Right Here, Right Now

*Printed with permission.  

Though skeptical of his teenage son's new found determination to build bulging muscles, one father followed his teenager to the store's weight-lifting department, where they admired a set of weights.

 "Please, Dad," pleaded the teen, "I promise I'll use them every day."

 "I don't know, Michael.  It's really a commitment on your part," the father said.

 "Please, Dad?"

 "They're not cheap either," the father said.

 "I'll use 'em, Dad, I promise. You'll see."

Finally won over, the father paid for the equipment and headed for the door. After a few steps, he heard his son behind him say, "What! You mean I have to carry them to the car?"


That story reminds me somewhat of my commitment to follow Christ.  Like Peter, who said, "Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will...Even if I have to die with you..." (Matthew 26:33,35, GOD'S WORD), I am committed to serving God in every big way imaginable.  I am prepared to die as a martyr if the situation arises.  I am prepared to serve as a missionary in foreign fields when my life situation allows me to.  I am prepared to offer large sums of money to the cause of Christ whenever I "strike it rich."


However, I am sometimes hesitant to serve God in small ways right here, right now.  I'm hesitant to use the $5.00 in my pocket to help someone in my presence who is in need.  I'm hesitant to give up the time it takes to watch one TV show to spend some quiet time with God.  I'm hesitant to show grace and forgiveness to someone who has hurt me deeply. I'm hesitant to speak up and talk about Jesus for fear of what someone might think.  I'm insistent on getting my way and always being right, and so I'm hesitant to say, "I'm sorry."

Father, please forgive me.  I have such grand dreams of ways I can serve you, and I tend to overlook the many ways I can serve you right here, right now.  Help me in my resolve to be committed to you in all ways, both small and great.  In Jesus' name, amen.

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:10)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Do You Feel It?

 

                                            

Do you remember the day you became a Christian?  That excitement about being a new babe in Christ?  The feeling of having all of your sins washed away?  It was great, wasn't it?

Do you still have that feeling?  The excitement?  The zeal?  Maybe you do.  Maybe you don't.  

I saw this quote last week and it really struck me.  It is a good quote for any commitment you make, but it is especially great for our commitment to become a follower of Jesus.

Throughout our Christian lives, we may grow weary. We may get discouraged.  We may be following Him, but not closely.  Our mood may change.  We may lose our enthusiasm.  We may neglect Him and His Word. We may become lax in our Bible study.  We may not pray often.  We may stop worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  And, we may even get to the point where we feel like it doesn't matter.

But, Christian sister! It DOES matter!  You committed yourself to HIM.  Now, live for HIM!  Get up!  Pray! Read! Worship! Encourage!  He needs you! He wants you!  And He has work for you to do!  So, get up and do it! Don't neglect meeting together with your Christian family.  You need them, and they need you!

Our moods change, but our loyalty and commitment to follow Him should never change.  Because His commitment to love you and strengthen you will never change.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Making Ourselves Available

I've heard it said, that if you want something done, you should ask the busiest person.  That's because the busiest person doesn't usually say "No", but also because the busiest person can usually handle being busy and is always glad to help.  On the other hand, many who frequently say, "No", could say, "Yes", sometimes - so that the majority of the work doesn't fall on just a few.

Here's a cute story and some good thoughts about "Making Ourselves Available". It's from Alan White's "Thought for the Day" posts and is used with permission.

MAKING OURSELVES AVAILABLE

     A man was going up to bed, when his wife told him he'd left the light on in the garden shed - she could see it from the bedroom window.  But he said that he hadn't been in the shed that day.  He looked, and there were men in the shed, stealing things.  He rang the police, but they told him that no one was in his area, so no one was available to catch the thieves.

     He said OK, hung up, counted to 30 and rang the police again. "Hello. I just rang you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed?  Well, you don't have to worry about them now, I've just shot them all."

     Within five minutes there were half a dozen police cars in the area, an Armed Response unit, the works.  Of course, they caught the burglars red-handed. One of the policeman said to this man: "I thought you said you'd shot them!"

     He replied, "I thought you said there was no one available!"

     The same thing happens frequently in my life.  Someone asks me to do something and I respond, "I don't have the time."  Often, what I mean by that is, "I don't regard this as important enough."  The truth is, we find (or make) the time to do whatever we regard to be important.

     Someone has said you can tell a person's priorities by looking at his checkbook.  There is a great deal of validity to that.  We are willing to spend money on the things we think are important.  But perhaps a greater indicator of our priorities would be our planning books -- a record of how our time is spent.

     For all of us, choices must be made.  We don't have time to do everything, so we must choose those things which are of greatest importance to us.  Just be careful that your choices are those things which are also most important to God.  The greatest men and women in the Bible were not those with the greatest resources or talents, but they were men and women who made themselves available to be used by God whenever He called.  May God never hear us say, "Sorry, but I'm not available!"

     "Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

===============================
To subscribe to "Thought For the Day," send a blank email to join-thought-for-the-day@hub.xc.org

Ways to Keep the Family Connected - Part 2

Continued thoughts from THIS POST last week.

Here are more ways to keep the family connected, although because the points were from Dr. Gilmore's sermon and the thoughts following are from me (because I couldn't write his thoughts down fast enough!), some seem to overlap.  I'm sure his thoughts were more defined.

6.  COMMIT TO REGULAR FAMILY TIMES TOGETHER
Because the importance of family time has already been mentioned in the previous points, I'll focus on the word "commit" in this point.  If the parents don't believe that family time spent together is important, the children are going to grow up believing it's not important.  When every family member is committed to making time for one another and to the special relationships that are formed, "commitment" is achieved.

This commitment to each other is the glue that holds the family together.  The best commitment of family together time you can have is to worship God together, to sing praises to God and Jesus together, to pray together, to serve God together.  Keep God the center of family time!!

We're all committed to something.  Some are committed to sports.  Some are committed to jobs.  Some are committed to their cell phones or their TV shows.  Christian families need to be committed to God/Jesus.....to each other, and to helping and serving others.  That will make the family committed to each other in a way that Satan will have a tough time trying to break!

7.  CONTROL TV WATCHING
I would add to this and say to control cell phone use/texting, computer surfing, and Facebook/Twitter, etc., movies ....anything that takes away from your family time.  It's a struggle, I know.  Last year our 4th - 8th grade students all received a laptop at school because of a grant our school had received.  Our oldest two children already had a laptop, my husband had one, and I had a regular desktop computer.  One evening I walked into the living room....early in the school year....and ALL FIVE of my family members were on their computers (and most likely I had been on mine in another room during that time) and all sitting in the living room with the TV on! It really made me sad.  Just the thought that this wonderful grant had changed our family so much, to where everyone sat - focused on the screen right in front of them - but all sitting in the same room.  That night we made a concentrated effort from then on to limit the use of the computers at home even more.  Our kids were (and still are) already limited on being online and don't have any video games or play them much at all online, but during that first part with the school computers their teachers had them doing lots of projects with them at home.  We were thankful when the newness wore off of the grant computers, and they didn't have to be on them much any more.

The biggest problem with all of the electronics and electronic media/social media, is that it is cutting down on face to face time within families.  Children would rather text their parents/friends/etc. sometimes more than talk to them face to face.  If we're watching TV, movies, etc., it limits communication in the family.  We need to use the time our children are in our homes and under our supervision to TALK to them.  When we're TALKING, and they are LOOKING and LISTENING, they are LEARNING.  That's our job - to teach!

8. TRY HAVING MORE MINI VACATIONS
Dr. Gilmore was having to talk fast and quick during this time, so I for sure know he didn't say too much about this point, but I thought about a lesson I heard years ago from Carl Breechen and Paul Faulkner.  (I think it was a taped series they would do about the family.)  Faulkner said that there was nothing better for a family than to take a family camping trip together.  He went on to tell funny stories about his family going on trips.  Basically the idea was that in "roughing it" together, the family grew closer.  Some families would prefer a "less rough"vacation and stay in a hotel!

Financially, your family may not be able to go on a big vacation ever.  Gas is high.  Tickets are high.  Everything seems high!  It costs a lot to do much of anything.  But, you don't have to spend a lot of money to do some things - if you are creative in your planning.  For example, go to a free museum or a landmark that is nearby.  Take a picnic to a park or lake.  We live in a very rural, not over-populated area of the world.  There are plenty of "free" places to go exploring all around us, so I'm sure there are where you are, as well.

We've never had (or wanted) a vehicle with a DVD player because we wanted car time to be spent talking to each other.  When the kids were little we sang a lot in the car.  Worship CD's and Disney music were our favorites!  It was always neat at our monthly singing nights because our youngest son would lead so many different songs at such a young age.....and he knew all of the words! It was because we sang them in the car all of the time.  He still knows a lot of songs by heart.  Sunday night when the song leader announced the song number that youngest (now 9) said, "Why does anyone need a song book for that song?"  He'd known it since he was two!  Good memories!

9.  EAT AT LEAST ONE MEAL A DAY TOGETHER
Of all of the parenting talks, books, lessons, etc., I've heard or read in my 17 years of being a parent, this is the one point that I always remember being in the list.  Why?  Why is family meal time together important?  Well, think back to old television shows like Leave It To Beaver and others like that.  When did they show the family gathered together for the most part?  At the dinner table. (or breakfast/lunch).  The family dinner table was the core of family conversations.  It was where the parents and children talked about their day and their dreams about the future.  Sadly, the family dinner table has become the car fast-food-drive-through or everyone eating by themselves, in the living room, in chairs, on the floor, etc., with the TV on, laptop on, cell phones in use kind of lifestyle.  It's not good.

This point, in my opinion, goes along with point #5.  Every one in the family must be committed to the importance of family meal time for it to be a success....or at least the parents in the family must both be committed to its importance.  Of all of the points, this one is the biggest struggle for our family because of school activities and our own activities/schedules, as parents. However, when we do eat all six together, it is at the table and if it's fewer than six there at the time, we're still at the table.....with an occasional picnic in the living room floor. :)

10.  SLOW DOWN AND LIVE
This is one of those points that it's a lot easier to say than it is to do, isn't it??!  I commented just last week to our oldest (and only daughter) that I wished I could start all over again with having babies and raising them because it goes by so fast, BUT I would like to have the knowledge I do now in the going back.  It just doesn't work that way, unfortunately!

When our first three children were little, they were each 22 months apart.  It was fun, but crazy and busy, and most of the time I felt like I was in a whirlwind.  Now we're busy having fun watching them be involved in activities and in our own activities, and it still feels like a crazy whirlwind, but a fun whirlwind, at the same time!  I suppose that's going to continue, BUT in that craziness and business, we can find a time and place to slow down just for a little while from time to time.  Those times give us a chance to catch our breaths before gearing up for the next "season" of fast-paced life......until the next little break.  Mostly we just have to remember to "Keep Calm and Carry On".....to keep the stress of life at a minimum and just enjoy loving each other and being with each other while we can.

As Christians, if we allow ourselves to become too busy, we might be tempted to neglect God.  We might begin missing worship with our church family because we don't feel like we have time to go.  We might say no to opportunities to serve others in need or to help with programs of outreach because we feel like we can't fit it into our schedules.  It's a sad situation when we allow "things" to take the place of serving our God!

So, there they are.....10 ways to keep your family connected and committed to God and each other.  I hope you've enjoyed the thoughts!

Stuck Together Like Glue

In Sunday night's lesson that I mentioned in my previous post, Dr. Gilmore talked about "Keeping the Family Connected".  In a marriage, there is a commitment, or there should be a commitment, by both the husband and the wife.  The thoughts below are partly from him and partly from me.

The "Commitment Promise" is:

1. Exclusive: The commitment only involves the married couple - the husband and the wife.  Adding to this couple or taking away from it defiles the commitment.  In addition, "adding to" would also include homosexual relationships that are not God's design of marriage.  (Note:  *Hooray for Kirk Cameron who is speaking up about this subject in Hollywood.  For obvious reasons, Cameron is receiving a lot of backlash for his willingness to speak up about this hot topic.)

2.  Unconditional:  The marriage commitment is not based upon any conditions.  It remains intact through the good times and the bad times, through thick and thin (both physically and metaphorically).

3.  Enduring:  The commitment endures through all stages of marriage.  The honeymoon stage doesn't last long.

Dr. Gilmore mentioned that there are three stages of marriage, though these stages aren't original with him.

Stage 1 is the "Enchantment" phase, when everything is like fairytale life.

Stage 2 is the "Disenchantment" stage, when the fairytale image wears off and reality sets in.  At this stage both the husband and wife realize that their mate does have faults.  This is the hardest stage and depending on how both parties respond and react towards this stage will determine whether or not the marriage lasts until the final stage.  Sadly, we all know, many marriages don't make it through this stage.

Stage 3 is the "Maturity" stage, when the marriage commitment has made it through the tough times, realizing that neither the husband or wife is perfect or flawless, but that each spouse is willing to overlook those imperfections and stick to the commitment regardless.  Reaching the "Maturity" stage takes work, takes love, takes forgiveness, takes perseverance, takes selflessness, and takes a faith in God.

Tomorrow we'll look at the glue that holds the family together.

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO COMMIT?

Note from Lori:  I really liked this story and the illustration it made about our commitment to God and to Christ. I wanted to share it with you.  Used with permission.  

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO COMMIT?

    The story is told of a man in a fancy restaurant who started to choke on a bone.  A doctor rushed over, identified himself as a doctor, and reassured the man that he was going to be all right.  He performed the Heimlich maneuver and the bone popped out.


As the man's breath and voice returned he said, "I'm ever so grateful, doctor, how can I ever repay you?"


The doctor smiled and said, "I'll settle for one-tenth of what you were willing to pay while you were choking."


It's true, isn't it, that when you're facing a crisis (especially a life-threatening crisis), you would give everything you have to get through it.  Money is no object!    We do the same thing on a spiritual level.


How many times have you faced hardship and prayed, "Lord, if you'll just see me through this, I'll serve you faithfully the rest of my life!" or something similar?  But what happens when the crisis passes?  Those feelings of urgency about serving God pass as well.


If we could commit ourselves to doing one-tenth of what we're willing to do in those moments, most of us would ascend to a new level of commitment.    Paul wrote, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)    Father, there are moments in my life when I am reminded of how much I need you and how urgent it is that I commit my life to you.  All too often, though, those feelings disappear, and I quickly revert back to a less-than-satisfactory level of commitment. 


Please forgive me and strengthen me in my resolve to reach the point where I can say with the apostle Paul, "To me, to live is Christ."  In Jesus' name, amen.Have a great day!


Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

"Let Your Yes Be Yes"

My grandpa passed away a few years ago, but we always laughed about the way he would answer certain questions.  For example, if my mom would ask, "Would you like to come over and eat with us this weekend?"  His reply would always be - not "yes" or "no" - but "I'll play it by ear."  What he meant was that he didn't know if he would, or could, or wanted to commit to doing something so far away.  But, at 80 plus years and a 45 minute drive away, that was understandable.  But, we still enjoyed teasing him about it!

Not getting a "yes" or a "no" from an 80 year old person may be understandable.  Many that age wouldn't feel like they could commit to certain things, due to circumstances in their life.  However, for many or most of the rest of us, we should be able to answer "yes" or "no".

In Matthew 5, we read what is known as "The Sermon on the Mount".  It's Jesus' sermon about many different things.  Beginning in verse 33, Jesus warns the people about swearing oaths.  He encourages them not to do that at all, but to "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one," Matthew 5:37 says.  James 5:12 repeats this same message, "Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned."

Not only do these verses point out that Christians shouldn't swear oaths, but also that we should be truthful.  In most cases we should be able to answer with a "yes" or a "no" on our commitments.  Of course, something unexpected could come up and get in the way of our commitments, but most likely that isn't going to happen too often.

I know these verses have a deeper meaning than what I'm thinking, but because of the volunteer work I do with the 4-H club, PTO club, and even within the church, many times I'm responsible for asking others to help with various projects.  While there are several that when asked will say "yes" and maybe even some that will say "no", those aren't the ones that are the problem.  Not at all.  The one(s) that are the problem are the one(s) that say, "I'll see" or "Maybe".  Now don't get me wrong - I completely understand not being able to help with something (unless it's all of the time).  I understand having to check schedules and make sure there are no conflicts, but what I don't understand is the attitude that seems to say, "I'll help if nothing better comes up that I might want to do".

I'll give an you an example.  Let's say I need six people to make desserts for a fund raiser.  I ask eight people to make desserts.  Five people say "yes".  Two people say "no".  One person says "maybe" or "I'll try".  What should I do?  Count on that one "maybe" or "I'll try"?  Nope!  To me that "maybe" or "I'll try" is a no.  In fact, if I'm one of the five "yes" people who is already making a dessert, I will go ahead and make another dessert for number six, as well.   Why?  Because I've already got three "no" people and my list of volunteers in this small town isn't too big!

Again, please don't misunderstand me.  I understand not being able to say yes to everything.  But, when you do say "yes" - follow through with your commitment and do it!  When you say "no" - say it because you can't do it.  But, don't say "maybe" or "I'll try"!  Of course, it would be fine to say, "I'll let you know in a few days".  But, then again, there's a commitment that you will need to follow through on and let the person know if you can or can't help.  Using my example above, if one of the people who said "yes" is typically someone who doesn't follow through on their commitments, I may even feel like I should make another dessert.  

Commitments to things in our daily lives are important. How we fulfill those commitments show our character and that is the example we are showing others of how we live our lives as a Christian.   As Christians, our character should imitate the life of Jesus.   Our example should imitate the life of Jesus.

"Let your yes be yes and your no be no".  Think about what you're committed to this week.