Any Given Day: 29

Direction:

We begin as 2 cells that meet and divide into 4, then 16...

There is a clear path and desired outcome for about 9 months. We breathe oxygen for the first time, we get hungry, someone clothes us. Our life is a miracle, without question. We were put here for a purpose. We have strengths and talents that are designed to be cultivated over time and put to good use. We were created to bring glory to our Father and to serve man.

Along the way we get distracted. Our earthly wants over rule our spiritual needs. We set out to please others and be loved in return. We react with anger and harbor resentment when things don't go according to our plan. We fight against the natural order of things and assume our way is best. The struggle continues for some people until death. They string a trail of broken hearts and lost opportunities behind them like litter thrown from the car window.

We have been told by companies that want to sell us something what we should look like, wear and have. We get sucked into other people's ideas of what happiness is. All the while, God is waiting for us to know him. He wants us to turn to him and ask for directions. "What is your plan for me?" is a reasonable question to ask him. If you are feeling a loss of direction today, here is a prayer to can begin with:

Lord, my path is not clear. I believe you want what is best for me and sometimes in conflicts with my ideas. Please show me what you would have me do with my life. Point me in the direction I should go and light the path one step at a time. Keep my thoughts clear, my heart open, and my dreams within reach. May I do your will with courage and honor and with Jesus as my example. AMEN

Psalm 139:16

Any Given Day: 28

Fear.

There are only 2 basic emotions: Love and Fear

All other emotions are branches that reach out from them. Happiness, joy, pride, graciousness, generosity, gentleness, self control and the like, come from a basic feeling of Love. Love for God, love for one another, and love for one's self.

On the other side, anger, guilt, jealousy, animosity, revenge, self deprecation, accusation, abuse, and similar are the products of fear.

Fear is a survival mechanism that God gave us to keep us alive. It spurs us into a defensive mode and creates a landslide of physical and emotional changes designed to protect us. Fear in and of itself is not a bad thing. How we handle it, however, can be a problem.

The inability to recognize our fear, and acting out, creates the broken relationships we see all around us. Broken relationships with people we love, people we work with, and Jesus himself.

Jesus went through the scariest time any of us will ever face. Was He fearful? Without a doubt. Did he understand what the fear was? Absolutely. Did He act on his fear? No. He took His "punishment" like a man.

Today, take your negative emotions and really look at them. Ask yourself "What am I really afraid of?" Be honest with your answers and pray this prayer:

Lord, I am fearful. My experiences and situations are creating strong negative emotions that are bleeding on to others and my actions are damaging my relationships. It is time for me to take responsibility for my fear and rely on You for my safety and security. Help me, today, God, overcome my fear, so that I may become closer to you. Help me to let go of what I can not control. AMEN

1 John 4:18

Any Given Day: 27

Hope

How many times have we looked upon a situation with no hope? We worry and fret over what might happen as though our thoughts can change the outcome. Lack of hope sucks our energy, depresses our mood, and kills our motivation. "Why try?" we ask.

Hopefulness is the brother of faith. Knowing that God's will is what can and will be done allows us to relax, focus our attention on what we can do in the here and now, and let the chips fall as they may.

We want certain things. We meditate on them to the point of obsession. Hopefulness is an attractive virtue, and it is different from wishful thinking. We can wish for stuff, money, jobs, and for things to go our way. Hope requires a different perspective. Living hopefully means knowing everything we want isn't coming today, but we aren't getting down about it.

Living in the light, we can walk with a hopeful attitude, reminded always, that God has our best interests at heart. If we are living according to His plan, and really taking the time to get to know Him, we someday get to have it all!

For those whose sense of hope is waning:

Precious Father, I fear an uncertain future. Life is not right side up and I need your help. Show me what hope looks like, and remind me of the goodness of people and the greatness of Your Son! Help me to stay focused on Your plan instead of my own, so that I can walk with the assurance that a beautiful future awaits! AMEN

Romans 15:13

Any Given Day: 26

Relationships.

The first 4 commandments discuss what is expected in our relationship with God. The next 6 talk about our relationships with each other. They are simple, straightforward rules for living that we just can't seem to keep straight. Honor God, Honor each other. Period. Nothing else really matters.

Many assume that they need to die in order to "meet their maker". The bible clearly tells us, however, how important our relationship with God is right here and now! He is waiting expectantly for you to turn to him and relinquish control. He knows what is best, He knows what is in your heart, and He sees everything. You can't hide and you don't have to. He loves you and wants to be a part of your daily life.

How? By simply asking with humility and in some cases, complete brokenness. By honoring His Son, and accepting and confessing your sin, you immediately change not only your relationship with your maker, but your relationships with people as well. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you, family, friends, coworkers, and even perfect strangers will respond differently to you, and you to them. Defenses come down, humility reigns, and the right people become drawn to you.

Relationships with God, and people, take time, energy, and effort. The end result is a life worth living, however. Moses brought down the rules, and although we may not live them to perfection, God still loves us. When we accept Jesus, He resides in us. Everyone benefits and we all have something to gain: a new life, a new perspective, a second chance, and a best friend who will never let us down. A prayer for those who have lost sight of their relationships:

Lord, you are my closest companion. Teach me to rely on you for everything, and turn to you for the important decisions I face. Heal my life, my relationships, my mistakes, and turn my failures into the learning experience you intended them to be. I trust you, God, to show me the way. AMEN

Exodus 20:1-17

Any Given Day: 25

Generosity

An open hand also receives...

The things we have: money, jewelry, precious items, furniture, clothing, homes, cars. Heck we are even proud of our dishes! All of it is stuff and none of it matters. What is interesting is we always think we need more. If we just had this, then we would feel better about that...

In our quest to obtain more things, we forget about those who truly do have less. We hold on to our money tightly, fearing it will disappear. We keep buying stuff and end up storing it in garages and attics. Some of us even need to rent storage units!

God is very clear in many places in the bible that we only need so much. He challenges us to be generous instead of holding on and continually obtaining more. We can all be more generous, with our money, our time, and our resources. A great saying is "when you feel like you don't have enough money or time or stuff, give some away to someone who has less." You will immediately feel blessed!

God's rules for money are as follows: We are required to give 10% of our earnings back to the community. We are required to save 10% and invest it. The rest is ours. 80% is a big chunk. We really don't need all of that either.

The true measure of a person is not in what they have, but in what they give. Jesus gave His life up, inarguably the ultimate gift! Open up your hand and see if you don't receive. For those of you who have a little trouble with that one, here is a prayer:

Lord, you ask us to be generous, but it goes against conventional thought. Bless me as I give of my valuable resources today. Bless the time I spend working with others for their betterment instead of my own. Thank you for your generosity and the blessings you have bestowed upon me. Help me to see the ways you want me to share my gifts with others. Jesus paid the ultimate price. He was a King who wore peasant clothes and relied on the kindness of others for His meals. May He be my example! AMEN

Mark 9:41

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