Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 20:1-22:30 ESV, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 ESV, Psalm 40:11-17 ESV, Proverbs 22:2-4 ESV

Daily Verse: “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” (2 Corinthians 1:5 ESV)

Parakelesis (3874): “Means, “a calling to one’s side.” “An exhortation, or consolation, comfort,” e.g., “looking for the consolation of Israel” is equivalent to waiting for the coming of the Messiah.”[i]

Calling to one’s side.

Paul shares how God comforted him in his distress.  As the apostle’s struggles increased, so did Jesus’ presence in his life.  With Paul’s struggles came Christ’s comfort, which compelled him to share the divine sympathy Paul experienced with others.

Comfort means showing up.  Coming alongside someone when they have trouble in life comforts them.  As Christ-followers, we can call Him to our side in times of need.  In this world, we will have struggles, but Christ comforts us.

When my mother had her first heart attack, it devastated me.  A woman of good health, I rarely saw her sick, much less in the hospital.  One of my most precious memories during that tough time still encourages me over twenty years later.

Divine comfort.

Seeking solace from God, I sat by her bedside as she slept, reading my Bible.  Although I can’t remember the exact passage, I do remember the comfort I felt as my eyes skimmed the pages of the Good Book.  Then her pastor walked into the room, offering to sit with me for a while, God in the flesh.

On the darkest days of my life, Christ shows up.  His comfort comes in unexpected ways, but it always comes.  God used my husband’s arms when my nephew died to comfort me.  Throughout my life, friends, family, and even strangers comfort me.

I still pray for the stranger who helped me choose the right train.  After a taxi cab rammed my rental car, totaling it, near Washington D.C., I caught the train home.  In shock, tears streaming down my face, I didn’t know which train to take, my mind incapable of thought.  But the businessman on his way to work helped me find my way.  God in the flesh, again.

When in need of comfort, call out to Jesus.  Lose yourself in the scriptures as you wait expectantly on God’s help.  The Lord comes in many ways, but He always comes.  Show up for people when they need you, and comfort them with your presence.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 190) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 16:1-19:29 ESV, 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 ESV, Psalm 40:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 22:1 ESV

Daily Verse: “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV)

EUODOO (2137): “From a compound of 2095 and 3598; to help on the road, i.e. (pass.) succeed in reaching; fig. to succeed in business affairs.  “To help on one’s way” is used in the passive voice with the meaning; “to have a prosperous journey” “to prosper” 1 Cor 16:2.”[i]

Prosperous journey

Paul instructs the Corinthians on how to give.  Each week, they must set aside an amount for collection on Sundays.  Incorporating giving into their lifestyle aligns their hearts with God and provides for those less fortunate.

Parting with our hard-earned money challenges the best of us.  But we must remember one key point: we can’t outgive God.  The giver of life provides all we need.  We can’t make money if God doesn’t provide the job.  God owns everything; we give back what He gave us.

In a recent message, the pastor talked about envy.  Comparing what we have to others doesn’t end well.  If we live our lives envying others, we can’t enjoy what we have.  God never intended for us to all have the same thing.

Godly contentment.

As the pastor pointed out, in the parable of the talents, God gave each person a different amount.  One guy received five talents, another two, and another one, each tasked with managing what they had (Matthew 25:14-30 ESV).  Someone will always have more than you; some will have the same, and others will have less. 

Becoming content in Christ means accepting what God gives you and managing it wisely.  The servant with five talents managed his portion well and received more, while the servant with only one talent hid his and eventually lost it.

Become generous with what God gives you.  Plan to share your blessings with others.  Start by giving back to God what He already owns; give to your local church.  Build a storehouse for the community that can help those less fortunate.

Rich or poor, we all will die one day.  Store your treasures in heaven, knowing they don’t last on earth.  You can’t outgive God, but you can have fun trying.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 106) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 12:1-15:35 ESV, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 ESV, Psalm 39:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 21:30-31 ESV

Daily Verse: “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV)

PHTHORA (5356): “Connected with phtheiro, signifies “a bringing or being brought into an inferior or worse condition, a destruction or corruption.”  By metonymy, of anything which is liable to “corruption,” 1 Cor. 15:50 ESV.”[i]

Worse condition.

Perishable items, like a banana, have conditions.  At first, the long, yellow fruit looks inviting and delicious, but as time takes its toll, brown spots begin to appear, and the fruit becomes mushy.  Over time, perishable items become worse and worse until they disappear.

On our honeymoon, Ron accidentally left a banana on the kitchen counter.  When we returned from our weeklong vacation, a slimy black mound covered in fruit flies greeted us.

Unlike the rotten banana, our spiritual body will continue to live long past the time our physical body decays.  Placing our faith in Jesus assures us that our “labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58 ESV)

Imperishable works.

Whatever work we do for Jesus will last.  Whether driving the kids to activities, cooking meals for the family, creating a welcoming home for all, or holding the door for a stranger, we don’t work in vain if we do it for the Lord.

Some days, following Jesus seems more challenging than others.   Doubt creeps into our minds as we question God’s activities.  Looking around our world today, we live in a post-Christian nation.  People live for themselves, not interested in Jesus.  Placing their faith in the perishable, people miss out on God.

The things of this world will pass away, including our physical bodies.  Like a rotten banana, decay happens over time.  But with Jesus, we become imperishable, our souls tied to His.  Life everlasting begins when we place our faith in Christ.

Let go of the perishable things of this world.  Focus your heart on Jesus, and work for Him.  Love God and others to the best of your ability, knowing you don’t work in vain.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 263) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 8:1-11:20 ESV, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 ESV, Psalm 38:1-22 ESV, Proverbs 21:28-29 ESV

Daily Verse: “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:21 ESV)

THANATOS (2288): “Death, has the basic meaning of separation of the soul (the spiritual part of man) from the body (the material part), the latter ceasing to function and turning to dust.  Death is the opposite of life; it never denotes non-existence.  As a spiritual life is conscious existence in communion with God, spiritual death is conscious existence in separation from God.  Death, in whichever of the above-mentioned senses it is used, is always in scripture, viewed as the penal consequence of sin and since sinners alone are subject to death it was as the Bearer of sin that the Lord Jesus submitted thereto on the Cross.  And while the physical death of the Lord Jesus was of the essence of His sacrifice, it was not the whole.  The darkness symbolized, and His cry expressed, the fact that He was left alone in the universe, He was forsaken.”[i]

Separation of soul.

Death means your soul separates from your physical form.  When one dies physically, they still exist spiritually.  Sinning takes us away from God; spiritual death occurs when we choose to live life following our flesh instead of the Creator’s direction.  Thus, the penalty for sin equals death.

When we consciously decide to unite our souls with Jesus, we become spiritually alive.  Death no longer holds its sting because Christ’s actions overcame our sin.  We can’t help but sin; we need a Savior.  Jesus does the job willingly.

Physically, when Christ died on the cross, He paid the price we couldn’t.  Spiritually, when God forsook His Son, Jesus experienced separation from the Father, alone in the universe.  Resurrection day united Father and Son.  Placing faith in Jesus means accepting His love into our lives and understanding that we can’t do what Christ did for us.

Spiritual life.

Christ binds us to God and gives us eternal spiritual life.  Never will we experience what Jesus did alone in the universe.  When our physical body dies, our spiritual one will live with Jesus in heaven.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3 ESV)

Place your faith in Jesus and experience life to the fullest with the Savior.  Death doesn’t separate us from Christ’s love; nothing can.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 113) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 4:1-7:21 ESV, 1 Corinthians 14:18-40 ESV, Psalm 37:30-40 ESV, Proverbs 21:27 ESV

Daily Verse: “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV)

TELEIOS (5046): “Brought to its end, finished.  As an adjective means “complete, perfect,” men full grown, adult, of full age, mature.  One how is teleious has attained the moral end for which he was intended, namely to be a man in Christ.”[i]

Moral end.

Mature thinking requires self-awareness.  Paul doesn’t want the Corinthians controlled by evil motives but instead to stop and think about their actions.  Adults don’t allow emotions to manage them.  Age doesn’t define maturity, but actions do.

Giving a tennis lesson to a challenging twelve-year-old, he didn’t like to receive instructions.  Apologizing for his argumentative demeanor, he explained the condition that caused him to act as he did and techniques to control the behavior.  A self-aware child who spent time in therapy, my student acted more mature than some adults. 

Impulse control varies from person to person.  I have an umbrella that attaches to lawn chairs, providing shade while outdoors.  Only having used the contraption once, I bought it impulsively because Costco merchandises well.  Ron, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same issue.  Less susceptible to perfect product placement, hubby rarely makes impulse purchases.

Controlled behavior.

Spiritually mature people control their behavior, responding as Jesus would instead of as they would like.  One must spend time getting to know Christ to understand how He reacts.  Reading about Jesus in the scriptures, talking about Him with others, and studying the Bible will help you get to know Jesus; when you do, you will find your actions changing.

To become more mature, we must practice actively pursuing a relationship with God, then do what Jesus did.  Mimicking Jesus means learning to forgive others and loving them unconditionally as Christ does.  Unhealthy people require more distant boundaries to love them well. 

Applying Jesus’s teaching to your life will make you more self-aware.  Taking the plank out of your eye before attacking the splinter in someone else’s will help you forgive.  And accepting the unconditional love from above will motivate you to find ways to share it with those around you.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 248) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 1:1-3:26 ESV, 1 Corinthians 14:1-17 ESV, Psalm 37:12-29 ESV, Proverbs 21:25-26 ESV

Daily Verse: “If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?” (1 Corinthians 14:7 ESV)

APSYCHOS (6038): “Lifeless, inanimate: -lifeless.”[i]

Inanimate.

No one will know our song if we don’t play our tune.  In writing to the Corinthians, Paul uses musical instruments to make his point.  Sound doesn’t come from the harp unless someone strums its strings.  The same applies to our lives; no one will know who we follow if we don’t do what God says.

When you place your faith in Jesus, receiving the unconditional love He offers, you must share it.  If you keep the grace and mercy to yourself, no one else will know the life-changing experience Jesus offers.  Loving others like God loves you shares the message of the Gospel best.

Tune your instrument.

If you have attended a musical event, you know the musicians tune their instruments before they play.  Picking up the inanimate object and tuning it for optimum performance make a good show.  But no one will hear the music if people don’t play their horns.

In the same way, if we don’t strive to fine-tune our love skills, people will never know the impact Jesus can have on their lives.  Creating a pure heart, ready and willing to serve the Lord, takes practice.  Each day, we must seek God through His word, prayer, people, and circumstances, looking for Him in all we do—and then sharing what we find.

Ron and I had one of our heart-to-heart discussions.  One of those times when hubby showed me the wrong attitude of my spirit.  Having the right perspective with an impure heart doesn’t win anyone to Christ.  I had a correct opinion on this topic, but relationships don’t revolve around correctness; they revolve around the connection.

Lovingly, Ron helped tune my instrument by showing me an area that needed adjusting.  My goal of loving God and others requires that I accept feedback about my actions.  When I do, I become a better lover for Jesus.  One day at a time, we fine-tune our instruments.

Don’t become lifeless, not playing your instrument.  Practice loving God and people every day.  With each passing hour, you become more in tune with the Conductor.  Christ’s melody of love spreads worldwide when we keep our instruments active and in tune with God.

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[i] NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary, 2015 by Zondervan

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Esther 8:1-10:3 ESV, 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13 ESV, Psalm 37:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 21:23-24 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV)

SOMA (4983): “Is “the body as a whole, the instrument of life,” of a local church, 1 Cor. 12:27.”[i]

Instrument of Life

God designed you as a beautiful instrument; the sounds reverberating from your life synchronize with others, creating a symphony.  No one else has the same tune; when you follow the conductor, your life draws people to you, wanting to hear your song.

Pied Pieper of Hamelin[i], the legend, played his magic pipe, drawing the rats out of hiding, and following him out of town.  The music we play doesn’t attract rodents, but if we love well, we attract people.  Just like the Pied Piper saved the village from the epidemic, we can help people overcome the world by introducing them to Jesus.

Whole body.

Unlike the Pied Piper, we don’t play alone.  Members of the body of Christ, we have many people playing with us.  As we blend our song with theirs, we become one unit, working together to build God’s kingdom.  Each of us vital to the mission; we must play our tunes to work well with others.

In an orchestra, the drums set the beat, helping the other instruments maintain it.  As the flutes toot and the trumpets blare, the racket blends miraculously.

The same happens following Jesus.  If we discover and use our talents for God, we’ll keep the body’s beat.  One person plants seeds, another water, someone else weeds, and eventually, we all enjoy the harvest together.

Praise God for the individual gifts He gave you.  Following the Conductor means doing what He says.  Applying God’s word to your life, becoming an imitator of Jesus, helps you discover God’s will for your life.

Whatever role God has for you, do it well.  Play your instrument of love loudly for all to hear, and let it blend into the body of believers, creating a beautiful symphony.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 245) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_Piper_of_Hamelin

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Esther 4:1-7:10 ESV, 1 Corinthians 12:1-26 ESV, Psalm 36:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 21:21-22 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4 ESV)

DIAIRESIS (1243): “A distinction or variety: difference, diversity.”[i]

Diversified gifts.

Paul writes about the variety of spiritual gifts God gives us, yet we all share the same Holy Spirit.  God invented smart investing.  Diversified skills make a complete body.

Every money manager knows you must diversify investments.  Instead of putting all your money in one place, spread it around.  When one investment falters, another one thrives, creating a balanced portfolio.

From a spiritual perspective, we would have an unbalanced body if we shared the same gifts.  Someone must have the gift of hospitality, making people feel welcome, while someone else teaches, another cares for needs, and someone else covers everyone in prayer.  Our gifts create a balanced body when we work together to build the kingdom.

One Spirit.

God’s Spirit weaves our gifts together.  Instead of comparing your talents to someone else’s, work with them.  Discover the things that God blessed you with, then use them to honor and serve Him.   Giving God the glory for your gifts draws people to Him.  Using our talents well sets an example for others to do the same.

One of my friends possesses the gift of encouragement.  Now and then, she sends me random texts that feed my soul.  Yesterday I received a simple meme with these words:

“The world is a better place because you are in it.”

In an instant, my heart blossomed.  Weary from teaching tennis in the 90-degree weather, reading the words energized me and spurred me onward.  My friend uses her gifts well, urging people forward on the journey and helping them persevere when they feel like quitting.

Discover your gifts; God created a variety of talents.  Using what the Maker gave you to further the kingdom will fill your heart with joy.  When we use our God-given gifts in unison with the body of Christ, the kingdom grows, and we find the joy of the Lord.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 65) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Esther 1:1-3:15 ESV, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 ESV, Psalm 35:17-28 ESV, Proverbs 21:19-20 ESV

Daily Verse: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27 ESV)

ENOCHOS (1777): “Liable to (a condition, penalty or imputation) in danger of, guilty of, subject to.”[i]

Liable to penalty.

Paul answers questions about the Lord’s Supper and its sanctity.  Partaking in communion represents Jesus’s body and blood and His sacrifice for believers.  People who don’t take the sacraments seriously offend God.  Each person must examine their heart; the Creator already knows the condition and will act accordingly.

When you follow Jesus, you will become more self-aware.  Allowing God to search your heart reveals its impurities. 

Recently, during communion, the pastor prayed for the conditions of our hearts.  As I bent my head to pray, I felt the rebellion within me.  Anger towards someone in my life reared its ugly head.  Immediately asking God for forgiveness, I recognized my sin.

Let go of guilt.

Recognizing the negative emotion allowed me to deal with it.  Instead of anger controlling my actions, God’s presence made me aware of my sin.  In any relationship, it takes two to tango. 

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5 ESV)

Preparing your heart to remember Jesus through communion will illuminate the log in your eye.  God highlights your part in the situation with a gentle nudge.  Forgiving the speck in others becomes easier when you remember God forgave the plank in yours.

Experience connection with Jesus through communion.  Allow Him to search your heart and reveal the iniquities.  Lay your sins at the foot of the Cross, bathe in the grace and mercy Christ offers.  Let God renew your spirit as you celebrate Him.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 89) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31 ESV, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 ESV, Psalm 35:1-16 ESV, Proverbs 21:17-18 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:2 ESV)

EPAINO (1867): “To applaud: commend, laud, praise.”[I]

Praise

Commending praises.  Having a critical spirit comes easily, but praising others takes intention.  Finding something wrong with a person doesn’t take much effort, but looking for something to cheer them on takes work.  Gruffness on the outside can hide giant teddy bears on the inside.

Ron describes me as an M&M, hard shell but a soft heart.  Single for the first 41 years of my life, I developed a protective layer.  When people take advantage of your innocence, it hurts.  Not wanting to experience the pain again, I created a defense mechanism, one my husband describes as crisp.

My husband looked past the hard shell and saw my heart.  He didn’t try to take advantage of me; instead, Ron coaxed me out of my protective wall.  Praising me for my goodness, Ron helped me overcome my past hurts.

Tell them.

Ron loves me like no one else ever has; he often tells me what he loves about me.  Because he does, Ron helps me look at life differently.  Crisp people need someone to look beneath the hard layer and nurture their soft hearts.

Tell people why you love them.  Instead of focusing on the obvious faults, look for hidden goodness.  Find the pureness in their hearts and draw it out in them.  Only when we commend people can they begin to see themselves as God does.

Loving unconditionally, God knows everything about us, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Knowing our sins, Jesus came offering grace and mercy.  Accepting His love, and finding forgiveness for our mistakes, gives us a new lease on life.  When we do, we can share what we experience with others.

Find the good in people and tell them about it.  Build people up with your words, even if it takes time and effort.  Watching people blossom before your eyes will motivate you to love more, not less.  Love from above fills our tanks, allowing us to share it with others. 

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 93) Thomas Nelson