Tuesday, August 17, 2010

THE JESUS FLOW


For most of my life, I have been concerned about "me." Even when I became a Christian, most of my prayers and concerns were about my life and my situations. It is an unspoken rule for most people to "take care of yourself first." And really, it's not a sin to want the best for yourself or to take care of yourself. However, as Christians, our mission in life is to look like Jesus on a spiritual level. That means giving Him first priority in our lives.

Everything that we have belongs to God because He gave us the ability to earn it. Our education, jobs, gifts and talents are all given to us by God to accomplish His will. As I near the ripe, blessed age of forty, more and more I pray to become like Him. I pray to put myself aside and focus on the things that He wants me to do.

One of the things I've made a commitment to do this year is to serve God more with my money. Often when we have money that is left over after we've paid bills, or money that we usually use for entertainment purposes, we don't stop and think how God could use our cash. I am guilty of this a million times over. I think about a new dress, a new pair of shoes, a restaurant, or a movie I'd like to see. Lately, my growth in Christ has been propelling me in a new direction. I'm calling it the "Jesus Flow." I want to please Christ with my cash!!! I have earmarked a few ministries to share my Jesus Flow with. One is ministry that I benefit from daily by means of uplifting radio broadcasts. Another ministry is taking the Gospel message to parts of the world where people have never heard the it. And the last ministry is one that allows me to sponsor a child in another country that does not have the resources that we have here in the U.S.

Am I rich in terms of the world's standard? Absolutely not. I wouldn't even be considered well-to-do. But I figure instead of a restaurant night three times a month, I can just settle on one. If most of us were honest, we could surely agree that we waste a great deal of cash. Remember the three dollar designer coffee? The raffle tickets? The fast food? All this adds up!!! It could add up for good in God's hand. So as the world works toward maintaining a cash flow. I'm striving to maintain the Jesus Flow!!!

Join me!!!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

GET REAL

Sometimes life gets rough--even for those of us who are Christians--who believe that our God is all powerful. Our frailty and humanness often prevents us from trying to view situations as God does--that everything will ultimately work together for our good. It is hard to watch others receive the answers to their prayers, or receive a major blessing they've been waiting for when you are still waiting for yours. As Christians, we don't like to admit things like these because it makes us seem "ungrateful" or " not Christlike." But feelings and emotions are real and need to be addressed.

When I was growing up, one of the first things my mother taught me about handling a problem or a conflict was to admit that the problem or conflict existed. When you're not real with yourself, you're not being real with God. And that isn't good. He already knows anyway. He wants you to be honest with yourself!!! God is big enough to handle feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and oh yes, the big one--being mad at Him!!!

So today, whatever problem or conflict you are facing, just get real with God. Let Him know how you feel. Pour out your feelings, the good, bad, and ugly, so that He can put His hands on your situation and heal what is broken--even if it's a broken heart.