Any Given Day: 24

True Love

The word love gets thrown around a lot. We love to sleep in, we love a new song, we love the neighbors' new car, we love football, food, and fun! When it comes to loving others, it gets tricky.

Love is an action verb. Many people feel it is an abstract feeling of warm fuzzies, however that may be the end result, but it is not love itself. Love is not something you say, it is something you do! You show love, you make love, you provide love. Talking about it is icing on the cake.

A person who says they love someone, but turns around and says and does hurtful things, isn't loving anyone, particularly themselves. God is very clear on what love is and is not. Jesus loved us enough to die for us. Men and women in the military love their country enough to put their lives on the line. We give money to those who have less because we love people.

Sacrifice without compromising ourselves is Love.

Giving without thought of reward is Love.

Everything else is like at best, and manipulation at worst.

God, help me to show love today. Help me to see who truly loves me, and who just needs to have the upper hand. Keep me focused on goodness and light, and sharing it with those that I care about. Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son to die. AMEN

1 Corinthians 4:7

Any Given Day: 23

Persecution

Why is it that we feel the need to persecute others? When someone's way of thinking is different from ours, we immediately assume they are wrong and we are right. We base our judgement on our own reality. We scoff at their ideas, their beliefs, and their convictions. The news media perpetuates this phenomenon and it polarizes our society. Go figure...

I think we tread in dangerous territory when we start dismissing other people's beliefs and opinions because they do not match our own. Especially when it results in intolerance and a hostile attitude. Persecution is always based in fear. The more vigorously someone is pushing their opinions on others and chopping down someone else's views, the more it indicates that person's own insecurities and need for attention.

It is one thing to stand firm in your belief. It is another to persecute someone else for theirs. We need to educate ourselves and listen to the other side carefully. If we don't, it will ultimately kill the relationship. God never asks us to agree with each other on everything. There are fundamental truths to His laws, yes. The rest are details in a very big picture.

Every religion has been persecuted at various times in history. Every politician and public figure is at risk of being persecuted. Writers, poets, musicians, artists, comedians, and the like get persecuted in the public eye. They may not get stoned to death, but public humiliation and a damaged reputation are the end result.

Let's take a little time to listen to the other side. Empathize and try to understand. If you are going to state your position, double check your facts. Then if you still don't agree with what others have to say, or you are being persecuted for your thoughts, pray this prayer:

Heavenly Father, Your truths are written. Our truths are a combination of fear and misinformation when we do not submit to Your authority. Help me to teach others without preaching and stay silent when my views will not be well received. Strike my false judgment when someone does not agree with me, and teach me to be tolerant and respectful of those whose opinions differ from mine. Jesus was persecuted enough for all of us! AMEN

Matthew 5:1-12

Any Given Day: 22

Beauty.

Our definition of beauty is shaped by many things. By the age of 5, we have our definitions in place. We look around and see beauty in different places for different reasons. We may stop for a moment and marvel at a sunrise. A sweet melody can elicit a wonderful memory. A new friendship can be a beautiful thing. Physical attractiveness in another person, or a horse running across a green pasture can stop us in our tracks. Cars and houses can be considered things of beauty.

What we define as beautiful isn't as important as the appreciation of it. Taking the time to appreciate beauty is something that God asks us to do. Recognizing His handy work and giving credit to Him can play a big part in how we perceive both beauty and ugliness.

We all know people who are beautiful on the outside and ugly on the inside. After a few encounters, the individual no longer looks quite as attractive and eventually their company is not pleasurable. Of course we are all attracted to physically beautiful things, however, we must stop to take into consideration what that beauty represents. ( Satan loves to use beautiful things to keep us apart from God.) Our desire to own and control beautiful possessions can overthrow common sense and perspective. We place too much importance on the wrong things...

We spend large amounts time and money trying to improve our own physical appearance, when really, our self worth has nothing to do with what we look like. God created us in His image, therefore we are beautiful. It really is that simple! Jesus was the most beautiful person ever created. Crowds were drawn to Him everywhere He went, and no doubt He radiated light and goodness. He was dirty from walking for hours at a time, and there is no evidence that he stopped to comb his hair before speaking, yet He was attractive.

Today, when your mind gets full of judgements about physical appearance, pray this prayer:

Lord, You created me with a beautiful person in mind! Allow the Holy Spirit to work within me, and refresh my inner loveliness so that others may see it. Help me to dismiss my earthly ideas of what my appearance should be like so that I may focus on serving you to the best of my ability. I know that is what ultimately makes a person beautiful, just like Jesus! AMEN

Proverbs 19:22

Any Given Day: 21

Hypocrisy

Anyone who calls another person a hypocrite immediately becomes one. Those who throw stones usually are the ones who live in the glass houses. They are eager to point fingers and dwell on the flaws of others, rarely stopping long enough to examine their own behavior. Even with the best of intentions, many of us spend our time and energy doling out advice and telling people what they should do, how they should think, and who they should be.

We are all hypocrites to a certain degree. Our time and energy is better spend working on becoming more Christlike, rather than telling others how to. Of course, some of us are lead by God to discuss His truths. The difference is that when people seek our council, buy our publications, and tune into our shows in order to better themselves, they are asking for guidance. It is voluntary collection of information.

The best bet is not to offer advice unless it is asked for. This is something that takes practice. (Particularly for us codependent types who are compelled to solve other people problems for them.) Regardless, the most important thing to remember is that we are all sinners, and we will all be judged by God. Only Jesus was perfect, and it's ok to get tripped up. Just be careful about pointing out someone else's failures!

Dear God, help me to recognize where my soul needs work. Remind me that it is not my job to fix other people, but to love and support them. I trust You to do the work in them. Thank you for loving me and helping me grow, even if it is painful sometimes. Help me to love others as You do. In Jesus' name, AMEN

Isaiah 29:13-14

Any Given Day: 20

Forgiveness

This is a tough one. Some people are more open to forgiveness than others. Sometimes it takes a long time. Some never forgive and harbor anger and resentment the rest of their days. They walk around, head down, bitter and beaten.

We all get to a point in our lives where we have been hurt by another person so bad, and our grief is so painful, even the most mundane tasks seem impossible. We try to process what has been done, only to come up empty. Thoughts twirl and swirl in our head, we feel lost and hopeless... then we get angry. Shoving the anger down and pretending it isn't there isn't a viable solution. It will surface eventually. Many times with no warning! Then it gets ugly.

As a vital part of the healing process, anger is a defense mechanism that provides us with energy and momentum for a while. The problem is that if we hang on to it too long, it turns on us like a rabid animal. Our anger doesn't hurt the people that we are angry at, it hurts us! Jesus is very clear about forgiveness of others. When asked about how many times we should forgive the same person, his reply was "Seventy times seven." Pretty sure that wasn't the answer Peter wanted to hear.

Forgiveness requires giving up control of the situation. We think we will be viewed as weak. However the opposite is true. It takes great strength to forgive the people who hurt us. As Jesus was hanging on the cross, He asked God to forgive the people who were mocking him. We need to remember that God forgives us for everything we ask, and we in turn must forgive others. Even the Lord's prayer that many of us recited daily as kids addresses this issue.

You can not heal and grow as a person until forgiveness is possible. Be patient and pray this simple prayer:

Lord, forgive me for my anger and hostility today. I am in pain because of the actions of someone else. Free me from my addiction to control of this situation. Allow me to forgive and move on. Remind me to stay focused on the present and not the past. Thank you for sending Jesus, so that we will all be forgiven. AMEN

Matthew 18:21-35

Any Given Day: 19

Guilt

Overwhelmed with guilt? Sometimes it feels like it is coming from all sides! It is a destructive emotion that can eat away at our sense of self worth and we lose our self respect. Our fear dictates guilt. Fear of losing people we love because of our actions. Fear of not being able to change present circumstances, and fear that we will never measure up!

There are two types of guilt. True guilt is an objective fact based on real circumstance. Perceived guilt is the feeling of the pain of rejection. Both can be powerful motivators for change, but they can not build and encourage and inspire.

So how do we stop feeling guilty? For true guilt, make amends, fix what damage that we can, and move on. Perceived guilt is a little trickier because it is conditioned in us from an early age. People surround us who are experts at illiciting that feeling in us. We just can't ever seem to do anything right. Somehow we must understand that this is their way of managing their own guilt, by projecting it on to us. Some of us have been a victim of this for so long, we have actually come to believe that we are the guilty ones.

Regardless of what kind of guilt you are feeling today, the prayer is the same:

Lord in Heaven, You created us in Your image. My free will gets me into trouble time and time again. Help me to understand what my feelings of guilt really are! Help me to look at my self worth through Your eyes instead of my own. Guide me in understanding the powerful motivation that Satan has in keeping my guilt front and center. It keeps me from being closer to You and those that I love. Your Son bore the burden of all my sins, God. I am forgiven by You by Your grace and awesome power. It is time for me to forgive myself. It may be the hardest thing I ever have to do. AMEN

Romans 8:1

Any Given Day: 18

Jealousy

The fastest way to turn a beautiful person ugly? Watch that person become jealous. We all have experienced jealousy in our lifetime. Their stuff is better, their body is better, they have more money, more power, more friends...

Our jealousy is a window into our own insecurities. We size ourselves up against others and measure out our self worth. We base our happiness on how we look, what we have, who we are married to, the list goes on!

As we get older, part of the maturing process is to understand that we are all given gifts and talents and abilities that make us unique. Judging ourselves based on anything other than what is God-given is not healthy.

Jealousy turned into actions and words is sour grapes. It becomes obvious, very quickly, that adults who covet other people's earthly things, are struggling with their own self image. They may even fixate on them it to the point of mental instability. A prayer for those who are struggling:

Lord, one of your commandments given to humans early on is to not covet our neighbor. This is so hard to do! Please direct my attention to the beauty and loveliness that is mine. Teach me to cultivate and magnify the gifts you have given me. Strike the harsh words and thoughts from my mind that are perpetuated by the ugliness of jealousy. You alone are the jealous one, and Jesus alone is the one we should strive to be more like! AMEN

James 3:14-16