Be Real

 

Be Real 

“Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

   Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

 Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

(Romans 12v9-13)           

            Open and honest is a great way to go through life. Where did Jesus end up when he tried it? There are two answers. One is “On the Cross”. The Christian answer is “At the right hand of God”. In our world, it is sometimes a good idea to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Sometimes being open or real will cost you and in workplaces differing from the opinion of the leadership can hurt your career. At church, differences are often divisive and we need to pray about that. 

In 2005, at my workplace, I chose to be open and honest with a new vice president of the company. My openness accelerated my retirement and ended my employment. It is something that is OK at age 66 but would have been a crushing blow at age 55. It is an issue that all faithful Christians have to deal with. 

As we travel through life we always need to work to keep bread on the table. Sometimes we will be tempted to hold back for self-preservation. We do need to “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” In the long run, we work for the Lord, but there is a fine line that we need to walk in life! 

Thought for Today: We often have to make decisions regarding "being real". Today let us focus on demonstrating sincerity, zeal, and joy through the patience we are blessed with through Jesus. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we are surrounded by the love of Jesus as we approach the holiday season. It is a time of social pressures as well as great joy. Today we pray for those who have a problem experiencing this joy. We pray that they find the belief and experience the circumstance that will give them everlasting peace. Amen

                                                                  Halloween 1991 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. …which transcends all understanding…?”

(Philippians 4 verse 6) 

            Halloween, October 31st in 1991 was a significant event in the northern part of the United States. In our neighborhood we had two significant events to prepare for; children trick or treating and June’s departure to the UK for a family visit on November 1^st. Mother nature also had a plan that she had not consulted with me on; the great Halloween three day blizzard in Minnesota which was a piece of what is now known as “The Perfect Storm.”          

Paul told the Philippians “Do not be anxious about anything…” but millions of Americans were anxious that weekend! People died on lost ships on the Grand Banks and Minneapolis had 30 inches of snow. But it was not all bad on our end. Let me explain. 

            In the early afternoon, we had a temperature drop and a snow squall started. That is not unusual in Minnesota in the fall and we did not expect it to be anything but a fun Halloween! You see, I had already decorated the outside of the house with Christmas lights so we turned them on. The lights drew a large group of Halloween revelers. We met them with a special greeting, “Ho Ho Ho, Happy Halloween.” There were six inches of snow on the ground and we did pray for the safety of the children. 

            In the morning there were 15 inches of snow and the visibility was near zero. A trip to the airport seemed impossible. Prayers were needed. We decided to depart after lunch for a 6:30 flight and the twenty-minute drive took over two hours and was very dangerous. June’s flight departed 3 hours late and I had a three-hour ride home. Happy Halloween. 

            Today is Halloween, enjoy it with your neighborhood goblins! 

Thought for Today: Halloween is a special day and we should enjoy it with the revelers. We should also think back to 1991 and be prayerful.

 Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, this week we pray for children on a day they look forward to each year. We pray that they are safe and have a great evening. We give thanks for their presence in our lives.Amen

Thank You

 Thank You

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

(Romans 12: 11-13)

 

            This week’s message is a simple thank you. To all that read my online messages, visit my blog, receive my weekly emails, or check out my Facebook pages and group. You are all a blessing to me and have helped me grow to a place of peace.

 

            Last week Google advised me that this would be my 600^th blog post. So what? Am I bragging? No, I am humbled. You have kept me going with your support, your love, and maybe some respect that I do not feel is deserved. You are the greatest.

With Christian love I thank you.

 

Thought for Today: Today we will be tested; things will not all go well. We need to find a way through our faith to be an example to those around us; an example of good living and happiness.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we pray for our country and world. It seems out of control. We pray that through your guidance we can contribute to a solution. We pray for good health, abundance, and peace for all.

Amen

Popeye: I Yam What I Yam

 

Popeye turned 90 this week. He was not a philosopher...or was he? I credit friend and editor, 

Steve Rossi

, for "God is My Spinach" as a title for the 2012 devotional. It is a great concept to reach out for help when troubled as Popeye reached for his spinach!

I Yam what I yam

"You made all the delicate,

inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. ...

Your workmanship is marvelous."

(Psalm 139:13-14, TLB)

Was Popeye a philosopher? Cartoonists often are. When Popeye was confronted with difficult situations he would state "I yam what I yam?” gulp down his spinach and defend right!

We are not all Popeyes and we are expected to conform, often to standards below those of our Christian faith, and may face difficulties if we do not. In any case, it is necessary to understand who we are, what we are, and keep the Lord in our daily lives. We need our "spinach"

.
In many ways, we are continually fighting an image syndrome. Conformity is the word, and clones are the result. Quite often we get flack because we don't fit.
If there was a right way to be, how would some of the prophets or John the Baptist fit in with the rest of their society? Probably not too well at times.

The truth is you are you. You are who God created you to be. He wants you to know who you are and understand your unique characteristics. You were created by God and then the mold was broken. No one else is exactly like you.

You are unique. You are special and it is all right to be you. Don't let others shape you. That is God's task He started with you, he will finish with you and he will be with you. He is our spinach.

He does want you to be you.

Thought for the Day: Let us search for the person that God wants us to be so that we may serve him better.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we travel through our weekly chores, we need to see a way to help You. We often lose track of your plan. Sometimes we are too busy and do not understand it. This week we pray that each of us may find a better way to serve You and make life better for everyone.
Amen.

  Indian Summer 

"This is the day
that the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it"
(Psalm 118:24) 

            In Minnesota, we are experiencing a wonderful Autumn. An "Indian Summer" as it is called. Our first heavy frost was followed by a freeze and now we have warm temperatures. Certainly, this is a gift to us by God. It is something that we all appreciate and offers our thanks.

            During this time, the crabgrass has died; there is color in the leaves; the lawn does not need to be mowed as often; the evenings are cool; the garden does not need weeding.

            There are many blessings about "Indian Summer" and they are easily recognized. In our daily lives, there are also many blessings but we often do not see and acknowledge them. We try to control our lives and often do not turn enough over to God. The more we allow Him to take over, the more blessed our lives become. 

            The Psalmist says "...But may all who seek you, rejoice and be glad in you..." As we give thanks for good weather, we need also to give thanks and recognize God's roll in our daily lives.

Thought for Today: The fall season is upon us. The busy holidays are approaching us all too swiftly. This week we have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the dwell in activities between the end of Summer and the holidays. Let us enjoy by allowing God's will into our daily lives. Let Go and Let God and appreciate the things he will do for us.

Prayer: Father, we pray specifically for those in the World that need food, shelter, and quality of life. In our country, there are too many people out of work or threatened by unemployment. In many countries, the Holy season approaches many desperate people. We pray for them and that somehow the prosperous peoples of the world can find a way to do your will. We pray that we may find a way to contribute.
Amen

Don't Fake IT

Don't Fake IT 

“Woe to you …you hypocrites!

 … on the outside, you appear to people as righteous

 but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

(Matthew 23v27)

 

            One of my favorite themes is been being true to our faith by being open and honest. It is something that we all desire, but it also comes with some social consequences. There are too many people in the world that have a different reality than Christians.

             In America and throughout most of the world, life is competitive. It is as if the resources are limited. As Christians, we are taught that the world has an abundance supplied by God and I believe that is true; but there is a major distribution problem in the world.

             Dealing with the wealth of Western civilization and how it relates to Christianity is scary. Recently when talking about a stewardship campaign at our church it was mentioned that if all Christians would tithe we would not need the government to run social programs. That would be great.

             Each of us needs to be as good as we can be to contribute to the positive factor in society.  We need to take social risks to reach our real rewards.

"He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.

 He will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God his Savior.”

(Psalm 24v4,5)

Thought for Today: We will have to make a choice today; to be straight and true or hold back a bit. We need to make the tough choices and keep a pure heart to improve the world around us.

 Prayer for Today: Dear heavenly Father, we give thanks for the many blessings and opportunities you bring to us. This week we pray for the chance to demonstrate our faith to others; to help. We pray to be able to do your will here on earth.

Amen

 

BUSYness!

 

BUSYness 

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,

 and the time has come for my departure

I have fought the good fight

 I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”

(2 Timothy 4: 6 & 7) 

            Over the years I came to relate closely with the race analogies used by Paul in his letters. They are meaningful today because the events around the world have thrown us into a high state of BUSYness. (Spell-check hates that word but I like it!). In Paul’s message above he is not talking about a marathon, a workweek, getting to the children’s activities; it has nothing to do with our BUSYness. It has to do with keeping our faith peaked during the process of life. 

            This was written today because retired old Bob is too busy with retirement stuff; writing, blogging, helping others in need, increasing my exercise program, and generally being Bob. For the second day in a row, my morning meditation was pushed down the priority list, BUSYness. 

            There was a time where I skimmed the newspaper while watching the morning TV news, drinking my coffee. Thirty minutes of stress building and negativity. (Especially during this election year!) In the early 1990s, my daughter gave me a devotional, “With All My Strength”  by H. Norman Wright, and the TV and newspaper were replaced with morning devotions. My attitude and life improved through spiritual growth!    

             Today a few events were put off until later while I read Paul’s message to Timothy. You see, life is great but longer than a marathon! Sometimes called the daily grind. Life is good when the good fight is supported by spiritual growth! Finish your race by keeping the faith. 

Thought for the Day: In a counter to Paul's message about the race, I also read the following from the 23^rd Psalm: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul”. Take a prayer break today and every day. 

Prayer for Today: Dear father, today we pray for personal peace.