person God loves.  We are to love them as we love others.  Healthy relationships require boundaries.  Whatever community you find yourself in today, God’s intent is for you to grow within it.

Lord, we are grateful You have a growth plan for our lives.  Help us mature into who you created us to become.  Whatever job you give us today, let us do it to the best of our ability.  Bless our efforts as only You can.  Help us live our life to the fullest, today and every day.  Only in You can we find our purpose.  Illuminate for us how you want us to grow today, doing the job You’ve assigned us to do.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How have you grown from the tasks God gives you?