I Love You

I received this via email from Inspiration Daily and wanted to share it with you.

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The young woman was married and had two beautiful children, but one day as she was standing over the sink, washing dishes, she thought, "There must be more to life than this." When her husband came home, he found a note she'd written and began to weep. She would call him once every week to check on the children, and he would always tell her of his great love for her and beg her to come home. She would always say no and hang up.

Finally, he hired a private investigator to find her and he went to the apartment where she was staying, nervously holding flowers in his hand as he stood at the door. He had rehearsed over and over what he would say and he finally got up the nerve to knock on the door. She opened the door and he started to speak, but she suddenly began to weep and fell into his arms. Through her tears she said, "Let's go home."

Months after, when things were starting to heal, he finally asked her something that had been bothering him: "All those times I talked to you on the phone; I asked you to come back and you refused. Why did you come back now?"

"Before," she said, "you were just telling me that you loved me. When you came, you showed me."

The Bible tells us of God's love, but Jesus came and showed God's love.

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The Complaining Jar

A few weeks ago, I'd heard enough complaining from one of our children, that I decided to do something drastic.  I took out an empty jar, wrote "Complaining Jar" on a note pad and taped the note to the jar.  I informed all four children that, from that point on, anyone who complained would pay $1.00 into the jar for every complaint.  I'm sad to say that as of today, the jar has over $30 in it!  I'm even sadder to say that I, myself, have had to put some in it.  In fact, I need to go put $3.00 in it right after I write this post.  I'm not proud of that fact or making light of it - just stating the truth:  I have just as big of a problem with complaining as anyone else in this house.  I think that's why I took the drastic measure to make it visible.....with the money jar.

Earlier this week, one of our children commented on how the jar had quite a bit of money in it.  He stated, "Hey!  That money can go towards our next Disney World trip!"  He thought since we have saved change for years for our previous two Disney World trips, that this money would be used for that, too.  I replied, "No.  This money isn't going to be for something for us.  This money is coming from us doing something we shouldn't be doing, so this money is going to someone else - to help them in some way."  In fact, this money will be donated to a family at a benefit dinner this weekend.  I think at that moment "The Complaining Jar" held an even deeper understanding for the kids.

"The Complaining Jar" has made our family more aware of our complaining.  Hopefully as we continue on in this new year, we will see that it is filling up less and less.  When we're complaining, we're certainly not "Shining Like Stars", are we?

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...

Philippians 2:14-15

"Don't Believe Everything You Think"

I came across this quote the other day. It's kind of interesting, isn't it?  What do you think about the quote? You think it's true?  False?

Let's look at ways this quote is true:

Many people believe that in order to have happiness we have to have looks, money, nicer cars, bigger homes, more "stuff".  If we believe this same way, are we believing something that is true?  Nope. True happiness can't be bought.  Things might make us happy for a while, but not for long.

Here's another one:  Suppose I think I am worthless, that I can never do anything right, or that I have to be perfect in order for someone to love me.  Is it true?  No.  Again, not true.  No one is worthless.  Each one of us is worthy.  We're all "somebody" to someone.  We are very special to God because He made us.  He loves us.  I don't have to be perfect - in fact I can't be perfect on my own, but when God looks at a Christian through the blood of Jesus, He sees a perfectly saved child.

Now let's look at it another way.  Maybe I believe that ,"I'm basically a good person.  I try to help others.  I'm a law-abiding citizen.  I'm honest.  I love my family.  But Christianity?  I don't have time for that.  I don't like that religious talk.  God will never punish a "good" person or condemn such a person to hell.  I at least know that He's known to be loving.  What kind of loving God would do that?"  Are these statements true?  Some of them.  This person may very well be "good" in all of those ways, but does God save anyone because of their goodness?  No.  He doesn't. I can never be good enough to be saved.  I can never be good enough to go to Heaven.  God prepared the way of salvation and the only way is through His Son, Jesus Christ.  It's because of what He has done, not because of what we have done.

So, what do you believe?  What do you think?  Can you believe everything you think?  Maybe yes.  Maybe no.  How can we know?  By searching for the truth in everything.  The truth is found in God's Word...the Bible.  Each of the scenarios I gave in this post....all of the untruths.....all of them in the "true" form can be found in the Word.  Every one of them!  The Bible is the only source of what is true and right. 

Only believe what you think if what you think is truth.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true.....think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

John 8:31-32

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

Wrestlin' with the Pigs

OU girls basketball coach, Sherri Coale, used the following quote both of the times I've heard her speak at church events, "Don't wrestle with the pigs.  You'll both get dirty and they'll enjoy it."  I'm not sure who the quote originated with, but it makes a good point, doesn't it?

When dealing with people, as well all do - probably every day - we should be careful in the way we speak and in the way we respond.  Our actions and our words reveal to the world our true character.  They also show to others the example of Christ...or not.

When we "wrestle with the pigs", it means we are going down to the level of the mire and muck....getting dirty...playing dirty.  It's easy to stoop to that level.  It's often hard to not want go there - with the pigs.

But, as Christians, we're called to be different.  We're called to be set apart.  We're called to be holy.  Sometimes that means by keeping silent.  Sometimes that means submitting to others.  Always that means taking up our crosses and following Jesus.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18

Joseph - Teaching Children about Faithfulness and Forgiveness

For the past two weeks, I've been teaching my Sunday morning Bible class students about Joseph.  This Sunday I had each of the seven and eight-year-olds make their own colorful, ornamented coat.  The children enjoyed making their coats and all but one wanted their picture taken wearing it. 

 The story of Joseph is an amazing story of faith and forgiveness. His life is an important one for us to learn from, as his example and devotion to God is evident in every situation.

Interestingly, Sunday night I was flipping through channels on the TV - something I rarely do - and I saw on TNB a movie about Joseph.  It was just beginning at 9:00 p.m . and was to end at midnight.  My oldest son and I began watching it.  My husband had been out of town preaching and speaking to churches about Tipton Home, so he got home about 9:30, and began watching it with me.  We both stayed up until midnight, watching the entire movie, and there were no commercials at all. We both wanted to stay up and see the ending. For me to sit and watch anything on TV for three hours is a big deal (except for the occassional Texas Rangers' baseball game!)

The movie of Joseph was well made and true to the scriptures.  I enjoyed following along in the Bible using Biblegateway.  It was interesting to see how the creators of the movie portrayed each character.  I almost cried when Joseph told his brothers who he was.  To think about how he forgave them after all they had done to him is amazing!

And then I think of Jesus.  He forgave the ones who were killing him as he was dying on the cross.  It kind of makes me think about the little petty things where I might be not be forgiving as I should.  If Joseph can forgive his brothers and if Jesus can forgive his killers, I think I should be able to forgive anything that ever comes my way. Nothing in my life compares at all to anything Joseph or Jesus have gone through!

The one thing I tried to get the children to realize in the story Sunday was that the scriptures repeatedly say, "The Lord was with Joseph.".  God blessed Joseph because Joseph lived his life to please God.  He praised God, even in bad times.  God is there for us, too, even in the bad times.  We should praise God, even in the bad times.

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for the example of Joseph and Jesus!  May our hearts be forgiving and faithful, too. May we God praise - always.

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