Playing Dress Up

Playing Dress Up

1 Corinthians 15: ⁴⁵ For the scripture says, “The first man, Adam, was created a living being”; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit. ⁴⁶ It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first Adam, made of earth, came from the earth; the second Adam came from heaven. ⁴⁸ Those who belong to the earth are like the one who was made of earth; those who are of heaven are like the one who came from heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we wear the likeness of the man made of earth, so we will wear the likeness of the Man from heaven.

 

⁵⁰ What I mean, friends, is that what is made of flesh and blood cannot share in God's Kingdom, and what is mortal cannot possess immortality.

 

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“Clean the basement” was the directive given to us. My siblings and I started off doing the work, but the stuff down there was interesting. We found games and toys we hadn’t played with in a while. Then we found old clothes. I put on my father’s shoes, shirt and some pants and schlepped around, talking in the deepest 5 or 6 year old voice.

 

• The big shoes, that easily fell off my feet, reminds me of responsibility I could not keep.
• The big pants, that I clutched onto with my hands,  reminds me of security I tried to place on things.
• The big shirt, that drooped over my frail frame, reminds me of circumstances I could not control.

 

Paul continues to speak about the physical body. We wear it for a while, but one day we will wear the likeness of “The Man from heaven.” He provides encouragement that we can play dress up while on this earth.

 

My Observations

• JESUS wants me to know HE took care of the hard part when HE saved me from death.
• JESUS wants me to be excited about HIS resurrection.
• JESUS wants me to understand that HIS shoes are too big to be filled by my actions, but HE likes when I play dress up, mimicking HIS ways.

 

While I cannot die to save someone from eternal death, I can play dress up and show others a small portion of what JESUS did. I mean, HE prayed for people, wept with them and cared for everyone HE met. HE does not mind when I do the same.

 

GOD knows I am a child and sometimes the shoes my fall off or the pants I’m clutching onto may trip me up or the circumstances may roll off my small shoulders. BUT GOD loves the fact that I am playing dress up , trying to be like HIM. I am glad I cannot be GOD and equally glad HE doesn’t need me to. I am also grateful I can point people to JESUS by loving others as HE did.

 

Challenge

• What does “wearing the likeness” of JESUS make you think of?
• What things did JESUS do that you can mimic?
• Can you enjoy life again by playing dress up for JESUS, being free for just a little while today?

Greetings and Gratitude

 

Greetings and Gratitude

Romans 16: ³ I send greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in the service of Christ Jesus; ⁴ they risked their lives for me. I am grateful to them—not only I, but all the Gentile churches as well. ⁵ Greetings also to the church that meets in their house.

 

Greetings to my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first in the province of Asia to believe in Christ.

 

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“Why are you always smiling?” someone asked me in a mildly grumpy tone. I had to tell the truth. “I smile because of you.” I learned from someone, that a smile warms the heart and provides a nice entrance to any room. After a while, my team could feel how thankful I was, just by my smile.

 

• There have been people who greeted me with thanksgiving.
• There have been people who seemed grateful for me and made me feel good.
• There have been people who have worked hard for me and I needed to show my gratitude towards them.

 

Paul shows his gratitude in his greeting. This strange breech of protocol has Paul greeting people in the middle of the letter versus at the beginning. With few words, Paul greets Priscilla and Aquilla and tells everyone about their strong faith in the LORD. He also mentions Epaenetus, a bold person who was first to believe in JESUS in the province of Asia.

 

• GOD wants me to greet people with thanksgiving.
• GOD wants me to value what people have done for the LORD.
• GOD wants me to mention people to others and explain their service to the LORD.

 

Genuine people I have met seem to shy away from bragging. I mean, they are too busy being genuine, that they have no time to speak for themselves. GOD wants me to mention these people to others, in a thankful way. HE also wants me to mention their dedication to the LORD so they can be encouraged. I am grateful to all who believe and wonder if GOD sees them. HE does see you.

 

• Are you grateful for someone?
• Does your heart bubble over with joy when you see “that” person?
• Will you mention how grateful you are to those who are serving the LORD today?

It is About You

 

It is About You

Romans 10: ⁵ Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the Law: “Whoever obeys the commands of the Law will live.” ⁶ But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this: “You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down). ⁷ “Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below?” (that is, to bring Christ up from death). ⁸ What it says is this: “God's message is near you, on your lips and in your heart”—that is, the message of faith that we preach. 

 

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Cruising at a very nice speed, I was beating everybody on the road. When I was pulled over, I quickly thought of my defense. “What about them?” I asked, not knowing where I was going with that argument. “Yes, they are speeding, but it is you who was caught speeding.”

 

• When I am in trouble I want other people to go down with me.
• When I am caught doing wrong, I want a group to be caught with me.
• When I want something that someone else has, I question, “Why them and not me?”

 

Paul tries to address a seriously diseased way of thinking. “Will that person go to heaven or hell?”” was the type of questioning that could get any human in trouble. Paul then gives the best alternative. Speak for yourself.

 

• GOD wants me to hear HIS message and place it in my heart.
• GOD wants me to speak HIS message to anyone who will hear.
• GOD wants me to have faith in HIS message so I will continue to speak about HIM.

 

Looking around at others, trying to decide if they believe in JESUS or not is impossible for any human. I mean, many people who speak and preach HIS name weekly may not know HIM in a saving way, but a greedy way.

 

On the other hand, that person who is a regular sinner, known by the community as a liar and a thief, may be GOD’s greatest example. Ask the thief on the cross. The only assignment GOD gives me is to speak about HIS SON, who took care of all my sins. I am grateful HE is gracious enough to give HIS message to me.

 

• Are you looking at “those” poor lost people?
• Do “they” need to be saved because of something ”you” saw them do?
• Will you stop judging others and include yourself by saying “I” am a sinner who needs salvation today?

Assured Thanks

 

Assured Thanks

Acts 27: ³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. ³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” ³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. ³⁷ Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ³⁸ When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

 

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Everyone around me said encouraging words. “You will get the position” they all said. Some of them were people who knew the decision makers. I was excited and full of praise and thanks. But there was one person who said “You may or you may not get the position.” Why did the person say “May not?” Now my praise and thanks turned to a slight bit of doubt.

 

• There were times when I had more doubt than confidence.
• There were times when my prayers were full of fear.
• There were times when I really wanted to believe something that was a promise, but was uncertain.

 

Paul urged the crew to eat. Many had probably given up hope. Paul, knowing what GOD told him, encouraged everyone that they would be safe. He was so sure, he gave thanks to GOD and ate in front of everyone. They joined in because they were encouraged.

 

• GOD wants me to be sure of HIS promises.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for what HE has already done.
• GOD wants me to be encouraged by HIS plan for me.

 

Human’s define success through sinful eyes. I mean, everyone has to be healthy, wealthy and all lusts fulfilled to meet the standards of success set by humans. BUT GOD has a different measure of success. “If you give even a cup of water to MY littles ones, you are MY disciple and will not lose your reward.”

 

Being thankful means I have already received the reward and I am thankful for it. I may not see it yet, but I have faith that GOD will do just as HE says. I can be assured, so I give thanks to GOD.

 

• Do you know GOD’s promises yet you doubt HIS love for you?
• Do you have fear for the upcoming situation?
• Will you give GOD assured thanks, knowing HE has a plan that looks different than you think, but is great for you and those around you today?

Thankful

Thankful

John 17: ⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ⁷ Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. ⁸ For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

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Remembering the bonuses of the past, I was excited to open the check. It was much lower than it had ever been. My excitement immediately went away. I had worked pretty hard that year and could see no reason for the deficit. I was not happy.

• I wanted to trade in my thankfulness for a complaint.
• I expected more when I should have expected nothing.
• I based my happiness on what I could see, rather than knowing what was really happening.

JESUS speaks to the FATHER about HIS disciples. But the words really point out just how far JESUS went to help them.

• GOD wants me to know that JESUS made HIS name known to me.
• GOD wants me to know that JESUS gave me the words that came from the FATHER.
• GOD wants me to know that JESUS came from the FATHER who sent HIM to save me.

Getting back to the bonus. I asked about the lower amount the next day. “The company did not do as well this year, however, you got the highest  in the department” the person said. I was angry when I should have been thankful. Sometimes I treat GOD the same way.

JESUS went out of HIS way to make sure humans would return back to HIM. I must receive JESUS’ words and believe HE came from the FATHER, just as HE said. This belief gives me a thankful heart. I drop my complaints and praise GOD for what HE does. I am thankful.

• Are you thankful?
• Will you be able to look at what GOD has done for you today?
• Will you allow GOD to open your eyes to HIS blessings and thank HIM today?

Same Wage

Matthew 20: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

³ “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. ⁶ About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

⁷ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

⁹ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰ So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ¹² ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

¹⁶ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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“How are we getting the same pay?” I exclaimed in my mind. This guy does nothing but play golf and guess at things, then he comes to me for answers!

• I have been jealous over some else’s position.
• I have been upset over someone else’s rewards.
• I have been envious when someone gets treated the same as me for doing less.

JESUS says “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” This story sounded unfair at first but HE was speaking of the kingdom of heaven in which no one deserved it at all. In heaven people will look over at me and say “How in the world did this person get in?”

JESUS wants me to accept my wages gratefully, so much so that I go out and recruit more workers for the vineyard.

• Are you jealous over what others are receiving?
• Do you feel that you should have more and are mad at GOD?
• Can you drop your anger and allow GOD to bless you and receive thanks from you?

Is this how you repay ME?

Amos 2: ¹⁰ I brought you up out of Egypt
    and led you forty years in the wilderness
    to give you the land of the Amorites.

¹¹ “I also raised up prophets from among your children
    and Nazirites from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
¹² “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
    and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

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Swish, I went to the ground in front of the bus! The driver had just started to pull off and suddenly stopped in the nick of time. I was not harmed. “Hey!” someone cried out to me to get my attention just before I stepped into traffic. I was not harmed. A car in which I had two total loss accidents was now in its third and final accident. I was not harmed.

• I have had many close calls in my life.
• I have had some very narrow escapes in my life.
• I have had several brushes with death in my life.

During the incident I don’t think I got scared, but afterwards I shuttered with fear. I may have become a little more cautious when standing on a snowy bus stop. Safety became top of mind as I plodded along with new fears. BUT GOD saw I was missing the lesson.

• GOD does not save me to be safe rather HE wants me to have a relationship with HIM.
• GOD does not protect me from harm for nothing rather HE wants me to serve HIM.
• GOD does not answer my prayers just to give me “my” way rather HE wants me to align my desires to HIS in order to grow HIS kingdom.

The one thing I did not do in the incidents mentioned is “Thank GOD” for HIS protection. HE enabled me to be safe in many instances so I can speak about HIM this day. Unfortunately there have been times where I have forgotten that I am HIS creation.

I kept stacking up demands and requests, not serving or praising HIM, meanwhile HE allowed me to keep ignoring HIM until I was in deep trouble. Fortunately for me GOD is slow to anger. HE listens when I truly turn my heart towards HIS. I can actually hear GOD’s pain as HE mentions HIS salvation of when we were brought out of the desert. GOD deserves my praise!

• Are you demanding GOD to get you out of your situation?
• Do you feel HE is ignoring you?
• Will you allow HIM to guide you back to HIM by praising HIM today?
• Will you take a moment to thank HIM today for all HE has done in your life?
• Have you ask GOD for your purpose yet?

Being Useful

Ezekiel 15: The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? ³ Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? ⁴ And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? ⁵ If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?

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With lack of care, I tossed the box of paper to whatever location it landed. I did not appreciate the job, but I liked getting a paycheck. Loading and unloading a truck was not my idea of a job. In fact any job at that time was not my idea of a job.

• There were times that I did not care.
• There were times that I felt everyone owed me something.
• There were times that I looked down on where I was even when I was not worthy of being where I was.

Talk about being useless to the organization. I wanted to hide from “work” as much as possible. In fact, whenever someone was ready to goof off, I was there with my goof shoes on. I was getting paid to unload trucks and did not appreciate one minute. GOD had to show me something about myself.

• GOD said to me “Like a door on its hinges, a lazy man turns back and forth on his bed.”
• GOD said to me “Lazy people are too lazy to lift the food from their plate to their mouth.”
• GOD said to me “Lazy people think they are seven times smarter than the people who really have good sense.”

My laziness was useless to the company and sometimes my laziness crept into my relationship with GOD. I mean sometimes I was too tired to pray or too busy to serve or too broke to give. After a while I took an inventory and was doing everything for myself and nothing for GOD. In fact, GOD was dead last in my life and I was on top.

GOD wants me to put HIM first and others second before I get to myself. HE wants me to hold HIM with the highest regard and ask “What would YOU like me to do?” on a regular basis. My life is definitely HIS to do as HE wishes. I should be thankful on a daily basis.

• Are you grousing and complaining?
• Are you sick and tired of where you are?
• Can you stop complaining and start appreciating where GOD has you?
• Will you allow GOD to work in your life by asking HIM where HE wants you?

Odd Path to Praise

Psalm 113: ¹ Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
    praise the name of the Lord.
² Let the name of the Lord be praised,
    both now and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

⁴ The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.
⁵ Who is like the Lord our God,
    the One who sits enthroned on high,
⁶ who stoops down to look
    on the heavens and the earth?

⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
⁸ he seats them with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He settles the childless woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

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As I watched the plane takeoff I felt like I was going to lose my job as the partner of the company sat with an empty seat next to him that was supposed to be mine. As I watched my finger being stitched I felt the pain racing through my body due to me touching the end of my hedge trimmers. As I picked up the pieces of my totaled car I wondered how I was going to get to work that day or any day for that matter.

• There are times where I am shocked by life.
• There are times where it seems like things go wrong in my life.
• There are times when I look out and see nothing but the immediate calamity.

Problems can sometimes seem very hard and harsh. My mind starts racing and I quickly try to figure out a solution but sometimes I can’t think of one. When the problem hits I have two choices, blame GOD or praise HIM.

• GOD wants me to have a relationship with HIM where there is no blaming HIM for the way HE loves me.
• GOD wants me to understand that “blame” is one of the problems HE would like to fix within me so HE can replace it with grace.
• GOD wants me to know without a shadow of a doubt that HE always has my best interest in mind and HE does not need to be manipulated.

GOD knew every situation HE has taken me through and looking back I am very glad I went through each. My blinded eye on that I placed on the job with the partner would have left me at a place that no longer exists. My fingers are still wiggling even though they could have been cut off and the totaled car was a death trap and my roommate and I walked away without a scratch.

I have a lot to praise GOD for and I have learned over the years that the sooner I can praise HIM the better. GOD deserves my praise no matter what because HE is guiding me to a better place!

• Are you blaming GOD or praising HIM?
• Are you looking at your situation or looking at GOD?
• Are you ready to grow or has the last situation taken you down?
• Can you praise GOD today in the middle of your storm, knowing HE has an awesome plan for you?

In it for the long haul

2 Thessalonians 3: ¹³ And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

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 It seemed like nothing was going well for me that year. With bills piled high and demands piling higher, I felt nervous about the future.  Maybe I should be “good” I thought to myself. I mean if GOD see how good I have been then maybe I can be done with this trial. Months later I was still in the trial and I decided to give up on being “good.” I mean what “good” is it anyway?

• When things are going wrong I look for immediate relief.
• When things aren’t going the way I want them to I seek a way out of the trial.
• When things are failing I may consult GOD but not trust HIM enough to let go of the test.

It seems like I start acting “good” when things are difficult. Maybe that’s why I face difficulty more and more. BUT GOD wants me to do “good” whether things are going well or not.

• When I have plenty GOD wants me to share.
• When I have few GOD wants me to praise.
• When I have blessings GOD wants me to show gratitude.
• When I have failures GOD wants me to seek grace.

“Good” guys actually do finish last but last is the best in GOD’s mind. HE did not find it a problem to become a lowly servant to me and HE wants me to feel the same. Wait a minute, what about healthy competition or fighting back? Well, in every situation I need to carry GOD with me, competing fairly and standing for what is right.

GOD wants me to be “good” showing love to draw people to HIM. I should do what is good not to get my way but for GOD to get HIS way.

• Are you trying to manipulate GOD by doing good?
• Are you getting tire of always being the “good” one?
• Can you stop trying too hard and understand GOD loves your actions, large and small?
• Won’t you do ”good” strictly to have GOD glorified?

I tried to disown GOD but it didn’t work.

Luke 15:  ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

   ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

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“Fun” was my goal and GOD was my barrier. HE had all these “rules” and it seemed like life was going to be miserable following HIM.  What boredom! The goody, goody two shoes people seemed to get trampled on while others seem to get away with whatever they wanted to. I know… I’ll just do what I want to do. I mean GOD won’t mind will HE?

• It’s easy to disown GOD until a real problem hits.
• It’s easy to tell GOD ‘I don’t need YOU’ when “I” think everything is going well.
• It’s easy to let sin creep into my life when my relationship with GOD is weak.            

Just like the son in this story, I blamed others for my situation and felt I deserved a little sin in my life. I mean look at what being good got “that” person. My selfishness said I didn’t want to end up broke, bored and bothered. But GOD said something different.

• When problems hit GOD had HIS arms wide open and showed me unimaginable grace.
• When I practiced my sad story I was going to tell HIM, HE already had forgiven me.
• When I realized I was guilty, HE showed me mercy.

GOD is always, always ready to forgive me when I realize I need to be forgiven.

• Are you blaming GOD for something?
• Can you accept the situation HE has you in so you can be an example for HIM?
• Will you recognize the grace HE is showing you right now?

Be Grateful by Walter Hawkins

Be Grateful
Be Grateful
God has not promised me sunshine
That's not the way it's going to be
But a little rain (A little rain)
Mixed with God's sunshine
A little pain (A little pain)
Makes me appreciate the
good times

Be Grateful Grateful
Be Grateful Grateful
God desires to feel your longing
Every pain that you feel
He feels them just like you (Just like you)
But he had to die to make you feel only good (Only good)
Then you can appreciate the good times

Be Grateful Grateful
Be Grateful Be Grateful
Because there's someone else who's worse off than you
Be Grateful (Be Grateful)
Because there's someone else who'd love to be in your shoes

Be Grateful ( Be Grateful)Lord God save us
Be Grateful (Be GratefulBe Grateful (Be Grateful) (*repeated several times)

For giving me your light
Be Grateful (Be Grateful)
Even through the hard times, the good times too
Be Grateful (Be Grateful)
God said in his words that he lived and died
Be Grateful (Be Grateful)Be Grateful (Be Grateful) (*repeated several times)

Be Grateful He wants us to be grateful
For giving me your light