Tag Archives: daily walk

Uncategorized

Pet Peeves

2A8DD234-D004-4269-B0C2-6387B6BDCB2C

A student recently interviewed me for a class project. The questions focused on “pet peeves”…those behaviors or traits that tend to get under your skin.

I have a couple.  First, I don’t like it when folks remind me how busy they are…or how hard they are working. In this case, actions speak louder than words, right?

And I also frown when people bring problems to the table, but offer no possible solutions.

Jesus talked about bad behaviors often in the New Testament.

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23

We often think of sins categorically.  You know..you have the “big ones” that people can easily detect and are widely socially unacceptable. Then there are the “little ones” that are under the surface and not so evident…pride, deceit, lust and greed.

But God knows…and there is no category to sin in His eyes.  We know God’s pet peeves.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10

My prayer this week is to acknowledge the sin in my life and focus on making modifications in my behavior. I want to be pure from within.

And let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

Standard
Uncategorized

Snow Days

Our kids have been out of school for a solid week.

We had ice and snow last Thursday night followed by plunging temperatures.

And before we could recover from the first round, Mother Nature threw a haymaker on Monday. Four more inches of snow overnight….followed by single digit temperatures the rest of the week.

The boys loved it for a couple of days.  Sledding with friends.  Sleeping late. Snowball fights. No homework.  There were also endless requests for hot chocolate.

Life was good.  For a couple of days, at least.  By Monday night, the boys were tired of each other, tired of their friends, tired of the snow and cold temperature.  They were miserable and ready for a return to a routine.  At their very core, these two boys crave discipline and a schedule.

I can relate.

I have snow days in my relationship with Jesus.

There are times when work, family or a life experience can get me distracted from God’s word.  I get busy or preoccupied and focused on what’s happening at the current moment.

It may be an intriguing new project at work or a long week off from work with my family over the holidays.

It’s exciting and new.  And the distraction can get out of my routine of study and reading my Bible.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

After a while, I sense that something is missing.  I realize that the very thing that gives me strength and keeps me motivated has been neglected. I miss Jesus.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

In terms of my walk with Jesus, I need a routine.  I’m more focused when I’m intentional about reading the Bible and studying God’s word.  I’m happier when I keep my dedicated time to pray and intentionally reflect on my blessings, needs and requests for others.

Do you have snow days in your spiritual life?

My prayer this weekend will be to avoid the obstacles that keep me from focusing on a walk with Jesus.

And please let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

Standard
Uncategorized

Freedom

IMG_6215

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  1 Peter 2:16

It’s the biggest birthday party of the year.  Tomorrow marks the annual celebration of our nation’s independence.  We show our American pride through parades, firework celebrations and red, white and blue-themed parties with friends and family.  We are a young bunch…a nation established just a little over 230 years ago.

July 4 is an important date to recognize our freedom as a country, but each day of our lives presents an opportunity to celebrate the independence granted through Jesus.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

The apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Galatia.  The birth and death of Jesus had freed people from the Jewish ceremonial laws and restrictive customs, but the citizens of this region had taken advantage of this independence.  They were falling away from the truth and were turning to false teachers and doctrines.

Paul encouraged the Galatians to return to the freedom created by Jesus.

For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5: 13-14

I am no better than the Galatians.  The world is filled with temptation and sin.  We have choices in life, and I find it difficult to make daily choices that reflect a walk of truth, love and compassion.  With freedom comes responsibility.

My prayer for today is that we all walk toward Jesus.  Let us continually seek truth- and let us have the strength to continually live lives worthy of the freedom given to us from Jesus.

Please pray for me to have this strength.  And let me know how I may pray for you.

Celebrate freedom and independence from sin today.  It’s the best birthday gift ever.

God bless.

Standard