Every opportunity to lose patience has within it an “equal and opposite” opportunity to demonstrate it. What is patience exactly? It’s keeping your mouth shut! It’s not throwing something when you feel like it. It’s not getting mad and giving someone a dirty look. It’s not rolling your eyes when you think someone said something stupid. Patience is maintaining the countenance that the Lord gave you through the gifts of the Holy Spirit: love, joy and peace.
When you asked Jesus Christ into your heart, you basically gave up your rights to demonstrate your “old” personality traits. Your old ways weren’t working for you anyway, were they? If they were, you’d be happy and well adjusted and you aren’t! But with Jesus as your foundation, you have a platform to stand on that will remain stable. Every chance to “lose it” is a chance to step into that strong tower which is His Name. Call on His Name. In the midst of any situation, you can just say “Jesus” out loud and have the protection of that Name surround you. It’s kind of like stepping into a Lucite cylinder…you can still see what’s going on, but nothing can get to you! Nothing can hurt you! When you’re protected, there’s no longer a need lose your patience because you won’t get hurt when you are within the Strong Tower that is His Name.
Patience is easy but only when you know where you stand. Stand on His Name.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Confidence = Endurance
Stamina. You have more stamina than I have. I’m a senior citizen. Granted, I’m stronger than most women my age (and most men my age for that matter) but just because I can go on physically doesn’t mean I can go on mentally. And if I can’t go on mentally, I won’t go on physically. Pretty simple philosophy, don’t you think?
Endurance. You probably don’t have more endurance than I have. I can go on longer because I not only think I can, but because I know I can. So where does that endurance come from? It comes from knowing I can do something because I have confidence in the One Who asked me to do it. If I trust fully in the Lord and in His leading, then I can and will have the endurance I need to get me through any ordeal.
Confidence. My confidence in God is unshakable. It got that way by leaning on Him during trial after trial after trial and learning that He has proved Himself worthy of my faith and trust. Sometimes outcomes don’t happen the way I want them to, and sometimes they do. But my confidence remains intact because I know that the outcome will serve to make me stronger.
God created us for His pleasure. That means that He expects those of us who call Him Lord to trust Him. That is His pleasure. We are His pleasure and He wants us to be happy. And we can only truly be happy when we trust Him and put our confidence in Him.
Endurance. You probably don’t have more endurance than I have. I can go on longer because I not only think I can, but because I know I can. So where does that endurance come from? It comes from knowing I can do something because I have confidence in the One Who asked me to do it. If I trust fully in the Lord and in His leading, then I can and will have the endurance I need to get me through any ordeal.
Confidence. My confidence in God is unshakable. It got that way by leaning on Him during trial after trial after trial and learning that He has proved Himself worthy of my faith and trust. Sometimes outcomes don’t happen the way I want them to, and sometimes they do. But my confidence remains intact because I know that the outcome will serve to make me stronger.
God created us for His pleasure. That means that He expects those of us who call Him Lord to trust Him. That is His pleasure. We are His pleasure and He wants us to be happy. And we can only truly be happy when we trust Him and put our confidence in Him.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Insurance or Assurance?
Sickness in America. Much of it is self-induced, but like I’ve always said, even if you shoot yourself in the foot, it hurts just as much! But whatever.
Just go to the doctor, get a bad report, stand up in church and say you believe the “good report” and then go to another doctor and get a second opinion a/k/a another bad report and continue on in this cycle until you wind up in the hospital having surgery believing that God will guide the surgeon’s hands. Give me a break!
Where in the Bible did we hear Jesus say, “Well, you’d better check with a physician first before you believe for your healing”? Nowhere! He IS the Great Physician. You CAN trust Him. He WILL heal you. So why are you still sick? Let me explain why our assurance is in Him.
Many times we read the word and think to ourselves, “That’s really great” but we don’t actually have the faith…real faith…to stand firmly and believe what He said. You either believe Him or you don’t. There is no middle ground. We can’t ask God to heal us because He already sent Jesus to receive many stripes for our healings. We have to believe God at His word that “By His stripes you ARE healed.” Can you do that?
Imagine how much money the average business and its employees would save on insurance costs if they really, truly believed God.
And a word for you pastors and ministers who always add a “disclaimer” to your prayers (you know what I mean: “I’m not telling you to stop taking your medicine, but only believe…” or “I’m not telling you to not get a second opinion, but only believe…” or “I’m believing God with you that surgery is the answer or medicine will cure you or whatever.” That’s bunk! Believe God. Believe His Word. Declare His Word! What else is there?
Just go to the doctor, get a bad report, stand up in church and say you believe the “good report” and then go to another doctor and get a second opinion a/k/a another bad report and continue on in this cycle until you wind up in the hospital having surgery believing that God will guide the surgeon’s hands. Give me a break!
Where in the Bible did we hear Jesus say, “Well, you’d better check with a physician first before you believe for your healing”? Nowhere! He IS the Great Physician. You CAN trust Him. He WILL heal you. So why are you still sick? Let me explain why our assurance is in Him.
Many times we read the word and think to ourselves, “That’s really great” but we don’t actually have the faith…real faith…to stand firmly and believe what He said. You either believe Him or you don’t. There is no middle ground. We can’t ask God to heal us because He already sent Jesus to receive many stripes for our healings. We have to believe God at His word that “By His stripes you ARE healed.” Can you do that?
Imagine how much money the average business and its employees would save on insurance costs if they really, truly believed God.
And a word for you pastors and ministers who always add a “disclaimer” to your prayers (you know what I mean: “I’m not telling you to stop taking your medicine, but only believe…” or “I’m not telling you to not get a second opinion, but only believe…” or “I’m believing God with you that surgery is the answer or medicine will cure you or whatever.” That’s bunk! Believe God. Believe His Word. Declare His Word! What else is there?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Bible Thumping...Never A Good Thing
Being in the business world is no easy matter. There are all kinds of decisions that face us on a daily basis and the pull to do things the “world’s” way is very strong. But as Christians, the guidance of the Holy Spirit is even stronger. Often times we behave one way at home, one way at church and a completely different way at work. But you know, being a Christian in church isn’t any different from being a Christian on the job. And it doesn’t really matter if you own your own business, manage a large corporate department or private organization, or work for someone else. Being a Christian is being a Christian.
Now, of course, it’s just stupid to think we can go around the office declaring, “Thus saith the Lord.” And everyone knows someone who’s a “Bible thumper” and no one likes them. (Go figure!) But what we can do is demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. So what does that mean exactly and how can you pull it off at work? It’s not so hard!
As a refresher, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there I no law.” In other words, act decently, respectfully and be pleasant to be around. Be the kind of person you’d like to hang around with if you could. No one’s going to get mad at you if you don’t lose your temper; no one will hate you if you are kind to them; and no one will complain to the boss if you refuse to have a hateful attitude.
Demonstrate the love of Christ that is resident within you. Being IN the business world doesn’t make you OF the business world; but being IN Christ does make you strong, patient, nice and very likeable! It also gives you the power you need to survive and help others survive the workplace.
Now, of course, it’s just stupid to think we can go around the office declaring, “Thus saith the Lord.” And everyone knows someone who’s a “Bible thumper” and no one likes them. (Go figure!) But what we can do is demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. So what does that mean exactly and how can you pull it off at work? It’s not so hard!
As a refresher, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there I no law.” In other words, act decently, respectfully and be pleasant to be around. Be the kind of person you’d like to hang around with if you could. No one’s going to get mad at you if you don’t lose your temper; no one will hate you if you are kind to them; and no one will complain to the boss if you refuse to have a hateful attitude.
Demonstrate the love of Christ that is resident within you. Being IN the business world doesn’t make you OF the business world; but being IN Christ does make you strong, patient, nice and very likeable! It also gives you the power you need to survive and help others survive the workplace.
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