The Right Tools

When I was in school, the teacher told us how to organize our desks to be most efficient.  Make sure you had everything you needed - well-lit area, clean desk, pencils, pens, ruler, etc. - before you started on your homework.  They said having the Right Tools would make you more efficient and help you do your homework better.

Today, we were trimming our lemon tree.  After cutting the dead branches, and the overgrown ones, I dragged them to a shady area of the lawn.  I got my trash can, lined it with a lawn size trash bag, grabbed a cushion to sit on and my pruning shears.  As I trimmed the branches into smaller portions that would fit into the trash can, I reflected back to the school days and the organization of my desk.  Because I organized my task ahead of time, I was able to enjoy the shade and the outdoors, and calmly, methodically complete my task.  It was a very pleasurable experience.

I was thinking how this could apply to many areas of life.  A little advance planning, organizing the workflow, makes the task at hand proceed more efficiently, and you feel good when it's done.

Ways that I apply this are:

• Grocery store shopping - plan menus, make a list, look at the sales.  These steps alone will get you in and out of the store faster, and will save you money.  For menu ideas that come with a shopping list, try emeals.com

• Bible study - get your bible, your notebook, pens, beverage, and study guide.  Having everything laid out helps me put my mind in the mood to hear from God.  A time of prayer asking for His wisdom as I seek to learn from Him is the very best tool.  Other tools I like - free apps like Bible and MySword (includes Strong's Hebrew and Greek Lexicon plus other tools).   Online websites like biblegateway.com are additional helpful tools.

• Work - clean desk, pens, pencils, rulers, computer, tape, stapler, notepad.  Write-out your to-do list the night before, or first thing in the morning.  Don't check email all day long - check it at certain intervals. Turn off the email notifier on your computer and smartphone. Keep social media to a limited amount of your day.  Focus on one task at a time until it's done.  Distractions kill your productivity.  If you can't proceed with the task at hand, make a list of things needed and don't start on it again until you have everything you need.

The Right Tools will help you in every area of your life. Organization helps define your task so that you have a sense of accomplishment when it is done.

Scripture interprets Scripture

In my study today, I came across a troubling verse - Acts 13:48 "All who were appointed for eternal life believed."  This was from Paul's first missionary journey.  My first reaction - what?  only certain people are appointed for eternal life??  But, then, I was told by my instructor, Beth Moore in the study "To Live is Christ", to allow scripture to interpret scripture.  Here's what we found:

• 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but EVERYONE to come to repentance.(NIV) (emphasis mine)
• John 1:12-13 - Yet to ALL who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Beth Moore goes on to show us the meaning of the word "appointed".

Tasso, the original word for appointed is used figuratively in the New Testament and means "to set in a certain order".

She goes on to say that a paraphrase of Acts 13:48 might help.

"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed (next in order) for eternal life believed." In other words, the Jews in Pisidian Antioch had been given their opportunity; and now it was the Gentile's turn. 

This struck me this morning.  In recent weeks, I've become increasingly concerned over biblical illiteracy.  Some methods of bible study encourage you to read a passage, observe it (whatever jumps out at you), and then apply it to your life.  Through teachers like Beth Moore and Kay Arthur (Precepts), I've learned never to take anything at face value.  Dig deeper.  To the above method of Read, Observe, Apply, I add Investigate.  Find out what the scripture means.  Here are some ways you can do that:

1. Read the entire passage to grasp the context.
2. Look up words in their original form, like we just did for "appointed"
3. Allow scripture to interpret scripture.  Don't just take a commentator's word for what it means - many of them disagree!
4. Investigate - ask yourself who, what, when, where, why, how

The best way I know to investigate scripture is Precepts, which means Truths.  This method uses scripture to interpret scripture, using Greek and Hebrew definitions of words.  You can find studies for individual and group settings at Precepts.org.


I challenge you when reading the scriptures, don't take verses and claim them by themselves without investigating the truth, the context.  The example above shows where one could easily be confused by examining just one verse, and not knowing the true meaning of the word "appoint".  Allow God's Precepts, His Truths, to come alive to you through His Word.  Allow Him to be your Instructor, using His text - the Scriptures.

May God's blessings be upon you as you investigate His Word.

Eternity

Lately, I've been hearing a lot about eternity and I've been pondering what it all means.  Christian speakers say God has placed the longing for eternity in all of our hearts.  I found the verse in Ecclesiastes 3:10-11:

 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Whether one believes in God, most of us believe there is something after this life.  Most of the world's religions describe an after-life of some sort.  Some describe becoming their own god and ruling a planet.  Some describe a reward of hundreds of virgins for dying for a cause.  Let's look at the eternal life described by God, the creator of the universe.  In John 14:1-3, Jesus comforts His disciples by saying:

Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God, believe also in Me.  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.

 He has given us glimpses of what He is preparing for His people, by allowing some to temporarily pass from this world and return to tell their story.  Two stories that made a huge impact on my view of heaven are:

Ninety Minutes in Heaven, by Don Piper. Don Piper shares his experience in heaven when he died for 90 minutes here on earth.  When speaking about singing and music in heaven, he says:

"I didn't just hear music.  It seemed as if I were part of the music." 

"I woke up to singing and found myself singing too."

Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo.  Todd's son Colton is given a glimpse of heaven, without dying.  His description matches verses from Revelation 21:18-21

(Colton speaking) "Hey, Dad, did you know Jesus has a horse?" (Dad speaking) "A horse?" (Colton) "Yeah, a rainbow horse..." (Dad) "Where are there lots of colors, Colton?" (Colton) "In heaven, Dad.  That's where all the rainbow colors are."

Rev. 21:18-21 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.  the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.  The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure transparent glass.

 
While heaven is beautifully described in these two books, there is another side of eternity.

Matthew 13:49-50 "This is how it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Mathew 25:41,46 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'...Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Do we get to choose where we'll spend eternity?  According to God's word, we do.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

I Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.

 Where will you choose to spend eternity?   I'm planning to spend it in the beautiful city with my Savior and fellow believers.  I hope you'll be in my neighborhood.

 

Slaying the Debt Monster

A new adventure began for us last month. After hearing Dave Ramsey sporadically on the radio for a couple of years, we have finally gotten on board with his financial program. In February 2010, we began our own financial peace adventure.

First step was to set up a $1000 emergency fund. I had some things at the consignment store, so I dropped by to see how they were doing. To my surprise, I was able to pick up a check for $175. Combining this with some monies squirreled away from paychecks, and some unspent Christmas money, we had our $1,000 baby emergency fund within 2 weeks.

Baby step 2 is to payoff debt. We'll be camped here for a while. Especially since we tried to live off credit cards for a short period of time before getting smart and seeking help from other avenues. Some exciting things have happened over the last 6 weeks. First of all, my husband and I are on the same page and are tackling the debt monster as a united force. Matthew 18:20 tells us "For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them." Therefore, we are not alone. God is with us in this battle.

Evidence of His presence is coming almost daily. When we first began this adventure, we had our home listed with no activity whatsoever (due to previous job loss, we needed to sell). Within 3 weeks of being on the program, we began having traffic almost daily. A little over a week ago, we had an offer, and now we are going through the process of lender acceptance (aka short-sale).

Another evidence is money coming from unexpected sources. We received a couple of checks we weren't expecting and immediately applied them to the debt snowball. That, added to some income from tax returns, cut one year off our estimated debt-free day.

Last Wednesday, we began looking for our next place to live. A garage was on the wish-list, so we only looked at places with garages. Keeping our wish-list low and hopes down, we set out on our quest. Our mission was to find the cheapest place to rent possible so we could apply money to debt and get that monster slayed in 3 years or less. To our surprise, we found a complex that not only has garages, but has nice floorplans with color on the walls, and is in our budget. We were actually headed home, turned up a street, and saw the complex. "What the heck - one more stop," we said. And, lo and behold, the unit had everything we would love to have and dared not hope for. Thank you, Lord!

Would you like to join me on this adventure? Read Dave Ramsey's "The Total Money Makeover", or go to his website and sign up for his on-line program. There are a total of 7 steps in the program.

Step 1 - Get on a budget and save up $1,000 for your baby Emergency fund.

Step 2 - Get out of debt.

Step 3 - Save up 3-6 month's expenses for your full Emergency fund.

Step 4 - Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement.

Step 5 - College funding for children.

Step 6 - Pay off home early.

Step 7 - Build wealth and give!

While others have similar programs, Dave's is the most practical. Other programs suggested a fully funded 3-6 month's Emergency fund before tackling debt. I could never get there. With Dave's plan, we are making progress. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not an on-coming train!

What are you waiting for? Join us and slay your own debt monster!

Cheerleader, Coach, or on the Front Line

This week, watching my hometown team, the New Orleans Saints, win their division title, I once again began to ponder a question. Where am I in this game of life? Am I on the front lines, pressing through the enemy's defense. Or am I a cheerleader, supporting my team? Or am I a coach - teaching and equipping my players to do battle?

This past Christmas season, I read a book called "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver. It's about a young girl (Taylor) venturing out from her home state of Kentucky and landing in Tucson, Arizona. One of the lines in the book is from Taylor's friend and mentor. She says to Taylor, "Some folks are the heroes and take the risks, and other folks do what they can from behind the scenes."

A couple of years ago, as I was teaching a group of high school girls, God revealed something to me that I shared with them. Like many, I've always felt I should probably go overseas to share the gospel. Physical and financial limitations, and just the plain circumstances of life, kept this from ever happening. What God revealed to me so very sweetly one day was that I was not to be the one fighting on the front line. I was to be one equipping the saints to go fight. In gratitude and relief, I have been submitting to the purpose God has given me.

Oswald Chambers, in today's devotion (My Utmost for His Highest) puts it this way - "Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we do not take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, he would look after all other things." Mathew 6:30

Consider the situation in Haiti. Many people have an ache in their heart. They want to do something. But, consider this. God has prepared so many people for just this situation. The experts are there. Do they need more people, many of whom may not have the skills needed and may just get in the way? Do they need more resources? Do they need your prayers? I submit to you that the most powerful thing you can do is pray. And, then if God lays it on your heart, send some of the resources He has entrusted in You. And if you are equipped and skilled, then go.

Cheerleader, Coach, or on the Front Line. Each has it's purpose. Each is important to God. Let us find our place, and then dig our roots deep and become the best we can be. For His Glory.

Who do you remember?

A moment for a brief quiz -

1. Name the last 3 winners of the Heisman trophy
2. Name the last 3 winners of supporting actress
3. Name the last 3 winners of the gold medal in the 200 meter race at the Olympics

Stumped yet? Okay, try this one...

1. Name 3 teachers who had an influence on your life - either positive or negative
2. Name 3 adults who had an influence on your life - either positive or negative
3. Name 3 peers who had an influence on your life - either positive or negative

Which list was easier to complete?

In a world that has gone crazy with celebrities and sports heros, isn't it refreshing to realize that the people who matter most to you, who have the most influence on your life, are the ones close enough to touch? They are the ones you can have a cup of coffee with, who aren't too busy to take your phone call, the ones you don't have to fight paparazzi to see.

This Christmas, let us think about how we can show love and appreciation to those in our life who matter most to us. Gifts are great. But another quick question, can you remember 3 gifts you received last year and who they were from? I have nothing against gifts - the Bible has many occassions where gifts were shared (Wise men to the newborn babe, gifts of food shared at the celebration of Purim, etc.). But, before we spend money we don't have on gifts that others will soon forget, let us consider the things that matter most to us. The gift of laughter. The gift of kindness. The gift of encouragement. The gift of cleaning up after Christmas dinner (truly never forgotten!). Games and memories shared with ones we love. The gift of peace - setting aside family disagreements in a spirit of harmony.

Most important of all - The gift of blessing. Speaking, verbally (where one can hear), a blessing to someone. Let them know how glad you are that they are in your life. Speak a blessing to them that they will fulfill their God-given destiny. Declare favor into their future. The blessing will help their gifts and talents come out to the full.

There is incredible power in our words. This year, may our words bless those around us. Remember to think before we speak. May this year be one of memories far beyond the physical gifts that are given. May the blessings carry us on to eternity. And, this year, may you be one who is remembered for the love and blessings you bestowed on those around you.

Why does God keep making people?

Warning - you will not find the answer to the title question in this post.

Today, in my quiet time, I was reading Matthew 11-13. Verses of chapter 11, 25-27, read as follows: "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him'". (emphasis mine)

Then, in chapter 13, we have the parable of the tares and the wheat. Verses 24-30 read: "Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.''"

The parable of the tares of the field is explained by Jesus in verses 37-43: "And He said, 'The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; for as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.'"

So, my question is, why does God keep making people when He knows most of them are going to hell? In the parable of the tares, we can see that evil is allowed to co-exist with believers. God has been teaching me that this occurs to strengthen the believers. You may know the story of the chick in the egg. A child saw a chick trying to peck its way out of an egg. The chick was struggling, and in an attempt to help, the child broke open the egg and the chick broke free. Unfortunately, the chick soon died because it was too weak. God had ordained the struggle of breaking through the egg as a time of developing strength that the chick would need to survive.
So it is with believers. We need the struggle of co-existing with non-believers in order to build our spiritual muscles.

In Matthew 11:27, quoted above, it states "and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him". Does this mean that not everyone will have the same opportunity? Will not everyone have the chance to learn about God?

Fortunately, we can find the answer to these questions in these verses - 2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (emphasis mine). Ezekiel 18:32 - "'For I have no pleasure in anyone who dies', declares the Lord God. 'Therefore, repent and live.'" Titus 2:11 tells us "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men" (emphasis mine).

God is not willing that any should be doomed to an eternal hell. Christ came to this earth, the embodiment of God, the revelation of God, the sacrifice for all sin - past present and future. After departing this earth, Christ sent His Spirit - the Holy Spirit - to indwell His chosen followers. As His chosen ones, we have each been given a mission to share the gospel to all who come across our path, and make disciples - teaching them in the ways of God (Matt 28:19-20).

Why does God keep making people? I don't know. I'm glad He made me, my family, my friends. I'm grateful that He still has faith in humanity, that He chooses to allow us to exist for this time - to be part of this piece of His Story. Pray with me that we would be aware of those around us who need to know His Story. Let us share the Good News of Christ and the salvation He imparts. And then let us teach each other and grow up in maturity in God's kingdom. Let us grow strong among the tares of life. For His Name's sake and for His Glory.