| People ask ridiculous questions sometimes, don’t they? I walked into a building trying to close my wet umbrella and someone asked, “Is it raining?” I was with someone who was on crutches and a stranger asked if he hurt his leg. I overheard a person ask a very pregnant woman, “so you haven’t had that baby yet?” A man was wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey and ball cap. Someone nearby asked if he was a Cowboy’s fan. You know what I mean. People mindlessly ask things even though they know the answer. But Jesus didn’t ask mindless questions, did he? His questions always had a point. Think about these situations where Jesus asked a question: -“Who touched me?” Jesus asked in Luke 8:45. He was in a crowded place. Because he is all-knowing, he knew who touched him, but he wanted others to see and hear her story. -“What do you want me to do for you? Matthew 20:29-34 -“Do you want to get well?” John 5:1-15 -“Do you love me?” Jesus asked Peter in John 21:15-17. Jesus asked Peter three times. Have you, like Peter, blown it with Jesus? Do you ever think about this question in terms of your own life? Let it sink in right now. We are constantly faced with choices that boil down to whether or not we will follow Him or the world. Do you want to get well? Do you want to move forward spiritually? Lord, open my eyes to be able to see you. Let me hear you speak to me and guide me each day. Forgive me when I question you and your ways when it seems to me things are out of control. Help me understand that things are never out of your control. Remind me to tell the story of how you have changed my life whenever you prompt me to do so. Lord, help me choose you over the things this world offers. Forgive me when I have let my schedule, my finances, my job, my family, and my hobbies squeeze you out. |
Category: Reflection
Which Word Is Next to Your Picture In The Dictionary?
We were recently travelling quite a bit, zigzagging around the country. I am sort of a people-watcher. My Uncle Pete always said, “Idiots come in swarms!” I believe it. Some people are a delight, and others are a fright.
We meet a lot of different people in our various ministry endeavors. Some people crack me up with their forwardness. And then, there are people who are comical to watch as they interact with others. So many people seem to be lost in spirit with no purpose in life. We have met people who are so loud and obnoxious in public places that it makes me cringe to think of how they interact with their families at home. Some cannot have a conversation without spewing four-letter words. You know the type – they have no filter and say whatever pops into their pea brain. Yikes.
Occasionally I see people who seem to be on vacation but look as though they could have never found their way without help. I often glance at Jody and ask, “Where are their keepers?”
Recently, I glanced at Jody and gave him the “where is his keeper?” look while we were walking behind an elderly man at an airport as the man stumbled and bumbled. We soon met Bill when he fell as he exited the airport. Bill ended up staying in the same hotel and also went on the same tours as us. Bill was 89 years old and his wife had died not long before this trip. He wanted to take the trip that the two of them had planned. Apparently, his children don’t live near him but spoke to him on the phone. He seemed to be doing fine as far as they could tell, and so they encouraged him to go on the trip rather than just sit home and mope. Oh, my stars, Bill had no business travelling alone. Bill is a precious, grieving man whose picture in the dictionary is next to the words “lost as a goose” and “needs a keeper.”
So that brings us to the question. Which word or phrase is near your picture? When people think of you, what pops into their mind?
When I think about which word or phrase pops into people’s minds when they think of me, I’m challenged to do better! My goal is for words like caring, dependable, honest, forgiving, patient, kind, thoughtful, considerate, and humble to come to mind, but I’m afraid that there are times when selfish, unforgiving, judgmental, impatient, inconsiderate, and gripey are the words that others think first about me because of things I’ve done or said. I have made many mistakes in my life, but I am trying to live a mindful life now, as Christ intended. He is transforming me into the person he created me to be…sometimes with little help on my part.
Join me in examining your life, your words, your actions. No, it’s not so much about what other people think–it’s about what God thinks. But, sometimes, when we closely examine and consider what others think, like me, it might challenge you to draw closer to the Lord so that he can continue that transforming work. Let him continue to shape your life.
Lord, thank you for giving me a separate, distinct, and unique personality. I am special because you say so. It’s not because of anything I have done, but because of who you are and how you are working in my life to make me into the person you created me to be. Lord, help me when I resist you. Fill me with your love so that I can reflect it to others. Help me lean in to the changes you are making in me. Sharpen in me the qualities that honor you and guide me to move away from those that don’t.
Just a Flicker
So, I am this detail-oriented person who is always observing the miniscule things of life. One day I was thinking about the personalities of various people I encounter in my life. I have had interactions recently with some truly extraordinary people and interactions with some less than extraordinary people. Here is a list of a few with whom I have crossed paths:
. a stern, rigid person who later turned out to be kind and friendly when stress and responsibilities lowered somewhat
. a smart-alec person who irritated everyone in his path
. a joyful person who was in the middle of a serious family situation but did not dwell on the negative
. a person who was not self-aware and was condescending, argumentative, and hurtful to those closest family and friends
. a know-it-all person who would argue or one-up every single person encountered
. a caring person who cares so much that people take advantage
. a loving, generous person who treated everyone with kindness
. a gripey person who I eventually discovered was in the middle of a personal trauma that they kept very private
. a happy, laughing person who was actually hurting on the inside
. an arrogant person who was always right (even when it was not true)
. a quiet, but thoughtful person, whose countenance glowed
Today, God reminded me, again, yes, again, that I also have personality traits that maybe reflect exactly who I am but maybe don’t reflect who I think I am or whose I say I am. Hmmm. Who I am…Who I think I am…Whose I say I am—just a few letters are different in those phrases, but those few letters really change the meaning of the phrases, don’t they?
Do my encounters with people leave a positive impression or a negative impression? Do I even care? Am I so entrenched in my way of thinking that I have become indifferent to others? Now, to be clear, I am not saying that we should elevate other people’s opinions over the voice of God. But sometimes, if I prayerfully inspect myself and how I interact with others, God can reveal things about my personality. Do I reflect the love of Jesus as I meander through my life or do I just meander doing my own thing without a thought of whose I am. Someone is always watching. What am I reflecting? Is my life just barely a flicker of light or does it shine for Jesus?
Lord, help me be a learner as you work in my life. Help me not to resist the efforts to smooth off the rough spots in my personality. Make me more like you. Continue your work in my life, helping me grow closer to you. Remind me that growing closer and closer to you is necessary to become more like you. Gently guide me to consider how I am seen by others. I want to reflect your love in everything I do and say. I don’t want to just occasionally flicker.
Which Word Is Your Picture Near In The Dictionary?
We were recently travelling quite a bit zigzagging around the country. I am sort of a people watcher. My Uncle Pete always said, “Idiots come in swarms!” I believe it. Some people are a delight and others are a fright.
We meet a lot of different people in our various ministry endeavors. Some people crack me up with their forwardness. And there are people who are comical to watch as they interact with others. So many people seem to be lost in spirit without any purpose in life. We have met people who are so loud and obnoxious in public places that it makes me cringe to think of how they interact with their families at home. Some cannot have a conversation without spewing four-letter words. You know the type – they have no filter and say whatever pops into their pea brain. Yikes.
Occasionally I see people who seem to be on vacation but look as though they could have never found their way without help. On those occasions, I glance at Jody and ask, “Where are their keepers?”
Recently, I keeper-glanced at Jody while we were walking behind an elderly man at an airport as he stumbled and bumbled. We met Bill when he fell as he exited the airport. Bill ended up staying in the same hotel and also went on the same tours. Bill is 89 years old and his wife had died not long before this trip. He wanted to take the trip that the two of them had planned, in her memory. Apparently, his children don’t live near him but stayed connected to him by telephone. He seemed to be doing fine as far as they could tell and so they encouraged him to go on the trip rather than just sit home and mope. Oh my stars, Bill had no business travelling alone. Bill is a precious, grieving man whose picture in the dictionary is next to the words “lost as a goose” and “needs a keeper.”
So that brings us to the question. Which word or phrase would be near your picture in a dictionary? When people think of you, what pops into their mind?
When I think about which word or phrase pops into people’s minds when they think of me, I’m challenged to do better! My goal is for words like caring, dependable, joyful, honest, forgiving, patient, kind, humble to come to mind, but I’m afraid that there are times when selfish, unforgiving, judgmental, impatient, and gripey are the words that others think first about me because of things I’ve done or said. I have made many mistakes in my life, but I am trying to live a mindful life now, as Christ intended. He is transforming me into the person he created me to be.
Join me in examining your life, your words, your actions. No, it’s not so much about what other people think – it’s about what God thinks. But, sometimes, when we examine closely and consider what others think, like me, you might be challenged to draw closer to the Lord so that he can continue that transforming work.
Lord, thank you for giving me a separate, distinct, and unique personality. I am special because you say so. It’s not because of anything I have done, but because of who you are and how you are working in my life to make me into the person you created me to be. Help me to lean in to the changes you are making. Give me the qualities that honor you and help me move away from those that don’t.
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One of Those Days
Do you ever have days where you answer someone who asks you how your day has been with an answer like, “It’s been one of those days!” For me, today has not been one of those days. This day has been a melancholy day and an exciting day all at the same time. It is definitely a day that has been filled with emotion, even overflowing with those emotions. Even roller coaster-like emotions, including all the highs and all the lows.
May 1 is the same day that Jody and I traveled back to Texas from North Carolina after our stint there in 2021. I can’t believe it really. We were in Charlotte for seven months while Jody was recuperating from his medical crisis. Some would say that it has been a long time, but for us it seems like yesterday. Jody is doing well and we are so grateful for the “bonus” days that God has allowed us to have, but it is hard not to re-live some of the experiences that we’ve been through.
A terrific thing that happened is that today the book was published. I had started writing about our journey while in North Carolina when I felt God leading me to turn that into a book. So, finally, it has happened!
There was another sad component to the day for me, though. As I wrote the book, I chose not to tell many people about that project. It was a personal, private, emotional project for me. I didn’t even tell my sister, Lisa, because I wanted to surprise her with the book. She was a cheerleader for me, and I knew that she would be as excited as I am. Unfortunately, Lisa, died suddenly a week before the book was published, so she never knew about it. Now, I wonder if I made a mistake by keeping the news of it from her. But even with this sadness, there is joy for me because I know that Lisa is in heaven now.
Lord, thank you for the reminders you give us in life. Some are good and others are prickly and even sad. The memories are something unique you have given to us. I want to use them to remind myself how you work in my life every single day and all the ways that you have been so good to me. Help me to continue to cherish the bonus days that you have given to me and Jody.
Thank you for my sister, Lisa. Thank you that you provided a way for Lisa, and each of us, to have a relationship with you on this earth and an eternal life in heaven. You promise that when anyone calls out to you in prayer and invites you to be in their life that you will come into their heart. You further promise those who ask with sincerity, with the understanding that they have at the time, that you will take them to their heavenly dwelling place when they die. That is not a possibility, or a maybe–it is a take-it-to-the-bank promise.
And, Lord, thank you for giving me the courage and the strength to be obedient in writing the book. May you use it as you see fit to bless someone along the way.