April 29, 2021 · 10:47 AM

Don’t Trust the Rating

Google Reduces Star Rating Threshold: Why Businesses Should Take Notice

I read books. Lots of them. Always have and always will. I don’t consider myself an expert, but I think I’ve read enough to recognize good writing and compelling plots in stories that stay with me for a long time after the book is closed. On the flip side, I don’t hesitate to trash a book if it hasn’t gripped me with the first chapter or two. Even if it has a five-star rating on Amazon. Be cautious about those ratings.

This goes for the ratings people tend to give to your opinions, your beliefs, your YOU.

How many times have you experienced that deflated, discouraged, and even embarrassed feeling when someone you respect makes a negative comment about a value that you hold dear? Even though it is important to you, another person gave it a low rating and you, maybe unconsciously, begin to question and devalue your own belief.

There are, of course, times when we need to have things shaken up a little and hearing someone else’s views can give us a nudge in the right direction. That’s okay. Necessary, even.

But be careful.

Getting caught up in the five-star rating of an individual’s contribution in any area is reason to take stock. Examine the deeper workings of their heart. Read the book. And if there isn’t enough in the first chapter or two to grip you, move on.

Look for the ones who quietly encourage, the ones who speak truth, the ones who are seldom recognized or openly rewarded for their wisdom. Their seemingly low ratings on the social scale may well be the best book you’ve ever read.

Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. – Philippians 4:8 (TPT)

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April 18, 2021 · 12:10 PM

You Are Mine

You are mine. - Peace for the Storm

My Dad had a nickname for me. Although I often pretended to be annoyed when he used it, I felt warm inside, knowing it was his name for me and that he was saying he loved me when he called me that. In the years since Dad went home to heaven, a number of close family members have teasingly used the nickname and to be honest, I feel anger rise up when they do. I know they mean well, but they are not Dad. They don’t understand the very deep and personal emotion associated with that name – a connection between me and my father. It was like a symbol of the relationship we had. He knew me and I was his, just as he was mine.

There is much emphasis on names throughout Scripture, a practice that’s been largely lost in western culture, and this got me thinking about how God spoke to Jacob in Isaiah 43:1-2.

But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end – because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. (The Message)

The Lord called Jacob’s name not just to get his attention, but to assure him of His constant presence, His protection, and His guidance. God had intimate knowledge of Jacob, a loving relationship with him. Jacob’s name was not something God used lightly. He was God, after all, but He was Jacob’s personal God.

He is our personal God too. He is the One who calls us by name and hold us close to Him. We are His. And He does not hold His own nonchalantly or idly. He is there in every circumstance we face, His hand outstretched to walk us through the parts we can’t navigate on our own. He doesn’t let go when we grab on to Him. He wraps His arms around us when we just need to cry. He cheers us on when we’re pushing through to accomplish that seemingly impossible thing and then He yells the loudest when we succeed. He gives us the answers to the hard questions.

Because that’s who God is – your Dad, your Father. He knows you and calls you by your name.

And I like to think He calls me by that same nickname I used to hear from my Dad.

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March 22, 2021 · 10:12 AM

Wading Through the Haze

nature landscapes sunset sunrise sun sunlight sunbeam sky clouds colors bright trees forest fog mist haze scenic view wallpaper

These are challenging times. That’s a statement repeated over and over in our conversations, in the media, on billboards, everywhere. Like we didn’t already know.

I have to admit that I’m about done with masks. I am done hearing the Covid-19 numbers and seldom check anymore. I am tired of social restrictions that deny me the right to have family and friends in my home. Piled on top of that are the ridiculous rants of various groups demanding that everyone else change for them, celebrities who feel the need to influence the masses to agree with them, politicians who have obviously forgotten (or maybe they never knew) how to run a country to achieve the best economic and social solutions instead of fighting for their own personal agendas.

Honestly, I didn’t intend for this to be a bashing session, but I guess I have been wading through more haze than I realized.

The challenge of these times is to see clearly. Yet, the haze is so dense, so dark. Our enemy Satan, and his legion of demons, have been having quite the time of it, particularly in the past year. Keep people discouraged, sick, confused, full of fear – those are the hallmarks. And above all, don’t let them see a light in the darkness.

The other day, someone told me to do this very simple thing (I don’t think he’ll mind me sharing it here). Place a chair in the middle of the room and sit down. Imagine one side of that room contains all your garbage – fears, problems, illness, etc. On the other side of the room is Jesus. Turn your chair so that you’re facing the garbage. Take a good look. Can you see Jesus? No! Now turn your chair so that you see Him. Look into His eyes. Can you see the garbage behind you? Of course not. The thing is, it’s your choice where to turn the chair. YOU. And you can’t have it facing both ways at the same time.

In our attempts to wade through the haze of life, particularly in these days, we so often have our eyes turned to see the garbage in our lives and in the world around us. We can’t possibly see Jesus, because we aren’t even looking in His direction. Satan grabs on to that and runs with it, keeping us focused on the crap so that we don’t even think about anything else.

How about this? Instead of turning your eyes on Jesus just during your daily (or maybe weekly) devotions, or when you’re tuned into online church on Sunday, or when someone asks you to pray for them – all of which are good, by the way – keep your focus on Him ALL THE TIME. Turn your chair away from the garbage and resist the temptation to turn it back. Choose to see clearly through the haze.

The chorus of this song has been going through my head all morning.

You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

Jesus IS the Way – the Way Maker, the Miracle Worker, the Promise Keeper, and the Light in the Darkness. That’s where our focus needs to be. On Him.

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March 14, 2021 · 12:23 PM

Empty Places

Book Review: 'The Last Empty Places' - WSJ

We took a road trip a few years ago and the route we chose went through miles and miles of desert. It was hot and boring and, well, empty. We looked around at the desolate landscape and there was no sound, no movement, no life at all, and aside from the odd small town, that’s how it appeared. We shook our heads and wondered who would ever want to live there. At one point, we stopped at a rundown gas station to venture in and see if they had something cold to drink. Much to our surprise, there was a rather well-outfitted convenience store inside, along with a little gift shop displaying local arts and crafts. The owners were so welcoming, and they entertained us with a short history of the area. That encounter became one of the highlights of our trip. So much for empty places.

Here’s my point, and I’ll make it short.

Sometimes we need to spend some time in the seemingly empty places and travel there for a while. Then, when we stop and wait, Jesus is there to tell us about the next thing: That great idea. That person who needs us or the one we need. That song to lift us up. That new job or relationship or place.

Don’t despair in the empty places, because even though it feels like you’re wandering in the wilderness, Jesus is there. And He’s had some experience with wilderness wandering. He’s got stuff to show you and it’s pretty awesome!

In Hebrews 13:5 Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Not even in the empty places.

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March 1, 2021 · 11:29 AM

Hope is Influence

2 Things Everyone Should Know About Being a Positive Influence on Others - Happify Daily

While you were growing up, many of you were probably told by your parents and teachers to be a good influence on the people around you. I heard it a lot. But honestly, the words went in one ear and out the other because I didn’t really understand what they meant. The phrase was often used as a reprimand or a threat, as if the saying of it was going to jerk the slack out of me and I’d become a model citizen of the human race. Whatever (shrug). And then what did I do? Grew up and repeated the process with my own kids.

This morning, I heard this quote, “Those who carry the greatest hope have the greatest influence.” Suddenly, the words hope and influence expanded in my brain. Pause with me for a moment and look at the definitions.

Hope: to believe, expect, or trust with reasonable confidence.

Influence: the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others:

I put the two together and got my own definition: When you believe, expect, and trust with reasonable confidence, you have the capacity or power to be a compelling force on the actions, behavior, and opinions of others.

Read that again.

Now look at these two verses of scripture.

Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! Colossians 1:27 (TPT)

But give reverent honor in your hearts to the Anointed One and treat him as the holy Master of your lives. And if anyone asks about the hope living within you, always be ready to explain your faith. 1 Peter 3:15 (TPT)

You have Christ, the Anointed One, embedded within you. That’s pretty incredible all by itself, right? But there is also hope. Lots of it. And you know what comes with hope (see my definition above)? You influence others to experience and act on the same. Jesus is the hope, and that hope influences the people around you.

Live your life to carry hope. In your countenance. In your behavior. In the words you speak. And when people ask what it is about you that’s different, you have the opportunity to influence – to explain the reason for the hope. That reason lives in you and around you and through you.

His name is Jesus Christ.

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February 23, 2021 · 11:12 AM

I Just Don’t Care

File:D968a64aac79ace64b4716bb16a9c6d7 download-free-png-emojis-sticker-emoji-i-don-t-know-girl- 920-751.png - Wikimedia Commons

In response to his uncle’s teasing at a Thanksgiving celebration, our youngest grandson (three years old at the time) simply turned and walked away saying, “well, I just don’t care.” All of us burst out laughing and since that time, the phrase has become a common response in our family.

But something important happened. A small child evaluated the situation and reached a wise conclusion all in a matter of seconds.

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I’ve had a year or so to consider how beautifully that little boy delivered a life lesson. His ability to clearly see a potentially awkward or uncomfortable encounter on the horizon enabled him to cut it off before it even had a chance to become anything. He wasn’t clouded by “what if’s” or “maybes”. He just stood his ground and declared truth.

We care too much, sometimes. We take on worries about stuff that doesn’t matter, and those worries weigh us down, cause stress, inhibit our growth, block opportunities, and they can immobilize us completely. We have all experienced a measure of that since Covid-19 changed the world. It’s hard to say we just don’t care when the crisis (real or manufactured) is thrown in our faces all the time.

Here’s the thing.

We have the Father God, who has given us His Holy Spirit to help us to discern what is worth caring about and what isn’t. We can rely on His direction when we don’t know whether or not to get involved in things that could potentially harm us or move us ahead. We have Jesus, the Counselor, who teaches us what we need to know, where to find answers, and when to act.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, give us the confidence to say, “well, I just don’t care,” when the enemy lies to us, in whatever form that may take. And he will lie because deception is all the devil knows to do.

Care about the things that really matter. Walk away from the rest.

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Philippians 4:6-8 (TPT)

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February 17, 2021 · 12:18 PM

Constructive Criticism

Image result for constructive criticism

Constructive criticism is one of the most enormous oxymorons I’ve ever encountered. There is nothing constructive about criticism.

I am very familiar with this process and its disguises: effective feedback, productive assessment, practical observation, etc. I used them all during my management years. Almost every employee or colleague encounter of this nature, no matter how skillfully orchestrated, resulted in myriad hurts, resentment, and a decrease in job performance.

Why?

Because these conversations were seldom initiated with the receiver’s best interests in mind. They were usually about what was going to benefit the department, or the company, and in some cases, the manager. I’ve been on both sides of meetings like this. Neither is pleasant. I do understand that sometimes the slack needs to be jerked out of certain situations, but there is a right way to do so. Please hear me out.

Constructive criticism (I even dislike typing the words) has leaked into Christian circles, perhaps even more so because it can be used to manipulate people in a seemingly spiritual way. How many times have you heard, “I believe the Lord wants me to tell you . . .”, or “God showed me something about you . . .”, as somebody proceeds to point out your faults and mistakes? This is particularly damaging when it comes from a pastor or church leader since it’s all in the name of Christian love, of course. Oh, and maybe they’ll offer to pray for you so they can feel good about ripping you to shreds.

Why do we feel so compelled to bring someone else’s dirty laundry into the light of day, whether that be in the form of gossip or right to their face? How can we even consider that it is our duty to bring life’s garbage to someone’s attention? Truth be told, they probably already know. And your words will likely do more damage than good. I’ve been on both sides of these meetings as well. They weren’t helpful.

Whatever happened to loving one another?

1 Corinthians 13, often referred to as the bible’s love chapter, gives us a really good picture of what love looks like and how that needs to be lived out every day. There is no room for criticism, constructive or otherwise. Even in the context of sincerely motivated feedback, love has to be the anchor. Otherwise, it’s just a clanging cymbal.

If you’ve been hurt by constructive criticism, ask God to help you to forgive those who have wronged you. Then allow Him to heal those hurts and so you can respond with love. If you’ve been the giver of such criticism, in any of its many forms, ask the Lord where you may need to ask for forgiveness. And allow Him to show you ways to go forward with love.

Read the following and think about it. A lot.

Love, the Motivation of Our Lives – 1 Corinthians 13 (TPT)

If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.

And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.

And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

Love never stops loving. It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten.Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away. When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.

For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.

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February 13, 2021 · 10:58 PM

Get Your Own Word

Image result for word from god

One of the “trademarks” of the Christian circles I was a part of for the past forty years was the overwhelming desire of many to receive a Word from God. People would flock to the prayer lines at the end of hours-long church services hoping that the pastor or guest speaker or someone would have a word from the Lord for them. When and if received, this word would presumably change their lives. For the better, of course.

Please understand that I absolutely believe God can and does give messages to people through others. I have delivered a few myself. But I also know how easy it would be to speak out something that sounds prophetic to someone standing in front of you, desperate to have God, through you, tell them what to do. I’ve been on the receiving end of “thus saith the Lord” a number of times, and I would have to say that at least half were definitely not God’s word. I knew it at the time and I still know it today.

I have to say, though, that while it is really, really awesome to have God speak to you this way, you don’t need to go to every church meeting in town to hear His voice. You can get your own word.

I am NOT saying that you shouldn’t go to church, or that you can’t hear from God while you are there. You should and you can. But a church building is not the only place God speaks. And the person in the pulpit is not the only person God speaks through. The Lord has things to say to you specifically when you take the time to talk with Him, to read what He has to say in the bible, and to listen for His voice. Become aware of Him. Notice His presence in you and around you all the time. Get your own word.

Learn to trust what you are hearing based on how you know the Father. Of course, you are going to trust the person closest to you, right? God is even closer than that closest person. He has no ulterior motives, no hidden agenda, and He doesn’t mess with your mind. What He tells you is always completely honest and true. You don’t have to second guess Him. Ever. He will speak things that are for your ears only, precious and wonderful things that He wants only you to know. His mysteries. His secrets. His heart. They are things between you and God and they are not for public scrutiny. Get your own word.

I have a picture in my head of God sitting on the edge of His seat, clapping His hands, and grinning in delight when I ask Him if He has time to talk. He always says yes. He has so much He wants to say to me and He’s so eager for me to know all His things. He’s thrilled that I want to listen – that I want to be with Him just like He wants to be with me. And He really wants to give me my own word.

He’s got a few for you too.

But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things. 1 Corinthians 2:10 (TPT)

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February 12, 2021 · 12:57 PM

This We Believe

The denomination in which I was raised did not practice infant baptism, but rather, encouraged a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ, usually followed by baptism and church membership a few years later. I was eighteen years old and about to graduate from high school when I got baptized along with several of my friends.

Prior to baptism, all candidates were required to complete a catechism course (ours was taught by the truly awesome pastor of our church), and we studied a book called This We Believe, by James H. Waltner. I lost the original copy of my book somewhere along the way and it’s out of print now, but a few years ago I came across one at a thrift store, so I forked over fifty cents to go home with a piece of my past. My purpose? I wanted to trace my faith back to its roots to discover if what I believed, or was told to believe in that catechism class, was what I still believed today.

Reading the book has surprised me. First of all, the deep description of the Christian faith is remarkable. I’m pretty sure that as a teenager I never read the book with much serious thought about how and why my salvation was actually possible. It just was. Second of all – and this may sound like a contradiction to my first of all – the book barely scratches the surface of where my faith is today.

Does that mean I’ve made progress? I sure hope so. What I do know is that the more I study God’s Word and spend time with Him, the more I realize how much I don’t know. But instead of being frustrated by that knowledge, it motivates me to dig in and study more. Allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me the things I need for where I am right now is the absolute best place to be and the best way to grow spiritually.

It’s sad when people give up on their faith because they think God doesn’t hear them, or because reading the bible is too complicated, or following Him requires too much sacrifice. None of that is true. Sometimes, however, it requires a return to the basics to find out what you believe and why you believe it.

What do you believe.

For this is how much God loved the world – he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it! John 3:16-17 (TPT)

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February 10, 2021 · 11:43 AM

Don’t Poke the Bear

Image result for don't poke the bear

I prayed about what to write in this post. One side of me is so angry at how people, particularly those in positions of power and authority, mistreat each other. But I realized that if I allow anger to be the “go to” emotion, then I am no better than the ones who are doing the mistreating. The other side of me – the calm and reasonable side (yes, I do have one) – is filled with compassion and even sorrow for those who feel it is their duty to diminish others.

A phrase that comes to mind is, “don’t poke the bear” – a warning to refrain from saying or doing something that might provoke a negative response from someone else. You probably know some of those people. They’re the ones who deem it their right to needlessly provoke, upset, intimidate, or annoy others, sometimes going out of their way to do so and often presenting the action as a joke.

Not funny. And certainly not funny if you’re on the receiving end of the jab.

I think most everyone has engaged in this kind of behaviour at one time or another, not that it makes it right. We lash out at the authority figures who make rules we believe are ridiculous, but we have to abide by them anyway. This is particularly evident during this time of Covid-19 restrictions as social media is overrun with scathing comments, senseless arguments, and cringe-worthy responses. I am saddened when I read some of the words coming from people who should be offering encouragement and hope, but instead are using Facebook as a forum to vent. They’re poking the bear – inciting others to join them in their negative rants.

With empty words. Dangerous words.

1 Timothy 1:5-7 says: For we reach the goal of fulfilling all the commandments when we love others deeply with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and sincere faith.Some believers have been led astray by teachings and speculations that emphasize nothing more than the empty words of men.They presume to be expert teachers of the law, but they don’t have the slightest idea of what they’re talking about and they simply love to argue! (TPT)

I read that and could do nothing but take a good long look at myself. Am I leading people astray by teachings and speculations that emphasize nothing more than empty words? Am I arguing simply because I love to argue? Have I been prodded to poke the bear by reading and listening to others who do so? Lord, forgive me.

My goal, as in the first part of the scripture above, is to fulfill God’s commandments by loving others deeply with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a sincere faith.

Be encouraged to do the same. The Father is always close by to help.

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