Tag: Jesus

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!

Advent Starts in the Heart

The Advent season of preparing for Jesus’ birth is a time for reflection on our lives and our own rebirth in Christ. Use each day leading up to Christmas day as time to look back only with a mind of looking ahead, growing, and positively moving forward. It’s a time to recommit to Jesus and focus your life in starting the New Year off on the right foot. It’s a time to strengthen your connection with God and reconnect with Him if you strayed. It’s simply a time to renew, starting in your heart.

There are a lot of distractions this time of year—eating too much at Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the list goes on. The important thing is to work through the distractions in remembering what this time is about. There’s a reason why there is a “Christ” in CHRISTmas. It should be a season of remembering, giving, and rebirth.

I’m not suggesting detaching from the world. Quite the opposite. I’m talking about being a shining example of what this time of year should really be about.

Use this Advent season wisely. Start today. And have a GREAT one!  

Victim or Victor?

Which one are you? There are people who go through life constantly playing the “victim” card. Someone else is always to blame for their plight in life. There are others who see themselves as the “victor” over someone else. And I think there are a large group who can’t answer the “victim” or “victor” question. What’s wrong with this picture is that everyone—and I mean EVERYONE!!!—should confidently answer “victor” but just not in the way you may be thinking. Continue reading “Victim or Victor?”

Perfect or Sinner?

In my case this is an easy answer. Sinner. I’m pretty good at being a sinner and pretty bad at being perfect. But that’s life. We are imperfect children of a perfect God.

I think one of the keys to life is acknowledging that you are imperfect—a sinner—but constantly trying to strive for perfection. To repent and not try to sin again. Unfortunately, there are too many people out there who believe that they are perfect in every way.

Perfect or Sinner? Pharisee or Tax Collector? What/who are you? Did I lose you? Read Luke 18:9-14 to answer the question. It’s one of the absolute best Bible verses on living life.

And remember: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

Have a wonderful day!!!

Forgiveness As You Forgive

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those you trespass against us…

Want forgiveness from God? Start by forgiving others. You can’t ask for forgiveness if you don’t first forgive. And it’s measure for measure. Forgive a little or selectively and don’t expect forgiveness a lot and completely. This is simply another simplicity of life.

Jesus came so that our sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven. Forgiveness is always there—completely—for the taking. But you will never feel that forgiveness if you don’t first forgive. Simple.

Have a GREAT day forgiving!!!

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!

Shine Some Light Today on a Dark World!

I am not a doom-and-gloom sayer but look around you—the world is a pretty dark place these days. Bombings, stabbings, shootings, and lots of animosity. It’s a rare day when we aren’t hearing about something bad happening. I am afraid the world is getting darker.

That’s where you and I come in. Today is a day to shed a little light on our dark world. It’s simple. Start with a smile, show some kindness to a stranger, and help someone in need. It’s not difficult. Just spend some time today thinking more about others than yourself. Let that light of God that is in you do some shining today.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Smile. Do good. Go out of your way for others. It’s not hard to let your light shine. Don’t keep your light under a basket today. Let it shine! The world needs your light!

Have a GREAT, shining week!

Every Day is a New Day in Christ

No—not more “religious” mumbo-jumbo. Very simply, in a very real way, Jesus was humbly born, lived even more humbly, and in the ultimate act humbly died a terrible death. Why? Simply so your sins—yes, you!—would be forgiven. No matter what you do wrong, acknowledge your faults, give in to Jesus, and you are forgiven. A new day!

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter‬ ‭3:18‬

Get rid of yesterday and start a new day in Christ. And have a GREAT one!

No One is Better Than You (And You’re Not Better Than Anyone!)

Paul sums it up in his letter to the Romans:

God shows no partiality. Romans 2:11

We are all totally equal in the eyes of God. If that were not the case, God would not be true God. He’d be like the jealous, vindictive, petty gods of myth.

God looks at you exactly—not somewhat, but exactly—like anyone else. That means you need to look at yourself exactly like anyone else. No worse or no better. You are equal.

In today’s world, maybe more than ever, we measure equality with things—money, houses, cars, clothes, etc. Well, I have news for you in case you don’t know it. God’s eyes see equality in a totally different light. Your eyes need to do the same.

No one—and I mean no one—gets to take those things along with them when they die. We all exit this world equally. We need to start living it equally.

Take a look around you as you walk down the street today. Equal. Equal. Equal. No matter who you see.

God shows no partiality. Shouldn’t you follow God’s lead?

Have a GREAT day and even better weekend!!!

Be Humble or Be Humbled?

You have a choice: Be humble or be humbled. Jesus said it pretty clearly:

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11

And that’s coming from someone who was the model of humility. Born in a stable to unassuming earthly parents. Worked as a carpenter for 90% of his life in total obscurity. Died the most humble of deaths after being tortured, spit upon, and insulted. Now, that’s humility!

Jesus doesn’t expect us to top Him. But He is the model of what true humility looks like. And even when they wanted to coronate Jesus as king He snuck off in humility.

Exalt yourself and be humbled. Humble yourself and be exalted. Interesting choice.

Have a GREAT day and even better weekend!