Mid-Week Message - Wise Choices

"So be careful how you live.  Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."  Ephesians 5:15-17  (NLT)  

There is a little rhyme about a peanut that I used to say with my daughter.  It goes like this:  "A peanut sat on a railroad track, his heart was all a-flutter.  Along came a train whistling down that track -- toot, toot, peanut butter."  It's just a silly little poem but I found it useful in teaching her about making smart choices.  Those of you with children know that anything that can be used to teach should be taken advantage of.  I believe Jesus used parables in the same way.  He saw an opportunity to teach and took it. 

Even as an adult though, I think that little peanut can teach us something.  Obviously it wouldn't be smart to sit down and rest on a railroad track.  But we are faced with choices that have to made all day, every day.  When we open our eyes in the morning, we are presented with a blank slate and as we move through the day, we have multiple chances to choose wisely.

As people cross our paths we have the option of sharing the love of the Lord with them.  We have chances to invest a bit of time in their lives, showing them they are important and finding out how we can pray for them.  Or we can let those opportunities pass on by as we worry about our own lives, never giving a thought to what difficulties others may be facing or what needs they may have.  We may never know what happens in those lives after that moment.  What if it isn't only us that lets those moments go?  What if no one else reaches out to them even though we assume someone will?  

Whether we spend our days in a workplace, in the public, or at home, the most important thing needs to be representing Christ.  We are to be His reflection.  The way we treat others, the way we do business, the way we act in the grocery store line, the way we parent, the way we speak, the way we conduct ourselves while driving, the way we relate through social media are all chances to exercise wisdom.  The saying, "More of Jesus, less of me" should be our guide.  Each waking moment we have the privilege of walking hand in hand with our Savior.  If we remember He is beside us, maybe that will help us to keep in mind that whatever we choose to do should honor Him.  

I include myself in everything I have said above.  It is sometimes a struggle for me to reach out to those around me.  I have to pray for that reminder and strength.  The enemy is very good at continually whispering to me about the problems in my own life.  He loves for me to focus on myself because when I do I am not being mindful of the power of God's grace and mercy.  Only when my eyes are on Him do I understand the importance of choosing to honoring Him and blessing others.  

Everything we do is a choice of some kind.  What we fill our minds with, how we manage our time, and, most importantly, how we share Jesus with others, are all major selections that we make each and every day.  If we fail to choose wisely it hurts us and possibly others.  As we go through this week, let's exercise the option to choose wisdom in all we do and say.  May God guide and bless us all.  

Mid-Week Message - Childhood Lessons

"Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts."  Colossians 3:16 (AMPC)

Children have been my life.  I started babysitting in the summers at the age of nine then graduated to babysitting on weekends and nights.  My first job was at a daycare center and I worked in daycare centers all through college and afterward.  Eventually I became a nanny for one family and then two.  

My daughter loves to hear the stories from those days, such as the little boy who could not correctly pronounce Pinocchio so he called him Pickanose.  I have no idea how many times I told her that story but it was a lot.  Children like to hear things over and over.  In my house we read the same two or three books every night for so long that I had most of them memorized!  Movies were watched over and over and songs played continually until Mom and Dad were hearing them in their sleep.  She had a Ronald McDonald tape that she got in a Happy Meal that I found myself singing the songs from while in the shower.  But I wouldn't trade those days for anything.  

There is great comfort in the familiar.  The first songs that we teach our children, such as "Jesus Loves Me", are simple but also easily remembered truths that teach them about the faithfulness of the Lord and the love that He has for everyone.  They like to sing them over and over and that is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom for them.  As they grow we begin to teach them scriptures such as John 3:16.  Because they hear them often, the words are written on their hearts and in their minds where they will dwell forever.  

I sometimes miss the days of childhood.  Things were much simpler when I could just allow the adults to worry about the problems of life and I could enjoy reading and re-reading books and singing the songs I learned in Sunday School.  Memorizing scripture was a challenge that was fun for me and although I had no idea the words would stay with me all my life, in actuality God was inscribing them into my very soul, preparing me for the day when I would need to refer to them in my adult years. 

I am so thankful now for the adults that the Lord placed in my life to teach me the basic truths about His love and steadfastness.  Each time they sang, prayed or recited scripture with me they were helping to engrave God's Word deeper into my mind and heart and teach me about who He is. Because I have that foundation I have hope to turn to on the toughest days. I am also thankful that He used me in so many little lives to do that same thing.  I hope they are thankful too.

As we go through this week, let's see how many of those songs and verses we can remember.  I am pretty sure we will each be surprised by all that comes to mind.  Then, each time we hum the tunes or think of the words, let's say prayers of thanksgiving for those people who invested into our lives.  Because they loved the Lord enough to share with us, we have knowledge and wisdom that is eternal.  God bless you!

Mid-Week Message - Christmas is Near

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is rapidly approaching. My, how quickly this year has flown! As we approach this festive time, let's be mindful of the true reason we celebrate. Although it was probably not the actual date of the birth of Jesus, it is the day that has been chosen to commemorate it, therefore it is a holy time. It is up to us as followers of Christ to be bold about telling His story and to train up our children to do the same.

Each year there is a debate about whether to use the words "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." I have my personal preference, however, I have to wonder if it really matters. Does "Merry Christmas" evoke thoughts about Jesus? That is the argument that is used. "Keep Christ in Christmas!" "Remember the reason for the season!" Amen! I agree wholeheartedly. This season should honor Him.

So, how do we accomplish that? It is through our joy and willingness to share Him. We don't have to set ourselves up so that those around us think we are religious weirdos. We don't have to shy away from enjoying the holiday in our own homes. But we do need to be willing to be openly honest about the reason why we are celebrating.

Jesus left His majestic throne in Heaven to be born as a human infant. His purpose for doing so was ultimately to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. And He did it out of love. Should it matter that He was not born on that day? No, because we should hold each and every day as a day to rejoice over His birth. Every day should be Christmas in our hearts.

Our children need to witness the grown ups around them loving and praising Jesus. They need to hear us praying. They need to see us reading the Bible and know that we believe what it says and that we obey it. We teach best by modeling behavior that we want them to emulate. I pray that as you begin your preparations for the holy day ahead, that you will include your young ones in the "whys" of the season. God bless you!