I went to look for some carpet this week, couldn't make a decision, and ended up in the garden center. I found some unhealthy looking flowering plants that had been priced at $10. It appeared that they had gotten too much rain lately. So instead of repotting them or bringing them inside, the plants were sold for 50 cents each. I couldn't pass up 95% off, so I bought two.
The plants dripped all the way to the car. I placed them in a plastic box in the trunk and took them home. The next day, with nice sunny weather, I trimmed off the old petals and damaged leaves. I dug a couple of holes and planted them in my flower garden, hoping they would recover.
Someone in the parking lot told me about these inexpensive plants. She planted the idea or 'seed' and I ran with it. I could invest very little and perhaps get a beautiful addition to my garden.
Mark 4:26-27 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how."
I wonder how often I miss the small investments I could make in people. I need to look for those little opportunities to spread the seed (God's Word) and then let God take care of the rest. It would be like telling someone about the most fabulous deal ever and letting them run with it.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Getting Unstuck
I've been fascinated this week with the many apps available to help people get organized. Whether it is used to take notes, keep time, track progress or map out a plan, there seems to be an app for everything. The one that entertained me most was one named "Unstuck". The app is designed to ask questions to help you uncover the reason you are unable to finish a project. Here are some of the questions: How are you feeling in this stuck moment? Is it a personal or professional type of stuck? Are you the only one involved? What are you stuck on now? What kind of thoughts are you having now? What are you doing at this moment?
After answering these questions, the app analyzes your responses and identifies a tool to help you get past this stuck place in your project. I was labeled an Idle Achiever. (We like knowing what’s right and what’s wrong—it’s our compass for life. We can size up any situation and immediately know how to fix it. That’s why we’re often put in charge of people and projects. Quick, decisive, confident: Yup, that’s us! Until…we get ahead of ourselves. Then our best laid plans simply lie there, and we’re stuck being idle achievers.) Kind of sounds like me, too many projects left undone.
As I answered the questions in the app, I realized that I already knew why I was stuck and how to get unstuck. It's an awful lot like those times when our lives are not quite on track. We try to find someone to tell us what to do with a cool book, a new program or a trendy app. In reality, all we need to get unstuck is to pray and use our Bible for guidance. After all it's our 'Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth'.
II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
A Taxing Time
Every year during tax season, I read article after article
about how our taxes are squandered in various ways. Whether through social
programs, pork funding, or the deficit, each viewpoint identifies what
is being done wrong. It can leave a person feeling misled and cheated.
Taxes have been around since before the Egyptian Pharaohs were directing the building of the Great Pyramids. Even during Jesus' time on earth, the tax question came up. Should we pay taxes?
Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
In Matthew 17:27, Jesus paid taxes on behalf of himself and Peter (remember the coin in the mouth of the fish?). So, yes we should pay taxes. But what about all of the articles about how our taxes are mishandled? I wonder if anything is being done correctly? There must be something. The United States of America is a wonderful place to live and work. Our taxes pay for things like schools, roads, hospitals, the military, the infrastructure of our cities, police and fire departments, and other services we take for granted.
So as I prepare my tax returns, I will remember that I'm giving to Caesar the things that are his, AND I'm giving to God the things that are HIS. Caesar's things are temporary and may make our lives on earth more comfortable, but God's things are eternal and will make our futures phenomenal!
P.S. If you are interested in how your taxes money was spent in recent years, check out http://www.whitehouse.gov/2011-taxreceipt and http://www.wheredidmytaxdollarsgo.com/.
Taxes have been around since before the Egyptian Pharaohs were directing the building of the Great Pyramids. Even during Jesus' time on earth, the tax question came up. Should we pay taxes?
Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
In Matthew 17:27, Jesus paid taxes on behalf of himself and Peter (remember the coin in the mouth of the fish?). So, yes we should pay taxes. But what about all of the articles about how our taxes are mishandled? I wonder if anything is being done correctly? There must be something. The United States of America is a wonderful place to live and work. Our taxes pay for things like schools, roads, hospitals, the military, the infrastructure of our cities, police and fire departments, and other services we take for granted.
So as I prepare my tax returns, I will remember that I'm giving to Caesar the things that are his, AND I'm giving to God the things that are HIS. Caesar's things are temporary and may make our lives on earth more comfortable, but God's things are eternal and will make our futures phenomenal!
P.S. If you are interested in how your taxes money was spent in recent years, check out http://www.whitehouse.gov/2011-taxreceipt and http://www.wheredidmytaxdollarsgo.com/.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Better than Gold
Last Sunday evening our church presented each first grader with their very own Bible. Even though my first grader was too shy to participate, our pastor presented a Bible to over 50 children. He then asked the parents to help their child find Psalm 119:162.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.
Pastor Jeff Crook kept everyone's attention by having a large treasure chest up on the stage. To explain what kind of treasure he had just given the children, Pastor Jeff opened the treasure chest and gave one of the best object lessons I've ever seen. For each object he pulled out, he shared a Bible verse. I was expecting the bread, milk, and a few others, but I was quite surprised when the first object he pulled out was a real sword! He continued his lesson showing us 10 ways the Bible is our treasure.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.
Pastor Jeff Crook kept everyone's attention by having a large treasure chest up on the stage. To explain what kind of treasure he had just given the children, Pastor Jeff opened the treasure chest and gave one of the best object lessons I've ever seen. For each object he pulled out, he shared a Bible verse. I was expecting the bread, milk, and a few others, but I was quite surprised when the first object he pulled out was a real sword! He continued his lesson showing us 10 ways the Bible is our treasure.
- God's Word is a Sword (protecting you) Hebrews 4:12
- God's Word is a Mirror (showing the real you) James 1:23-25
- God's Word is a Hammer (breaking down, building up) Jeremiah 23:29
- God's Word is Fire (in your heart) Jeremiah 23:29; 20:9
- God's Word is Light (to show the way) Psalm 119:105
- God's Word is Water (to cleanse us) Ephesians 5:26
- God's Word is Milk (helping us grow) I Peter 2:2
- God's Word is Bread (for life) Matthew 4:4
- God's Word is Seed (with no corruption) I Peter 1:23
- God's Word is Better than Gold Psalm 119:127
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