Murphy's Law

   This year in 2020 has been an interesting one. Many people thought 2020 would be a great year. They had goals for 2020. They may have wanted to have a certain amount of churches open by that time. Maybe they wanted to be in a certain job or position. No matter what you were hoping for in 2020, with everything that has gone on, I'm sure it hasn't gone the way you were expecting or planning.

   I know 2020 hasn't gone the way I was expecting. I've semi acquainted this year with the year of Murphy's law for myself (anything that can go wrong will go wrong). I have gotten the flu, gotten strep, lost the ability to coach a Jr. High team and a collegiate team team in the spring, had to learn how to do zoom meetings with students, had to learn how to do looms to present things, been quarantined for 3 months, and had to roll with many changes to my workplace to name a few things. I'm sure you have faced some of the same challenges and probably many others. It seems like 2020 has taken a lot from us. It's taken our health, freedom, loved ones, security, jobs, and much more. Many people probably wonder: where is God in all of this? Why would God allow this to happen?
   It's easy to focus on all the negative things that have happened this year. But, what about the good things that have happened? Look back at this year thus far. I challenge you to really think about positive things that have happened this year. For myself I got closer with my co-workers, got to spend time with my family, was able to create many different activities for students, got to relax, spent more time with God, was able to paint and write, was able to support my family in a time of need, and much more. It's funny how quarantine and the different things that have happened this year have actually helped me slow down and build better relationships with those around me. It's also reminded me that even though "normal" life may be hard at times we should be thankful for what we have. We should be thankful because we never know when those things may be taken away. We should be thankful because when those things happen we have someone to lean on. God promises us that he will never leave us or forsake us.
   So, even though 2020 may seem like Murphy's law thus far, will you choose to look for the positive? Will you trust in God and his plan?
Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:8

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Accused

   Have you ever been accused of wrongs you did not commit? I know I have, and I think many people have. How should we act when we are accused of things we haven't done?
   Once again God give us an answer through his example. In Mark 15 Jesus is brought before Pilate. The Sanhedrin had just told Pilate about Jesus. Pilate asked Jesus "Are you the king of the Jews?" (Mark.15.2). Jesus answers by saying "You have said so" (Mark.15.2). Jesus doesn't say "yes." He could have but he didn't. Why?
   Jesus knows that this must happen. He knows what will happen next because he is God. He does not want to go through the pain of being separated from God, but he still does it. Jesus has the whole picture. When we go through these times we wonder "why is this happening?" When God is saying "just wait till you see what I have in store for you."
   But, the accusations don't end there. In Mark 15:3-4 the chief priests accuse him of other things. Pilate asks Jesus if he wants to say anything. Jesus doesn't answer and Pilate is amazed. Jesus keeps his mouth shut even though he didn't do anything that these men were accusing him of.
   When we get in an argument or are accused of things what's one of the first things we want to do? We want to defend ourselves. Then after we defend ourselves what happens? We get into an argument and things become worse. People then become offended and relationships are ruined.
   It does us no good to try to reason with people whose minds are so clouded that they only care for their own needs. Our actions speak louder than our words. We could yell, scream, and accuse back but in the end that will make people think that those accusations are correct.
   People can taint what we own, our reputations, and even our relationship with others. But, one thing people can never taint is our relationship with God. God knows who we are. He knows our character. It may be hard to keep our mouths shut when we are being accused of wrongs but in the end we will be rewarded in heaven.
   So, how do you act when you are accused of wrongs? Are you following Christ's example? Does your good character show when no one is looking?

   Mark 15:2, Isaiah 54:17, Romans 12:19

   Image from here.

Bear Hunts in Life

   Since I am an elementary school teacher, I get to hear many, many children songs. One of the newest songs that all the children are obsessed with is Baby Shark. However, they also enjoy classics like We're Going on a Bear Hunt.
   In the Bear Hunt song it talks about finding different obstacles, like a river. They can't go under it. They can't go around it. They'll just have to go through it. Then they get to the next obstacle and the same thing happens. Each time you have to go through the obstacle.
   It occurred to me the other day as I was singing this song that it is a lot like life. Many times when we have problems that show our weaknesses we don't want to walk through them. We may try to get around them or sneak under them. We may even ask God to take the burden of the problem from us.
   Problems are hard for everyone. Even Paul had problems as we find out in 2 Corinthians 7-8 "I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." He asked God to take away this problem. We don't know what the problem was but it was bad enough that Paul wanted to be rid of it. He wanted to go around it, under it, or have it taken away.
   Instead of taking away the problem, God told Paul: "My grace is sufficient enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor.12.9). God told Paul that he was having this problem for a reason. If Christians never had any problems a few things would happen. 1 We would seem holier than thou. We would not be able to relate to others. 2 We would not grow in God. When we have problems we lean on God because we realize we cannot do it on our own. 3 We would not be fulfilling our purpose on earth, which is to spread the Gospel. If we were not to spread the Gospel then God would have taken us away as soon as we accepted him. We are here because he wants us to be a part of his story.
   Now, Paul could've whined and complained. "God I thought you do all things for my good. This isn't good, this is a big problem. I don't want this problem take it away from me." But, instead, Paul says "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor.12.9-10). This seems counterintuitive but it's not in our faith. Our job is to spread the Gospel. Many times I have been able to help encourage others with stories of my problems. I would never have been able to do that if I didn't have problems.
   One other thing we must remember is God walks with us in these problems of life. He walks with us when we go through the problem of the river. He is also patient with us if we choose to try to go around the river instead (think of Jonah). That's what I call a great Father. Always there for us,  always working things together for our good, always patient, always loving, and always there to pick us up if we fall down. We just have to choose to see him there beside us as we go on our Bear Hunt in life.
   So, what problems are you going through right now? Can you see that God is with you while you are going through these problems? How can you encourage someone who is going through a problem today?

   Image from here. 

Fault Lines

   I live in the country that is called the United States of America. It is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is a great country but nowadays it seems to be falling apart at the seams. We no longer seem United because of many different ideals. One of the reasons why the United States is so great is because we have many freedoms and rights. One of those rights is freedoms of speech. This is good because we can express our opinions but lately those opinions have begun to tear us apart. We have people who think we should be wearing masks and people who refuse to wear masks. We have people who believe they have been wronged and lost some of their rights and freedom and people who think that these people need to calm down. Thus, with all this division we are creating fault lines.
   It's interesting that the very ideals that our country was built on has created division. Divisions and different opinions actually can be good things though. Can you picture what it must have been like in that first Continental Congress room? Way back when our country was being founded, do you think those men agreed on everything they decided on? More than likely they did not because they all have different experiences and opinions. Some of them may not have agreed with the decisions that were made, they may not have even liked each other, but they supported the movement nonetheless. They did what they believed was best for the country at the time. They stayed United even when they disagreed at times.
   Today we are facing much division in our country for many reasons. We have many fault lines in our opinions and actions. And, if we continue down this path we are headed, I fear these fault lines will break our country. We know one of the reasons why our country is great is because we have the freedom to choose. We choose what job we will take, our opinions, where we live, our religion, and we choose how we treat people.
   As Christians in this world we have a responsibility to choose to show God's love at all times, even when  it is hard. Colossians 3:13-14 is a good reminder for Christians today: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." If you don't agree with someone's opinions what are you to do? You are to love them. You tell them in a loving way that you don't agree with them but you still love them. If you don't agree with someone's actions what are you to do? You can tell them you don't agree with their actions but you still love them. Colossians reminds us of this. We are to "put on love which binds... (us) together in perfect unity." If we don't show love, even when it's difficult, these fault lines will break not only relationships, but also our country.
   It's time for us to make a choice. Will we continue down this path of disunity and division? Or, will we choose to listen to one another and respond in love? Remember we don't have to agree with others actions and opinions but we do still have to respond to them in love. That's the only thing that may stop the fault lines from breaking our country.
   So, how will you choose to act when you don't agree with a person's actions or opinions?

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Emotional

   Have you ever had trouble letting go of a negative emotion? Maybe you just can't seem to stop crying over the loss of something important to you. Maybe you are angry because nothing seems to be going right. You hold onto those emotions because they are something you can control. However, in a way, when you hold onto those emotions for too long they begin to control you.
   There is a series called Miraculous that touches on negative emotions very well. There is a villain in the series who stays in his lair and when he feels a negative emotion come onto someone he sends out an akuma. This akuma is a butterfly that, when it touches something special to the person with a negative emotion, gives the person super powers. The villain promises to let the person get revenge on whoever wronged him/her. Many people give in.
There is a bit more to it than that, but that's the basic premise of how things work. If this was actually possible in real life I think I'd be kind of scared to see what the world would be like. Many of us have a hard time letting go of emotions. Maybe you've been wronged by the same person over and over. Maybe people just won't listen to you. Maybe something or someone was taken from you. We are going to go through hard times on this earth. That happens because of sin. Bad things will happen, people will wrong us, and we will have to choose how we react to those events.
   As Christians we are called to be set apart. Romans 12:2 says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." We are not to give into the things of the world. That means we are not to sin, but it also applies to emotions. When bad things happen is it okay for us to be sad or angry. But,  we need to decide what we do with those emotions. Will we complain to others? Will we try to get revenge? Will we hold onto the hurt and anger for a long time?
   As Christians we are to let go of those emotions. Is that easy? No, but again, it depends on what we do with out emotions. Will we act on them or will we go to God with them? Will we hold onto them or will we ask God for help in letting them go? Will we take out our emotions on others or will we ask God to help us keep our emotions in check? Did you catch that? In every instance there I said "or will we ask God..." See, it's very difficult to let go or not act on our emotions on our own. Luckily we are not on our own. God is with us. He is for us. He wants to help us with our problems. He will help us because he loves us. How he helps us may be different each time we ask but he will help us. All we need to do is ask him to help us.
   So, do you have problems letting go of your emotions? Do you react too quickly based off of your emotions? Will you ask God for help when you are having problems with your emotions?

Image from here.