Who Do I Remind You Of?

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

The elderly lady pinched my cheeks and hugged me until I could hardly breathe as she exclaimed for everyone to hear: “Oh my! You have to be related to Pat Haggans! Your smile, the way you walk…even how you talk. You remind me so much of her!”

I confirmed that yes, she was my aunt and thanked the woman for the compliment, as I rubbed my cheeks and prayed the sting of the pinch would go away quickly.  I got that reaction a lot as a little girl because my aunt and I were very similar in mannerisms, personality and appearance.

Here is my question for you today: When people look at you, who do they see? We may remind them of a friend of theirs or perhaps a sister or cousin . . . but do we remind them of Jesus?

In I Corinthians 11:1, Paul is not saying “Follow MY example. Period. That’s it!” Absolutely not. Instead, he encourages believers to follow him but only because he is following Christ’s example.

And his encouragement holds true today. If I am going to carry the name Christian – Christ Follower – then I must make sure that the way I walk, talk and smile – in other words, everything about me – mirrors the perfect example of Christ.

I ask you today to hold me accountable, my friends. In the checkout line at the grocery store, when I’m stuck in traffic, in a conversation with friends, when someone takes my spot in the parking lot. Who do I remind you of?

            Father, My desire is to be like you in everything I do and say but it seems like I fail miserably time and time again. Help me to stay in your Word every day so that I never forget how you treated and loved those around you. I want people around me to see you in me every single day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

 Reflect

·         If this was your last day on earth, how do you think people would view your life?

·         Would they say “She was a Christian!” or would it be “SHE was a Christian?”

 Apply

·         Search the Scriptures to find examples of how Jesus treated those around Him.

·         Keep those Scriptures in mind as you face each day, no matter where you go, and practice loving and speaking as Jesus did in His ministry.

 Power

·         I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

·         I Peter 2:21 (NIV) “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

·         Psalm 143:8 (NIV) “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Trading One Room for Another

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so,

I would have told you. I am going there

to prepare a place for you.”

John 14:2 (NIV)

The hotel room sounded too good to be true . . . and unfortunately it was. “Only $65.00 per night,” my son-in-law told us as he bragged about the “great deal” that he had negotiated for both my daughters and me as the three of us took a weekend vacation together. That should have been our first clue.

As we pulled up to the hotel, late at night, our first impression was one of relief at simply finding the place. My youngest daughter hopped out of the car and said “Let me check it out and see what we need to do.” Within seconds she returned, pushing a baggage cart and voiced her concern: “I’m not so sure about this place, Mom.”

I sighed. “It’s late and we are tired! What’s the problem?” She quickly looked over her shoulder, lowered her voice and replied “There’s a bungee cord holding the security door shut.” That was our second clue. But when you combine the lateness of the hour, hundreds of miles of driving and three very tired women, unwise decisions are made. We decided to stay.

“Here’s our plan,” my oldest daughter stated. “We will load everything on the baggage cart and head to the lobby as fast as we can. Mom, you park the car and meet us in the lobby. Then we will stay together to go to our room.” Not a bad plan.

I thought my part was easy. Park the car. Go to the lobby. I was even marveling at how friendly the people in the other cars were in the parking lot. Two cars pulled up beside each other and I waved at each driver as I walked between them toward the lobby.

 Yes, I noticed my daughter motioning for me to hurry but only when I reached her did I realize why: “Mom! You walked between those two cars!” “Well, yes, I did,” I replied, “and the drivers both waved at me.” “They weren’t waving at you! They were getting ready to fight! You walked right through the middle of a rumble!” Clue three.

The other clues happened in quick succession: six different odors that we could not identify from the lobby to our room; a barefoot man with two cups of coffee walking back and forth, talking to himself and drinking out of both cups; a sink that would not drain and a rusted shower nozzle that trickled out 6 drops of water; 2000 moths stuck to the heating unit; a chain lock on our door without the chain.

Do you have days, my friends, when your life seems a lot like that hotel room experience? Nothing is working right, fights are breaking out, and you don’t know if you are going to make it through another minute? Me, too. This home-away-from-Home can really get us down. But perhaps that’s just the point: we are not home yet. Our “hotel room” is only temporary.

            Jesus tells us about our home in heaven in John 14:2. He says that His Father’s house has many rooms and one is being prepared for each of us. They are referred to as “mansions” in the King James Version.

Can I get a collective amen? Our very own mansions! No rumbles, no broken chains, but instead designed specifically for us by the Lord Himself!

Hold on, friends! Thank Him for the temporary; praise Him for the permanent. We can make it through the hotel room as we prepare for the mansion!

Father, thank you for the beautiful room you are preparing just for me. Give me courage and strength to make it through each day in my “hotel room.” In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever had a day when you felt like you just couldn’t make it one more minute?

• Did you focus on what God is preparing for you as His child or were your eyes on the temporary?

Application

• Journal your thoughts on the temporary “hotel room” that the Lord has blessed you with here on earth.

• Beside each entry, journal Scripture that describes the permanent mansion that God has waiting for you in heaven.

Power

• John 14:2 (NIV) “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

• Matthew 6:20 (NIV) “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

• Psalm 84:10 (NIV) “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

Burned Beyond Belief

“Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?

Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?”

Proverbs 6:27 (NIV)

My first Girl Scout overnight camping experience is one I will never forget. We all took sleeping bags as well as cooking utensils, toothbrushes and extra clothes. There was a lot to see and explore but the best part was the evening campfire . . . and roasting marshmallows.

There were 30 of us campers so each girl was given only one marshmallow. It was up to us how we wanted to roast it. Some ate it “raw” without warming it at all. Some liked just a slight brown “tan” with a bit of crisp to it.

But me? I liked mine burned on the outside. I had a method for roasting marshmallows. I would hold the roasting stick down in the flames until the marshmallow caught fire and then quickly blow it out. Best flavor in the world!

We took turns gathering around the campfire and I could hardly wait to hold my stick in the flames and watch as the marshmallow burned. But as I raised it up to blow out the flames, I realized that I had let it “cook” too long in the fire so that it was barely clinging to the stick!

And then the unthinkable happened: the marshmallow began to fall. One marshmallow! That’s all we were given: ONE! To me there was only ONE thing to do: just as it slid off the stick, I grabbed it with my hand, flames and all.

Just as quickly I realized my mistake and dropped the gooey blob but the damage was done. I had major burns on the palm and fingers of my right hand.

Proverbs 6:27 also talks about being burned but in a spiritual way. Solomon warns that there is no way a man can put fire in his lap or walk on coals without being burned. What in the world is he talking about? Solomon is asking questions with obvious answers.

What do you have in your life that you are holding on to, even though you know that you are going to get “burned” by it eventually? Let’s see. What about an inappropriate relationship or a questionable business deal? Maybe it’s anger and resentment toward someone or a habit of gossiping.

It is impossible to engage in sin without escaping and suffering the consequences. Impossible.

All I could think of at the campfire was a marshmallow. I never stopped to think of the damage that would most certainly follow as I caught it – burning – in my hand.

 Please look closely at your life. Holding on to sin can only result in being burned beyond belief.

Father, I choose today to give you those sins in my life that are only going to “burn” me or those I love. Thank you for your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R. A. P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Can you name something in your life that you are holding on to, even though you know it is against God’s will for you?

• What is keeping you from letting go of it and giving it to the Lord?

Application

• Ask the Lord to show you sins in your life that you are holding on to that are against His teachings in the Word.

• Beside each entry, list the people you love who could be “burned” by those sins. Confess each sin to the Lord, repent and lay them at His feet.

Power Verses

• Proverbs 6:27 (NIV) “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?”

• Luke 9:24 (NIV) “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

• I John 2:15 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Not What it Really Means

 “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep

 the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV)

The road sign said “curve – 45 mph” but as a sixteen year old driver, I knew what it really meant. After all, my seventeen year old classmate had told me herself. And she had been driving a year longer than I so she was obviously much wiser.

“They just put those numbers on the signs but it’s not what they really mean,” she told me. “They know everyone will drive faster than that. So when you see 45 mph, it REALLY means you can drive 50 or even 55,” she informed me. And I believed her logic and wisdom . . . until I tried it two weeks later.

“Curve 45 mph means 50,” I mentally reminded myself, and decided that I could go around the curve at 50 mph – well within the “they know everyone will drive faster” logic. That flawed reasoning almost caused me to end up in the ditch.

As I turned into the curve, I realized I didn’t have good control at the higher speed and I ran off the left side of the road, over-corrected to the right and threw gravel from the edge of the road out into a field as I managed to slow my speed to – you guessed it – 45 mph.

Thankfully there were no cars coming from the other direction. My friend’s “it’s not what they really mean” advice – and my willingness to believe it – could have ended tragically.

Not believing what the signs in front of us say can get us into so much trouble when we apply it to God’s Word. Sadly for us, we tend to read what He says and then put our own interpretation on it, to fit whatever situation we are in. No?

In Proverbs 16:28 we are warned not to stir up dissension because “a gossip separates close friends” but we justify our conversations with “this isn’t really gossip – just a comment I overheard” as we change God’s meaning of gossip to fit OUR logic.  The result? Friends and friendships are torn apart.

We are commanded in Exodus 20:14 not to commit adultery. But the human logic of “I’m not happy anymore, I don’t love him/her like I did, God wants me happy, doesn’t He?” replaces the Word and we put our own spin on God’s commandment for us. And marriages and families are broken in two.

Jesus states very clearly in Matthew 22:39 that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves but we rationalize “surely He doesn’t mean MY neighbor! Their dogs run everywhere, they never mow their lawn right, their kids are too loud” and we ignore the very people that we should be loving as Christ loves us.  A possible friendship is replaced by harsh feelings and an unchristian attitude.

My encouragement to you today is to follow Deuteronomy 4:2 in every area of your life. Take Jesus at His Word. Do not add or take away from what He says. He knows what is best for His children. And He truly means what He says.

Father, I have to confess that there are times when I decide to put my own spin on your Word instead of doing as you say. Forgive me for not obeying; help me to follow your commandments of love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

·       Can you think of situations where you knew God’s Word but decided that you knew better than He did what He was saying?

·       Did you obey Him or did you put your own interpretation in place of His Word?

Apply

·    Journal today’s Power Verses. Think over the last few weeks and instances when you needed to apply God’s Word and journal those situations.

·        Journal what you did in each one. Did you follow Him or did you change what He said to fit your situation? Ask the Lord to show you how you should have reacted.

Power

·     Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV) “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

·       Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV) “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

·       II Timothy 3:16 (NIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . .”

·       Isaiah 40:8 (NIV) “The grass withers and the flowers fail, but the word of our God stands forever.”

You Can’t Take it With You

“Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,

when the splendor of his house increases;

for he will take nothing with him when

he dies, his splendor will not

descend with him.”

Psalm 49:16-17 (NIV)

I could only shake my head as I read the magazine article about a wealthy man from Brazil who wanted to be buried beside his $500,000 Bentley Continental automobile. I know that sometimes people have different or unusual ideas about how they want to be buried – that’s not the problem.  It is his reason behind the decision: he wanted to take the car with him when he died.

Because he was extremely rich, the wealthy entrepreneur had everything that money could buy in this world. However, he stated that he did not want to risk being without all those possessions after he died.

  

His idea to bury his expensive car came after watching a documentary about the pharaohs of Egypt and how each one was buried with those things most precious to him in life so that they could accompany him in the afterlife. That prompted his idea, he said, of burying HIS most prized possession, his car, because he wanted to have it with him after he died. “I wanted to copy them,” he said of the pharaohs.

I know what this man was doing sounds silly to us - wanting to take his treasures here on earth with him when he dies. But I am afraid that sometimes I act as though I do, too.  I envy people who are financially well off and I get caught up in the “bigger and better” mentality that we live in. I am guilty of putting all my time and energy into owning what I think will make me happy, as if I think I can keep it forever.

            I’ve never wanted a Bentley, but I have struggled with more clothes or jewelry or a nicer cell phone, even when what I have is perfectly fine. I spend my time and money trying to make more time to have more money. What in the world am I thinking?

God makes it very clear in today’s Scripture what we will take with us when we die: nothing. The last part of verse 17 says “. . . when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.” We will take nothing with us when we leave this world. Not a home, not jewelry, not even a $500,000 Bentley.

.

Consider this: everything we have belongs to the Lord. Everything. The cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), silver and gold (Haggai 2:8) – everything. None of it truly belongs to us anyway.

And, most importantly, we are rich beyond compare because we will spend eternity as children of the King of the Universe. I can’t take it with me – but why would I want to? Nothing on this earth compares with the priceless gift that I have been given of spending eternity with Jesus.

Father, thank you for reminding me that nothing in this world compares with the riches you have waiting for us as your children. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do you spend a lot of your time trying to save more and more wealth?

• Do you find yourself frequently looking for ways to have bigger and nicer things?

Apply

• Make a list in your journal of everything that you want and how much money it would take to buy each item.

• Beside each item write down Scripture that reminds you about the wealth that you will receive in heaven and circle which column is eternal.

Power

• Psalm 49:16-17 (NIV) “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.”

·         Luke 12:20 (NIV) “But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

·         Mark 8:36 (NIV) “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” 

Shadow Singing

“Because you are my help, I sing in the

shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 63:7 (NIV)

                My husband was the manager of a propane company for many years and he often filled in for his drivers by delivering propane to homes. One customer, an elderly woman, had a small dog that was a constant irritation.

                Every time my husband would step out of his propane truck, the dog would begin nipping his ankles and legs. No amount of kicking at it or yelling would stop it from attacking. Every delivery to her home would result with rips in his work pants and cuts on his legs.

                Finally in complete frustration, he grabbed a wrench from the truck seat and thumped the dog on the head. It immediately yipped its way to the back of the house. “I thought THAT would take care of the problem,” he later told me.

                As soon as he reached the door and started to knock, he heard the dog yipping again as it came around the corner of the house – but this time a huge Doberman pincher was leading the way with the smaller dog close behind.

                “That little dog danced around under the back legs of the big dog as I stood pinned to the house until the lady came out to help,” he told me. “I swear it was taunting me and singing ‘Takin’ Care of Business.’ There was no way I could move” he went on.

                I can’t help but think of today’s Scripture in Psalm 63:7 when I think of that story. David understood the feeling of being attacked. But his attacker was King Saul and he didn’t want to simply nip David’s ankle – he wanted to kill him! Even so, David knew that no matter what came his way, God was his deliverer.

 

                And David also understood something else: he could sing praises of joy and deliverance in all circumstances because God was his protector watching over him, and defending his life.

                What are you facing that is nipping at your ankles every time you turn   around? What keeps you awake at night and rolls around in your mind all day? Absolutely nothing is bigger than God’s ability to handle it and to protect you. But we must seek His help by calling on His name.

                When we allow the Creator of the Universe to help us, we too can sing from the shadow and protection of His wings.

                Father, thank you for protecting me in the shadow of your wings as you watch over my every need. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

•  Have you had a problem or situation that has been on your mind constantly and you can’t  get rid of it?

•  Did you call on the Lord to help you? Why or why not?

Application

•  In your journal draw a picture of huge wings.

•  Now list every problem, worry or situation you are facing under the picture of those wings and praise the Lord for His protection as you sing in His shadow.

Power Verses

•   Psalm 63:7 (NIV) “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

•   Nahum 1:7 (NIV) “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. . .”

•   II Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Even In the Silence

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be

afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

 “Mommy, come!” I heard the little voice call. My two-year old son had an answer ready each time I walked in his room and said “What do you need, sweetie?”

A drink. His blankie. A hug. Another hug. Just one more song.

After several evenings of him calling repeatedly and my going to his crib, I knew something had to change. I had tried reminding him with each request that he already had a drink of water and his blankie was in his bed with him; that we had hugged three times and sung two extra songs.

But nothing worked. He continued to repeat “Mommy, come!” again and again and again as soon as I left his room.

My husband and I realized that our son really didn’t need another drink or song or hug. He simply needed to be sure that, in the darkness of the night when he could not see us, we were still close by. So we decided on a nighttime routine.

When it was time for bed, we carried our little one into his bedroom, prayed over him, hugged him and whispered “Night night. Mommy and Daddy are going to bed, too. We love you. See you in the morning,” and smiled as we shut his door.

And, even though it was extremely hard, we did not go back in when we heard that precious voice calling. Of course we were still listening. Of course we peeked into his room after he fell asleep. Of course we were always there, even though he couldn’t see or hear us during the night.

But he needed to learn to trust that, even though we didn’t come the second he called, we would come. And he did.

In the morning, when I heard that sweet “Mommy, come!” I could not wait to open the door and sweep him up in my arms and say “Here I am!” as I covered him with hugs and kisses.

We are a lot like my son, aren’t we? The “darkness” of a job loss or a crisis in marriage or a prodigal child or an illness hits and we panic when our Father does not fix everything immediately when we call.

And the silence? The horrible silence? We often panic and mistake the silence from God as His not caring or hearing and we wrestle with fear of the unknown and discouragement.

But look at today’s Scripture. The Lord tells us that he will always go before us, no matter what journey we are on and he will never – repeat – never leave us. He is there, in the silence, loving us enough to teach us to trust Him with our very lives; knowing that we must learn that His timing is always perfect.

We need to remember that no matter what we are facing, the God of the Universe is still beside us, listening and loving. Even though we don’t see Him. Even though we don’t hear Him.

I encourage you to hold on through the night. That’s when we learn to trust that our Father has not left us. He is near. He is watching over us. Even in the silence.

Father, help me to trust that you will never leave me, whether it’s in the darkest night or light of day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like God was far away and did not hear you when you called on Him?

• Were you filled with fear and panic or did you trust the Lord?

Application

• Journal and memorize today’s Key Scripture.

• When you struggle with fear, say Deuteronomy 31:8 aloud, placing “me” in place of “you” in the Scripture. Then thank Him for His faithfulness.

Power Verses

• Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

• Psalm 116:2 (NIV) “Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

• Psalm 77:2 (NIV) “When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.”

• Psalm 147:9 (NIV) “He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.”