What's Going On Inside

   One day I was in my car headed home from college. I was driving along and everything was going great. Then, all of the sudden, my car started beeping. After the shock passed, I asked my car "why weren't you beeping before?"
   My car has a sensor in the passenger seat. If something over 20 pounds is put in the seat, and is not buckled up, my car beeps. I was still driving and I was trying to pull my bag out of the seat, but as you can imagine 20 pounds is hard to move using one hand. Finally, I was able to get the bag out of the seat and on the floor of my car. 
More than likely the people who may have seen me driving thought I was crazy. The point is they didn't know what was going on inside my car. They only saw what was going on outside of my car. 
   This is just like in reality. None of us have x-ray vision where we can see if someone has physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional problems. We only see the outside. I've talked about how I don't like masks. I understand sometimes we need to put them on at work, but that means we only see people's masks. We don't see how people are really doing.
   You may look at someone who is being really mean to someone else than think "what is wrong with that person?" But, you don't know what is going on inside that person. They could have turmoil going on inside them and you just don't realize it. How would it make you feel if someone judged you when you were already feeling down?
   We cannot judge others by only looking at the outside. We need to ask people "How are you doing today?" And, when we ask that we actually need to care about what the person says. People can smell insincerity a mile away. If we are sincere, people are more likely to open up to us. Then we can make an impact on them for the Lord, which is what we are called to do.
   So, will you stop just judging people by looking at their outward appearance? Will you chose to ask others how they are doing and actually care about the answer? Will you share the gospel with others as we are called to do?

   Philippians 2:4, John 13:34, Matthew 7:1-5

Love the Simple Things: Christmas

   The other day I was sitting at home alone. I had just finished up working on a PowerPoint for my K5 class and was sitting on the couch sipping coffee and watching a Christmas movie.
   At first I was just sipping it slowly and then I thought about all of the other things I had to get done that day. I began to drink my coffee faster. Then a thought occurred to me: why was I drinking my coffee so fast all of the sudden?
   I have been watching Christmas movies where people either don't care enough about family and the simple pleasures in life, or where people care too much about those things. And, I have also been reading books about slowing down and enjoying the simple things; because if we don't enjoy the simple things how can we truly enjoy the major things?
   During Christmas time we have a tendency to rush, rush, rush. We need to get the presents. We need to decorate our house. We need to get things done for our job. We need to cook the meal for family. We begin to feel overwhelmed and forget that Christmas is also a time to slow down and think.
   Way back when the first Christmas came to pass Joseph and Mary needed to get to Bethlehem. There was no room at the Inn so they had to stay in a simple stable. Then when Jesus was born he was laid in a simple manger. These were not extravagant things, but they became important items in Jesus' life. 

   Next, it wasn't anyone super important who came to see our Savior first. It was the people who were considered the lowest of the low, shepherds. They were told by the angels to go see the baby, Jesus. The shepherds could've said "we will go as soon as we get this done." Or, "we don't have time to go see a baby because we have to watch our sheep." They didn't do that though. They got up and went to see the baby. 
   They realized something we don't nowadays. That the simple pleasures bring major joy. They went to see a baby that wasn't extraordinary on the outside, but was extraordinary on the inside. They went to a simple stable and saw a baby laying in a manger. An odd way for a baby to come into the world, yes; but, nothing was really extraordinary about any of the simple items or people in this story. However, now those people and items are so special and remind us about how Jesus came to the world as one of us. His story wouldn't be complete without these things and people.
   This Christmas I encourage you to slow down and enjoy the simple things that happen this season. We have a tendency to look forward to the major events but not the little events that led up to those events. Yet, if you ask people what are their fondest memories they tend to say little events. Take a lesson from the shepherds and choose to push work off to the side for a little so you can enjoy big events with your family. 
   So, will you choose to slow down and enjoy the simple things? Will you reflect on how simple events/things can become extraordinary?

   Romans 8:25, Philippians 4:6, Luke 2

Do you see God?

   Imagine you are at your job, or at school. You suddenly feel really thirsty but you don't have a water bottle, a cup, or time to go get some water. You ask God to give you some water. It seems like an odd thing to do because God probably won't give you the water. You continue working when a co-worker comes up. She says: "I was out to lunch and needed a water. The store was having a buy one get one free sale. I don't need the other water, would you like it?" You nod your head and thank her. It was a good thing she came along because God sure wasn't doing anything to help you.
   Your work day is over and you decide to go shopping. While you are at the store a woman walks by and her wristlet falls out of her purse. She does not notice. You walk over and pick the wristlet up. Then you go to the woman and give it back to her. She says "thank you so much! I didn't realize that I dropped it." She takes out a twenty dollar bill and hands it to you, "thank you for giving me that back. Here is something for you." You take the twenty and you are amazed. You think that was a great coincidence.
   These are situations that you may not face every day but you may face these situations at some point. You may have a need and suddenly the need is filled. You may not be asking for anything yet something is given to you. You may think that those things are coincidences but they are not.
   I have said before that God works through coincidences. Thus, there is no such thing as coincidence. God is at work in everything and everyone. If we have a need he may fill it in an unexpected way. But when our need is filled who do we thank? Do we thank whoever may have filled the need on earth? We should thank God when our needs are filled, no matter how they are filled. God is at work in the little things. If we cannot see him in the little things how will we see him in the big things?
   Check out this YouTube clip that goes through the situations I just described: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJUKMK25kj0
   Think about whether or not you believe God is at work in your life. Does God work in the little things to supply your needs? Do you show enough gratitude?
   Romans 8:28, Job 42:2, Proverbs 19:21

Names of Christians

   Christians are given many different names nowadays. We are called many things by the world and most of those things are not good.

   We may not get called this by non-Christians but they definitely see our devotion to what we believe. Sometimes Christians are lukewarm. We say we believe in God, but we only show it on Sundays. Sunday we go to church and may listen to the message and sing the songs but after that we do not show we are Christian. Sure we may talk the talk but we don't walk the walk.

   Another big name Christians have nowadays is Hypocrite. It somewhat goes along with us being lukewarm. We praise Jesus with our mouths on Sunday and then use the same mouth to scream at our fellow man Monday. We may say "you shouldn't lie, cheat, or steal." But then we do the exact same thing we tell others not to do! We don't take the log out of our eye before taking the splinter out of someone else's.

   The third name we get called is holier than thou. We think we are the best of the best and no one can be greater. We may even think that we do not sin. Some of us don't go quite that far. But we may still have pride, which is just as bad. We may have these ideas that we don't need to ask certain people for forgiveness because we are better than they are in some way.

   The final name we may get called is lunatic. People think we are crazy because we believe in someone we can't see, who may not exist. Also we do these crazy things like give away money to random strangers. Or we help those who have hurt us. In the eye of many people today that is nuts because they are just looking out for themselves.

   I don't know about you but out of all these names I'd rather be called a lunatic. Actually, I already get called that by my family but that's for different reasons :D Mostly good things I promise.

   Anyhow, around this time of year we talk a lot about belief. However, the secular world talks about believing in Santa Clause. In the movie The Santa Clause an elf has one of the most profound quotes. She says: "seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing." Many people who believe in Santa are called crazy, just like those who believe in Jesus.

   Let me ask you this: which is easier to believe: that God doesn't exist, or that God made everything? I tell you this it takes much more faith to believe in God than it does to believe in anything else.

   Christians need to have crazy love, faith, passion, and so much more. We are held to a higher standard on this earth because of what we know and believe. We are to spread the gospel and show the love of Christ. We all know this is crazy because none of us can ever amount to the love, faith, and passion that Jesus showed. But, that shouldn't stop us from doing what we are called to do.

   So, which of these names do you get called? If you don't like the name you get called what can you do to change it? Will you choose to have crazy faith?

   Revelation 3:16, Matthew 7:5, Matthew 10:22

Do You Want to Be Cinderella?

   If you know me, you know I love Disney. The other day I was watching Disney Channel and The Cheetah Girls came on. One of the songs that played was called Cinderella. Some of the lyrics go like this: "I don't wanna be like Cinderella sittin in a dark cold dusty cellar waiting for somebody to come and set me free."
   A lot of people are trapped and they don't know it. Or, if they do know it, they want to rescue themselves. Another line in the song is "I'd rather rescue myself." We talk about girl power and how girls can do anything. New princess movies have come out where the princess doesn't need a prince to save her. Is this wrong? No, but what about if we connect it to a biblical perspective?
   I don't think I can recall a child who did not want to be a hero or a princess. We all once had vivid imaginations where we pretended to rule over people or save people. But does that happen in real life? We may be bosses of people but do we truly have power over them? Not really, they could leave at any time. We want to be a hero to others but can we actually save them from death? No.
   Jesus is the only one who has the power to rule over others and to save us. We may try to rule over people by manipulating them, gossiping about them, or using our strength against them. But, in the end, we have no real power over people. God is the only one who has power over everything. He can change the meanest person you know into the kindest person. God has the power.
   He has the power to save us from ourselves. We are all sinners. We may try to "rescue" ourselves but we cannot rescue ourselves from death. Each day death creeps closer to us. Some people continue to try to do good deeds, bribe false gods, or just don't believe in the afterlife. That will not save them. 
   The only hero we truly need is all powerful, all knowing, and loves us so much that he would die for us. He is the hero who can rescue us, if we choose to let him.
   So, will you continue to try to rescue yourself if you haven't trusted Jesus yet? Are you willing to step back and let a true hero save the day? Will you trust him to be your personal savior?

   Colossians 1:13, Matthew 28:16-20, John 14:6
   If you have not accepted Christ and want to know how check out this blog.

The Legend of Selfishness

   Years ago I was introduced to a movie called The School of Rock. I became interested in this movie because I wanted to be a teacher. The movie is about a man named Dewey who owes rent to his roommate. His roommate's girlfriend keeps telling his roommate that he needs to tell Dewey to pay rent or kick him out. 

   Dewey is in a band but he gets kicked out. One day the apartment is called by a principal asking for Ned, Dewey's roommate, to come and substitute at their school. Dewey pretends to be Ned. While at the school, Dewey does not teach the students anything. He is actually more excited about the end of the school day than the kids are!

   The next day Dewey hears the students playing instruments in music class. He gets the idea to make the class into a band. Then the students ask Dewey what they are going to sing. Dewey then sings the legend of the rent to the students (link to song here).

   What I find interesting is the whole song is about Dewey's resentment toward just about every one. He is upset at Ned and his girlfriend because they are forcing him to pay rent. He is upset at his band because they kicked him out. Dewey is being very selfish at this point because he is using the kids just to get money and to pursue his dreams. What he does not realize is that he is basically all alone in the world. Selfish people do not have friends because they use their friends.

   Sometimes we have a tendency to think only about what we need and want. We have dreams and we are willing to do anything to reach those dreams. I'm not saying that having dreams is a bad thing. But when we hurt others in order to reach our dreams, when we are selfish, that is when I have a problem with following dreams. 

   As Christians, we are called to love others. That means that we are not selfish. I understand that humans have basic needs like needing food, water, shelter, etc. But, when we plow through other people just to get those things then we are not loving others. 

   Instead, we need to trust in God to provide for our needs. And, we need to trust God with our wants as well. He has a plan for our lives. We just need to trust him.

   In the end Dewey realized that he was wrong to have used the kids. And, he realized that he was being selfish. He decided to let the kids have a say in the band. He let the kids write a song and they went to the battle of the bands. Dewey had friends and became selfless. To find out the end, you will have to check the movie out.

   So, are you being selfish? What can you do to show your love to others?

   Philippians 2:3-4, James 3:14-16, John 13:34