Spiritually Balanced

 

How often have you thought, “I have to do all the work while they sit around and do nothing?”  In my mind, more times than I care to mention.  It can be difficult to feel like you are the only one doing the work while someone else is drawing their attention to a different place.  And that is where our story of Mary and Martha takes us!  Every time I read this Bible story, I learn something. Today, it was focusing on being spiritually balanced.

There is a balance between action and listening, especially in a spiritual context.  Jesus wants us to action His love.  He wants us to act on His love for others.  Yet, Jesus makes it perfectly clear that our salvation does NOT rely on our works.  Ephesians 2: 8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

It can be difficult to refrain from doing works, as mentioned above.  Often, we want to help others.  God wants us to help others as well.  Yet, when doing works takes you away from listening to God’s word, this is when the struggle of spiritual balance begins.  Having a listening ear on our Lord outweighs everything else.  This does not happen on Sunday morning alone, but every time we have the opportunity to be closer to Jesus.  This happens most strongly while reading His words.  Focusing on what Jesus is saying to us, listening for Him, will outweigh that load of laundry any day!

The same can happen with those around us.  Are we so intent on ensuring the items are checked off our to-do list that we are not listening to our child tell us about their day?  Is the list of things you did not achieve weighing on your mind more than what your spouse is sharing with you?   Having balance in our days is important – listening is important.  Taking time to listen to those around you versus ensuring all the chores are completed by the end of the day can be the best choice for balance.

Nothing will be a better choice than listening to Jesus!  I identify strongly with Martha.  As many of you know, I am a make a list and get it done kind of gal!  Taking any time away from that list can seem ‘unproductive.’  Ah, my friends, quite the contrary.  When I spend time deciding to reflect on a Bible verse or delve into a chapter and verse that catches my attention, I can hear Jesus talking to me.  It may be as subtle as, “You made the right choice, Susan.”  It could be something more definitive as, “Finally, I have your attention, Susan.”  Either way, the balance of action and listening is better when I am listening to God!  We need simple faith that Jesus will guide us there.

Spiritually Balanced Video:  

Dearest Jesus, thank you for giving me the story of Mary and Martha.  Help me to be more like Mary with her intent to listen to Your word.  Bring my attention to you, Lord, and help me to listen to Your words!  Amen.

It's Coming

 

I realize I may be VERY partial, but it is coming – the best season of all – autumn!  Yes, the other three seasons have their good points, but nothing beats all that autumn brings.  The pumpkins, the apples, the mums, the crisp air and best of all, the changing leaves!  There is absolutely nothing better than walking down a path or driving down a road and seeing the colors of red, orange, and yellow adorn the trees.

Although autumn really kicks in during October, in September, you can tell that autumn is coming.  There is a hue of light-yellow gracing the trees.  I cannot even begin to share with you how excited I get when I see the first leaves changing.  It is the hope that autumn will soon be here, and the trees will shine in all their glory.  Meanwhile, I have been preparing – since mid-August!  Usually no later than the 15^th, I have my autumn décor up in the house.  It is filled with beautiful pumpkins of all kinds, mood candle lighting, leaf garland, you get the idea.  I can sit and enjoy each room with the small hints of autumn – all prepared and ready to celebrate.  The best thing is knowing every year will bring a new autumn experience.

Although I am always excited about the coming of autumn, there is something that excites me even more, the coming of Christ.  The promise that Jesus shares in this week’s verse makes me even more excited than autumn arriving!  Jesus makes three confirming statements for me to be excited about – He has prepared a place for me, He will come back, and He will take me with Him.  I do not know about you, but even for this autumn-loving girl, those three promises make me giddy and more excited than cider donuts!

Just as I prepare my home décor for autumn, NOW is the time for us to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ return.  How do we do that?  To be the best version of ourselves that Jesus intended.  Continue to take in His word.  Show His love to others by actions and words.  Spread the good news.  Listen for God’s direction.  Grow closer to God!  By ensuring our hearts and souls are prepared for His arrival, our lives will be filled with His goodness.

As you look to the trees in anticipation of autumn, do not forget to look to the sky in anticipation of Jesus.  Get excited!  His promises are as certain as the returning autumn.  “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 4:17. Have Simple Faith!

Dearest Jesus, I cannot wait for you to come and get me to spend an eternity with you!  Help me to prepare myself by pouring your love to others.  Amen!

VIDEO: 

Time to Learn

 

As a kid, I always looked forward to Rally Day!  In the churches I have attended over the years, it is an opportunity for us to get back to Christian Education.  For children, this meant Sunday School!  I was eager to see who my Sunday School teacher was going to be and what we would be learning.  I loved hearing the Bible stories and doing crafts that linked with the stories.  As an adult, I was a Sunday School teacher for many years with my dear friend, Marcia.  We deeply enjoyed the opportunity to share stories and songs with the two- and three-year-olds. 

Rally Day reminds me of our verse for today, starting children off on the path of educating them about Jesus and the Bible – hoping they will utilize the foundation provided for the balance of their lives.  I still remember some of my Sunday School teachers and the impact they made on me!  As parents or any adult who interacts with children, whether it is at school or church, assisting and ensuring we do our part to provide them with solid footing by which to stand when the road gets rough is important.  “Impress them (the commandments) on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:7

Rally Day is also a time for adults to engage in Christian Education!  For adults, this means Bible Studies may be starting!  Christian learning does not end when you are confirmed or head off to college.  It is life-long and that means getting back into God’s Word and learn the endless wonders of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!  It is an exciting time to not only learn yourself, but to show the children around you the importance of continuing their Christian education long after Sunday School. 

Jesus wants us to dive deep into His Word.  He wants us to live out what we have learned and help others to do the same.  Learning and growing in God’s Word does not just provide a great foundation for children, but for adults as well.  Becoming grounded in scripture offers us the opportunity to turn to scripture when times are tough.  Having Bible verses we can turn to in difficult moments helps to provide strength.  “Whatever you have learned and received and heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:9   Take time to learn, help to instruct our children – all of it is good in God’s eyes!

Heavenly Father, thank you for Rally Days across the world.  Help us to know the value of Christian education and may always have a learning mind for your word.  Amen!

Link for the Video:  

Go Seek

 

Can you imagine having a roadmap for your life?  At any crossroads we may find ourselves, to have a sign that says, “This Way,” leaving us no doubt as to which way we should turn.  I look back upon my life, and even where I sit today, and have contemplated, “Should I go this way or that way?”  As teenagers graduating high school it may mean workplace, education, or trade.  As young adults it may mean staying in a hometown or exploring another area.  Relationships come into our lives, and questions such as if the person who is in your life is your lifelong partner.  Then comes decisions about children, career decisions, retirement decisions.  I am sure you get the idea.  Life has a way of doing that for us, providing us with options and opportunities that we had not considered or wondered if we were following the right path.

These life decisions can prove to be too much for us to manage at times.  We seek friends and family for their opinions.  We try and understand better what we should be doing and make a pro/con list.  Although all those items may assist us in deciding which road to take, it does not replace the one who truly knows exactly which road is best for us, God!  This verse beautifully shares three key words, Seek, First and His.

Seek: When we need to find help, when we need to find our path, we need to seek past our own perceptions.  Seeking is an important part of finding assistance. 

First: Determining where to seek first is important.  Our minds can easily get crowded with other thoughts and opinions if we do not seek first the best opinion.

His: Our Dear Lord!  When we seek (go to), Him first (before all others), what we need will be shared with us by Him.  Often, we may ask ourselves is it God speaking to me or just me?  Remember who lives in each of us, the Holy Spirit.  With God in us, and reflection on God directly, our plans are there for us. 

This does not mean that our own freewill will not get in the way.  This does not mean there will not be trouble.  What it does mean is that if we seek God’s plan first, and hold steadfast to Him, our path will be the one on which we should proceed.  What is beautiful is the verse after our focus verse for today.  Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

God will provide for our needs.  God will provide our path.  God will share which direction by which should proceed.  Our job is to seek God first and have simple faith that His path is our path.

Heavenly Father, help me to seek you FIRST on this path of life.  Show me the directions and plan you have for me.  Help me to trust in you and all you give to me.  Amen!

Division

 

Being in the field of Human Resources for more than four decades, I have certainly encountered my fair share of folks who cause division.  In my line of work, we labeled it as dissension.  Causing division or dissension is quite different than disagreeing.  I respect someone who may disagree with me.  Having a different opinion or perspective than mine has been extremely helpful in my life.  It has helped me to open my eyes where I may have been narrowly focused.  It has assisted me to consider options that I may not have considered on certain topics.  Disagreeing can be very constructive.

Causing division is a much stronger destructive behavior.  When people cause division, they are in it to create hostility, assert superiority, and actively seek to erode any collaboration or trust that may be evident.  There is an intense sense of negativity, gossip or even exclusion.  I would liken it to bullying behavior.  I am right, you are wrong, and you are going to feel the effects of that – either directly or indirectly.

This book of Titus is short and worthy of reading.  It is a letter from Paul to Titus, who is in Crete.  Paul helps to provide instruction for Titus on the leadership in the church, right living in the church and right living in society.  We can all take a few moments to learn the lessons Paul was teaching Titus.  Friends, we will have people who may disagree with us on many distinct aspects of life.  That is okay – it is free will.

Yet, when you have people around you who are causing division, especially when it comes to Holy Scripture and diverging from its truth, you need to be vigilant.  If dissension is their primary focus, take a lesson from Titus 3:10.  Provide warning – if it does not stop, then YOU need to remove YOURSELF from them.  Notice how this verse does not state to keep at it, trying to reason with this person.  It states that you should have nothing more to do with them.

This can be hard.  Especially if the person who is causing the division is a close friend or relative.  Please note, this is not saying we should not forgive people.  Nor does it say we should not continue to pray for people.  What it shares with us is that we should remove ourselves to ensure we do not fall into the deception that is being played out.  Let us remember to check ourselves as well!  We do not want to be the one causing dissension either! Keep our focus on God and have simple faith that God will bring justice and clarify to the situation. 

Heavenly Father, help me to have strength and faith when I meet someone who is causing division.  Provide me the words of warning, but if they do not work, help me to walk away from them and towards You.  Amen!

Togetherness

 

The world of today seems to have taken a drastic turn from the times that are spoken of in our verses for today.  Imagine a world where everything I have is yours, everything you have is mine, and we live together in harmony.  I think of times like that and wonder how we could incorporate that into times of today.  How can generosity take a greater focus on our lives?

Generosity of treasures, time and talents mean different things to different people.  The ability for us to give is many times overshadowed by what we need to do every day.  Maybe we work so many hours it is hard for us to give up any more time for others.  Maybe it is all we can do to keep food on our own tables, never mind giving it to others.  Do I really have a talent someone else may benefit from?

It can be difficult to find the time, release the money, or recognize a talent that can be shared in a larger community.  Yet, chances are, if we reflect long enough, there is something we can do.  It does not have to be grand in nature.  It just needs to come from your heart. 

·       It may be financially difficult for me to buy a big bag of groceries for the soup kitchen, but making a pot of soup for an elderly neighbor is possible.        

·       Finding time to work in the soup kitchen can be tough for me but purchasing a few extra items during grocery shopping this week is possible.

·       My talent may not lie in running the soup kitchen, but volunteering to make the meatloaf is more in line with the talent I possess.

Friends, giving all that we can to help those in need is living out Jesus’ love.  Helping others with a helping hand can be exactly what someone needs.  Our greatest ability each of us has to help others.  Praying!  We can all add someone in need to our prayer list.  We can all take a couple moments to raise up another in prayer. 

Yet, when the time comes when we see an open door to give more, let us do so with a warm and giving heart.  Let us take the time, share our treasures, or offer our talents to those around us.  Will it help someone else?  Yes.  Will it help you?  More than you will know.  Have simple faith!

Dearest Jesus, please open my eyes to see the open doors in front of me where I can give to others.  May I have simple faith that I know I can give to those around me.  Amen!

Welcome In

 

Inviting someone into our home is something I always look forward to.  It may not always be the neatest home when a guest arrives, but that does not stop me from saying “Come on in!”  Whether someone is coming over with intent or just quickly visiting, I always enjoy saying those three words, come on in.  Once in, there is always an offer of, “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”  This does not mean I have something readily available if it was a surprise visit, but there is always toast and PB&J!

The vision of today’s verse makes me happy and warm all over.  The physical nature of this verse is what excites me.  To have Jesus knock at my door, looking to come in to have a meal with our family?  As they say, Priceless!  Now here is where I admit my gap!  If Jesus showed up, either planned or unplanned, I am almost certain that my inner ‘Martha’ would come out and I would race around to see what I could offer.  Of course, there’s always spaghetti, right?

Welcoming Jesus into our lives, into our home, does not mean we always have to have all our ducks in a row or be ‘ready’ to say, “Come on in.”  If we wait to invite Jesus into our lives, our home, until we are the flawless Christian, Jesus will have an exceedingly long wait.  We will never be fully prepared.  We will never be fully faultless to have Jesus see us as the perfect Christian.  Good news all!  That is not what Jesus expects for us to invite Him into our lives.

Jesus wants us to say, “Welcome in,” regardless the state of our heart and mind.  He just wants to be invited into our lives. He wants to come in, sit at the table with us (the communion table), and let us know that when we are filled with the body and the blood, we will have eaten well, and we will be full.  That can only happen when we say to Jesus, “Come into my life, my heart and my soul.”  Once we do that, our sins are forgiven and we can eat at the banquet table, both on earth and in heaven.

My friends, when Jesus is knocking at your door to come in and have a meal, always say “Yes”!!  Our houses and our hearts do not have to be immaculate.  We do not have to have a banquet ready.  A dirty house and PB&J will be fine.  Jesus only wants you to invite Him in – He will take care of the rest.  We just need simple faith!

Dearest Jesus, always feel free to enter my home.  Become a part of my heart and my house, sitting at the table together for full nourishment.  In your name I pray, Amen!