Use What You Have

Use what you have. 

Moses what do you have? A staff. Gideon what do you have? 300 men, a trumpet, and a torch in a basket.  Ruth what do you have? A kind heart and a love for my mother in law. Esther what do you have? I'm the queen. David what do you have? A handful of stones and a sling.  Mary what do you have? My life is open to whatever God wants of me. Young boy what do you have? 5 loaves and 2 fish. You, __________, (place your name in the blank), what do you have? Will you give it to God and allow Him to use it for His glory?

DO YOU SEE THEM?

     How’s your vision? Do you see the world around you? In your homes? At work? At the restaurant? At school? At church?

     We “see” people all around us every day. But do we really see them?

     What is going on in the lives of those around us? We talk to them. We may even shake their hand or hug their neck. We exchange pleasantries, but do we ever get to know their hurts or pains? Their joys or victories?

     Too many times in our culture we have the attitude of ‘who cares’. I’ve got my life, my family, my own little world. That keeps me busy enough. But we are God’s hands and feet, His eyes here on earth. We need to take off our blinders and ask God to help us see the world, our world, as He does.

     And how does God see His world? When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

     Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (NASB)

     When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (CSB)

     When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (HCSB)

     When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (NLT)

     HARASSED, HELPLESS, DISTRESSED, DISPIRITED, DEJECTED, WEARY, WORN OUT, and CONFUSED. That sums up our world very well. And when Jesus saw those in this state, He had compassion on them.

     Pray that God will open our eyes and that He will give us compassion for those around us. Jesus followed up that compassion with action. We should do no less. Remember compassion or love is a VERB.

Life Is a Team Sport

     I am not a good blogger. Better, I am not a consistent blogger. Third attempt, if I haven’t blogged since April, am I a blogger at all?
     I use to play basketball every day. I had my own court. I was the best player on my court. Well at least I was when I was the only one playing. Sometimes others played with me and showed me I wasn’t best. But still, I thought I was a player. In my mind I was a good player. I had a dream player I pursued. His name was Larry Bird. But obviously we weren’t in the same league. He had more basketball talent in this pinky toenail than I had wrapped up in all of me. Still I considered myself a basketball player but I was never on a team. Yea pick up games but not on a let’s practice and play together every day kinda team.
     Do we face our Christian life in a similar way? Christianity is a team sport. We aren’t meant to give our lives to God through faith in Jesus and then go it solo the rest of our lives. The Lone Ranger wasn’t alone. He had Tonto. But we compare ourselves to the “super” Christian and then slink down in our misery and say I don’t belong with them. 
     This season is a perfect time to join a team and get in the game. Go caroling. Bake cookies together and deliver to some who can’t get out often. Go to church together. Go out to eat afterwards. Serve together at a food pantry or homeless shelter. Get involved. 
     “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Psalms‬ ‭133:1‬ ‭CSB‬‬
     “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭CSB‬‬
     “When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”” Luke‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭CSB‬‬. It’s even part of the Christmas story. The shepherds went together, not individually, into town to search for a baby wrapped in clothes and in a manger. 
    Unoriginal close...get off the bench and get in the game. 
     

Chasing or Being Dragged

    The name of my blog is Chasing God's Heart. Today a question entered my brain. Am I chasing God's heart or is He dragging me toward Him? Am I running toward Him or away? Or am I standing still and hoping He's here with me?     
    God chases some and He waits for others. He chased Adam. He came to the Garden even after He knew about the fruit. He asked the first rhetorical question ever asked. Adam, where are you? He knew. He's God, of course He knew. Adam was hiding but maybe Adam didn't know he was lost. But God chased after him. The relationship had been broken. Not only Adam's relationship with God but humanity's relationship with God was forever broken. But God didn't give up on Adam or on us. He pursued Adam and He continues to pursue us.
    In the story of the Prodigal Son, we see that sometimes God waits. The father in this parable represents God the Father. Was He a good father or a negligent father? I mean He gave the younger son what he asked for. Basically the younger son said I can't wait for you to die, I want what's mine now. The father could have said no, but he didn't. We don't know anything about the conversation other than the son asked and the father gave. The father let the son go. Was it a good idea? Was it best for the son? Was dad simply a pushover? We don't know. All we know is the son got what he wanted. 
    Do we sometimes get what we want? Yes. Is it always best. No. But we think it is. We enjoy the freedom it gives. We enjoy the power we have. We simply like it. 
    Just as God didn't give up on Adam and chased after him, God the Father doesn't give up on the Prodigal. He waits for us to come to our senses. He doesn't become embarrassed by our wanderings. The father didn't ridicule the younger son when he returned home. He welcomed him with open arms full of unconditional love.
    So whether I'm chasing or being chased or if God's just waiting, I know He loves me. He is for me and best of all He is with me. 

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will never leave or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

Who Has Control?

    The weather here for SPRING has been interesting to say the least. We've had snow on 3 Sundays in a row. There have been a day or two of Spring-like temperatures but Winter seems to be holding on for dear life. Did you know that the calendar does not control the weather? Although Spring began almost a month ago, it didn't mean that Spring would automatically begin. We want to blame the weatherman for not knowing what he's talking about. But, they are only human. They do their best to read maps and atmospheric patterns. But the only one who has total control on the weather is the One who made it in the first place. 
    We live under the same illusion that we can control our lives. Yes, there are some things we can control like what we'll wear today or eat today. But there are so many things that are out of our control. We want to be in control. Many want ultimate control over everything that happens to us, i.e. the term control freak. But even the most die-hard control freak can't control it all. The unforeseen illness, or accident, or bill, or conversation. But, again, there is One who IS in control. He is the Creator and Sustain-er of life. Nothing catches Him by surprise. Nothing catches Him off guard. So...why don't we just surrender our control to Him? It's because of this grand illusion we've accepted as truth. We control our destiny, we control the outcome of things. But...we don't. Hear the Father say once again, trust Me...with everything, not just the big things, or the things you don't want to handle. Let the One who holds the world in His hand hold your life. There's room, He has huge hands. Remember trust falls? I don't particularly like them but they do build trust. Why not fall back into the loving arms of God? He'll catch you. He never misses. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5