What Do You Expect? - Part 2

Well, unfortunately, I didn't hear from anyone about your thoughts from yesterday's post....."What Do You Expect?"....in reference to positive thoughts versus negative thoughts, but, I had some other thoughts about this matter today. 

A month or so ago, I was traveling home from Oklahoma City.  As I scanned through radio stations, I came across a popular TV/radio preacher talking about "favor". I listened to what he had to say, though I don't typically believe that a lot of his teachings are biblical. He explained that many of the things he gets in life - the good things, special treatment, and such - are because of him being a Christian.  He talked about "favor" and how we, too, can have God's favor - if we are Christians and expect those things.  His basis was this scripture: "Jesus grew in wisdom, in statue and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

When I got home, I talked to my husband about the radio message.  Parts of it were great.  We should be positive thinkers (like I mentioned in my Part 1 post), we should expect God's blessings, we must believe that God can do great things, etc.  But, parts of that lesson aren't biblical.  The notion that God won't allow Christians to suffer or that God will give only good things to Christians.  This preacher didn't come right out and say those things, but he might as well have.  He basically said that because he is who he is he gets special treatment: good seats in airplanes, business deals that turn out right, traffic jams that suddenly un-jam.  But the whole time the emphasis is on himself - not God.  He believes that Christians who are living right will get preferential treatment.

So, what about persecution?  I wrote about that a few months ago.  If God doesn't allow Christians to suffer, then why did Paul end up in jail? Why was he beaten?  If God doesn't allow Christians to suffer, then why do Christians get cancer? If God only gives good things to Christians, then why would evil people ever be in powerful positions?  You see, that way of thinking doesn't make sense.

Maybe you took my "Part 1" post that way....like the radio/TV preacher attitude.  I hope not!  I certainly didn't mean that way. But, just in case you did, hopefully this post will clear it up! (By the way, I let my husband read that post before it was posted and he didn't take it that way. He'll read this one before it's posted, too! I have him read a lot of them before posting them....just to get his thoughts or impressions.  I want his opinion and suggestions!)

So, what do you think?  Will God bless us for how we live?  Yes.  Absolutely.  We read of those blessings throughout the Bible.  He will bless those who love Him and who serve Him.  He will hear the prayers of those who are striving to do His will.

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.

John 9:31

But, He will also allow His children to experience trials, sorrow, and tragedies. We see those examples throughout the Bible, as well. 

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:12-13

Maybe these "bad" times are to strengthen our faith, maybe they are serving to fulfill God's ultimate plan or to bring someone to Christ, or maybe He is just allowing things to happen naturally.  We may not always know.  But, the thing is - when the bad things happen or undesirable things come our way, our attitudes, our responses, our reactions as a Christian - will be different.  Well, they should be different.

Even in the bad times, a Christian can expect good things.  We can and should expect blessings from God.  In bad times, we expect God to be with us, as He has promised that He will.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9:10

Expecting the best doesn't mean that we'll get preferential treatment at all times, as the radio preacher suggested.  Expecting the best means that we will have a positive attitude in all situations - even if things don't turn out the way we want them to. That is what living the faithful Christian life is all about.  That is what God wants us to learn as we walk with Him.  That is why we must have total faith in Him.  Our faith isn't in ourselves and what we do.  It's about what He has already done.

What Do You Expect?

I've been thinking about this question lately.  I'm wondering if what we expect out of life and what we expect from other really matters?  I believe it does, but see what you think.

My husband and I have a "game" we play.  It has to do with getting good parking places, getting quick check-out lines at Walmart, and things like that.  I always expect to good parking places and quick check-out lines.  He always expects to get the farthest parking places and the slowest checkout lines.  And, guess what?   We usually both get what we expect!  So, does my positive attitude have anything to do with it?  Does God allow me to get those "good" things, but allow my husband the opposite?  Maybe so.  Maybe there is something to expecting the best.  Maybe God blesses our positive attitudes.  Maybe God tries to teach us lessons in our negative attitudes....or our impatient attitudes.  Of course, since these examples are to my advantage I like those things.  If it were not in my favor, I probably won't like them, would I?!

So, what do you expect from your behavior?  What do expect to tempt you?  Do you expect that someone will make you mad today?  Do you expect someone to cross you today?  Do you expect for someone to offend you today?  Do you expect to make a poor decision today?  Do you expect to waste time today?

With each of these questions, we have the choice to react in a certain way.  The way we choose to react is the way that our expectations will either be proven true or false.  It's up to us.

Now, think about your children.  What do you expect from them?  Do you expect them to obey you - as a parent?  Do you expect them to respect you?  Do you expect them to throw a fit?  Do you have high expectations from them or do you have low expectations?  I tend to think, that no matter which we expect from them - to a large extent - we will get from them.  

Can our expectations be unrealistic?  Sure.  There is always the possibility that we can have unattainable goals, unrealistic expectations.  I can expect to be small and petite all of my life, but it will never happen.  I can lose weight and become extremely thin, but I can never be small and petite.  That's not how God made me.  I can expect to be 30 years old again, but it's not going to happen.  Those things are unrealistic and will never happen.  But, I can expect to find someone to serve in some way today and I believe I will have that opportunity today.  I can expect to find time alone to be with God today and because of that expectation, I will make that time available in my schedule.

So, what do you think?  What are your thoughts on our expectations?  Do you believe God blesses us in our positive attitudes?  Do you believe that He tries to teach us lessons in our negative attitudes?  I look forward to hearing from you!

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

The Chronicles of Biscuit - V.D.T.

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

For the past few weeks, we've had a countdown from Biscuit. He wakes up every morning with the same enthusiasm, "Dad, you know it's just _____ more days!", or "Dad, you remember April 8th, don't you? You better not forget!", and this morning, "Dad, two more days before V.D.T."  My husband just goes along with the conversation, but sometimes teases Biscuit that he's forgotten.

Ever since Biscuit saw a sign with the DVD release date of "The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" he's been all fired up.  The Narnia movies are his very favorite movies and he and his dad enjoy watching them together.  My husband decided from the beginning, that no matter what was going on for tomorrow - ballgames, meetings, anything else that might come up - he had to take Biscuit to Walmart some time after work.

Biscuit might could be described as "obsessive" about some things in his life.  He's really into numbers and can remember them better than I have ever been able to!  In fact, he's pretty handy to have around because he always knows the correct date for "today" and for whatever else I might need to know.  I don't need a calendar!  Kind of neat.  Kind of unique.  And totally Biscuit. 

By the way, this is why all of the "Biscuit" blog posts are titled under "The Chronicles of Biscuit".  It just fit him perfectly!

I haven't seen this Narnia movie or any of them except the first one though the rest of the family like them (the other three kids like them, too, just not to the same degree as Biscuit does).  I just don't like people/animal mixed creature "thingies".  They give me the heebie jeebies - you know what I mean?  But, I do like the way author C.S. Lewis used his books (on which the movies are based) to share his Christian beliefs.   His stories are amazing and the way they relate to the Bible is interesting. In times of need the lion, Aslan, is always there to help and protect the movie/story characters...just like Jesus is always there for the Christian.  And also in the books and movies, good always prevails....defeating evil.....signifying that God will always prevail over Satan.

So, yes, V.D.T. is tomorrow, April 8th.  Don't forget!  I'm certain that this important date won't be forgotten in our home.  Biscuit would never allow that to happen!

Have a great weekend everyone!  (I've felt like it's Friday all day today, so I'm ready!  I'm sure you are, too :).

I love you, Biscuit! And, I'm so glad God gave you to me!

All Bark, No Plight

Several times a day our little outside dog, Tiger, goes into a barking frenzy.  It drives me crazy (not a far drive, mind you :)! 

I wouldn't mind if Tiger was barking at the goats that live in the field behind the house.  I wouldn't mind if he was barking at the squirrels that frequently run along the trees and top of the fence.  I wouldn't mind if he barked at thing that made sense, but he doesn't.  No, he barks at weird things.  Things that can't do anything to him. 

Tiger barks at a newspaper that has somehow gotten in the backyard.  He barks at a little kiddie basketball goal that is laying down on its side.  The other day he was barking at the door, looking into the French door windows.  Maybe he was barking at his reflection?  Anyway, he's barking at things that aren't bothering him.

Tiger barks at things day after day and night after night  that can't cause him any harm at all.  It's like he is afraid of everything....even the wind....and that's not a good thing to be afraid of the wind when you're living in Oklahoma!

He's kind of like us some times, isn't he?  Some of us worry about the same things day after day - things that either are not going to happen or will most likely not happen.  It doesn't make any sense, does it?  It seems crazy! 

Tiger needs to learn that he doesn't have anything to bark at most of the time.  He needs to learn that he doesn't have to be afraid of everything.  He needs to realize that he is protected by most of the dangerous things that he could find outside of the big backyard.  Maybe he needs a friend?  I wonder...

We don't have to worry or be afraid. God will take care of us.  We have a friend - someone we can count on.  Jesus is that friend.  He wants to be our friend.

Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

This whole passage tells us not to worry:  Matthew 6:25-34

You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. John 15: 14

I found a few quotes about worry that I would like to share:

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.  

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. Mahatma Gandhi

Unbelievable!

Typically my husband is the one who tells the kids a "wild, seemingly unbelievable" story, but occasionally I can get one by, too.  Thanksgiving Eve Day (a big celebration evening for my husband's side of the family) of 2009, my children were helping me make snack foods.  It just happened to be the middle two boys with me in the kitchen at the time, but one of them was making Hawaiian Roll Sandwiches.

As he worked, Jacob asked me, "How do they get the holes in Swiss cheese?" 

Working on something with my back to the boys I answered, "A mouse eats it and makes the holes." 

Thinking there was no way either of them would believe me, I laughed inside at that possibility. 

But, then Jacob asked, "Well, how do they get the holes all the same size?" 

Now I'm thinking, "Ummmmm, Jacob.....I just told you that a MOUSE made those holes in the cheese and all you ask is how they got them all the same size????" 

But, I quickly thought of a "way".  "They use trained mice," I answered. 

To my surprise, neither of the boys said a word.  They just kept on working! 

I just about busted out in laughter, but instead went and typed a status for my Facebook page poking fun at my gullible boys!! (Isn't that what all good mammas do??? Hee Hee!!)

Well, many months passed and the boys were, again, working on snacks foods for some occasion.  I reminded them of the conversation about the Swiss cheese and they both remembered.  So, I came clean.  I said, "Mice don't make the holes in Swiss cheese."  I figured surely they had really realized that the whole thing was a joke, but I quickly learned they didn't.

Jacob seemed a little puzzled and asked a very thought-provoking question, "Well, then how does it get those holes????"

I had to answer:  "I don't really know."  I was now shocked that he seemed a little disappointed that my far-fetched tale wasn't true!!

So, I did some research and guess what I found?  Swiss cheese is made from Hole-y Cows!!!  (That's a joke, but I made it up myself - just right now - sitting here at my computer!! My husband will be really proud of me for that one!! Oh, no! He's rubbing off on me :).  Laffy Taffy will probably want to hire me, don't you think??

Well, I actually looked up the real way Swiss cheese is made and here's what I know:  I don't know if I want to read too much about how cheese is made.  It might seem as gross as having a mouse eat holes in it. 

Just eat it and enjoy it.....but don't think about it....okay? Trust me on this.....

My devotional thought for the day is this:

Some religious ideas out there in the world seem unbelievable, yet people believe them.  Some ideas out there seem ridiculous, yet people believe them.  God's Word is the only source of what is true and right.  It is written by men, yet inspired by God. 

His Word is BELIEVABLE!  His Word will transform.  His Word is unchanging.
Study it.  Learn from it.  Live by it.

...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:13-16