Taste the Butter

   I am not a big fan of bread. I will eat it, but it is not something I am excited about eating. Now, if you asked me to eat toast (which is technically bread but warmed up) I would eat it. Or if you asked me to eat Texas Roadhouse Rolls, I would be there. Why? Texas Roadhouse Rolls are warm and flaky. But what really makes the rolls is the butter. It is cinnamon sugar butter. I'm telling you it is so good, especially on a warm roll.

   But, because it is so good, we use a lot of it. By the time we reach the last roll much of the butter is gone. So, if we use it on the roll the butter is spread very thin. That means it usually does not taste as good as the others do.

   Just like butter, we can be spread too thin. If we do many things during the week, keep busy, and keep working without rest we will be exhausted. Then, when we must get up and do it again, we do not do those things as well as we were originally. We are tired and cannot give as much as we would like to.

   Therefore, it is vital to rest, lest we be spread too thin. Psalm 127:2 says, "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." If we are so busy that we are getting up early and going to bed late, then we will be so burnt out we will not be able to give our best to God. Our butter will be spread so thin that we will not taste the goodness of God as much.

   We must take time to rest. To be in silence and solitude. This is how we will be sure we are not spread too thin. God rested on one day of the week for a reason. It was an example for us. He knew we would try to rely on our own power. We would continue to work so much that we would not be able to taste the goodness of life. To enjoy God's blessings and see his glory.

   So, are you being spread too thin? How can you make time to rest and spend time with God? What can you do to rest today?

  

The Tingle

   At some point or another we have all felt it: fear. Some of us have felt that emotion more than others. I personally, struggle with anxiety. It is a bit hard to explain how exactly it feels but I can tell you in my experience my heart feels like it's beating fast, it feels hard to catch my breath, and my brain sometimes feels like it is tingling.

   I've learned some ways to help combat my anxiety but that's not what I want to talk about today. One week I had a mini anxiety attack. Then, that same week, I went to Camp YoliJwa for a meeting. We had a time of worship there. While I was singing, I started to get a tingle in my brain again. This time the tingle made me feel joy.

   I found it incredibly odd that I would get a tingle in my brain when I was afraid and when I felt joy. Why would my brain do that? Then I thought about the devil and how he tries to move us away from God. The devil likes to copy God. He literally wants to be God so that makes sense. One tool the devil uses is fear. What's the opposite of fear? Some would say courage or bravery, but I think the Bible has another answer as well.

   1 John 4:18 says: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." Throughout the Bible we see the devil spreading fear and God showing love. Even in reading God's word we see his love in us physically. 

   There have been a few studies done on the connection between the Bible and our brains. Dr. Michael Ferguson is a man who studied this. He found that: "The researchers also noticed that while reading the Bible, high amounts of dopamine were released through the brain. When your brain releases dopamine you are likely to be more focused, motivated, and happy overall."

   We literally get happy and have joy when we truly read the Bible. Not skim it, read it. Dig deep into it to grow and find out more about our Lord. It is also like when we worship God. 

   So, what tingle are you feeling: fear or joy? How can you grow closer to God? How can you help others grow closer to God?

https://www.therapyforchristians.com/blog/what-are-the-psychological-benefits-of-reading-the-bible

I Can't Do It All

    Sometimes God brings about reminders that I am not a superhero. One time in particular was when one of my co-teachers was out for a week. Because of that, I had to work multiple days in a row from 7-5. Luckily, I talked with her over that next weekend, and she was feeling better. 

   Unluckily my other co-teacher got sick. On top of that another teacher got sick and it was spring break for the college students who usually fill in. And many of them went on vacation somewhere for break. Thus, I went through another three days of working almost every day 7-5. 

   It was that Wednesday that I reached my breaking point. I had worked many hours, interacted with children and others for most of my day when I'm an introvert, had other things to do outside work, and I was burnt out! I looked at my boss that day and I told her so. She understood and did what she could to make the week a bit smoother on me as my co-teacher was not in in the mornings the rest of the week due to her illness.

   Now, that week I had a choice. I could have continued to act like everything was okay. I could have done that and been cranky and emotional the rest of the week. But I didn't do that. I chose to be honest, real, and authentic with others. I chose to say, "God, I need your strength. Please help me shine your light during this week though I am tired." I chose to listen to Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

   God came alongside me, and I finished the week not on my own strength but His. Whatever you are going through, God will be there with you. He will carry you through if you trust in him.

   So, are you relying on God? How can you be authentic with others each day? What can you trust God with more in your life?

 

Thanksgiving Positivity

   Have you ever been in a place where you are surrounded by people who are being negative? I'll tell you what; I have been to many places and met many people who will never be content. These people who just find something to complain about whenever they get the chance. I'll give you some examples: "it is too rainy out to get anything done today." "These customers are so annoying." "I wish I could have gotten the red jacket instead of the blue one." And the list goes on and on.
   When I walk into a room where everyone is complaining I just feel drained. I get sick and tired of people who just say negative things. When I walk into that room and someone is complaining I normally try to put a positive spin on it. For example: if someone says "these customers are so annoying." I say "at least you have a job where you earn money." See, anything negative can be spun in a positive way.
   You may be saying "what if a friend or family member is sick?" I would say "I don't know why that is happening but I do know that God has a plan." It may seem like a cop out but everything does happen for a reason. You never know what might happen because you can't see the future. You staying home because you are sick may have saved you from getting into an accident.
   On Thanksgiving we try to be thankful for all of our blessings. Well, blessings can also come though bad things. We may not think of bad events as blessings but it is true (listen to the song "Blessings" by Laura Story if you don't believe me). 
   We have a choice. We can choose to be negative about everything, or we can choose to be positive no matter what is going on. We can choose our attitude. It may be raining but we can say, "thank you God for keeping the earth green." We may have wanted a different colored jacket but we can say, "thank you God for the jacket that I have to keep me warm." We may be sick but we can choose to say, "thank you God for this time I have with my family and that I am still alive."
   So, will you choose to be negative about everything? Will you be positive even when bad things happen? Will you thank God in all circumstances?

   Philippians 4:11-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 4:29

Outdo One Another

    In the past, I have talked about how the thief of joy is comparison. That is still true, but did you know there is something we are to outdo one another in?

   Romans 12:9-13 says "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." 

   Verse 10 says we are to outdo one another in showing honor. We are called to be a light in this dark world. We show love to others each day so they can see Jesus through us. 

   Is this verse saying we are to flaunt when we show love to others? 

   No, it says we are to outdo one another in showing honor. Is it honorable to flaunt our accomplishments? Is it honorable to tell others about all the sacrifices we have made for others? No, it is honorable to do as we are called to do and reflect God's glory.

   What does that look like? We are authentically real with others. We cling to the Lord and listen to the Holy Spirit as he guides us. We remember the hope we have in Christ and spread that hope to others. We wait for the Lord to help us in our trials. We pray consistently. And we use our gifts to reflect God's glory. We give him the honor. That's how we outdo one another in honor, honorably.

   So, are you showing others God's love? How can you outdo others in honor, honorably?

 

The Lost Ring

    I enjoy stories, whether true or fictional. Here is a real story that happened to me: one day I was at soccer coaching. My goalkeeper needed to step out for a minute for a break during a short sided game. I stepped in and tried to take my purity ring off before I got a fat finger from a shot. 

   As I was pulling the ring off, one of the girls took a shot. I dove for it and was pulled into the game. Once my keeper was good to come back in, I stepped out. Then I went to touch my ring finger and realized my ring was not there. One of my players noticed I seemed preoccupied and asked me what was wrong. I told her I lost my ring. She said, "oh no! We will help you look for it." 

   After practice was over, I started looking for the ring. I looked in my bag first, to be sure I did not leave it in there. Then I went to the goal. Looking at the place where I had to dive to make a save, I found the ring! 

   The girl who was helping me look was so happy we found it, and so was I. This is a very simple event that occurred in my life, but it had a profound connection to the Bible.

   In Luke 15, Jesus tells of three parables. One of the lost sheep, where a shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to find 1 that was lost. The next of a woman who lost 1 of her 10 silver coins. When she finds it, she rejoices. The last about a son who asked for his inheritance early, left home, squandered his inheritance, went back home, and the father accepted him back into his household.

   If I were to ask you what these stories have in common, you would probably be able to guess easily: things that were lost then found. They seem like simple stories but if you have ever lost something you cared for, you know how good it feels to find it. 

   In the same way, God rejoices when one of his children was lost and becomes found. When I lost my ring, the player asked me if I was sentimental. I told her a bit, but the truth was I had that ring since high school (for 10 years). It was not worth much, but it was worth a lot to me. 

   That made me think about God. He is sentimental. He loves all of us and we are worth so much more than a ring. God does not want any of us to perish. He wants to give each of us a chance to join his family. That's how much he loves us. He loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us. It is amazing to think about.

   Think of a time you lost something, then found it. How did you feel? Are you lost right now, and God is calling you to him? If you have been found by God, how can you help those who are lost be found?

 

How You Relax

    One day I was doing a devotional for the LBC Women's Soccer Team about stress. I talked about how we all relax in different ways. Some people read. Others watch TV. While others, who are much more devoted than I, may go for a run. It doesn't matter how you do it, but everyone needs to relax at some point or run the risk of burning out.

   During the devotional I asked the girls how they combat stress, or what they do to relax. There were many of the typical answers then one girl said "Jesus." The coach thought she said "cheese." This misunderstanding made everyone laugh. 

   The truth is that Jesus is a good answer for this question. He even encouraged his followers to relax. Mark 6:31 says: "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." Jesus recognized that needed to rest. Yet, if you look at this passage in context, this is where Jesus feeds the 5,000. He wanted to rest but he did not let his wants get in the way of an opportunity the Lord gave him.

   Finding a balance of completing the mission God has given you and resting is vital. There will be times we really want to rest but an opportunity comes up. We must be willing to sacrifice as Jesus did. We also must be smart about resting when we have time.

   So, are you resting when you need to/have time to? Are you looking for opportunities to spread the Good News?