Hurry up and Wait

Times have changed… they are always changing. It’s amazing to me,  the way we receive and gather information is much more easier and faster than even when I was a kid. 

If we wanted to do research on a country or animal, we would have to pull out our Encyclopedia or go to the library to find a book on the subject.  Although we still have these tools available, there is now… the Internet. Information at our fingertips…

We have a question… we search it…  Someone quotes a famous leader or gives a fun fact about a subject; we pull out our phones and make sure they are right… we know it all (as long as our tablets or phones are around…)

Answers to our questions are available to us in the here and now. This can be frustrating when we pray and ask God to guide us, or change a situation and we don’t see results as fast as we think we need them.

2 Peter 3:9 encourages us to remember the timing of God.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

When you think God is not working fast enough, do not be discouraged, our timing is not God’s timing.  God sees the biggest picture, maybe your situation effects or impacts the lives of others and needs to stay that way a little longer.  You are doing the right thing in praying, just allow God to work on His time.

Hurry up and pray, but then wait…  God will answer.

Love, adam

What’s that Smell?

We bathe, we wear deodorant, wash our hair, put on perfumes and lotions, but why? Because we don’t like to smell bad or we want to smell better.

We all have odors we like to present and odors we try to cover up.

Paul writes a passage in the Bible pertaining to aromas and smells.  In comparing the times when the Romans would have “victory parades” the general would burn incense… of course to the victors this smelled sweet and brought happiness, to the losers and captives it was the smell of slavery and death.

2 Corinthians 2:14,15 Paul writes:

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For, we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

When we accept the call to follow God and become a Christian, we take on an aroma or Smell. 

To some it’s recognizable as life and victory through Jesus Christ. To non-believers it may be a disgusting smell or even the smell of death.

Coffee has a very distinct smell. For me the smell reminds me of times with family and friends, and brings me a little boost of energy for the day. To others (who may not have had it or maybe had tried a bad cup) it is a disgusting, repulsive smell.  But once you are a coffee drinker, the smell can change its meaning.

Don’t be afraid to let off the aroma of Christ.  By our speech, our actions and our way of living we will always Smell.  Our hope should be that the aroma soon brings joy to others and brings those around us closer to God.

--adam

T.A.L.K.

We’ve all heard of the saying “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all…”   a cute little saying that challenges us to bite our tongue and be a little less opinionative and negative. However, as we get older this phrase escapes our motto for life and we let criticism and opinions fly.  If we were to evaluate the way we communicate towards one another, what do we say? Are we mean..? Hateful..?  

I believe in being real with each other and honest, but there is always a good way to approach someone and a bad way.  My kids started to tell us this week “Good Job” when we do anything, putting on a shirt… “Good job mommy”.  When we finish our lunch… “Good job daddy.”   Apparently we say it often.

The Bible is clear on how we should speak to each other …Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

It’s easy for me to build up my kids; however, my attitude towards others and even towards myself could use this reminder daily.   “Good for building up” … is it possible to do?

Growing up we had a little plaque in our house.  It had the word TALK on it and each letter made a word.

T- Try

A – A

L – Little

K – Kindness

1 Thessalonians 5:11 also gives a quick sentence to reiterate:  “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. “

This week remember these verses and Try A LittleKindness when you TALK.

Encourage each other and build each other up. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14

Above All, Love

My Valentines’ day card to my wife was one of the most honest cards I think I have ever seen.  The cretors of the card meant it  for a funny little joke but it  almoset seemed like it was writted just for me.

It Read:

“For my wife on Valentine’s day,

Sometimes I’m absentminded, sometime I’m kind of cross, sometimes I maybe act as if I think I am the boss.

Sometimes I’m kind of quiet, especially when I’m worried, sometimes I’m just plain stubborn when I think I’m being hurried.

Sometimes I act a little spoiled, sometimes I’m lazy too-But there’s one thing that I always am, I’m always in love with you!”

Yeah, yeah “gag me with a spoon, I here ya… haters”  lol

As I am always trying to be better then the person listed above, my love for my Wife keeps me ever aware of how I am and how I need to be.

1 Peter chapter 4 focuses on how we need to evaluate our life to make sure we are living God… (please read this chapter if you have a few minutes)

Particularly today, I am looking at verse 8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 

Although sometimes I am stubborn, lazy or absentminded, my wife knows I love her, and she loves me despite those things.  (However, as I am aware of my faults, daily I try to be better because I do love her.)

The same, but even more importantly, goes for God. Humans are a mess, we do a lot of things wrong, the one thing we CAN do is LOVE.  “…Love covers a multitude of Sins”

If you are trying to be better or change your attitude towards people or life in general, Try Love, Try living for God the way Peter discusses. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. “ (verse 9)

Happy V-Day,

Adam

Heart Time

When I look at your face I can usually tell what you are thinking, doing or feeling.  Our faces tell a lot about us… for example our emotions: anger, sadness or joy...  are usually hard to hide.  Our face can show others which direction we are going or what we are focusing on by what we are looking at. Our face can even show… wait for it… our Age.

Much like the face, our heart can reveal things about us. Like, what type of person we are. 

Proverbs 27:19

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man.

What has your heart? Who has your heart?

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This verse is talking about storing your treasures in Heaven, making sure your heart is fixed on Jesus and everlasting life. If your heart is focused and maintained in the teachings of Jesus, it will show.

Your life is a message to the world; the way you live is a reflection of what you think is important.

Spending time with friends and family, going to church, playing sports or video games, working… even if you aren’t doing it consciously, everything is prioritized.

So, as you live your life, be conscious of the man your heart is reflecting.

~adam

The Moody You, Singing The Moody Blues

“Tuesday afternoon, I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way…” The Moody Blues

Have you ever had one of those moments when you have to stop and say… “Hey, life is not that bad?”

Some days I find myself needing this reminder.  One of my top 50 Musical groups is The Moody Blues, their song, Tuesday Afternoon, contains a great lyric,  “If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of

Tuesday afternoon”

There is nothing special about this time of day except for that fact that he is alive . (there are a couple of interpretations to the song, but I am keeping it light.)

In reading this week , God continued to provide me with two great examples on how to see the beauty of a normal Tuesday afternoon.

1.Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20 )

Giving thanks to God for everything; the good, the bad and the ugly… We are alive, we have another day to get it right, be with the ones we love and show them love.

And how do we show them love?

2. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Being kind, forgiving and tenderhearted.  So many times I start my day with a hardened heart.  Protecting it from feeling or caring.  Soften the calluses of your heart and be kind and forgiving to others and yourself.

Recognize the beauty in everyday, even a normal Tuesday Afternoon. God made it.

~the sometimes moody, adam