Barbara's Banter

Short and sweet thought for the week…

We are all joy spreaders. We either bring joy to everyone when we enter a room or everyone is joyful when we leave a room. Most of us would rather people feel joyful when we come, not when we go. However, we can’t give to others what we don’t have.

If we aren’t calm, we can’t help others be calm. If we have no peace, we can’t help others find peace. If we have no joy, we can’t help others be joyful. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Asking God to manifest His fruit in our lives helps us share it with others. We all need more love, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,…and JOY.  

Many do not understand that happiness and joy are not always synonymous. Happiness is conditional and depends on what happens to us. Joy runs much deeper because it transcends events and feelings.

Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured being crucified because of the joy set before Him. He could see beyond what was happening.

True joy comes from knowing God and having a relationship with Him. In God’s presence, we find true joy (Psalm 16:11). This joy is an attitude of the heart that comes from trusting a faithful God.

As joy becomes part of our spiritual identity, others may notice. Unbeknownst to us, we can exude a certain faith and confidence in God regardless of our circumstances. It can manifest itself with tiny expressions of peace and calm, or delightful smiles and laughter. Either way, it’s always welcomed when it enters a room.

“These things have I spoken to you that my joy may
remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” ~John 15:11

Short and sweet thought for the week…

I’ve heard it said that eyes are the window to our soul, but hands tell our story. I think there is some truth there which becomes even more evident as we age. Some read palms to tell our future, but actually our hands hold the key to our past. They show where we’ve been and what we’ve done.  

Smooth, nail-polished hands are lovely, but so are the ones that are wrinkled, calloused, or arthritic. They’ve survived life’s adventures and trials, and lived to tell the tale. Each hand has a unique set of fingerprints. Each hand has a unique story to tell. Some hands tremble a bit; others seem steady and sure. However, all hands can be welcoming, forgiving, and comforting.

Loving hands are the best and have no cosmetic requirements to be considered beautiful. Loving hands will bandage scraped knees, hug the bereaved, place a cool cloth on a feverish brow, sew a doll’s dress from scraps, hold others up when they are weak, bake a pie for the potluck, bring flowers to the ill, slip a dollar bill to the homeless, hold crying babies, care for ailing parents, drive a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment, or fold together in prayer for those too weary to even pray for themselves.

God shows His love for us by writing our names in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). The most loving hands of all belong to Jesus. The image of His nail-scarred hands should strengthen our faith. They could not have been pleasant to see, but revealed a story of redemption, grace, and love for us.

“Put your finger here; see my hands…Stop
doubting and believe.” ~John 20:27 (NIV)

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Years ago, there was a popular song titled Feelings. It went something like this…”Feelings, whoa-o-o-o feelings!” I hated that song. Not so much because of the message, but the whiney way it came across. The poor guy was in agony and I felt for him, but not enough to listen to him sing this song.

With that being said, I realize that God created feelings to be an outlet for what happens in our lives. However, God never intended them to be a guide for what is right or wrong. It’s unwise to base decisions totally on how we feel. If we let feelings rule our lives, we are headed for trouble.

For example, the Bible says we can get angry, but we don’t have to sin (Ephesians 4:26). Cain didn’t get that memo. He was angry with God and his brother Abel. As a result, he killed Abel because he didn’t know how to process his feelings of jealousy, resentment, and inadequacy. You see, if we don’t control our feelings, they control us.

Feelings are not facts. Just because we feel something, does not make it true. People want to debate scriptures based on how they feel, but truth is truth regardless of how we feel. God’s Word is truth. We need to choose to follow God instead of our feelings because our emotions are unpredictable, unreliable, fickle, and ever-changing. Jesus does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s why we can rely on Him.

Meaningful and uplifting experiences are part of the Christian journey, but so are trials and problems. So we must learn to trust God more than our feelings. We can’t afford to let feelings be a substitute for faith. Walking by faith means we praise, follow, and obey God regardless of how we feel at a particular time. Remember that it’s much better to be at the mercy of God, than at the mercy of our feelings.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ~2 Corinthians 5:7

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Job could be the poster boy for having a really bad day. Within a day, he has more trials to deal with than most get in a lifetime. His oxen and donkeys are stolen by the Sabeans. His sheep are consumed by fire. The Chaldeans raid his camels and take them away. All his sons and daughters are killed while together at his oldest son’s house when a great wind collapses the structure on them.  

We’ve all had some bad days in our lives, but probably nothing compared to this. We’ve all had those times when grave disappointments seem to multiply. We think things can’t get worse, but they do. How did Job feel when all this happened to him?

Of course, he was devastated. He tore his robe. He shaved his head. Then “he fell to the ground and worshipped” (Job 1;20). His first response and reaction after his initial shock and loss was to worship God. He had no idea why all these things were occurring, but he did know that God has power, wisdom, and authority over everything, and that God is good. In spite of his circumstances, he knew God was with him and worthy of his praise.  

When trials are heavy and we feel like our lives are falling apart, it goes against our human nature to worship. We feel more like accusing God than praising Him. Yet Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

Praising God during tough times is challenging, because we don’t feel like worshipping. We don’t feel like doing much of anything except feeling sorry for ourselves, which is understandable. However, the Bible instructs us to praise the Lord at all times (Psalm 113:3). During good times and bad, God is still our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. God is greater than all our problems. Worshipping God acknowledges that we believe Him. We trust Him. We proclaim Him as Lord over all, especially our lives.

Even if we don’t feel like worshipping, it is wise to do it anyway. Every act of worship is a decision we make to shift our focus from ourselves and our problems to God’s greatness. Actually, there is no better way to find peace when we are dealing with those really bad days! 

“I will bless the Lord at all times…”~Psalm 34:1

Short and sweet thought for the week…

During Jesus’s travels, He encountered a man who had suffered with many demons for a very long time. This man didn’t live in a house but it the tombs. The demons tormented him day and night. At times, the man was kept under guard in shackles and chains but the demons were so strong they would break him free. When the man saw Jesus, he ran to worship Him. In Jesus’s compassion, He cast the demons out of this man and he was healed.

This man was so appreciative that he begged Jesus to be able to stay with Him, but Jesus sent him away with these instructions: “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you (Luke 8:39).” The man went away and proclaimed throughout the whole city the great things Jesus had done for him. Who better to tell this story than one who had experienced it firsthand?

Who better to tell others what Jesus had done for us than we who have experienced it firsthand?

Perhaps our encounters with Jesus have not been quite as dynamic as this man’s experience, but they are meaningful to us all the same. Yet, so many times we shy away from telling others about Jesus when opportunities arise. I’m not suggesting we hop on soap boxes or pounce on unsuspecting people. However, we are eyewitnesses to what God has done in our lives, so why not tell our personal stories about Jesus to others who ask or those who are receptive?   

“…you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Short and sweet thought for the week…

One popular Christian song goes, “We bring the sacrifice of praise into the House of the Lord…” I’ve never really thought about offering praises to God as a sacrifice. Usually I’m praising God for His goodness, His blessings, His answered prayers, His Creation, His protection, etc. It’s a sort of joyful worship response coming from a thankful, appreciative heart.

However, in the Old Testament, sometimes acts of worship included an animal sacrifice. Unblemished animals were sacrificed to symbolize atonement of sin and reconciliation with God. Something innocent had to die in place of the sinner. Through this, people were taught that true worship involves surrender and sacrifice.  

In the New Testament, we find Jesus Christ dying for our sins and becoming our ultimate sacrifice. This ultimate sacrifice gives us even more reason to praise God. Still, this does not seem very sacrificial on our part and the Bible indicates there are times when praise should include a sacrifice from us.  

“Therefore let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:15-16).”

Making certain sacrifices by doing good to others and sharing is definitely one way we praise God.  However, I think another way we offer the sacrifice of praise is by lifting praises to God even when things did not turn out the way we wanted. Perhaps we were diagnosed with cancer, a loved one died in a car accident, we lost our job due to a company downsize, or a drug addicted child played havoc with our family life. Maybe we don’t feel like praising God during dire circumstances.

However, that’s when we truly bring the “sacrifice of praise” because it takes all we have within us to lay our will on the altar and trust God for His outcome. When we praise God in spite of situations, we offer up to Him our belief, our confidence, our hope, and our faith.

In Psalms, we are told that God does not delight in sacrificial burnt offerings, but rather He delights in a humble spirit that places faith and trust in Him no matter what comes our way (Psalm 51:16-17).

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, though
the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield not food; Though the
may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls–Yet I will
rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.” ~Habakkuk 3:17-18

Short and sweet thought for the week…

On the surface, the word abide seems like something passive, not requiring much effort. We just exist in the glow of God’s love. There is some truth there, I guess. After all, Websters defines it as to dwell, reside, remain, stay, or continue.

The Greek word for abide in the New Testament goes a little deeper. It’s “meno” and means not only to stay or remain but be true to, persevere, walk with, get close, be near, and withstand. Abide is a verb which means it requires some action.  

Jesus tells us to abide in His love by keeping His commandments (John 15:9-10). We are told if we abide in God’s Word, we are truly His disciples (John 8:31). This has a two-fold meaning because not only are we to abide in God’s Word, we are to abide in Jesus who is “The Word” (John 1:1-4). Plus, we are to let Jesus abide in us. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. If we nourish ourselves through what He offers, we bear much fruit. That’s one of the fringe benefits of abiding in Christ, because without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Throughout John’s writings, we learn that abiding in Christ is a deliberate choice and takes a bit of conscious effort on our part. It requires a close relationship with Him which means to know Him intimately. Abiding means we absorb His teachings and emulate His example of love. Abiding means we persevere when we feel like giving up. Abiding means we ask Him to fill us with His thoughts, motives, desires, wisdom, discretion, and discernment. Abiding means we yield to His will and not ours. Abiding means we confidently trust Him in every aspect of our lives.  

I think abiding in Christ means we love Him more than anything else. May our desire be to make our heart His home. If we abide in Him, He will abide in us (1 John 4:13).

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself
also to walk just as he walked.” ~1 John 2:6

Short and sweet thought for the week…

John 14:1 says, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

That’s not easy to do since troublesome news seems to be a major part of life. It comes when we least expect it. I don’t know about you but this past year has held a lot of unwelcomed surprises. Some loved ones have faced debilitating hardships. Others have lost their battle with life threatening illness. Another has slipped into that dark abyss known as dementia. It’s all so dreary and leaves me weary.

Yet, we are admonished to not let our hearts be troubled. I think the only way to stay mentally prepared for disheartening news is by continually keeping God in the picture. If we don’t fix our eyes on Jesus instead of what surrounds us, we will definitely lose hope (Psalm 141:8). Our only hope is in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7).

When we keep our focus on God, we are not shaken when bad news comes because our hearts are steadfastly trusting Him (Psalm 112:6-7). God is our refuge, strength, and ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1-2). Whatever we encounter, God is with us.

Our goal should be to stay in a perpetual relationship with God. Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and thanking God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God’s presence in our lives is the only way to have peace when troublesome times comes our way.

“Peace I give to you…Let not your heart be troubled…” ~ John 14:27

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Our lives are busy and filled with tasks to be done. The world can be a rough, unrelentless place that leaves us tired and weary. The Christian life is one of duty, service, and outreach to others. Sometimes it’s difficult to show love to others, much less ourselves.

However, the Bible says to love our neighbors and ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). So, there is no need to feel guilty for being kind to ourselves. Perhaps we need to be more gentle and forgiving to ourselves, realizing we are a work in progress and a child of God. Maybe we need to take a day off, enjoy a sunset, eat out, look at nature, read a book, or rest to decompress, so God can replenish us.

Jesus was not above taking a nap on a boat, savoring a delicious meal, walking in the mountains, or spending time with dear friends. While doing this, He showed us how to replenishing ourselves so we can have more capacity to devote to others.

Getting rest must be an important part of this process or why would Jesus say, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”

Being able to rest is a gift from God. He set an example by resting after He created everything (Genesis 2:2-3). God never grows weary, so this was a choice He made. Sometimes it’s a choice we need to make as well. We will never take time to rest if we are waiting for our “to-do” list to get done. Believe it or not, everything does not depend on us. If that were true, we wouldn’t need God.

One of the greatest ways to be kind to ourselves is acknowledging that God is in control of everything, even if we decide to show ourselves a little love by breaking our exhausting routines. God did not intend for us to work ourselves to death. We have time restraints and certain limitations that God does not have. That’s why we can rely on Him to hold things together without our help. God is at work even when we are not.

God gives us permission to be kind to ourselves. Plus, if we are kind to ourselves, we are more likely to be kind to others.

“The merciful man does good for his own soul…” ~Proverbs 11:17

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Romans 12:1 (NIV) says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

God has shown us enormous mercy. Instead of death, He offers us life. He forgives our sins and gives us new purpose through Christ. In response to God’s great mercy, Paul urges us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.

For a vibrant, young person, it might be a big sacrifice. Someone who is physically beautiful and teeming with natural abilities has much to offer God. However, for me, perhaps not so much. What would God want with my worn-out, wrinkly body that shows years of deterioration? No matter how many exercises I do, vitamin-pills I take, or miracle creams I use, I cannot halt the signs of the aging process. Fortunately, our usefulness to God is not based on outward appearance or being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…or even being able to leap anywhere anymore anytime.  

It is only because of God’s mercy that He even wants me at this age! More than my outward body, He wants what’s inside—my heart (1 Samuel 16:7). While our physical bodies wither and shrink with time, our hearts can become bigger and more agile.

Yes, by God’s great mercy we offer our bodies, whether young or old or somewhere in between. We take our eyes off ourselves and fix them on a merciful, loving God who accepts us and works within us for His perfect purpose.  

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God;
this is your true and proper worship.” ~Romans 12:1 (NIV)