Insights and inspirations

As a nation we celebrate certain days throughout the year. As sports fans we celebrate our favorite teams. We celebrate a child’s birth, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and more. We are people who love a good celebration. We shout and dance with all our hearts. Life is a celebration, with the opportunity to celebrate every day. As we move through a dull, routine day it can be hard to find reason to celebrate. But life is to be celebrated. I had an experience yesterday while getting blood drawn. A lady entered the waiting area. See came in using a walker, an oxygen tank, and the assistance of a gentleman I assumed was her husband. She had an upbeat attitude and spoke with people as she waited. When she left, she threw a kiss to everyone in the room and said “I love you all.” Then she exited the building.

Lust is generally viewed in a sexual nature. Most of us automatically think of this way. However, our lust can be directed toward other things. Lust is an intense desire for something. We can lust for power, money, material possessions, and even our mobile phone. Our lust has no boundaries and reaches far beyond sexual desires. The Bible lists three main forms of lust: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of material possessions. Many times we lust after the wrong things or the wrong person. Our intense desire for instant gratification many times causes us to strongly desire worldly things.

The world is filled with greed. People doing whatever it takes to get what they want. They cheat, steal, and manipulate to get what they want. They sacrifice beliefs and morals in order to gain worldly possessions. They trade their soul in order to gain worldly status. However, there is a cost for a lack of integrity. Integrity is important. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral or ethical principles that you refuse to change. Giving up our morals and ethical principles is giving up our core being.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for thiers is the kingom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

As humans we can feel inadequate at times. Opportunities appear to us and we think we can’t step up to meet the moment. We assess the moment and determine, based on our assets and abilities, that it’s more than we can do. Because of this we don’t engage the opportunity. But what if the opportunity is from God? What if God has chosen us for that moment to do something He has planned for our lives? As we read through the Bible we will discover that God asked people to do things they felt they couldn’t accomplish. They felt there was no way they could do what God was asking them to do. The story of Gideon was one of them. Gideon reflects how many of us feel.

In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves, if they are to re-create their lives. Dr. Opinion - Pg 17 (XXVI)

Sometimes we don’t accomplish our dreams because we are afraid. We doubt our abilities and so we don’t even try. We give up before we even start. What if Thomas Edison never tried. Or, how about Alexander Graham Bell? Inventions usually don’t happen on the first try, and some are discovered accidentally. There’s a saying, “aim at nothing and you’ll hit it every time.” What have we missed out on because we never tried in the first place. Every person has been created for a reason. We all have a purpose that God has given to us. God wants to work in and through our lives, but we have to be willing to aim for His will. There’s a wonderful story in Matthew 14 that speaks volumes about what happens when we trust Jesus. When our focus is on Him we can step into His plan for our lives.

One of the challenges of depression is a lack of desire. When in the throes of depression we lose interest in activities, even the activities that at one point brought us joy. So we sit with ourselves in our depression and we feel even worse. Edward T. Welch wrote, “You are not accustomed to doing something without feeling like doing it.” (Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness - Pg 66). We have a hard time doing something we don’t feel like doing, and if we have a choice we won’t. However, not doing something contributes to our depression. Sitting alone with our depression isn’t going to produce a positive outlook. Doing things won’t cure our depression, but it will help alleviate the symptoms. 

There are many important questions we must answer during our lifetime. One such question is this: how do I see myself? Our self image can make all the difference in the world. I think most people see themselves as unloveable, not enough, ugly, or a failure. Others are more arrogant and boastful, putting forth a prideful image. Setting themselves up as being far superior to others. Most people don’t see themselves as a sinner. This image is uncomfortable for many. Even some followers of Jesus are uncomfortable with it. But it’s an important image to acknowledge. It’s the image that leads us to Jesus.

Do you find it difficult to find God? Do you question His existence? There are times when it can feel like God is far off, that He has forgotten about us and He doesn’t care about what happens to us. We are struggling through life and our future looks bleak. Our hope may even be slipping further into a pit of darkness. We think, or maybe say out loud, “God, where are you?” Our questions about God seem to go unanswered. But God has promised us that He will never leave us, or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God is faithful and keeps His promises. So why can’t we find God? The correct answer to this question is, we can.

In Step 3 we come to a place of making an important decision about our life and recovery. It’s a decision that impacts more than the here and now. It impacts eternity. We have come to accept that we are powerless and our lives are unmanageable. We have stepped out in faith and believed there is a Power greater than ourselves that can restore us to sanity. A Power that can change the trajectory of our life. A Power so great that we can be pulled from the pit of addiction. A chain breaking Power that sets the prisoners free. No matter what chains hold you prisoner, a Power greater than yourself can set you free. That Power is Jesus. Revelation 3:20 offers an invitation to a Power far greater than any other we can tap into. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.” (Revelation 3:20). The invitation to walk out of our prison has been given. We have been invited to commune with the greatest Power there is.

Unconditional love cannot be found on earth, Well, maybe with our furry little canine companions. However, from a human standpoint, we will never find unconditional love in humankind. We can spend our whole life searching for it, but it’ll elude us every time. We might come close, but we’ll always fall short of finding it. However, there is great news for those who are searching for unconditional love. Love with no strings attached. In fact, you don’t have to do anything to earn unconditional love. Unconditional love is already in place and all it takes is for us to accept the love being offered. Sounds good, right? Well, let me tell you about it.

John 3:16 is widely considered the most well-known and famous Bible verse in the world. It is often referred to as "the gospel in a nutshell" because it summarizes the central tenets of the Christian faith in a single sentence. Jesus makes this statement to Pharisee (religious leader), named Nicodemis during a conversation about Jesus and His teachings. So, in the discussion about being born again, Jesus tells Nicodemis, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). 

We go through life questioning events and circumstances. Why did this happen to me? How could God let this happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? These appear to be legitimate questions to ask. But, they are questions that arise out of a lack of knowledge and call into question God’s authority. However, God isn’t afraid or turned away by such questioning. As humans we have finite knowledge. We make assumptions based on our limited information. We are not God, who is all-knowing,

“If it feels good, do it.” “Just do it!” These are phrases that were popular at one time. I believe they are phrases that have great potential for drawing us into a worldly mindset. They tell us that we can do whatever we want. If it makes us feel good we should just do it. I am of the opinion that phrases like these contribute to the decay of morality in our society and in our lives. As we look around at society we can find plenty of evidence of their negative impact. Phrases like these reject God and place ourselves on the throne of our lives.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)

As a follower of Jesus, how is our testimony? What do people see when they look at our life? Do they see a life dedicated to Jesus? Or, a life dedicated to ourselves? We all know people who follow Jesus that grumble and argue. In fact, if we took a good look at ourselves, we might just find one of those people. We grumble about the government, high cost of living, even things such as the weather. We argue with others about all kinds of things. My wife will tell me on occasion, “You just like to argue.” Yes, I grumble and I argue. I tend to be one of those followers of Jesus.

We live in a materialistic world chasing after things that we think will make life better. We invest in a house, car, stock markets, and many other things. None of these things are bad. They can have a positive impact on our lives. The problem is when these things become idols. They become the treasure in our life. Things that we could lose at any time. But there is a much better treasure to seek, and we have a choice to make regarding where our treasure is. Here’s the question we need to be asking ourselves. Is our treasure here on earth or in heaven? It cannot be in both places. It’s one or the other.

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. (Matthew 12:31)

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so You are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. (Psalm 51:4)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:14)

We go through life questioning events and circumstances. Why did this happen to me? How could God let this happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? These appear to be legitimate questions to ask. But, they are questions that arise out of a lack of knowledge and call into question God’s authority. However, God isn’t afraid or turned away by such questioning. As humans we have finite knowledge. We make assumptions based on our limited information. We are not God, who is all-knowing,

“If it feels good, do it.” “Just do it!” These are phrases that were popular at one time. I believe they are phrases that have great potential for drawing us into a worldly mindset. They tell us that we can do whatever we want. If it makes us feel good we should just do it. I am of the opinion that phrases like these contribute to the decay of morality in our society and in our lives. As we look around at society we can find plenty of evidence of their negative impact. Phrases like these reject God and place ourselves on the throne of our lives.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)

The soul is defined in religion and philosophy as the immaterial, animating essence of a living being, frequently believed to be immortal and distinct from the physical body. It is largely considered the seat of human consciousness, individuality, emotions, and the moral mind. In Christianity the soul represents the spiritual principle of humans that unites the body and spirit. Often interpreted as the "mind, will, and emotions," it is considered the image of God and is widely viewed as surviving death. Our soul is the core of who we are. Our physical body will experience death and decay. However, our soul will not. 

God created the heavens and the earth, and all that is in it. We can learn some important lessons from reading the first chapter of Genesis. God had a plan for how He would create everything and His plan was carried out in perfection. Each day completed a task that was significant for the tasks of the next. The sequential steps of creation progressed ending on the sixth day when God created humans. This way the closing of what God said was good.

In looking at society we can identify the decay of responsibility. Few people today take responsibility for their actions. For the most part, accountability eludes our society. People want to play the victim, when they should be taking responsibility for what they did. It’s easier to play the victim than it is to acknowledge our part in what happened. People will do everything they can to avoid the consequences of their actions. They are quick to put the blame on someone else, and society allows them to do so. The shunning of responsibility is nothing new. Adam and Eve were the first people to blame someone else for their actions. The blame game started all the way back in the Garden of Eden. Neither wanted to take responsibility for disobeying God. 

Look around you. Peel back the layers and what do you see? Do you see love? How about we get a little more personal? What do you see when you peel back the layers of your own life? Yes, I know, soul searching is hard work. It’s uncomfortable work. We don’t want to know what lies beneath the surface. What’s buried is best left that way. What if the buried is what causes so much hate in society? The problem with people isn’t society itself. Although society is a contributing factor, it’s not the main cause of hate. We are told in Leviticus 19:18, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

We have an enemy we cannot see, but he is active in this world. The same enemy that deceived Eve is the same enemy that deceives us today, and his tactics haven’t changed. The devil is a liar. His number one weapon is deception. His tactics got Eve to question God and His goodness. These same tactics are used on us today in an attempt to get us to question God and His goodness. He attacks our minds with lies about ourselves and God. He tries to convince us that we know what’s best for us. This battle being waged is not really about us, but about God. How do we fight such an enemy? 

Many of us stumble through aimlessly. Ever searching for an identity. Searching for the meaning of life. The answer doesn’t come from this world. The answer comes from God. We all have a purpose in life and many times we are left thinking we don’t. Life is much more than what is here on earth. The apostle Paul provides a wonderful description of our life in his letter to the Ephesians. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).

Solomon, the son of king David, is known as the wisest person to ever exist. God blessed him with wisdom that surpassed all others. The book of Ecclesiastes is credited to him. The book of Ecclesiastes claims that everything is meaningless. Solomon states right from the beginning, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The wisest human to ever grace planet earth says that everything is meaningless. Meaningless describes something that lacks significance, purpose, value, or logical sense. 

What is your past like? If you’re like me there are things you would rather not talk about. There are things in your past, and may in your present day, that makes you feel less than. Things that make you feel unloved, unredeemable, and beyond hope. This was me at one point. During my days of active alcoholism I did some things that weren’t proud worthy. Things that made me feel unworthy of love. During those days my greatest skill was manipulation. I used people to my advantage. Today, I am a different person. Being a different person had very little to do with me and much more to do with Jesus. My Damascus Road experience came on September 16, 1993. This day forever changed my life. 

Unconditional love cannot be found on earth, Well, maybe with our furry little canine companions. However, from a human standpoint, we will never find unconditional love in humankind. We can spend our whole life searching for it, but it’ll elude us every time. We might come close, but we’ll always fall short of finding it. However, there is great news for those who are searching for unconditional love. Love with no strings attached. In fact, you don’t have to do anything to earn unconditional love. Unconditional love is already in place and all it takes is for us to accept the love being offered. Sounds good, right? Well, let me tell you about it.

John 3:16 is widely considered the most well-known and famous Bible verse in the world. It is often referred to as "the gospel in a nutshell" because it summarizes the central tenets of the Christian faith in a single sentence. Jesus makes this statement to Pharisee (religious leader), named Nicodemis during a conversation about Jesus and His teachings. So, in the discussion about being born again, Jesus tells Nicodemis, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).