Last night my husband and I listened to a sermon online by Rick Atchley, our church's minister. (See link on the right side of this page for the church's website. You can also access the sermons online.) The message, titled "Home Financing" is about managing finances, and Rick reminds listeners that everything we have is from God. Our money, as we call it, isn't really our money. God gives us everything. Oh, we may work for the money we earn, but God enabled us to have our jobs. He bestowed us with the unique talents to allow us to work in our different positions. This idea that our money is really God's is a hard one to grasp and even harder to integrate into how we use money. But it's certainly one that we need to think about more and (this makes the most sense) pray about more.
This morning I read I Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
When Paul wrote this, he was addressing the sexual sins that the church members in Corinth were committing. But the verse can be applied further, to other issues. God made us stewards of even our bodies. How it must hurt Him to see His children mistreating their bodies. Whether it's with food, smoking, lack of exercise, not getting regular check-ups, or letting anxiety wear your body down, God does not want to see one of His creations misused.
Let's remember that God gave us everything, even these external cases for our souls and spirits, and we should honor the privilege of being stewards of His gifts to us.
About Me
- Sunshine
- Learning to face life with a smile...and occasional hysterical laughter.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
It's Simple, Really
Today as I was reading The Power of a Praying Wife, I was reminded that we must thank God. Here's the quote, which is from a prayer, based on scripture, written by Stormie Omartian:
"Make him a praising person, for I know that when we worship You we gain clear understanding, our lives are transformed, and we receive power to live Your way."
The chapter this sentence is in isn't even about thankfulness. It's about obedience. Omartian's insight just hit me like a ton of bricks. When was the last time I thanked God? When was the last period of time I thanked Him regularly? Have I ever been consistent about it?
Ouch.
So, let's try this out: The next time we're feeling stressed or worried or sad or angry, let's thank God. For what?, you may ask, I'm upset here! I'm sure you can think of something in your life for which you can thank God. Go ahead and practice right now.
"Make him a praising person, for I know that when we worship You we gain clear understanding, our lives are transformed, and we receive power to live Your way."
The chapter this sentence is in isn't even about thankfulness. It's about obedience. Omartian's insight just hit me like a ton of bricks. When was the last time I thanked God? When was the last period of time I thanked Him regularly? Have I ever been consistent about it?
Ouch.
So, let's try this out: The next time we're feeling stressed or worried or sad or angry, let's thank God. For what?, you may ask, I'm upset here! I'm sure you can think of something in your life for which you can thank God. Go ahead and practice right now.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
God Made It Grow
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (I Corinthians 3:6-7).
In this passage, Paul is trying to calm some disagreements and conflicts among the Christians in Corinth. They were bickering because some of them said they followed Paul, and others said they followed Apollos.
What struck me when I read this passage is how we sometimes look toward Christian leaders and ministers for spiritual strength and guidance, when we should be looking to God first. Don't get me wrong--God put those men and women in their positions to help us look to God. But we must be careful not to forget God Himself. These men and women are not the ones we should magnify. They are to be honored, certainly. But they are signposts, pointing us the way to God. They are not the destination. A relationship with God Himself is.
And of course, this is a good passage for Christians in leadership positions. You may do some awesome work, and you honor God when you do it. I know He looks down on you and thinks, "Man, he's doing a great job for Me, and that makes Me feel great!" But God is always the one that makes the seeds that you plant grow.
Another lesson we can all derive from this is that we need to be willing to grow. God wants us to grow; we just need to let Him do His work in us.
In this passage, Paul is trying to calm some disagreements and conflicts among the Christians in Corinth. They were bickering because some of them said they followed Paul, and others said they followed Apollos.
What struck me when I read this passage is how we sometimes look toward Christian leaders and ministers for spiritual strength and guidance, when we should be looking to God first. Don't get me wrong--God put those men and women in their positions to help us look to God. But we must be careful not to forget God Himself. These men and women are not the ones we should magnify. They are to be honored, certainly. But they are signposts, pointing us the way to God. They are not the destination. A relationship with God Himself is.
And of course, this is a good passage for Christians in leadership positions. You may do some awesome work, and you honor God when you do it. I know He looks down on you and thinks, "Man, he's doing a great job for Me, and that makes Me feel great!" But God is always the one that makes the seeds that you plant grow.
Another lesson we can all derive from this is that we need to be willing to grow. God wants us to grow; we just need to let Him do His work in us.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Quote of the Week
"Defining faith by the things you won't do does not create a compelling
style of life." ~Jim Wallis
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Secret Handshake
"[A]s it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us" (I Cor. 2:9-12).
In this passage, Paul continues to talk about the differences between the wisdom of one who looks to Jesus for guidance and one who looks to what the world points out to follow. Sometimes it's hard to know where to go, even if you are trying to look to God and His Son for direction. We may read three chapters of the Bible.
Nothin'.
We put a Christian CD in the CD player and listen intently to the words.
Nothin'.
We've got to remember that as Christians, we have the Spirit of God available to us to help us out when we feel lost and wandering.
The Spirit is kinda like the secret handshake of Christianity. The Spirit gives you wisdom that you wouldn't have on your own. (After all, it's God's wisdom.) It's what gets you into the haven of safety during the rough spots of life. But it's also what brings you joy during the times when things aren't too bad.
Next time things just aren't right in your world, ask God to make you very aware of the promptings of His Spirit. And remember to abide in Him.
In this passage, Paul continues to talk about the differences between the wisdom of one who looks to Jesus for guidance and one who looks to what the world points out to follow. Sometimes it's hard to know where to go, even if you are trying to look to God and His Son for direction. We may read three chapters of the Bible.
Nothin'.
We put a Christian CD in the CD player and listen intently to the words.
Nothin'.
We've got to remember that as Christians, we have the Spirit of God available to us to help us out when we feel lost and wandering.
The Spirit is kinda like the secret handshake of Christianity. The Spirit gives you wisdom that you wouldn't have on your own. (After all, it's God's wisdom.) It's what gets you into the haven of safety during the rough spots of life. But it's also what brings you joy during the times when things aren't too bad.
Next time things just aren't right in your world, ask God to make you very aware of the promptings of His Spirit. And remember to abide in Him.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Why So Complicated?
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:1-2).
Why do we try to make things so hard for ourselves? Some of us try too hard in our Christian lives. We think that others expect a lot from us, so we feel pressured to always have some magical comment about spiritual matters. Others of us feel inadequate and think that we cannot offer any kind of spiritual insight because we struggle too much or have not lived up to God’s standard in some other time that seems like a lifetime ago.
God never meant for us to make things so difficult.
We are to live as God’s redeemed children.
That’s it.
We don’t have to polish ourselves up for anyone. God is the only One you’ll ever really answer to anyway.
“Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
That’s it. Everything that God wants for you and of you will naturally flow out of you as you recognize that He’s your Father, that He takes you in His arms even when you’re filthy and have fallen on your face. Again.
So let’s stop making things so complicated and just find joy in our Father and His Son.
Why do we try to make things so hard for ourselves? Some of us try too hard in our Christian lives. We think that others expect a lot from us, so we feel pressured to always have some magical comment about spiritual matters. Others of us feel inadequate and think that we cannot offer any kind of spiritual insight because we struggle too much or have not lived up to God’s standard in some other time that seems like a lifetime ago.
God never meant for us to make things so difficult.
We are to live as God’s redeemed children.
That’s it.
We don’t have to polish ourselves up for anyone. God is the only One you’ll ever really answer to anyway.
“Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
That’s it. Everything that God wants for you and of you will naturally flow out of you as you recognize that He’s your Father, that He takes you in His arms even when you’re filthy and have fallen on your face. Again.
So let’s stop making things so complicated and just find joy in our Father and His Son.
Friday, July 21, 2006
How Do We Define Strength?
"[T]he weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (I Corinthians 1:25b).
"God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27b).
What images come to mind when you hear the word "strength"? Maybe a medieval king who conquered many lands. Maybe your father or grandfather who served his country by fighting in one of the wars during the last century. Maybe an oak tree that has been providing shelter to birds and squirrels (as well as humans from the heat) for decades. Maybe a lion, fierce in the wildness of an African plain.
What about a child with cerebral palsy whose body is so twisted he can't walk? What about a child whose hair has fallen out because of the chemotherapy? What about the families of these children who, despite the agony of watching their children suffer pain, still proclaim their faith in a loving God?
This week I have read two e-mails about two different children who do not enjoy the health that most children do. I don't know either of these children personally or their families, but I know people that do. It is apparent that these families love their God, and they have passed that faith on to their children.
Are these moms, dads, siblings, and children any more remarkable than you or I? Not really. We all have the capacity to be strong. These families just know to whom to look during the dark times, when it seems that things couldn't get any worse. Last night I read a passage from F. LaGard Smith's Meeting God in Quiet Places that, despite the topic, was encouraging to me:
As with Job, so with us all: Death happens--and disease, and alienation, and fear, and loneliness. At one time or another they all come screeching into our lives. Trouble never phones ahead for an appointment.
When you feel like you aren't strong, remember that you--you by yourself, in your power--were never meant to be strong by the usual human perception of it. God defines strength by your reliance on Him.
Lately my husband and I have been working out regularly. (Your body is a temple....) Sometimes those last few repetitions of shoulder presses seem impossible. My arms shake, sweat drips off my face, my cheeks puff out as I struggle to push those little (yeah, I'm out of shape) dumbbells up. Sometimes life seems like that, doesn't it? The great thing about life, though, is that we can let God finish up those last reps for us. And He's always there next to us, spotting us, in case we begin to slip.
God uses what the world considers weak to give Himself glory. And He empowers us in the process. If you're feeling weak, remember that God is with you to make you strong.
"God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27b).
What images come to mind when you hear the word "strength"? Maybe a medieval king who conquered many lands. Maybe your father or grandfather who served his country by fighting in one of the wars during the last century. Maybe an oak tree that has been providing shelter to birds and squirrels (as well as humans from the heat) for decades. Maybe a lion, fierce in the wildness of an African plain.
What about a child with cerebral palsy whose body is so twisted he can't walk? What about a child whose hair has fallen out because of the chemotherapy? What about the families of these children who, despite the agony of watching their children suffer pain, still proclaim their faith in a loving God?
This week I have read two e-mails about two different children who do not enjoy the health that most children do. I don't know either of these children personally or their families, but I know people that do. It is apparent that these families love their God, and they have passed that faith on to their children.
Are these moms, dads, siblings, and children any more remarkable than you or I? Not really. We all have the capacity to be strong. These families just know to whom to look during the dark times, when it seems that things couldn't get any worse. Last night I read a passage from F. LaGard Smith's Meeting God in Quiet Places that, despite the topic, was encouraging to me:
As with Job, so with us all: Death happens--and disease, and alienation, and fear, and loneliness. At one time or another they all come screeching into our lives. Trouble never phones ahead for an appointment.
When you feel like you aren't strong, remember that you--you by yourself, in your power--were never meant to be strong by the usual human perception of it. God defines strength by your reliance on Him.
Lately my husband and I have been working out regularly. (Your body is a temple....) Sometimes those last few repetitions of shoulder presses seem impossible. My arms shake, sweat drips off my face, my cheeks puff out as I struggle to push those little (yeah, I'm out of shape) dumbbells up. Sometimes life seems like that, doesn't it? The great thing about life, though, is that we can let God finish up those last reps for us. And He's always there next to us, spotting us, in case we begin to slip.
God uses what the world considers weak to give Himself glory. And He empowers us in the process. If you're feeling weak, remember that God is with you to make you strong.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Strong to the End
Life is a continuous balancing act, isn't it? Several months ago I stopped posting on this blog regularly because I felt that I was spending too much time on it and not enough time on work and my personal responsibilities. But you know how it is--the busyness of life got the better of me, and I neglected the blog as well as, I hate to admit, reading Scripture. So my plan is to try to post every weekday again, even if the posts are brief. I've found that posting on the blog keeps me accountable. And perhaps my random thoughts and the verses I highlight will bring a little joy into your life.
This morning's passage: I Corinthians 1:1-9
Highlights:
"For in him you have been enriched in every way..." (v. 5a).
Why do we so easily forget that our relationship with God can meet our every need? The trick to it is abiding in Him, as Jesus discussed in John 15.
"He will keep you strong to the end....God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (v. 8a, 9).
Isn't that great? We don't have to keep ourselves strong in our own power; He empowers us. I love it.
This morning's passage: I Corinthians 1:1-9
Highlights:
"For in him you have been enriched in every way..." (v. 5a).
Why do we so easily forget that our relationship with God can meet our every need? The trick to it is abiding in Him, as Jesus discussed in John 15.
"He will keep you strong to the end....God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (v. 8a, 9).
Isn't that great? We don't have to keep ourselves strong in our own power; He empowers us. I love it.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Not Until Then
Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to a couple of friends today. Thought it was worth recording. I think an essay by one of those friends helped influence these thoughts. Thank God for people who direct our eyes heavenward!
I've been so overwhelmed lately about what I should be doing--exercising, cleaning the house more consistently, watching what I eat, finding new, healthy recipes, sending the hubby e-cards and little notes more often, praying (especially for situations my friends are dealing with), reading the Bible (rarely do that anymore). And...I don't even have kids to deal with! I guess there's always going to be something that we know we ought to do more, or do less, or start doing, or stop doing. Ugh. Maybe that's the whole Philippians 1:6 thing about "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." We can work at improving ourselves (along with God's grace, of course), but we'll never manage it all until we reach heaven. And then we'll be made perfect in His likeness. Guess I should quit stressing out, huh?
Anybody else feel like this?
I've been so overwhelmed lately about what I should be doing--exercising, cleaning the house more consistently, watching what I eat, finding new, healthy recipes, sending the hubby e-cards and little notes more often, praying (especially for situations my friends are dealing with), reading the Bible (rarely do that anymore). And...I don't even have kids to deal with! I guess there's always going to be something that we know we ought to do more, or do less, or start doing, or stop doing. Ugh. Maybe that's the whole Philippians 1:6 thing about "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." We can work at improving ourselves (along with God's grace, of course), but we'll never manage it all until we reach heaven. And then we'll be made perfect in His likeness. Guess I should quit stressing out, huh?
Anybody else feel like this?
Quote of the Week
I really hate that I haven't been posting on this blog. It makes me mad. Mad at myself. But it began with the best of intentions. I have a habit of turning good things into trivial things that are just items on my to-do list. I never want to feel that way about scripture and my spiritual life. So, I began to post only once a week. I also wanted to devote more time to my work (what I do to earn a living) and to my job as a wife. Then work just got really busy. And then life got really busy. So here I am, wondering where the time went.
I've been reading bits and pieces of scripture now and then, but I haven't been moved to write. I guess that's okay--sometimes you just need to listen and digest in silence.
But I do want to keep myself aware of the spiritual world and, of course, my God.
Here's a quotation from Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. I don't agree with all of her views, but when was that ever expected of us Christians? Our goal is to have unity, despite our differences. Okay, here it is:
"My pastor, Veronica, says that peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet...."
I love that.
I've been reading bits and pieces of scripture now and then, but I haven't been moved to write. I guess that's okay--sometimes you just need to listen and digest in silence.
But I do want to keep myself aware of the spiritual world and, of course, my God.
Here's a quotation from Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. I don't agree with all of her views, but when was that ever expected of us Christians? Our goal is to have unity, despite our differences. Okay, here it is:
"My pastor, Veronica, says that peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet...."
I love that.
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