Barbara's Banter

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Most of us will never give up all our worldly possessions to serve the poor, leave a lucrative medical practice to be a missionary in Africa, or travel the world to preach the gospel while bringing hundreds of people to Christ.  That’s because most of us were not called to be like Mother Teresa, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, or Billy Graham.  But that doesn’t make our lives any less meaningful or important in God’s eyes.  Maybe we were called to live ordinary lives – doing what we can to serve God and others regardless of circumstances.

An old adage states:  We can’t all cross the ocean, but we can still stand on the shore and help launch the ships.  In other words, those who stay behind doing God’s work are just as important as those that go to the forefront.

David understood this principle.  When he and his men fought the Amalekites, some went into battle and some had to stay behind to guard the carriages and baggage left behind so the pursuit could move faster.  When the soldiers returned victorious with the spoils, many did not want to share the bounty with those who had not gone into battle.  They felt their jobs were more important than those who remained behind.  David did not agree.  He said that all would share in what God had given them equally.  “The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” (1 Samuel 30:21-25)

Consider this… We all have different strengths and weaknesses.  Some may have a desire to serve in greater capacities but might be limited by health problems, finances, family obligations, and so on.  God did not intend for everyone to live in a limelight.  But just because someone goes unnoticed doesn’t mean they aren’t significant.  We all must do what we can.  And we all share in the same reward with God.

During the Civil War, Helen Gates wrote a poem called Your Mission which was set to music and sung for President Lincoln at a United States Commission meeting in January 1865, just a few months before the war ended.  The song brought tears to the president’s eyes, and he asked for it to be sung again at the close of the gathering.  This is one of my favorite poems, and I think there’s a message in it for all of us to do what we can do.  

Your Mission

By Ellen Gates

If you cannot on the ocean
Sail among the swiftest fleet
Rocking on the highest billows,
Laughing at the storms you meet,
You can stand among the sailors,
Anchored yet within the bay,
You can lend a hand to help them
As they launch their boats away.

If you are too weak to journey
Up the mountain, steep and high.
You can stand within the valley
While the multitudes go by;
You can chant in happy measure
As they slowly pass along—
Though they may forget the singer,
They will not forget the song.

If you have not gold and silver
Ever ready at command;
If you cannot toward the needy
Reach an ever-helping hand.
You can succor the afflicted,
O’er the erring you can weep;
You can be a true disciple,
Sitting at the Savior’s feet.

If you cannot in the harvest
Garner up the richest sheaves,
Many a grain, both ripe and golden,
Oft the careless reaper leaves;
Go and glean among the briers
Growing rank against the wall,
For it may be that their shadow
Hides the heaviest wheat of all.

If you cannot in the conflict
Prove yourself a soldier true,
If where fire and smoke are thickest
There’s no work for you to do,
When the battlefield is silent,
You can go with careful tread—
You can bear away the wounded,
You can cover up the dead.

Do not, then, stand idly waiting
For some greater work to do;
Fortune is a lazy goddess—
She will never come to you.
Go and toil in any vineyard;
Do not fear to do or dare—
If you want a field of labor
You can find it anywhere.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• We’ve used this suggestion from Seventh Century monk, St. Isaac the Syrian, before, but it is worth repeating.  “If you cannot labor with your body, at least make efforts with your mind… If you can’t fast for two days, fast at least till evening… If you are not a peacemaker, at least do not be addicted to strife… If you cannot close the mouth of a man who is judging his brother, at least refrain from joining him…” Do what you can do!
• Jesus said that sometimes just giving a cup of water to someone is important. (Matthew 10:42)
• Here are a few things you can always do:  praise God and be thankful.
• Here are a few more things you can always do:  smile at all you meet, send notes of encouragement to others, be a good friend, rejoice with those who are happy, and mourn with those who are grieving.
• Here’s something else you can always do: be a prayer warrior.  We should pray always and never give up.  (Luke 18:1)

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren 

In our last blog we discussed the importance of doing our part by participating in what God is doing.  Sometimes our part can mean partnering with others doing God’s work.  “Partner” is defined as one who takes part in an undertaking with others.  We don’t always need some new idea.  We don’t always have to be the one in charge.  There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with others who are headed in the right direction.

The example of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem comes to mind.  While living in Persia, Nehemiah heard about the plight of his fellow Jews who had been allowed to return to Jerusalem after years of captivity.  Nehemiah felt God calling him back to his homeland to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  When he got there the city was in ruins.  It would be a daunting task to get everyone on board to rebuild.  So first he enlisted the help of the leadership – then others.

Now usually when we see a list of names in the Bible we skip over them.  But if we read Nehemiah 3 carefully, we see rulers, priests, nobles, and officials working alongside all the merchants, farmers, and laymen.  Notice the many times the phrase “next to him” is used.  Everyone, regardless of rank or status, was working together, doing the hard labor to get the job done.  People came from other cities and even the women were working with them.  (Nehemiah 3:12) There may have been craftsmen for certain jobs but many learned how to do things as they went along.  Others probably picked up the stones, kept tools sharpened, brought the lunch, or passed out drinks of water, but they all did their small part, working together, to rebuild the wall. (Nehemiah 4:6)

Sure there were some who chose to stand on the sidelines, cause problems, and “nay-say” about what was going on.  Such was the case when Ezra was rebuilding the temple as well.

Here again we have many working together to get this job done.  Specialized skills were needed by masons and carpenters.  Those who did not have such skills contributed by providing “meat, and drink, and oil.”  (Ezra 3:7) Others gave “freewill offerings” to support the project. (Ezra 2:68) In other words, it was the work of all the people – partnering together and contributing in one way or another.

However, rebuilding the temple was a slow process with many setbacks.  Opponents tried to squelch the efforts.  Some old-timers lamented that the size and grandeur of this temple would never equal the first. (Haggai 2:3) Workers were getting discouraged and thought, “What’s the use?”  What they were doing seemed pitiful and small. But God had a different perspective.  He encouraged them to take heart and assured them the temple would be completed.  Then He asked a rhetorical question containing a life lesson for all of us.  “For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10) In the eyes of the people this work may have seemed pitiful and small, yet it was God’s work all the same.

Consider this… Sometimes what we are doing may seem insignificant and small – but not in God’s eyes.  The important thing is to be a part of what He has going on.  Why not participate or partner with those who are doing God’s work?  Those sitting on the sidelines are tempted to criticize and lose out on God’s blessings!

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Find a worthy cause close to your heart and get involved.  We were created to do good works, but not alone. (Ephesians 2:10) The Bible says, “Two are better than one” because they can get more done. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) If one falls, the other can pick him up.
• Don’t be a loner.  We can accomplish more working together – especially when God is involved.  “One can chase a thousand while two can chase ten thousand.” (Deuteronomy 32:29-30)
• Be a team player.  Don’t always think your way is the only way to accomplish something.  Team means:  Together (T) Everyone (E) Achieves (A) More (M)
• Learn to “play well with others.”  A sportscaster once said, “You don’t win with the best talent; you win with five players who are able to play well together.”
• We were not created to be alone.  We were created for relationships so “partner” with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!  You’ll be glad you did.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we know that salvation is a given.  It’s a done deal.  However, we are expected to do more than just bask in the glory of knowing we are saved.  Our relationship with God is not all up to Him.  We must have a desire to know Him, walk with Him, and seek His presence.  We need to participate in what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have going on, not just observe.  We should be participants, not spectators.  So we need to do our part.     

Relationship with God involves participation in what He is doing.  Yes, God can do it all, but where does that leave us? God does not generally do for us what we can do for ourselves.  There is a difference in asking God to bless our work than asking Him to do it for us.  All through the Bible God required some sort of participation.  When Jesus performed miracles He could have just waved his arms, said abracadabra, and had everything done automatically.  He usually didn’t do that because He wanted people to be a part of what he was doing.  Here are a few examples.

• When He turned water into wine, He had men bring barrels of water. (John 2:7-8)
• When He raised Lazarus from the dead, He asked the people to roll away the stone. (John 11:39-44)
• When He was going to feed the 5000, He had a little boy share his lunch. (John 6:9-13)
• When the disciples weren’t catching fish, He had them cast the net on the other side. (John 21:6)
• When He was going to heal the man with a withered hand, He told the man to stretch out his hand. (Matthew 12:13)

Even though God parted the Red Sea, the Israelites still had to walk through it.  If they had not walked through it, they would not have gotten to the other side.

Sometimes our part is just to “arise” – get up and get going.  On the surface it may seem simple, but sometimes it can be hard to just get out of bed and face another day.  Elijah was discouraged because Jezebel was after him, so he laid down under a juniper tree and asked God to let him die.  But God sent an angel who said, “Arise and eat.”  So Elijah ate…but he laid back down.  The angel came again and said, “Arise and eat so you can go on a journey.”  In other words, “Okay, Elijah, now the pity party is over.  Time to get up and get going.”  And that’s what Elijah did.  His discouragement didn’t leave immediately, but this was a step in the right direction.  (1 Kings 19:1-9)

Popular author and Women of Faith speaker, Patsy Clairmont, knows how difficult it can be to just get out of bed.  At one conference she spoke about her struggle with agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces and crowds of people.  For years she couldn’t even walk to her mailbox.  She felt trapped in her house.  She didn’t even want to get out of bed.  One day her prayer changed from, “Lord, fix me” to “Lord, I’ll do whatever I need to do to get well.”   She thought she could hear the Lord whispering for her to get up and make her bed.  Some days that’s all she could do – but she arose and made her bed.  It was the start of her slow, long and difficult road to recovery.  She had to do her part to participate in her recovery.

Consider this… “Part” is “part” of the word “part”-icipation.  God is certainly willing to do His part; are we willing to do our part, no matter how small it may seem?

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Participation means to do something. Of course we want God involved in everything we do so prayer is a key component is what we choose to do.  However, lazy prayers will not produce good fruit.  We can’t just lie in bed and say, “Lord, if you want me to eat today just drop the food in my mouth.”  We can’t say, “Lord, I know if you want me to work, you will bring me a job.”  Do something!
• Volunteer for a worthy cause.  You don’t need to sign your life away but you can probably spare a few hours a month or a week for others.  Do something!
• Try to improve by learning a new skill, taking a class, joining a bowling team!  Do something!
• Don’t be afraid of failure!  Thomas Edison tried to invent the light bulb 1000 times before he got it right.  Do something!
• If we are addicted to activity, here are some things we may need to do:  slow down, spend more time meditating and take a nap!  Instead of forging ahead from one activity to another it might be good to include God in our planning and wait for Him to direct us.  That way we can participate in what He wants, not what we want.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Some people strive to be the best or at least “better than everyone else.”  This philosophy coerces us into comparing ourselves with others, which is not wise.  (2 Corinthians 10:12)  Those better than everyone can be self-righteous.  Those who aren’t can be frustrated, envious, jealous, discontent or have a “what’s the use” attitude.

A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak standing near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all troubled because it could not bear grapes, like the grapevine. The grapevine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as big as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.  And so it was throughout the garden.  Yet coming to a violet he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, little violet, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.”

“No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one.  Since I knew you wanted a violet I am determined to be the best little violet I can be.” (Modified from Streams in the Desert, by L.B. Cowan)

I’m sure we can see the parallel.  God is our king.  He created and planted us.  Are we determined to be the best we can be for Him?  Or do we lament and pout because we can’t do what others can do?

We are not all created equal.  We have different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities.  (Romans 12:6)   But it’s what we do with what we’ve been given that counts.  This is evident in the parable of the talents when a rich man entrusts his money to his servants.  He gives one servant five talents, one servant two, and another only one.  Each was expected to increase.  The first two servants increased 100 percent.  They were rewarded for their efforts.  In fact, they were given the same reward.   The servant who received the most talents to work with wasn’t rewarded more than the other.  It was the percentage that counted – what each had done with what they had been given.  The one who was only given one talent produced nothing.  He was chastised and his money, what little he had, was taken away.  (Matthew 25:14-30)

Jesus tells us the widow who gave her meager offering was better than all the rich who gave theirs.  (Mark 12:41-44)  It’s what we do with what God has given us that counts.  It’s all a part of being the best we can be; doing the best we can do with what we have.

That’s why the jobs we have are not as important as how we do them.  All of us should do our jobs the best we can, as if we are doing them for God. (Colossians 3:23)  It doesn’t matter if we are CEOs, bag boys, plumbers, maids, doctors, ditch diggers, administrative assistants, accountants, waiters, students, cooks, bus drivers, dishwashers, day care workers, clerks, and so on – we should all do the best we can do.  David wasn’t always a king.  At one time he was a shepherd boy who took his job seriously enough to protect the sheep. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

Helen Keller was both blind and deaf from infancy, but eventually went on to graduate from college to become a world famous writer and activist.  She said, “I am only one—but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

Consider this… All of us are but one.  We can’t do everything but we can do something.  What we can do, we should do.  That’s what being the best we can be is all about.  And with God’s grace and help we can do even more.  As the saying goes, “Do your best and God will do the rest!”

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Do the best you can do.
• Apply Seventh Century monk, St. Isaac the Syrian’s, advice to your life:  “If you cannot labor with your body, at least make efforts with your mind… If you can’t fast for two days, fast at least till evening… If you are not a peacemaker, at least do not be addicted to strife… If you cannot close the mouth of a man who is judging his brother, at least refrain from joining him…”  Do what you can.
• Don’t let fear of failure keep you from doing something.  The servant with only one talent thought if he did nothing he would not make a mistake.  However, he found out doing nothing was the biggest mistake of all.
• Don’t compare yourselves to others.
• Read this little poem often to keep you on the right track…

Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God’s family
Can do it as well as you.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

You can tell a lot about people when they are inconvenienced.  And let’s face it… life is just one inconvenience after another.  Most of us want to be patient.  We really do.  We pray, “Lord, give me patience…and give it to me NOW!”  But patience is an attribute of God’s spirit that is developed, not given instantly.  So God allows us to be inconvenienced to give us opportunities to practice patience.

Unfortunately society has programmed us to expect instant gratification.   We want what we want and we want it NOW!  And we can pretty much get it.  We have microwaves, calculators, Jiffy-Lubes, ATMs and fast food.  We have digital cameras, cell phones, Kindles, and Internet.

But what happens when Jiffy-Lube has a long line of people ahead of you, the cell phone gets stolen, the computer crashes, research goes missing in Cyber space, a virus eats all email contacts, and the system keeps you “on hold” for over an hour?  Inconvenience!  We don’t like to be inconvenienced.

Then we have to deal with people – crazy drivers, surly co-workers, demanding bosses, incompetent clerks, oblivious individuals with thirty things in the twelve item checkout lane and clueless cashiers who let them get away with it.

Even loved ones can get on our nerves like… a fussy baby.  Those wah, wah, wahs mean feed me, change me, love me.  Little children love to ask questions.  Why is the sky blue?  Why is the grass green? Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Elderly parents and grandparents tend to moooovvvee sooooo slowly.  And wouldn’t life be easier if all our friends and spouses agreed with everything we say???

But… who said life was supposed to be easy?  Certainly not God!  If life was easy we wouldn’t need to develop patience.

Patience doesn’t just mean waiting until something passes or happens. Patience takes on many forms:  restraint, acceptance, steadfastness, endurance, self-control, tolerance, calmness, compassion, understanding, or ability to cope – qualities worth having.  Whereas impatience produces frustration, discontent, anger, agitation, resentment, anxiousness, reckless behavior, and unkind words.

The Bible exhorts us to be patient because patient people have great understanding (Proverbs 14:29), have a calming effect (Proverbs 15:18), are gentle and kind (2 Timothy 2:24), have a positive influence (Proverbs 25:15), love others (Galatians 5:14-15), and forgive (Colossians 3:12-14).  Patient people persevere (James 5:7-11) and wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).

Maybe this is why James tells us to let patience have her perfect work. (James 1:4)

Consider this… God is patient with us.  He’s patient with our likes and dislikes, our ups and downs, our foibles and idiosyncrasies.  He meets us where we are.  We can count on God to fulfill all His promises to us, but it will be with His timing, not ours.  He is more interested in our spiritual growth than giving us everything we want when we want it. (2 Peter 3:9)

Here’s the point… We need to practice patience because we are not going to get everything we want when we want it – in life or with God.

A Chinese proverb says: One moment of patience may ward off great disaster.  One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.  That gives us a little something to think about the next time we are inconvenienced.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• It’s an imperfect, inconvenient world.  When you are inconvenienced say this to yourself:  “The world is not perfect.  People are not perfect.  I am not perfect.”  Keep repeating it until you believe it.
• Start our earlier so you don’t have to rush.  When unforeseen delays happen, don’t fret or get angry.  It will not make the situation better and will only make you feel worse.  Plan ahead what you will do if you are delayed.  Have your Kindle or a little inspirational book tucked away for such occasions.  Use the time to pray.  Listen to soothing music.
• Don’t let situations or people control how you feel or react.  Give up the desire to control others.  You can’t control or change others.  Give control to God.  God probably won’t do things the way you would like, but rest assured – it will be far better than what you would do.
• Cultivate constructive behavior.  Pray for those that irritate you.  Instead of complaining about a long wait, thank God for something.  Instead of clenching your fist or your middle finger at discourteous drivers, ask God to help them be nicer.
• Have patience with yourself.  St. Francis de Sales said, “Have patience in all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.”  When you make mistakes, learn from them and move on.
• 

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Can one be a Christian and have doubts?

Exactly what are doubts?  One definition is “feelings of uncertainty.”  Most Christians have feelings of uncertainty from time to time – especially when facing trials.  God doesn’t always give us what we want when we want it, so we might doubt His love for us.  Doubt itself is not a sin.  Actually, it’s better to face our doubts than pretend they don’t exist.

That’s what David did.  He talked his doubts over with God and he was fairly bold in letting God know how he felt.  Just read the Psalms.  “How long will you forget me, O Lord?  How long will you hide yourself from me?” (Psalm 13:1-3)  “Why do you stand so far off, O Lord?” (Psalm10:1)  “Why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1) This was David’s way of asking God to help his doubt.  And God always did.  We can tell because of the conclusions David reached.  All those Psalms end with David acknowledging God’s greatness and trusting His mercy, judgment, salvation, goodness, and love.

Just because we doubt doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us.  God loved David.  He even said that David was “a man after mine own heart.” (Acts 13:22)

What about John the Baptist?  He had testified that Jesus was the Son of God.  (John 1:29, 34)  Yet when Herod threw Him in prison he must have had a little element of doubt.  He sent messengers to Jesus to ask, “Are you really the one who was to come, or do we need to look for someone else?”  (Matthew 11:2-3)  Jesus was not upset by the question.  He didn’t chastise John.  He told the messengers to go and reassure John.  (Matthew 11:4-6)  Then Jesus told the crowds there had never been another man born of women greater than John the Baptist.  (Matthew 11:11)  That’s pretty high praise for one who had a little doubt.

Peter had not expected Jesus to be arrested so he had some doubts.  Why else would he have denied Christ three times?  (Luke 22:54-61)  And after Christ’s crucifixion all the disciples were disheartened and had a few doubts.  They didn’t fully understand God’s plan yet.  When the women reported Christ’s resurrection the men thought they were “telling idle tales.” (Luke 24:11)  Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself.

Then a little later Christ appeared to the disciples.  However Thomas wasn’t with them so he had some doubts.  He said he wouldn’t believe it until he personally saw the print of the nails in Christ’s hands and touched His scars.  (John 20:24-29)  Eight days later Jesus came to Thomas and let him touch His scars.  This was not a rebuke.  It was Jesus helping Thomas on his spiritual journey.   Thomas humbly responded with, “My Lord and my God.”

Jesus didn’t say, “You bad, bad disciples!  How dare you doubt?”  He was patient and loving towards them.  And He is patient and loving towards us.

When Christ appeared to the eleven disciples before His final commission, we are told they worshipped Him… but some doubted. (Matthew 18:16-17)  Christ had already appeared to them a couple of times so why doubt?  Aren’t we kind of like that?  God does so many wonderful things for us but sometimes we still kind of doubt when He doesn’t respond the way we think He should.

Now here’s what I find interesting.  This scripture indicates they all worshipped Him even though a few doubted.  The Greek word here for doubt is “distazo” which means to hesitate, think two different ways at the same time.  Maybe the doubters thought, “WOW!  There He is.  But wait.  He was crucified and died.  How can this be?  But it is!”  However, no matter what they thought, they worshipped Him.

Some say doubt is the opposite of faith.  I’m not so sure.  After all, courageous people have fear; they feel fear but do what is right anyway.  I think faithful people can also have doubts.  However, their actions are based on their faith or what they believe, not their doubts.  Our Christian faith must be deeper than our doubts.  All those disciples worshipped Jesus in spite of any wavering some may have felt.

Consider this… Our doubts do not alter the existence of God.  God isn’t like Tinkerbelle who relies on us to chant, “I do believe, I do believe, I do believe” for Him to spring to life.  God exists whether we believe it or not.  Jesus loves us whether we believe it or not.

Doubts arise from feelings of uncertainty, things we can’t be sure of.  Well, we can be sure of God.  Instead of focusing on what we don’t know, perhaps we need to focus on what we do know.  We know God loves us.  We know He only wants the best for us.  We know His ways are not our ways, but His ways are better.  We know He sent His only begotten Son to die for us.  We know Jesus lived and died and lives again.  We know we are forgiven.  We know we have salvation.  This list goes on and on.  If we keep our eyes focused on these certainties, we won’t have a lot of time left to doubt.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…  

• Faith is a choice so feed your faith.  We all have a mixture of doubt and faith in us.  Which one will live?  As the old Cherokee legend says, “The one you feed.”
• Praise, worship, and thank God regardless of circumstances.  Don’t wait until you feel like it.  Feelings are misleading.  Feed your faith!
• Read the Bible daily to feed your faith.
• Pray daily to feed your faith.
• Keep your eyes focused on Jesus to feed your faith. (Hebrews 12:2)  Remember the example of Peter walking on the water.  He started to falter when he took his eyes off Jesus. (Matthew 14:29-31)

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

As Christians we have a tendency of wanting to do something to be Christians.  Unfortunately this leads some to think they must perform a ritualistic list of do’s and don’ts to earn salvation.  But we cannot earn salvation.  It is a free gift from God.  Therefore we don’t do things to be Christians, but as Christians there are things we do.  One such thing is learning to be still.  God tells us, “Be still and know I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10)

We are in such a hurry, always going here and there, always doing this and that.  But constant activity does not equal productivity or progress.  A hamster can constantly run on a wheel but he’s not really getting anywhere, is he?  Let’s face it… some of us are never “still” long enough to give God a chance to work in our lives.

Plus many of us are intimidated by silence.  We must have music in the background or the TV on at all times.  Remember that God’s voice came to Elijah in a whisper.  (1 Kings 19:9-13)  A whisper cannot be heard amidst noise.  Some say that God never talks to them.  Well, with all the noise around us how would we hear Him?

So silence and being still go against every instinct we have.  But in our hearts we know that white noise and busyness cannot solve our problems.  Only God can solve our problems.  And in order to connect with God we must stop and be silent so we can focus on Him.  In this focused silence, when we are still, we come to know God.  We acknowledge He is worthy of our undivided attention.  We let Him lavish His gifts of peace, comfort, hope, contentment, and love upon us – all the things our busyness can’t provide.  Here in the stillness we meditate on Jesus and ask Him to be manifested in our lives.

Psalm 46 speaks of God being our refuge and strength – our present help in time of trouble.  God takes care of and defends His people.  So when verse 10 says, “Be still and know that I am God” in a way it is also telling us to stop struggling and surrender ourselves to God who is our refuge and strength.  God has it all under control.  So we need to let-go of our worries and let-God do His thing!

That’s basically what Moses told the children of Israel to do.  “Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” (Exodus 14:13)  How can we see the salvation of the Lord if we never take the time to be still and look for it?

Once when Jesus wanted to get away from the crowds, he and the disciples took a little boat trip.  He was exhausted and fell asleep.  A huge storm arose.  The waves were tossing the boat around and filling it with water.  The men were afraid and panicky.  Yet Jesus slept.  In frustration the men woke Jesus and said, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?”  Jesus rebuked the wind and sea saying, “Peace. Be still!”  And the wind ceased and there was great calm.  Jesus said, “Why are you so afraid?” (Mark 4:39)

Consider this… Why are we so afraid?  Do we not know the same Jesus who calmed that storm can take care of us?  If He can take care of the wind and sea, he can take care of you and me.

Be still and know God!

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Ask God to help you make time and take time to be still and quiet in His presence.
• Everyday find a quiet spot and say little prayer.  Maybe something like… “Dear God, please help me to be still and know you are God.”  Then take 5 minutes (or even more, but 5 minutes is a start) meditating about God’s greatness.
• Everyday find a quiet spot and read one scripture.  Then spend 5 minutes thinking about the scripture and how it applies to your life.
• Everyday find a quiet spot and ask Jesus how you can better reflect Him living in you.  Then just sit for 5 minutes and think about that.
• While researching this subject I happened onto a free 28 day devotional about Psalm 46 and being still.  You may find it helpful:  http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/2767/be-still-sermon-series-and-devotional

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren 

Christians know they are saved by grace, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Salvation is a free gift from God.  If we could earn salvation, we wouldn’t need God to give it to us.  And if we could earn it, we would definitely take all the credit.  We would boast about how great we are.  There are no “work-oriented” requirements we must meet to assure forgiveness.  There are no check-lists of dos and don’ts that will make God love us more.

Yet… we are admonished to integrate Christian principles into our lives.  Why?  So we can gain wisdom. (Matthew 7:24)  So we can be happy.  (John 13:17)  So we can be constantly reminded of our identity in Christ so we don’t forget who we are.  (James 1:22-23)  So we can be blessed. (James 1:24)

Integrating Christian principles into our lives takes effort on our part.  Paul said that mature Christians have “trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” by constant use of what they have learned. (Hebrews 5:14 NIV)  Timothy was told to train himself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)  In other words, we need to train ourselves to consciously and consistently use what we’ve learned.  Use it or lose it.  God will not automatically give us good habits or self discipline.  God will not force moral character upon us.  We get these things by actively practicing the Christian principles we’ve been taught so we can be a reflection of Jesus Christ.

Paul said, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice.”  (Philippians 4:9 NIV)  Practice, practice, practice…  They say practice makes perfect.  I’m not sure perfection is the goal.  However, the more we practice Christian principles, the easier it is to keep them integrated in our lives.

The great pianist Arthur Rubinstein once said, “If I neglect practicing one day, I notice; two days, my friends notice; three days, the public notices.”   I think the parallel to being a Christian applies here.

Consider this:  Why would God save us so we can remain in our old ways of life?  Actually, that’s one of the things God is saving us from.  God saves bad people (all of us are bad people in one way or another) so we can become good (better).  Why?  So we can lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives.  That’s what God desires for us, but we must do our part to achieve it.

Life is our spiritual training ground.  So actively practice, practice, practice!  Practice integrating what God has taught you into your daily routine.  You’ll be happier… and so will everyone around you.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…   

Think about one of your weaknesses (we all have them) and practice being attuned to opportunities to improve in that area – one day at a time.  Here are a few examples but you probably have ideas of your own.

• For one whole day…don’t be a blabbermouth.   Don’t gossip or say anything that isn’t uplifting about anyone. Find ways to encourage others. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• For one whole day…don’t think everyone is out to get you.  Give people the benefit of the doubt and don’t impute motives. (Philippians 4:8)
• For one whole day…don’t get angry. Remember that he who angers you, controls you.  If you do get angry, don’t let anyone know it.  Let it be your little secret.  If you do let others know you’re angry, keep your dignity and don’t make a horse’s patootie out of yourself.  (Ephesians 4:31-32)
• For one whole day…don’t be a blowhard or try to force your opinions on others.  Be quick to hear and slow to speak. (James 1:19-20)
• When you get disappointed in yourself, don’t let discouragement be an excuse to give up.  Each day provides new opportunities to practice, practice, practice what you’ve learned.  So when you fall (and remember that everyone falls from time to time), pick yourself up and start all over again!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Hopefully we all know that God has forgiven us for our sins – past, present, and future.  Nothing we can do will ever earn us salvation because it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)  Nothing we can do will make God love us anymore than He does.  Christians who perform lists of do’s and don’ts trying to get God to love them do not understand God’s grace.  God’s love is freely given to us!

Since our salvation is not earned through our “works” and is guaranteed – a done deal – some would have Christians think they have no responsibility to make changes that reflect their life in Christ.  I think they miss the mark.   Paul clearly states we are to “work out our own salvation.” (Philippians 2:12)  It is interesting to note that this verse does not say to work “for” our salvation, but rather it says to “work out our salvation.”  But what exactly does that mean?

Consider this… While it’s true that good works do not produce salvation, shouldn’t salvation produce good works?

We are specifically told that we are saved by grace, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  However in the very next verse we are told we were created to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10)  So… although we are not saved by our works, we should be doing good works.

Maybe that’s why the Bible tells us to be doers of the word, not hearers only. (James 1:22)  As we read the next few scriptures in James we see that if we don’t live as Christ would have us live, we soon forget who we are. (James 1:23-24)  Also when we walk with God and try to live a Christian life, we are blessed. (James 1:25)

God wants us to do what He tells us to do for our own happiness.  “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)  Not only will we be happy, we will gain wisdom.  (Matthew 7:24)

When we look at the whole scripture about working out our salvation we see Paul telling the Philippians that he’s not there to guide and set an example for them. (Philippians 2:12-13)  They are on their own so they need to practice what they have learned from him.  They need to work out their salvation without Paul standing over them and saying, “Better rethink what you are doing.  That may not be a good idea.”  In other words, think it through.  Make wise choices.  And then he adds, “…with fear and trembling.”  “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  That’s just a fancy way of saying, “Hey, don’t take this lightly – it’s serious stuff!”

Then he continues, “For it is God that works in you to will and do his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)  Which is a way of saying, “You may do some of the work, but God gets all the credit because you cannot do it without Him.”

We cannot save ourselves.  God does that.  We cannot do what God does and God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves.  He will not give us good habits or moral character.  He will not force us to walk with Him.  He will help us, but He won’t do it for us.  We must “work out our own salvation.”  In other words – God gives us salvation and we work out what we will do with it.

Christians are expected to grow spiritually.  Technically we need to grow up spiritually and stop being whiney babies. (Ephesians 4:15-16)  “Wah, wah, wah… I wanna say I’m a Christian but I don’t wanna do Christian stuff!” (Ephesians 4:15-16; Hebrews 5:12)  Well, words are cheap, baby!  Our actions are evidence of our identity in Christ.  With God’s help we need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

So… we’ve been given salvation, now what are we going to do with it?  Perhaps we should try to live a life worthy of our calling. (Ephesians 4:1)

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Stay close to God through prayer and ask Him to guide your Christian walk with Him.
• Read God’s word, especially the New Testament, and ask God to help you personalize what it says.
• Keep a spiritual diary where you write down what God has been teaching you.
• Don’t be so hard on yourself.  Think of how far you’ve come not how far you have to go.
• When you fall down and make mistakes, get back up and start all over again.  We are not perfect and God doesn’t expect us to be.  If we could do it all ourselves, we wouldn’t need God.

Each New Year brings resolutions we make for changes that will better our lives.   Although we usually have every intention of keeping them, all too soon they are abandoned because change is hard.  Most of us want changes to instantly happen without any effort on our part.  We think if we write them down they will miraculously come to pass.  Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

That’s why last year I resolved not to make resolutions but to focus on daily choices instead.  So my 2015 blog posts were devoted to choices.  The response was so positive I’ve decided to continue with another year of choices in 2016.

Hopefully we all know that God has forgiven us for our sins – past, present, and future.  Nothing we can do will ever earn us salvation because it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)  Nothing we can do will make God love us anymore than He does.  Christians who perform lists of do’s and don’ts trying to get God to love them, or at least love them more than the next guy, do not understand God’s grace.  God’s love is freely given to us!

However, even though God gives us salvation, grace, and love, He does not automatically give us good habits or moral character.  Those qualities are determined by the choices we make.

Consider this… When God reveals Himself to us we must choose to receive His gifts of salvation, grace, and love.  Ah…that word “choice” is in everything we do!

After forty long years of wandering in the wilderness an aged Moses admonished the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land to make good choices.  “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways…and the Lord shall bless you in the land which you go to possess. …I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore choose life…”  (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

Right choices bring peace of mind; bad choices bring difficulty.  God does not need to zap us when we do something wrong, because wrong choices bring their own penalties.  When we make wrong choices we punish ourselves.  It’s the cause and effect principle.  What we sow, we reap.  Although God always forgives us when we make poor choices, the effects remain and we have to deal with and live with them.

While it is true time and chance happen, many of our problems could be avoided if we trained ourselves to make better choices.  A lot of trials are brought on because of our poor choices; other trials may not be our fault, but still we must choose how to respond to them.  So there is always an element of choice in everything we do.

The Bible is full of exhortations encouraging us to walk in the way of the Lord.  As we read the Bible we can listen for God’s voice whispering to us, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”  (Isaiah 30:21)  Still, the choice is ours.  We must choose which way we will walk.

So here we go with another year of choices!  If we resolve to day by day make better choices, we will be a lot happier – and so will everyone around us.

Some choice quotes about choices…

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~Roy Disney, co-founder of Walt Disney Productions

“We all make choices but in the end our choices make us.” ~Ken Levine, video game designer and author

“When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself is a choice.” ~William Jennings Bryant, American orator and statesman

“It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.” ~J.K. Rowling, author

“When it snows you have two choices:  shovel or make snow angels.” ~Anonymous