Tag: Bible

Shirt Off Your Back

The common thinking is that the idiom about “giving the shirt off your back” originated in the 18th Century. It may have gained popularity back then but it was eighteen centuries before when Jesus said “from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold your shirt” (Luke 6:29). Translation: give to anyone in need, even if that literally includes giving the shirt off your back. And Jesus didn’t just talk the talk as so many so-called “Christians” do today. He walked the walk in going way past giving His shirt. He gave His life.

There’s not much more to say about this. It’s all pretty clear. Someone asks you (or begs) for something, give it to them. No questions asked. And if you ignore that person just think what Jesus did and asks us to do. Are you listening to that dark voice inside or Jesus?

Have a great day giving!

Only You Can Take Away Your Peace

The outside world cannot take away your peace. And, yes, unless you don’t know it, you have natural peace within you. That’s simply because God created you and God is peace to the core. Only you can take away your peace. Not someone else.

Not at peace? Events and/or people around you “stealing” your peace? Well, they can’t “steal” your peace unless you let them. Your peace is your’s. Only you can let events and/or others take your peace away. You own it.

Not at peace? Lost your peace? Find a quiet place like a church, library, mountaintop, etc. and tune out the world. Dig down deep inside of you looking for your peace. You will find it if you really try. And, if you don’t realize it already, that peace is God inside of you.

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Have a PEACEFUL week!!!

Greed and Ego

If you look at any problems, from minor to major, at their root are greed and ego. We have made life out to be about the collection of “things”—money, shoes, cars, houses, etc, etc. Having one of something is not enough. And ego—me over you—is always the focus. Greed feeds ego. If I have more, I am better.

Whether it’s high politics of just our everyday lives, greed and ego factor into the root of all differences and disputes. We can’t put ourselves—our egos—on the back burner. Our egos need to be front and center. “I” am more important that “you.” “MY (and the all upper caps is intentional) wants come before “your”(and the all lower caps is just as intentional) needs.

Jesus tells us to live a life that is anything but greed and ego. Of all the teachings Jesus has given us, I think some of the best is summed up in Luke 6:27-42. If you are looking for a roadmap on how to live you life, it’s all right there. It’s the exact opposite of greed and ego. The verses are well worth reading and meditating on every day of your life. They are not always easy to live day in, day out. But they are pure Jesus. Pure Christian.

Have a great week!!!

First or Last?

Good question to ask yourself! What am I talking about?

He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35

That was Jesus asking. Your answer?

Jesus put Himself last because He is first. He gave up His life for you, me, and every other person who has and will live. Jesus is first because He is the Son of God.

If you truly want to get closer to God you need to move to the back of the line. You need to be last to be first.

OK. What does this practically mean today and tomorrow. You need to think more about others than yourself. It’s that simple. But the thinking part has to play out in actual actions. Jesus healed, put Himself in harms way, and eventually gave up HIs life. We don’t have to go to those extremes. We can walk before we run.

Help someone. Anyhow. A lot of people out there need a lot of help. Give. Anything. Just do something for someone before you do for yourself.

Enjoy the rest of this weekend!

Jesus Didn’t Teach Us To Be Civil

Jesus did not teach us civility to one another. He taught us to love one another. A love that goes way beyond civility. A love that puts the other person first and us second. And Jesus wasn’t just a good pontificator as many so-called “Christians” are today—He walked the talk of love. After all, Jesus sacrificed His life for you and me.

Look around you today. Not much civility. And certainly no, if any, love. That’s where you and I come in. We need to spread some love and hope that it’s catching. Because the world desperately needs some love.

Do your part today and I’ll do mine. Smile, help someone in need, pay something forward, lend a helping hand. Spreading love isn’t hard if you just take yourself out of the equation. Jesus taught us how to do it. We just have to listen—and do it.

Walk the talk today. LOVE!!! 

He Is. I Am.

When Moses asked God His name, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” Fast forward to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians where he wrote (1 Corinthians 15:10), “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”

God is. We are—by His grace. God is everything. We are a part of that everything. Not a preordained, predestined part, but a part with many possibilities. How far we go, what part we play in God’s everything is up to us.

Make this new year of 2017 a time to realize your potential, tapping into God, the I AM of life.

Wishes for a joyful, healthy, peaceful, and blessed New Year!!!

Great Time to Start Living in Love

If there ever is a time of year to start living in love it is now. What does “living in love” mean? Let’s start with what John tells us:

Love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: Live a life of love. 2 John‬ ‭1:6‬

Did you get that? It bears repeating: “Love means living the way God commanded us to live.” That means that the definition of “love” is living “the way God commanded us to live.” That means forgiving as God forgives us, giving others the shirt off our backs, not judging, etc, etc. If there are any questions about how to live start reading at Luke 6:27-34.

This season celebrating the birth of Jesus—hopefully in our hearts—is a great time to look at your life and ask, “Am I truly living in love?”

It’s never too late to start living in love!

Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Joy! Not Anyone!!!

You may not realize it but you are hard-wired with joy. God created you and God is total joy. So, you are joy at your very core. You may not feel that joy but that is your fault.

The problem is we let others steal our joy. We live in a world where we hang on what others think about us, talk about us, and do to us. And in the process we let others steal our joy. But it is all our fault because no one can steal your joy unless you let them.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Are you trying to please people—or God? Trying to please people is a losing battle. You will never do it and your joy will be lost in the process. Living to please God taps into that joy hard-wired into you.

Enjoy the weekend!

Falling Back to God

There’s that game of trust where you stand in front of someone with your back to them and fall backwards—trusting they will catch you. It takes a lot of trust to just fall back. Will the person catch you or will you fall flat on you back with your head bouncing off the floor. Trust—it’s tough to have in a situation like that.

I’m here to tell you that God always has your back. Fall backwards to Him and He will always catch you. You simply have to trust in God. Sound too easy? Well, it is too easy. Simply say, “God, please catch me.” And He will. Every time. Simple.

When we feel like we are falling in life it’s best to fall into God’s infinite arms. Simply let yourself go. Let go; let God!

I know, I know. This sounds too easy. That is exactly the point.

I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand. Psalm 31:14-15 

Fall back. Trust. New possibilities will open up to you. Trust me. No, trust God!

And have a GREAT day!

Are You Passing Lazarus on the Street?

Last week I went from Washington, DC to Chicago. What I noticed was more people on the streets of both cities begging—in one case a mother with a small child. And the other thing I noticed was north of 99.9% of people totally ignoring those people. Reminds me of Jesus talking about the story of Lazarus:

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:19-21

What happened? Lazarus died and went to heaven. The “rich man” died and went to hell. He lamented not having stopped and helped Lazarus when both were alive on earth.

Are you passing Lazarus on the street?

One more thing to think about that Jesus said:

Give to everyone who begs from you. Luke 6:30

Do you?

Have a great day!