Honest Reflections

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:6 NIV)

Empty words are rampant in the world.  News media are biased; the truth is hard to find. How are we to know what are empty words and what isn’t?  God’s word.

Applying God’s word to your life illuminates truth.  My most potent example: saying no to premarital sex; when I did, the truth revealed he was only interested in sex.  If you are female and want to find out the character of the man you’re dating, don’t sleep with him.  The truth shows quickly. A man who respects your boundaries is worthy of investing your heart. One who pressures you is thinking of himself more than he is you.  Empty words revealed.

Focus on known truth.

To begin to identify the empty words in your life, focus on what you know is true.  For me, truth starts with Jesus. The reality of His ministry is my reality.  His death and resurrection enables me to have life to the fullest.  As I seek Him through God’s word, applying His teachings to life situations, my faith deepens.  Jesus becomes more and more truth to me the harder I chase after Him.  As I do, He reveals what words are empty.

Scripture’s beauty is its applicability.

For instance, before cell phones, my high tech landline was programmable. As a way to memorize scripture, I recorded this verse as my “Wake-up Call” each morning:

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NIV)

When I answered the phone each morning, my recorded voice read this passage.  During that time, I found life hard to “rejoice and be glad in it.” Hearing this reminder changed my outlook. Positive words filled my mind first thing, altering my mindset.  As each day passed, the scripture became more ingrained in my mind, changing my world view.  My lens to the world became God’s word.

Years later, the same verse still applies.  Truth is found in the passage:  God created today, just like He created that day long ago.  God’s word isn’t empty.  Filled with wisdom and knowledge, they reveal the empty words of the world around us.  Now, the scripture means so much more to me than it did then.  When I rejoice, it is more heartfelt than ever, my gladness overwhelming. 

Journeying with God daily deepens the meaning of His word. Applying His wisdom to your life reveals the truth.  Empty words become easy to spot.

Question of the Day:

What empty words have God’s word revealed in your life?

Further Reading: Isaiah 51-53 NIV, Ephesians 5:1-33 NIV, Psalm 69:19-36 NIV, Proverbs 24:7 NIV

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.” (Psalm 69:1 NIV)

Life’s overwhelming moments can feel like water up to the neck.  You’re breathing, hanging on, head bobbing above the water, but it’s hard.  Battling day in and day out is exhausting.  Daily chores are monotonous.  On and on life goes.  Each day a little harder to fight.  Hope seems long lost, but is it?

Finishing a tennis lesson recently, a young mother told me she had no hope.   She had just witnessed her child overcome a massive emotional obstacle minutes before on the court.  Yet she was hopeless.  What I said to her was, “Hope is in the moment.”  We had experienced hope moments ago when the breakthrough occurred.  Patience, perseverance, faith, love all worked together to produce hope.

Treading water is sustainable.

If the water level is up to your neck, more than likely, you’re treading water.  When someone treads water, beneath the surface is what matters.  Typically, your arms form a “T” with the body.  For sustainability, legs are moving in a slow rhythm, like riding a bike.  Not too fast, not too slow, at a comfortable pace. What you can’t see keeps you floating.

God’s what people can’t see. Jesus formed a “T” with His body for us on the Cross. Time spent seeking Him is what keeps you afloat.  Letting go is lifting up:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

Forgive me if I overuse this verse.  People often do.  But there’s a reason to refer to this one often; it gives hope.  When we are tired and burdened, we want to rest.  Jesus provides us with rest when we give Him our worries, our fears.

Finding a physical way to give your burdens to Jesus helps.  For me journaling allows me to rid myself of my fears.  Each morning, after I read my Bible, I handwrite a note to God.  Paul’s word guides my process:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV)

Thank, give, receive.  Each morning He’s waiting to hear what I have to say like a young parent, when their child comes to them with their heartaches.  Lovingly, God cares for our hurts and provides our needs.  With Him, we stay afloat.

Question of the Day:

Who is keeping you afloat today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 48:12-50:11 NIV, Ephesians 4:17-32 NIV, Psalm 69:1-18 NIV, Proverbs 24:5-6 NIV

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV)

Wisdom looks deeply.

Social Media is a way of life.  More than likely, you’re reading this post on one of the many sites that exist.  But are you looking past the picture, even past the video?  We have to seek wisdom by looking beyond what the eye can see.

For instance, in one of my classes, I had to create a video.  My vision was an advertisement for Arm and Hammer Baking Soda.  But before I came up with this idea, I found what looked like a cool trick on the internet.  The magic, “if done correctly,” caused a metal fork to bend in ionized water.  The entire thing was a hoax and I fell for it.  Before I invested in the things needed, I should have researched the facts more.  

Wisdom looks beneath the surface.

As Christ-followers we have to look deeper.  We can’t make quick judgments from appearances.  In order to gain a better picture, we have to ask the right questions.  Paying attention to what people say and post is important.  Look for the balance, is there happy and sad, or is it all happy?  If it’s all happy, they’re not telling the whole story of their life.  You’re making judgments from appearances with only half the truth.

The other day, I posted a picture on my personal account.  A selfie from a bike ride with friends, I was smiling and happy.  But the picture was two days old, in real time I was weathering the storm of an anxiety attack.  When I posted the picture, I pointed out how easily we can draw the wrong conclusions.  If you had only looked at the photo, you wouldn’t know I was battling anxiety.

The truth is, life is a balance of good and bad.  On any given day, you experience both.  Today is only half over at the time of this writing.  Good and bad have happened.  The morning started with a tennis lesson with a new student, good.  After the lesson, my Achilles hurt from the exertion causing me to limp, bad.  Some days, the good outweighs the bad, some times it’s the other way around.  Good and bad happens daily.

Years ago, I had a bad moment.  I can’t remember what happened.  But I do remember what my friend said when I was telling her about the event.  She told me, “Don’t let one bad moment ruin your entire day.”  I have never forgotten her advice.  When bad moments happen, her words float through my mind.  She is absolutely right, don’t let a bad moment ruin your entire day.

Seek wisdom and understanding by looking deeper.  Don’t judge by appearances, instead look for the balance.

Question of the Day:

How can you look deeper today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 45:11-48:11 NIV, Ephesians 4:1-16 NIV, Psalm 68:19-35 NIV, Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  (Ephesians 3:16-17 NIV)

God strengthens you from His glorious riches.

Glorious riches aren’t big mansions, million-dollar paychecks, and fast cars.  Glorious riches are good health for you and your loved ones, food in the pantry, and a roof over your head.  

A few years ago, my husband and I stayed in a motel during remodeling.  Under new ownership, the place stood dormant for years.  The closed swimming pool popped out of the ground after years of neglect.  Words to describe our room: peeling paint, rusted fixtures, sketchy bed, 1990’s T.V.  But we had a place to sleep.  God met our needs. His glorious riches are not always what we think.

Needs aren’t wants.

What we need in life are different from what we want.  When I was a kid, I wanted a new family.  Four brothers, one sister, I was next to the youngest.  My brother’s treated me like a brother more than a sister.  Sometimes, that’s good, others not so good.  Back then, I would ask God for a new family.  But now, I praise God every day for my family.  They are the most upright, hard-working people I know.  I’m thankful for each of my siblings more than words can express.  They help me learn and grow through life.  God knows what you need.

Since my journey began as an adult chasing Jesus’s heels, I’ve experienced hard times.  My heart is grieving losses I never thought I’d have.  God taught me the difference between need and want. God gives, and He takes away (Job 1:21 NIV).  Death is inevitable; the mortality rate is 100%. The date and time is the unknown for all of us.  Because God has given me and has taken away from me, I understand the meaning of need.  In the depths of heartache, I needed Him to lift me.  Each day when anxiety tries to steal my joy, I focus on His word to get me through.  Only in His presence can I find His victory and peace.

We all need God’s presence to strengthen us.  Life’s pressures heighten, our energy weakens.  Each of us are battling.  Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t real.  God is invisible in the spiritual sense, yet real.  We can’t see the air we breathe, yet it exists.  Bluetooth signals, invisible yet true.  We believe in things we don’t see every day.

Even though you can’t see God’s presence, He’s strengthening you. He’s your biggest cheerleader, your most adoring fan.  God is lifting you, encouraging you, rooting you on from the sidelines.  All from the wealth of His glorious riches.

Question of the Day:

What glorious riches has God given you?

Further Reading:  Isaiah 43:14-45:10 NIV, Ephesians 3:1-21 NIV, Psalm 68 NIV, Proverbs 24:1-2 NIV

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1-2 NIV)

Networking is key.

Part of the reason God blesses us is so that others’ are drawn to Him through us.  We are God’s network.  

Raised in a business family, and with an undergraduate degree in Business Management, I understand networking.  According to Investopedia: 

Networking is the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting. Networking often begins with a single point of common ground.

Blessings are common ground.

Why someone wouldn’t want God’s blessing in their life, I don’t know.  Most people understand a gift from God when they receive it.  As we thank Him for what He has done for us, we reflect His goodness to the world.  As people witness God’s work in our lives, they begin to desire it for themselves.  His network expands with blessings.

As Christ-followers, our network is the world.  Whoever we interact with on a personal basis, God loves.  If we need a point of agreement as we draw them into the network, it is God’s love.  The same attachment He has for us, He has for others.  We may not think they are worthy of God’s love, but then, neither are we:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV)

Asking God to bless your life is okay.  He wants to bless you.  My husband and I pray daily for God’s blessing and favor in our lives.

“We should seek God’s blessing so that our gladness in God will spread to all the nations.” Pastor Steven J. Cole

God wants to bless you.  Ask Him to bless your life, your family, and your friend’s lives.  Watch as He pours into your life in ways you can’t even imagine.  Recognizing blessings comes in all kinds of forms.

This morning when I was getting dressed, I thanked God for my legs.  The fact I can walk is a blessing from God.  Having a roof over my head, clothes to wear, and food to eat is something not everyone has.  A thought ran through my mind, “What if we started our day by thanking God for the things we take for granted?”

All those things we take for granted are blessings—each of them is a ray of God’s light shining in our lives. Yet we aren’t even glad for them.  God’s blessings aren’t the things we think: large bank account, big home, fancy lifestyle.  God’s blessings are the people He gives us to journey through life with each day.  He provides daily for us so His light can shine.

Question of the Day:

Have you asked God to pour His blessings into your life?

Further Reading: Isaiah 41:17-43:13 NIV, Ephesians 2:1-22 NIV, Psalm 67 NIV, Proverbs 23:29-35 NIV

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:15-16 NIV)

If you’re a new follower of Jesus, you’ve found freedom.  The journey is beginning to an adventure you can’t imagine.  As you get to know Him more and more, your love for Him will deepen.  Enthusiasm for your new level of understanding about Jesus is contagious to those around you.  Life has meaning and purpose different from before.  Dots will connect as you realize, even though you weren’t following Jesus, He was pursuing you.  Conversations from long ago now make sense.  Things you thought were nothing are now something—perspective changes as you look at the world through Jesus’s eyes.

And if you can’t remember a time when you weren’t following Jesus, new believers remind you.  Nothing is more exhilarating for me than a conversation with someone new to the faith.  The questions they ask are challenging.  Inevitably, they re-invigorate me and remind me to have child-like faith.

“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3 NIV)

Faith frees us.

As we pursue a life with God, we find freedom.  Recently, God revealed a lie I internalized when I was a child.  Working through the feelings and emotions of that revelation freed me.  Letting go of the things in life that hinder us from living life to the fullest is liberating.  We all have the same problem; we don’t know what lies we believe, which keeps us in bondage.  Jesus came to release us from lies:

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.  Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37 NIV)

God reveals the truth in our lives by uncovering the lies we believe.  Exposing untruths to the light causes their power to diminish.  The lie I lived: my feelings are stupid and don’t matter.  My newfound freedom: my feelings are valid; they do matter.  Once again, I took a step closer to Jesus as He worked in my life.

Putting our faith in Jesus is the beginning of the journey.  As He works in our lives, we grow.  We recognize areas we need to let His light shine.  A question asked in our prayer meeting applies to all:

“What areas of my heart needs hope?

Find somewhere private.  Whatever time you have, sit silently.  Ask yourself what areas your heart needs hope.  Wait for God’s response.  See what lies He reveals to you.

Question of the Day:

How has faith in Jesus freed you from your past life?

Further Reading: Isaiah 39:1-41:16 NIV, Ephesians 1 NIV, Psalm 66 NIV, Proverbs 23:25-28 NIV

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

Before you can answer the question, you have to define responsible.

Suppose you define responsible as praying for other people.  You’re responsible for everyone God brings into your life.  Prayer is something we’re to develop into a lifestyle:

“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 NIV)

For instance, my husband and I drove on the interstate over Labor Day Weekend.  Traffic was heavy.  Several different times, young guys on fast motorcycles wove in and out of the cars.  Each time I did the same thing.  I covered my eyes with my hand and asked God not to let me see a horrific accident; then I asked Him to protect the riders and get them to their destination safely.  We carry each other’s burdens by first starting with prayer.

However, if you define responsible as taking care of a person’s well-being, it depends on the relationship.  If you’re married, spouses have an obligation to each other and their children. I’ve found, making my husband a priority in my life defines all other relationships.  Working on our relationship is my responsibility first and foremost.  All others come second.  Prioritizing relationships is up to the individual.

God takes responsibility for all.

One of the hardest lessons for me to learn in ministry, I’m not God.  In other words, my “job” isn’t to solve every problem.  Hurting people seek Jesus.  Some of the stories I’ve encountered since following Jesus bring me to tears at the thought of them.  Difficult questions have no answers.  Nothing I do or say can take away the pain and heartache.  But I’m not God.  Never did He intend for me to have all the answers or solve all the problems.  His job is to run the world.  Mine is just to love Him and love others to the best of my ability.

When life’s circumstances are overwhelming, trust Him:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

In truth, none of us are responsible for anyone.  God is the Creator; He has the plan.  We’re to seek Him and follow.  When we do, we’ll know whose burdens we are to carry.  Begin with prayer.  Lift their worries to God.  Watch as He answers in His time and way.

We are responsible to pray for others.  When we do, we carry their burdens.  God does the rest.

Question of the Day:

What burdens do you need to give to Jesus today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 37-38 NIV, Galatians 6:1-18 NIV, Psalm 65 NIV, Proverbs 23:24 NIV

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13 NIV)

Serve others with love.

In all things, we are to do them with love. Each of us are different; our differences are what make us valuable.   Using our talents to serve others is freedom.

Eric Lidell was a British Gold Medalist in the 1924 Olympics. Liddell refused to run the 100-meter race because it was on Sunday.  He ran the 400-meter race on a weekday and won.  In 1925, he returned to the life of a missionary in China.  When his sister challenged him for running instead of serving God, his reply is infamous.  “I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

God made each of us for a purpose.  When do you feel God’s pleasure in what you do?  I feel God’s joy when I write.  Each time I stretch myself, looking within my heart to find the words, He pushes and grows me.  At the end of another month, I feel like another battle won.  

Your purpose is God’s pleasure.

For me, I’ve always loved to write, but I haven’t pursued it until now.  In second grade, I wrote my first “novel” for my mother.  A picture book was her gift.  Writing is something God created me to do.  Therefore, I serve others by writing about God.  My prayer is the same, “Lord, may my words help people love and know You.”

Misrepresentation of God is common in our world.  People view Him as mean, uncaring, and judgemental.  Why is that?  Because people do things in His name that are mean, uncaring, and judgemental.  They aren’t using the freedom they find in Christ to serve others in love.  If Christ-followers loved others well, non-believers would love God.

Use your freedom to spread God’s love to the world.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

As followers of Christ, if we did everything by the fruit of the Spirit, people would love Him.  But none of us do.  All of us have moments where we are Spirit-led.  If we are sincere, we probably miss more moments than we don’t.  Our struggle with the flesh deters us from sharing God’s love with His people.  

Eric Liddell won gold because he practiced.  His God-given talent refined with his efforts.  All athletes know, the more they practice, the better they become.

Practice:

Use your freedom wisely.  Love others well.  Serve them daily.  Rinse and repeat.  

Question of the Day:

What is your God-given gift you can use to serve others?

Further Reading: Isaiah 33:10-36:22 NIV, Galatians 5:13-26 NIV, Psalm 64 NIV, Proverbs 23:23 NIV

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV)

Jesus gives freedom.

When we place our trust in Jesus, He releases us from our bonds.  His unconditional love accepts us just as we are.  However, we don’t honestly believe God loves us.  Every step of faith we take is another step of freedom.  As we begin to trust God more and more, our lives become freer.

One way to find the freedom offered by Jesus is to pray this prayer:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

Search me, know me, test me.

Not an easy prayer to pray, but one that will lead to freedom.  We think we know what our problem’s are, but we don’t.  Every person you meet knows you differently from anyone else.  Their perspective about you depends on their relationship with you.  My tennis students only know me as “Coach Beth” because that is the only time they see me.  My husband knows me better than anyone because he lives with me.  God is the only one who knows all perspectives, all viewpoints, all things.  If we want freedom, we have to let Him search our hearts.

God gave me newfound freedom last week.  As I prayed a similar prayer, asking God to reveal what was holding me back, He answered.  He exposed a lie I had internalized about feelings.  “Your feelings are stupid and don’t matter,” is the lie I believed.  How did God show me this lie in my life?  An image from when I was a child flashed through my mind.  Someone who didn’t mean any harm was making fun of my feelings. Because I loved and respected this person, I believed what he said.  At that moment, God freed me from a lie I had thought for years.

I’ve learned that we like the comfort of lies more than the freedom of truth.  Unintentionally, we adapt to the lie.  For me, I learned how to suppress my feelings.   Now and then, the facade cracks, but not usually.  Right now, at this point, God is teaching me to talk about my feelings.  He’s given me opportunities to say, “Hey, you hurt my feelings.”  And I have.  But expressing myself isn’t easy.  However, if I don’t try to walk in truth, I won’t experience God’s freedom.

Jesus reveals the truth in our lives.  As we embrace His teachings, we find freedom.  Knowing and accepting the facts sets you free.

Embrace Jesus’s truth.  Find freedom.

Question of the Day:

What truth is Jesus trying to reveal to you?

Further Reading:Isaiah 30:12-33:9 NIV, Galatians 5:1-12 NIV, Psalm 63 NIV, Proverbs 23:22 NIV

“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” (Proverbs 23:20-21 NIV)

Portion is the problem.

How much alcohol you drink is what is essential.  Jesus’s first recorded miracle is turning water into wine:

“Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet…the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.  What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2: 7-9, 11 NIV)

One common myth is you can’t drink if you follow Jesus.  Where this thought comes from, I do not know.  The truth is Jesus’s first miracle involved alcohol.  However, too much of a good thing isn’t suitable for anyone.  Overindulging in alcohol is where the problems begin.

Moderation is key.

Alcoholism is a disease.  People’s bodies become addicted to the content.  To relieve the symptoms of withdrawals, alcoholics drink more and more.  When I was in college, I drank a lot. One friend I made during those years was the nephew of my professor.  His uncle informed him of how I dragged myself into class each day, looking hungover.  He wasn’t wrong.  Overindulging in alcohol is something college students do every day.  Newfound freedom is hard to manage at such a young age.

During my senior year of college, I worked on a project with a partner.  We drank too much one night after studying.  I drove home.  The next morning when I woke up in my bed, I remembered nothing of the drive.  That night changed my life.  Fear gripped me as I thought about what could have happened.  Praise Jesus,  nothing did.  God was pursuing me when I wasn’t pursuing Him.  One night, and I knew I needed to make changes in my life.

Moderation is still something I strive for daily.  No matter whether our battle is with alcohol, food, or something else, we have to monitor its place in our lives.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV)

Not everyone can drink.  For some people, alcohol is a poison.  They shouldn’t drink at all.  The more a person drinks, the more they lose their inhibition.  Whoever is drinking isn’t aware of how the alcohol is affecting them.  Poor decisions follow.  I know I’ve made mistakes because of alcohol.  By the grace of God, there go I.

Alcohol in moderation is permissible.  Portion is the problem.  None is better than too much.

Question of the Day:

How dangerous is alcohol in your life?

Further Reading: Isaiah 28:14-30:11 NIV, Galatians 3:23-4:31 NIV Psalm 62:1-12 NIV, Proverbs 23:19-21 NIV