Barbara's Banter

Short and sweet thought for the week…

When Christ comes into our lives, He makes us a new creation. We aren’t like old cars with a new coat of paint making us look more presentable. The car might look better, but the motor would still be the same. Coming to Christ means exchanging or surrendering our old self to God so He can give us a completely new model!

That’s a concept the Pharisees never understood. They were intent on preserving and protecting their old way of doing things. They thought salvation was all about their archaic rules and regulations. So, Jesus gave them the analogy of why it was not good to put new wine into old wineskins. The end result is failure. New wine should be poured into new wineskins (Matthew 9:27).

Clinging to the old prevented the Pharisees from embracing the new. They didn’t realize one could actually become a new person, a new creation in Christ.

As a new creation, we are no longer bound by our past rituals, mistakes, and regrets because our past does not determine our future in Christ (Isaiah 43:18). We are no longer our own, but belong to Christ who lives in us (1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 2:20). We sing a new song of praise (Psalm 40:3). We obey a new commandment of loving others the way Christ loves us (John 13:34-35). We are even given a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).

As Max Lucado says, “”Christians are not just nice people; they are new people.” So, we are not just better, we are brand new!

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old
has gone, the new has come!” ~2 Corinthians 5:17

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Jesus tells us in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. Do you believe this?” Believing what Jesus says is crucial for a Christian. Without this belief, we have nothing and everything we do is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14).

God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Christ loved us so much He came to earth, lived among us, and freely died for us. Then He rose from the dead and claimed victory over what mortal man fears the most. “…Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54, 55).

Christ’s victory over death is ours as well. We have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus that assures us of a future inheritance of everlasting life (1 Peter 1:3-4). However, to claim this inheritance we must do our part which has nothing to do with living a good life or earning salvation. Our part is to believe!

“He who hears My word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life…” ~John 5:24

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Easter and other holiday celebrations sometimes include family gatherings. For some this is a time of enjoyment, for others an act of endurance. Some feel the greatest gift of all is to have a large family…that lives in a different city. Today’s family dynamics are far from what most would consider ideal. Stressed single parents, quarreling spouses, addictive behaviors, and domineering personalities seem more the norm than the exception.

Yet, God chooses family analogies to strengthen our understanding of relationships with the Father, Son, and Spirit who all work together in peaceful unity for the benefit of others. We are even invited to participate in this relationship so we can experience the blessings of harmonious living.  

When we are converted, we are welcomed into the family of God (Ephesians 2:19). God is referred to as our Father (Isaiah 64:8). He calls us His children (1 John 3:1). Jesus is our older brother (Hebrew 2:10). As God’s children, we are His heirs (Romans 8:17).

Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This can be a difficult task when family relationships are messy. Many times, we feel totally inadequate to cope or even contribute anything helpful to the family we love.

We tend to forget that family is not always about our comfort, pleasure, or perfection. Sometimes it’s about modeling the gospel of Christ to those we love. Perhaps we should strive to do that because we have the advantage of already being grafted into the household of God.

“You are fellow citizens with the saints and members
of the household of God.” ~Ephesians 2:19

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Our world is always looking for shortcuts to success. We want a stock market tip that will make us rich. We want a pill to cure our ills. We want an exercise program that does not require us to exert too much energy. However, we usually learn that there are no shortcuts to anywhere that’s worth going. That includes our Christian journey as well.

There is no way to speed the Christian growth process. While it’s true the daily walk of a Christian has some mountaintop, glorious experiences, it is also strewn with some valleys full of hardship. Of course, we don’t like hardships, but every problem we experience teaches us something about ourselves. This is part of our spiritual transformation process. Trials are opportunities to trust God more.

There are no shortcuts on our Christian journey, but the trek is easier if we follow some biblical advice (Romans 12:9-12). Love sincerely, abhor evil, cling to what’s good, be kind, and serve the Lord. Plus, here’s a little formula that helps when facing trials: rejoice in hope, be patient in trials, and continue to steadfastly pray.

There are no shortcuts on our daily Christian walk, but there are ways to have more joy in the journey.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in afflictions, faithful in prayer.” ~Romans 12:12

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Many of us are living a story we didn’t expect. When asked as a child what we wanted to be when we grew up, I’m sure we didn’t say homeless, bankrupt, divorced, cancer ridden, lonely, a weary caregiver, jobless, or a parent outliving my children, People don’t expect their house to burn down, floods to waterlog possessions, the death of a spouse, or a car accident leaving them paralyzed. Yet these things happen, even to Christians. How do people live through such devastation without giving up?  

A major survival key is looking beyond our circumstances. Instead, we should look to God and place our trust in Him (Psalm 141:8). Trusting God will not make our trials magically vanish, but we will no longer be anxious that they will defeat us (Psalm 112:7-8). Trusting God means total surrender without fear or worry, knowing He will take care of us (Proverbs 3:5-6).

When I think of trusting God I’m reminded of this quote by Christian writer, speaker, and Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom. “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” ~Proverbs 3:5

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there. Just ask any blind person.

Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” As a blind person, she should know!

Additionally, sometimes it’s difficult to see God behind the scenes when we go through trials, but God is always near to those who call on Him (Psalm 145:18-20). God hears our prayers. God saves us. God love us. God cares for us. And God will deliver us from afflictions, according to His perfect timing.  

When the Syrian armies surrounded Israel, Elijah’s servant was afraid and asked, “Master, what shall we do?” Elijah said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed and asked God to open the eyes of his servant so he could see what was invisible to the human eye. God’s power and might! When God opened the servant’s eyes, he saw God’s army of horses and chariots of fire all around. Guess who won that battle? Ironically, the Syrian armies were struck with blindness (2 Kings 6:14-17).

We tend to think with a limited scope, but God’s power is limitless. On cloudy days, we may not see the sun but it’s definitely there. Remember that just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there!

“We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is
seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ~2 Corinthians 4:18

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Mundane means ordinary and repetitive. Mission means duty or responsibility. If we are honest, most of our days are filled with endless repetitive responsibilities, unlimited check lists, and ever-increasing in-boxes. Will we ever get to the finish line? There seems to be no credit, award, or merit badge for just maintaining a level of sanity as we survive another day.

However, everything we do is an act of service to God (Colossians 3:17). We forget that we are not working for the approval of men or even self-satisfaction, but for God’s glory. Yes, our daily duties might be mundane, but someone has got to do them. If God has determined that someone is me, who am I to complain? Each task is an opportunity to serve God.

“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.”
~Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJ)

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony, but only if we persevere.

God never promised the Christian life would be free of hardships, temptations, sorrow, or suffering.  In fact, we are told to expect them (1 Peter 4:12). Our Christian maturity rests in how we handle such things when they come our way. The key is perseverance.  

Perseverance is not just a matter of enduring trials, but remaining steadfast and committed to God in the midst of them. It means not giving up. It means being faithful to the end, even when it’s hard and takes time. This is almost a foreign concept in a society that wants quick fixes and instant solutions. However, God will not be rushed because our spiritual growth depends on His loving attention to the details in our lives and His perfect timing.

There is no way to become a mature Christian without perseverance, and no one has ever persevered without a certain amount of discomfort or pain. It really is a matter of no pain, no gain. So, rather than always looking for a quick escape from our trials, we might want to look for what God wants us to learn.

Remember that today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony, but only if we persevere.

“You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by
the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” ~James 5:11

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Each morning when I wake up, I immediately thank God for another day of life and ask Him to help me align my will to His so I am ready for whatever comes my way. When we think of life as the most precious gift we could receive, it is wise to live each day with intention and reverence. Living in the present allows us to face each new day as one with endless possibilities.

Each new day is a gift. That’s why they call it “the present!”

“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will
rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Cease endlessly striving to do what you want to do and learn to love what must be done.” This does not mean we give up our hopes and dreams. It just means we do not have to remain unhappy until we get them. How we face each unwelcomed task determines how much joy we can have while doing what must be done, even when we don’t want to do it. Gritting our teeth, murmuring under our breath, or being resentful will not make the task easier to accomplish. However, choosing to face our circumstances in the light of God’s perspective helps us to endeavor not just endure. The Bible tells us to do all things for the glory of God, which includes those unwelcomed tasks that must be done. In everything we do, we must work like we are working for God. 

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” ~1 Corinthians 10:31