Most people spend a lot of time measuring themselves against others.  They measure how they look, how they live, or even how much money they earn. Those kinds of comparisons influence our vision and can actually cause us to set goals that move us away from God instead of closer to Him.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not to desire or measure success by the world’s standard.  There is another standard that we must live by. The standard is love, and the guidelines for it are given throughout the Bible.  Jesus told us to love God first and then love our neighbors as ourselves. In 1st John we are told God is love and all that love Him have love for the brethren.  Seems pretty basic and most Christians know and accept this as fact (at least intellectually). Measuring love is not based on whether you can say, “I love you,” nor by intellectual agreement; but, by the consistent demonstration of the qualities in your life.  It goes far beyond mental assent. Love purifies your soul and is far more powerful than a feeling or emotion.  Love is the gold standard and a priority for the Christian life. As an integrated part of your Christian character it causes you to love your brother, your neighbor, and your enemies.  You consistently exhibit patience, forbearance, kindness.  You are humble, not easily provoked, and do not immediately think evil when someone offends. You do not envy what others have nor delight when others fail.  Not only that, but unselfishness motivates your every thought and action.   Beloved of God, know that the Lord wants you to increase in love. Good works and nice deeds without love according to the divine standard are empty.  Before you go comparing yourself to some external standard of success and begin planning the steps to obtain what you think they have; submit to the standard of God that should permeate your life. Instead of trying be increased with goods as a measure of success, commit to increasing in love. A life that is full of love (both given and received) is a full and satisfying life indeed.  Invite the Holy Spirit to help you gain wisdom and understanding. As you grow in love, God’s presence will increase in you. My prayer today is that you increase in the understanding and demonstration of God’s love.

Be Blessed,

MC

Thoughts from the message:  Love:  Measurable, Tried, and True   

  I must admit, although I love running, my extra long distance days used to present a challenge.  Those run days seem to take forever to reach the end.  Now I suppose the primary reason for this is that I am required to slow my pace in order to accomplish the distance.  You might be thinking, “That seems logical, what’s the problem?” The problem is I can run faster and I really want to run faster. So it stands to reason that yesterday about half way through an extra long run I had the desire to speed up.  Just as I was about to step it up, I heard my run coach (the Holy Spirit) say, “This is a study in discipline and restraint.”  I smiled and maintained my slower pace. As I continued for several miles, I reflected on the words, “discipline and restraint.”

  The fact is we all have strengths, those things that we can do well and usually quickly.  Although most of the time we operate in our strengths and are often taught to push harder and longer, the truth is it may not always be what is needed at the time.  As I continued to run, I thought about the fact that it doesn’t really take much discipline to run faster but it takes great discipline to deliberately slow down.  We must remember the lesson of always being yielded to God.  When we have strength and power we are apt to take matters in our own hands but God wants us to remain submitted and yielded to him regardless of the power us posses. Beloved of God, recognize that one mark of spiritual maturity is being able to deliberately slow down.  We must learn not to sacrifice effectiveness for efficiency.  God can and will use you mightily if you will learn the lesson of discipline and restraint.  After all, that is how Jesus walked the earth.  He possessed all power; yet He yielded it to be guided by the Father.  As I completed my run, feeling strong and energized, I had to praise God for the reminder. So, in turn, let me encourage you to develop discipline and restraint alongside speed and power in order to be an effective servant of the Lord. 

Let the Word of Lord bring you strength today and always.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings of eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Be Blessed,
MC

Wow!! It’s been a quick summer.  I must say that I made no deliberate decision to stay away from blogging during the entire summer but sometimes life happens.  Our summer was consumed with a myriad of events: the high school graduation of our oldest daughter, seeing my dearest friend after four years, the loss of our sister in a car accident, tremendous transitions in our community, and (praise the Lord) taking our newly graduated daughter to begin university life a mere 5,600 miles away from home. (And that is only a fraction of it all)
Just a few days ago, someone said to me, “Wow, you have really been through “it” this summer.”  To which I responded, “Been through what?” I am often reminded that my perspective is not typically the norm.  He started to recount the last twelve weeks of my life from his perspective. It was interesting and sounded a little dismal.   As I listened, I thought, “Well, when you say it like that it does sound like I should be tired, stressed out, and sad.”  But all I could actually say was, “Yes, it’s been quite a busy summer but faith makes you resilient.”  I am glad to be able to say that I know and believe the power of Romans 8:28.  Through all the events my focus has been on God’s faithfulness and love.  He has never left me lonely, lost, or without comfort.  The way I see it, we have not just endured a hectic summer we have prevailed. Although many of the things I normally have on my agenda changed, God has been up to something. Over the last twelve weeks, my personal schedule hasn’t been quite what I would have expected or planned, but God has been up to something. Sometimes the timing of the significant events of life seemed as if they would overtake us but as each one unfolded I saw that God was up to something. In the midst of everything He was always right there leading, guiding, comforting, directing, and providing abundantly for us.  He caused me to remember and appreciate, on a greater level, His presence with me. God reminded me that when my focus is Him, though schedules and plans change He will never leave.   Through the events of this summer He also reminded me that my relationship with Him is more important than anything I can ever do for Him.  There are many facets to the “ministry” He has given and fufulling each one is important.  As I successfully fulfill the demands of each facet in obedience to His word, I am worshipping Him.  When my schedule and His plans for me are in sync I can relax and rest in Him.  So as we enter September, I happily return to blogging as time and space again allow.  I invite you to walk with me weekly as we grow in the most important relationship of our lives, our relationship with the Father.  Today, I leave you with a question, what has God been up to in your life?  I’d love to hear from you.

Be Blessed Today and Always,

MC