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You Are More Important Than You Realize

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You Are More Important Than You Realize

You Are More Important Than You Realize 

It’s notable to mention that it is highly likely that you are more important than you realize.  I would venture to guess that your gifts and the roles that you play probably hold far more weight in the kingdom of God than you probably give them credit for.  One day when we stand before God and give an answer for how we used our gifts and fulfilled our purpose, it will be exciting to see the magnitude of our influence here on this earth.  I believe that God thinks that YOU are a pretty big deal! 😉 

You are more important than you realize. God thinks that YOU are a pretty big deal!

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As we are coming to the close of a school year, it’s a good reminder for educators, staff, students, and parents alike. I’ve mentioned it before and the same is true now…you might be making a difference in the lives of others without even realizing it.

You and your gifts are necessary

God has given each and every person here on this earth a unique set of gifts and a purpose to fulfill.  Each gift and purpose is vital to God’s plan.  In fact, the Bible uses the analogy of a body and its different parts to demonstrate this point.  Each part of the body is necessary in order for the body to function properly (as God intended), and each God-given gift, role, and purpose is necessary in order for God’s kingdom, or the “body of Christ”, to function properly.

We are the body of Christ, and just as a body has many parts, so does the body of Christ.  The parts are placed exactly where God wants them (1 Corinthians 12:18).  Our gifts are part of this body.  There are a lot of them, and they all have different functions.  They all work together as part of a whole.  Every part is necessary.  We need all of the parts, just like God needs all of our gifts.

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…” Romans 12:4-6 (NLT)

It’s tempting, but unwise, to compare our gifts with those of others

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Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength

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Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT)

There are times in every Christian’s life when we feel weak, lacking strength, overwhelmed, tired, and/or depleted. We tend to exhaust everything we know to do in our own power. Therein lies the problem…“our own power”. We often try to do life on our own and don’t rely on God enough. There comes a point when our own efforts are not sufficient, and our own strength becomes exhausted. God wants us to know that and be confident to proclaim that “GOD IS MY STRENGTH”.

Some battles and things we face in life were never meant to be faced on our own. We NEVER win a spiritual battle with natural strength.

“…be strong IN THE LORD and IN HIS mighty power…” Ephesians 6:10 (NIV) emphasis mine

There are scriptures that will remind us that we don’t need to rely on our own strength and attempt to do everything ourselves. Instead, we need to look to God for support. (See also this prayer for strength.)

When we need strength, or need strength renewed, we need to look to the Lord. These scriptures will remind us that God will supply and renew our strength in times of need. In fact, he IS our strength!

We never win a spiritual battle with natural strength. #TheLordisMyStrength

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Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength:

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Looking Back With Gratitude

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Looking Back With Gratitude

I’m a little late in getting this post written and posted since we’re already into February. Even though this is a bit of a “year in review” post, I feel like some of the elements and principles discussed may still be useful for some people regardless of the time of year. My aim with this post is to encourage people to find the good in the midst of the bad, even when the bad seems to stand out more than the good. It’s about looking back with gratitude.

Gratitude in the negative circumstances

As is typical at the end of the year, I look over the previous year and take some time praying about what God might have me focus on in the upcoming year. When looking back, it seemed like the “bad” or negative things stood out the most. 2022 was a very heavy year. However, I’ve been convicted and reminded that it’s important to not just focus on the bad. It’s essential to look at the good too and be thankful.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT)

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

“Do everything without complaining and arguing” Philippians 2:14 (NLT)

I’ve written recently, that gratitude can affect our hearts and our perspectives. I’ve learned that stewing in negativity and focusing on the negative will make me bitter. It can also cause a spiritual blockage which can in turn be offensive to others and to God.

However, when I can shift my mind from the negative things happening in my life and intentionally focus on gratitude, a positive internal shift happens. Looking back with gratitude and thankfulness can lighten the load and help things seem a little brighter and less dark. Additionally, choosing to see God’s provision can alleviate some frustration and discontent.

Choosing to see God’s provision can alleviate frustration and discontent.

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Encourage yourself

There have been several times that I’ve had to go back and re-read my own posts. Some of the same advice I give to others, I need to take myself. I’ve learned, and re-learned, that I need to encourage myself in the Lord as David did when he was greatly distressed.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)

To encourage myself I can remind myself of where God has been faithful in the past and look at the good He was doing even in the midst of bad things going on around me. Another helpful reminder has been not to overlook or “despise” the small things.

“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Zechariah 4:10 (NIV)

So as I look over the past year, even though we endured a lot of bad and negative circumstances, we continued to see God’s faithfulness, feel his presence, and retain and/or renew our hope (even though some situations are still ongoing). There was so much good to be found through it all, and I have to remind myself of that (sometimes repeatedly).

Looking back over 2022…the bad AND the good

Worst teaching semester ever

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Merry Christmas 2022!

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The Christmas Story

Merry Christmas 2022!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas this year! Watching this telling of The Christmas Story (video below) is an annual tradition for our family. I hope you enjoy it too!

Additionally, below is another video of one of my favorite illustrations of the story of Christmas: The Christmas Geese. Several years ago I heard this story as an analogy of why Jesus came to earth. I thought it was a perfect explanation that makes Jesus’ incarnation (becoming human) easier to understand. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do as well.

Christmas Geese Story

Here is a longer, written version of the story that I found–the author is unknown:

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What Are You Thankful For?

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What Are You Thankful For?

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 (ESV)

The holidays, Thanksgiving in particular, are a good time to reflect on what God has done for us. We can spend time contemplating positive memories, blessings, and just things in general for which we’re thankful. With Thanksgiving being celebrated in the United States next week, it’s a time to be reminded to be thankful for all the blessings and good things we have. We’ve even discussed before that thankful people are happier people.

Gratitude has an effect on our hearts and our perspectives. When we can turn our minds from the negative things around us and intentionally focus on what we have to be thankful for, a positive internal shift and change happen. When we think about what we are thankful for, things around us can seem brighter, and we start to focus less on what’s wrong and more on what’s good and right. Additionally, when we choose to see God’s provision, it makes it hard to be frustrated by all the ways we feel like we’re lacking something in the moment.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

“Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” Psalm 105:5 (NLT) 

Take Some Practical Steps to Note What You Are Thankful For:

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How to Respond to Comments…especially in touchy situations

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How to Respond to Comments…especially in touchy situations

How to Respond to Comments…especially in touchy situations

In a previous post, I mentioned the ever-increasing amount of negative comments I receive on my blog.  I guess that comes with the territory of “putting myself out there” in a public format.  I’ve had to learn how to avoid making negative comments even when that might be my first reaction.  I’m still a work in progress.  However, I have somewhat of a system now on exactly how to respond to comments, negative or not.  I’d like to share it with you because you might also find it helpful when deciding how you should reply to people.

It’s often hard to figure out what to say

At times deciding how to respond to comments can be nerve-wracking even when the comments aren’t negative.  Sometimes people are hurting and ask hard questions.  Occasionally, I receive comments on a previous post, “How to Overcome Feeling Unloved or Unwanted”.  Sadly, this post is one of the most popular posts on my website.  I say “sadly” because it makes me so sad to know that so many people feel unloved and unwanted.  Then again, maybe that’s exactly why God had me write it and why He directs so many people to that page.

It also makes me very sad when I get some of the comments from people still looking for answers because I can almost feel their hurt and pain in their writing.  Then, I feel a little scared and overwhelmed knowing that I have to reply to these hurting people to try and give them some answers, encouragement, and hope.  It’s a lot of pressure!  I actually said to God, “What if I mess them up!?”  I honestly feel so completely unqualified at times to help people.  In fact, I’ve talked before about making excuses like this with God.  They never work.  He just tells me to follow his lead and he will instruct me in what to say (Exodus 4:12).

Speaking from my own experiences

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How a Christian is Like a Pumpkin

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How a Christian is Like a Pumpkin

My family and I love carving pumpkins every fall. I’m not completely sure if this is just an American tradition or not. If you are one of my international readers you’ll have to enlighten me! I think I read somewhere that this tradition started in Ireland?? Anyhow, in case you’re not familiar with the tradition, in the fall typically around Halloween, we carve pumpkins, put a light inside of them, and then display them as a festive decoration. They are sometimes called jack-o’-lanterns.

I have often heard the analogy of how a Christian is like a pumpkin. My mom even passes out little cards along with candy explaining this analogy to Halloween trick-or-treaters. I thought this same analogy would make a timely post for this fall season!

So here is how a Christian is like a pumpkin….

Like a pumpkin, we have to be chosen

Just like I choose a special pumpkin to carve, God has chosen us. We are chosen and special to God, adopted into his own family.

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)

“For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6 (NLT)

“You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 14:2 (NLT)

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16 (NLT)

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Like a pumpkin, we have to be open

Just like I first have to cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin to carve it, I first have to be open to God and to receiving him.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12 (ESV)

Like a pumpkin, we have to clean out the yucky insides

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How to Avoid Making Negative Comments

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Learn some steps to avoid the trap of making negative comments.

How to Avoid Making Negative Comments

I get several comments posted to my blog articles.  Unfortunately, not all of them are very nice.  Sometimes it’s hard not to take things personally.  At one point, I had been getting so many negative comments in such a short time frame that when I would get an e-mail informing me that I had a new comment to moderate I would moan and hang my head in dread of what I was about to read.

Once, I was at my sister’s house, and my e-mail chimed alerting me of a new comment.  “Not again.” I groaned.  “What’s wrong?” my sister asked.  “I’ve got another comment to moderate.  I’m afraid to look at it.” I said.  “Here, let me read it first,” she suggested.  I handed her my phone.  Thankfully she smiled as she read it and said, “It’s a good one.”  I breathed a sigh of relief.  Fortunately, I have received a number of positive and encouraging comments too.  Why is it that the bad ones seem to overpower the good?  It’s no wonder Paul urges us to keep our focus on positive and good things.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

Focusing on negative comments will weigh us down

Focusing on the negative will only bring us down.  It will cause us anxiety and worry (Philippians 4:6), and it could even cause us to get so worked up that we might act out in our emotions and say or do things that we regret.  I think that’s probably what happens when people post nasty things or negative comments on my site.  They probably read something that they disagreed with or that potentially offended them, and then they acted out of their emotion.

Unfortunately, technology these days has cultivated an environment where it is easy for people to be passive-aggressive. People say things online or via technology that they would never say to someone face-to-face.

In light of that, I have a fairly strict comment policy on my site to protect my visitors from negative comments that could hurt or hinder them.  I had to lay out some simple ground rules in order to enable constructive conversation while discouraging rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, divisive, or off-topic negative comments.  I don’t even want to foster an atmosphere that’s conducive to arguments taking place on my site.  That’s not God’s purpose for my site.  I want my site to be a place of peace.

Scriptural communication guidelines

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