Sizing Up People With the Eyes of Jesus

     While on a family vacation, I was reminded of how people have a way of "sizing you up!" If that term is not familiar let me explain.  "Sizing up" often happens when you move to a new town, especially a small one, where everyone knows everybody, who they are related to, and all the background family info. There seems to be a need to "place" you, for the lack of a better word in the grand scheme of things...your financial, marital, and vocational status. Perhaps this is just a Southern colloquialism but one I am quite familiar with after making more than a few moves in my married life. This can happen at a new church you attend, the grocery store, school functions, etc.  Sometimes you accidentally catch someone (or two, sometimes whispering) in the act when you are just minding your own business.  Today my daughter and I were "sized up" on more than one occasion at an upscale mall in the city we are visiting.

     We only briefly visited a few stores because the majority were beyond our budget. We were dressed nicely enough, though we were not garbed in a single designer item. I repeatedly caught well dressed shoppers giving me the once over starting with my blouse and ending with my shoes. I felt sure they were attempting to place my Walmart/TJ Maxx ensemble. The shoes really threw them off!  I was definitely the only person in that mall sporting Crocs sandals. It seemed in the few stores we did enter, our potential for purchasing was "sized up" by our attire. My reaction was to meet them with a smile when they were caught in the act.  Miriam and I chuckled about it!
     Sadly, we've all done this and categorized someone before we ever give them a chance based on our initial assessment. Jesus was never put off by the appearance of anyone to whom he ministered...the blind, the lame, the lepers.  Nor were the people put off by the appearance of John the Baptist who wore wild looking apparel, lived in the desert and ate locusts and wild honey. What we must learn to do is look at people with the eyes and the heart of Jesus, with opportunity, love, and promise. Give them a chance just as you would want them to do for you. Approach that individual God places in your path without a second thought or look. He or she may be visiting your church this Sunday or starting to work in your office on Monday, needing a word of friendship and encouragement, not judgement. Let all your "sizing up" be done in a positive light in which you search for what would make that person feel accepted, as though you were looking at them through the eyes of Jesus.  Praise God, that is what He does for us! To God Be the Glory!
   

Free Indeed!

  On my way home from work Friday while stopped at a traffic light, a butterfly captured my attention and brought a smile to my face. My weekend was officially off to a good start!  As I waited for the traffic light to turn green, I followed the flight of this large black and yellow swallowtail butterfly.  My delight turned to dismay as I watched it fly through the open door of a business next to my idling car. Upon entering the building, the poor thing became disoriented and was repeatedly flying into the large glassed in storefront trying to escape. It could see where it wanted to go, but it didn't know how to get there. My first thought was to pull into the parking area of the store and offer my assistance, yes, to the butterfly! However, I was caught in the flow of five o'clock traffic and did not put forth the extra effort it would have taken. I was consoled only by the fact that the other side of the store also had an open door. Surely, I thought, it would find its way to freedom. I was heartsick to see such beauty trapped and at risk of demise.  
     Do you see yourself anywhere in that scenario, feeling trapped though exits are available, disoriented and beating yourself against a proverbial plate glass window searching for freedom?  The most disturbing thing is that the answer to that question is "yes" for many Christians. Perhaps you are one of them, feeling trapped when you are "free indeed." John 8:36 says, "So if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed." Are you feeling it?  If not why?

     Why do we try to take away what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross and imprison ourselves once again? It is simply self-imposed punishment. The glass ceiling of sin was shattered for us on the cross by the blood of Jesus. We are free to fly, and live, and experience joy in our lives because of Him. So gather your thoughts, center them on Jesus, and make your way toward the open door of freedom He has provided for you. Fly and let your beauty shine! And if you choose not to, I pray that God will send someone who will take time in the congested traffic of life to show you to the  open door and the clear blue sky.  To God Be the Glory!



Please give this song a listen and be reminded that you are a child of the One True King!

Deadheading

    With the coming of spring each year, I love to paint the landscape around our home with an array of flowering, colorful plants. My daughter, for the life of her, does not understand my quest in doing this each year!  Though planted in the cooler weather of spring, the heat of the Southern summer months leads to less than desirable weather for the upkeep of my gardening exploits.  There is watering, fertilizing, and deadheading to be done for optimum growth and beauty. Of course you grasp the idea watering and fertilizing, but perhaps you are not a gardener and "deadheading" is a new term for you.  I copied this definition from a gardening website.

 "In order to encourage new growth, ensure overall plant health, keep flower beds looking neat, and allow for bigger and brighter blooms proper deadheading is essential for annual and perennial plants. When you rid your flowering plants of spent blooms, you ensure that the remaining blooms and plant will not be deprived of any energy and nutrients being wasted on old blooms."

    Perhaps "deadheading" has a life application for us as well. Let's explore that possibility for a moment.  From my own experience and hearing that of others, I believe that beauty and growth in our relationship with the Lord is frequently inhibited by the deadheads we refuse to pluck from our lives. The deadheads to which I am referring are past sins which plague us though Jesus has completely and utterly forgiven and forgotten those sins.  If we believe in Him and ask His forgiveness, those acts with which continually Satan tries to condemn us no longer have power over our lives unless we allow it.  Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."  The blood of Jesus shed on the cross has covered us and washed us clean.  We need only to pluck away and permanently discard the deadhead remnants which litter our "washed white as snow" lives.
     As the definition above explains, deadheads left unattended will deprive the plant of energy and nutrients needed for maximum beauty and overall health. All efforts invested in that plant are cancelled out by the spent blooms.  Time for us to pluck and permanently discard the deadhead remnants of our hearts and souls. Jesus has done the rest. Often, we need a reminder of that.  All the time we must remind Satan of that. And the result is a life with bigger, brighter, more exquisite blooms mirroring the beauty of Christ. Constant care and attention is what makes a garden beautiful. No less is required for the garden that is our life.  Deadheading is an ongoing process for which God is ever present to come alongside you and offer assistance. With each deadhead you pluck, you defeat the power of sin. Slip on your gloves, grab your pruning shears, and get busy!  What beauty you have to bring to this world. To God Be the Glory!
     
   

God's Good Work for Your Life

     Having been in church since I entered this world, I have been taught about and exposed to the word of God my entire life.  From the Bible stories of Adam and Eve to the God inspired studies of Beth Moore and Henry Blackaby, my life has been indoctrinated with scripture and the study thereof. That is why I find it so peculiar that while reading my Bible yesterday a verse jumped off the pages as though I had never read it before though I had countless times. God had a message for me in it that needed to be grasped and a word of encouragement.  Don't you just love it when you see the hand of God working in your life like that to speak directly to you! Here is the verse:  

 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  (Ephesians 2:10)

              There it is! Confirmation that God specifically crafted me for a preordained

         purpose, and no how matter how old I am getting or how many times I have failed, that

         truth still stands.  The vessel that is my life is not too flawed, too damaged, too obsolete to

         be of use to my Father.  Time for a perspective change.  Time to revisit this passage of 

         scripture:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

              Possible reason for discouragement in this endeavor--perhaps you have chosen your own
         purpose, and though it may see a "good work," it is not the one "prepared in advance for you
         to do." Believe me, I know you may absolutely love your self-chosen good work and have
         placed your heart and soul into it for many years. However, we must defer to God's greater
         plan for our lives. Our love for our Lord, His love for us, and our submission to His will
         cause our feet to land where there is greater fulfillment, less frustration, and more joy.
         His help in this transition is a prayer away. I love this Joyce Meyer quote:

"Don't make the choice to go back to where you came from.  God has a much bigger plan for you!"

     Today, embrace the joy of knowing that you are not aimlessly wandering on the earth until God calls you home. You are a vital asset to His Kingdom. Rest in Him, seek his face, and begin the "good work" that been lovingly assigned to you as you walk on this earth! What excitement awaits you!  To God Be the Glory!   

          

In Need of a Tune-Up?

     As I traveled the interstate roadways on route to and from my day's destination, a scene continued to repeat itself. There were vehicles on the side of the road that had ceased to function for one reason or another. The overriding constant was they had all seemingly broken down just shy of an exit providing the much needed help whether it be a gas station, or mechanic, etc. For a moment, I imagined myself being that car, that motorist stranded in the summer heat so close to the oasis needed.
   No doubt, some of the cars had simply run out of gas, a scenario to which we can all relate. We find ourselves overrun with tasks and activities of our own design and before you know it our "get up and go has got up and went!" Even the fumes we were positive could sustain us have evaporated. Time was never taken and attention never paid to the gas pump indicator on our dashboard trying to save us from our fate. Opportunities to spend time with the Lord, to refuel our pumps, to seek His direction for our lives were ignored. We whizzed by God's 24 hour full serve filling station because we were too busy to stop. We missed His filling, His provision enabling us to reach the destination He had mapped out for us. We miss the blessing of arriving at that destination.
     Take this time to pause, take a deep breath, and look closely at the dashboard of your life.  What indicator lights are flashing, attempting to warn you of an imminent "broken down on the side of the road" situation. Is your battery running low?  Get those cables out of the trunk (or your Bible off the shelf) and connect to Jesus for a much needed recharge. Sure, you don't think you have time because every moment is already filled with things of your own choosing.  Maybe it's time to look closely at your priorities, make the time for a long overdue life tune-up. Sometimes we have to stop, people!  Life is not about having every moment filled with activity to justify our existence.  Life is about being filled with the presence of Jesus through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
     As you turn the metaphoric vehicle that is your life over to the master mechanic, sit down and take a breath, have some coffee and relish in the time you will have to visit with the Almighty as He makes the necessary adjustments for your life's journey.  And though you will be tempted to visit old habits, remember you can only make it so far visiting self-service stations. Gas up and go with God! To God Be the Glory!
       
   
   

For Whom Are You Shining?

     Every night before going to bed, I step onto my patio to look at the night skies and breathe in and out deeply in an attempt to rid myself of the day's stresses and facilitate a good night's sleep. Sometimes the sky is dark and filled with clouds and on other occasions it is a glorious display of twinkling stars. The star filled nights cause me to pause a bit longer and take in their beauty. I search out the constellations I am familiar with which is made easier by the brightness of their stars.

Last night was one of those nights that a additional layer of stars, though not as bright, were visible. The sky was filled to overabundance.
     Of course, the brightest stars were the first to be noticed.  Your eyes can't help but be drawn to them.  But that other blanket of stars you have to tarry and search for to appreciate. They are what fill in all the dark gaps. They are what complete the night sky. They are no less important in the scheme of things. They have a purpose.
     A moment of life application struck me during my star gazing last night. In truthfulness, who of us hasn't at some point in our lives wanted to be one of those brightest stars perhaps composing part of the big dipper which is easily found and recognizable. We want to shine so that we are noticed, appreciated, validated by our peers. However, who should we actually be shining for--ourselves or God?
     God has truly been working on me in this area because I have always had that desire to shine, but it has often been for my benefit and not God's.  So He has been chiseling away at those worldly aspirations for shining. Though I have dedicated this blog to Him, I must confess how often I check the "stats" area to see how many people are reading as a determining factor of my overall "brightness." This blog seems to be the Lord's purpose for me, and instead of finding peace and satisfaction in that, I give the power to a number on my computer screen.
     On my best of days, I hear God remind me that if one, and only one life is ever touched by what He has inspired me to write, then He has allowed me through His grace to shine for Him. That one life is more important than any double digit number that could cross my screen in the "stats" category. Fame and recognition are often distractions to our true, God given mission for His kingdom. Before stepping back into the house, it dawned upon me that the sub-layer of less noticed stars seemed closer to Heaven. (Now don't go all scientific on me here!) That's where I want to be. Closer to God, closer to heaven even if I don't get the most attention. My life is not my own, it belongs to Jesus. As I remind you, I remind myself even more so because Satan works hard to convince me otherwise, especially when I am surrounded by so many of the bright, shiny Big Dipper stars.
     Just remember to shine for God in whatever way he has gifted you.  He is the audience that matters. He is the one who we long to hear say,"Well done my good and faithful servant." The people you impress on earth will be of no importance at that moment in time. Go and Shine for Jesus! To God Be the Glory!

(Sorry folks, I have not mastered the skill of photographing stars! Working on it!)
   
   
     

Remember to Imagine

     On Sunday morning, Heaven rejoiced at the homecoming of a saint whom I have known the better part of my years. Dewey Sanford was a quiet but Godly man and this was reflected in his home going service this week. I have never attended a service more focused on sharing the gospel  of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternity heaven. "I Can Only Imagine" was played at the beginning of what I would refer to as a worship service. As I grieved for this precious family my thoughts transcended to heaven celebrating Mr. Sanford's recent arrival, imagining myself what joy awaits us in the presence of the Lord! He is with Jesus now and what he must be seeing as he makes his way around heaven.

     By profession, this man was a photographer who had chronicled many momentous occasions in my life from my high school years, to my wedding, to the first professional pictures of my newborn son, to high school reunions. He was nothing short of an artist. Assisted by his wife, Patricia, they were a team at every photo shoot. Oh, to have his eye, his ability with a camera in hand. 

     With a God given gift to see and capture beauty, surely he is in sensory overload as he experiences the absolute beauty of heaven, all the colors, but most importantly the loving face of our Lord Jesus Christ. During that service, I was reminded of how tunnel visioned I am about simply surviving each day, with little energy to spare, and very little thought of the joy that awaits me in heaven. I fail to remember that there is so much more to life than this earthly stint of existence. I forget to "imagine" and anticipate, and find solace in eternity.
    People, for those of us who know the Lord, this world with its trials, and sickness, and pain, and disappointment is not where it all ends for us. This world is a spring board into heaven. As you listen to this song, be encouraged, be hopeful, be active in sharing God's love with those around you so that they, too, can begin to imagine. And most importantly, don't forget to IMAGINE yourself! To God Be the Glory!     (Please remember the family in prayer.)

       

   

I Can Only Imagine (with lyrics) - MercyMe - YouTube

Followers Not Fans

     Allow me this opportunity to share a book quote offered up by my pastor in a recent Bible study.  The title of our lesson that night was "What Jesus Wants."  The first point was this--Jesus Wants Us To Be His Followers.  The second point was this--Jesus Does Not Want Us To Just Be His Fans. The following quote is from a book by Kyle Idleman entitled Not a Fan.

"The dictionary defines a fan as 'an enthusiastic admirer.'  Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires sacrifice.  Fans may be fine with repeating a prayer, attending church on the weekend, and slapping Jesus fish on their bumpers.  But is that really the extent of the relationship Jesus wants?  Jesus was never interested in having admirers.  It's not fans He is looking for."

Sounds like a book I will be adding to my reading list.  Sounds like a question we all need to ask ourselves as we assess our true relationship status with our Lord and Savior. Contemplate this quote and ask yourself--Fan or Follower? How invested are you? Are you simply standing on the edge--close but not committed? Or are you fully immersed and all in? Invested enough to sacrifice? How greatly the benefits of being a Follower outweigh those of being a Fan! To God Be the Glory!