Walking Partners

I've started walking a couple of days a week with two different friends. One friend is probably less fit than I am. I encourage and push her on to keep going a few more laps. She's ready to quit at 2 miles, but I can usually push and encourage her to 2.5. My other friend is in better shape than I am. She walks fast, and my legs burn as a strive to keep up. We walk 3 miles in no time, as she encourages me to go farther.

Our Christian "walk" should mirror my fitness walk. We need walking partners in Christ too! We should come along side some people who aren't as far in their faith as we are. We should encourage them in their walk with Christ and help them become more spiritually fit. It's not just a suggestion, but a mandate, "Go, and make disciples," Jesus said. (Matt 28:19,20)

At the same time, we should have Christian mentors who are equally or more spiritually fit than we are, to encourage us and help us deepen our relationship with Christ. Whether it's in our marriages, parenting or daily life, having someone to push us to do what is right is a blessing!

Having someone to walk with makes me more accountable to my exercise plan, no matter what their fitness level. The same is true spiritually. When I'm mentoring someone else, I am careful that I don't have the appearance of sin in my life to lead them the wrong direction. And likewise, when I'm with a mentor, I strive to live the life that they are, doing the right thing.

Who are you walking with in your Christian walk? Don't walk alone.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20

I'll Be There, Jackson 5

You and I must make a pact,
we must bring salvation back.
Where there is love, I'll be there
I'll Be There, Jackson 5, 1970

Do you ever wonder if God and Jesus had a conversation about the fall of man, and how they would handle it? Was it before Adam & Eve sinned, or after the fact? Whose idea was it? When I heard this Jackson 5 song the other day, I wondered if the conversation between God & Jesus sounded something like that:

You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back. Where there is love, I'll be there.

The Bible tells us that God IS love. ( John 4:16) Where there is love, I'll be there. Together they agreed (or made a pact) that they would offer mankind another chance at salvation. Jesus would die on the cross to pay the price for our sins.

But a relationship with Jesus offers more than salvation, not that just salvation isn't enough!

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness, well that's all I'm after
Whenever you need me, I'll be there

We also get a change to have a relationship with Him! He will fill our heart with joy and laughter! The joy of the Lord! (Nehemiah 8:10) Togetherness is what He is after. Whenever we need Him, He will be there! Never will he leave or forsake us. (Joshua 1:5)

I'll be there to protect you,
with an unselfish love that respects you
Just call my name and I'll be there

We can pray to Him, be comforted by Him, learn by His Word in the Bible! He'll be there to protect us, and give us an unselfish love...unconditional love. And He wants us to love Him back. (Deut 6:5, Mark 12:30)

I'm so blessed to have a relationship with Jesus, and he offers a chance at that relationship to all of us. (John 3:16)

Just call His name. He'll be there.

Don't Act Like An Ass

In Matthew 21, we see the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey colt. As he rode into town, the people threw down palm branches and shouted praises.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:8,9

Imagine if the donkey had any level of intellect to understand what was going on. Here he is riding through town with people shouting praises. Would he have thought the praises were for him? After all, he was the one doing all the work. Jesus was simply riding. The donkey was the one walking and carrying Jesus. The palm branches were thrown on the ground. Would he have thought they were protecting his steps? Honoring him? It's crazy to even imagine it, isn't it?

Yet, how often do we do the same thing? Maybe we're volunteering at church; singing for the praise team or choir, going on a mission, donating to a food pantry, or writing a devotion. When people offer praise, do we think they're praising us? We're the ones that did the work, aren't we?

Or, isn't it more that we are just doing what Jesus asked us to do, like the donkey. Jesus is the one that should be receiving the honor and glory. Not us. The donkey simply had the honor of carrying the Messiah, and while it was an honor for the donkey to do so, the Messiah was the ONLY one who deserved the praises.

So the next time you do something at church or as a mission, and someone tells you "Great job," remember who is holding the reins. Don't be confused. It is an honor to do work for Jesus, but we aren't the ones who deserve the honor. Don't act like the donkey.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." Matthew 21:4,5 KJV

Choose Joy

Habakkuk 3:17, 18 -- Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (NIV)

Given our current economy, it is easy to be unhappy. In a recent Bible study I learned that anything that can rob your joy (the joy of the Lord) can be an idol. You see it isn't any great tragedy that I let steal my joy, but daily irritations.

Join me at Titus 2 in Action, where we'll talk about choosing joy.

Satisfaction, Rolling Stones

"I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no."
Satisfaction, Rolling Stones, 1965

I've discovered a delicious, sweet, and low calorie treat! It is Jello-O Rice pudding in Creme Brulee flavor. And it is mmm-mmm-good. It is sugar free and only 70 calories. I've been enjoying it each night as my evening dessert. It is completely satisfying.

The other night I sat out my pudding, and then proceeded to make each of my girls an ice cream cone. I took a lick off of the ice cream cone before I gave it to my daughter. It was sweet, creamy and so delicious. I then sat down to my "delicious, sweet pudding." Suddenly it didn't taste sweet at all. It was no longer the sweet, creamy treat I'd enjoyed all week. I was like Mic Jagger, unable to get any satisfaction...from my pudding!

Our lives are often like that. We're going along, happy and satisfied. And then we get a "taste" of what our neighbor has. Then we are no longer content. This can happen in an instant. We can drive home in our brand new 2008 vehicle, only to find out that our neighbor's 2008 came with the "Limited Package." Suddenly, joy can be stolen.

Maybe cars aren't your thing. If you're a mom, perhaps its the honor student or football hero next door that makes you and your mothering feel inferior. If you're married, maybe its the romantic trips "her" husband takes her on. It can be something as small and insignificant as another woman's beautiful french manicure that makes you & your natural stubby nails feel "less than." Suddenly you're singing, "I can't get no satisfaction!"

Paul (the Apostle) said he had learned the secret of being content. He learned to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) Maybe I need to change my focus. From what I don't have to what I do. Then Paul says the God of Peace will be with me.

So, if you try, and you try, and you try, and you try - and still haven't found satisfaction, try God. He is the only thing that will ever truly satisfy.

Hebrews 13:5 -- Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Frozen

Brrr, it's cold! Even in FL, the sunshine state, they've been experiencing colder than normal temperatures. I recently heard on the news that the strawberry crops were in danger of freezing. You see, strawberries can evidently handle the cold to about 28 degrees. A slight dip below freezing just makes them sweeter. But once it goes below 28, the crops are ruined.

When the farmers hear a deep freeze is coming, they do something that I found amazing. They turn on the sprinklers! As the water covers the berries, it freezes, creating a personal freezer around each berry - keeping it chilled at exactly 32 safe and sweet degrees. The ice actually saves the berries from colder temperatures.

Do you ever feel like your getting a big freeze? Maybe you think God is giving you a "cold shoulder" letting you go through some times that are hard as ice. I can't say for certain, but I do love the idea that by giving us a small does of a cold, hard time that God is protecting us from further ruin, like the ice protects the strawberry.

I don't know, but just thinking about it warms my frozen heart.

I've Got the Music In Me

Ain't got no trouble in my life
No foolish dream to make me cry
I'm never frightened or worried
I know I'll always get by.
I've Got the Music in Me, Kiki Dee, 1975

Reading the lyrics above makes me think, wouldn't it be nice if life were really that way?

"Ain't got no trouble in my life." Truth is, my life is pretty good right now. My husband & I are nearing 15 years of marriage, and are quite possibly having our best year ever. I adore my kids, and have many, many great friends. I'm blessed! But I've had my share of deep troubles, I have smaller things that trouble me now, and I know that trouble will come again.

"Foolish dreams to make me cry?" Well, I haven't cried lately, but some of my dreams do seem foolish at times. Publish a book? Me? Be a dynamic speaker? Make a positive impression for Christ in people's lives? Sometimes it seems like a foolish dream to me and I can get down. Yet I know that God planted those dreams in my heart and I keep chugging along for His glory!

"I'm never frightened or worried." I have children! Enough said! I worry every day about my kids. I hate when they have to face adversity, mean kids, life's injustices, yet I know they are being made stronger through these things. Just like I am when they happen to me.

"I know I'll always get by." This one is true. I am so peaceful and feel blessed that I have faith in my Savior! Because He is in my life I will always get by! I am an over-comer! Every day brings new challenges, but I am up for the task.

And not because I've got the music in me, even though I do. While music does put a spring in my step, the real reason I know I'll always get by is because I have Jesus in me. I have Jesus in me! I have Jesus in me!!