True Value

I recently ran across the story below and felt I had to share it. A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."  He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it...?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times we may feel dropped, crumpled and ground into dirt by others or even by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. How often do we devalue ourselves because of past hurt? Not only that but how often do we devalue others? At times you may feel as though you are worthless, but no matter what has happened in your past in God’s eyes you never lose your value. Do you know your life is very valuable? God loved and valued us so much that He was willing to pay a very steep price to ensure we have an opportunity to receive His most precious gift, eternal life.

The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Webster’s definition of perish is to become destroyed or ruined. This lets us know that God had us in mind when He wrapped Himself in flesh and died on the cross for our sins.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are all still priceless to those who DO LOVE us, especially the Lord. The worth of our lives comes not only in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. So who are we supposed to be? Well if God loved us enough to die I believe the least we can do is return the favor. Luke 10:27 says, “So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind,’ and your neighbor as yourself.” It’s simple our true value lies within our relationship with the One who created us and know our worth more than anyone else ever could. So let’s love God, love ourselves and love our neighbors, the world will be a much better place if we do.

Think about it.

Turning the page

I am an avid reader. I really enjoy a good book. You may be surprised to learn that I do not own a Nook or Kindle Fire. I do not have an Android phone that I can download books on; and though I own a tablet, I do not have books downloaded on it either. I’m an old fashioned girl; I still like the smell of a new book. I still like the feel of a hard back cover in my hands and the prospect of turning pages.

The theme for my church this year is “Determined to move forward collectively.” When I think about this and the study we did in Philippians chapter three, it makes me think of reading a book. One of our focus scripture is verse 13 which says, “Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

Every book lover knows that in order to fully enjoy a book, you need a few simple things that can also apply to our Christian walk, forgetting the past and moving forward in the New Year!  

1.       Desire: in order to really enjoy a book, you must desire to read it. Have you ever been assigned a book to read and that alone killed your desire to enjoy it?

2.       Time: in order to get pleasure from your read, you need time to actually sit down and read.

3.       Patience: in order to finish a book, you need patience to finish it, as well as, be patient enough not to skip ahead.

These three book-reading principles apply to new beginnings in our lives. In order to accomplish any goals you have set for yourself in 2013 you will need desire to see them through, time to make them happen, and patience to wait on results and not try to skip ahead. So as you venture forward in 2013 turning the pages of your life, don’t allow your past to dictate your future and be determined to obtain your prize this year whatever that may be.

Think about it!

What never changes...

The New Year is in full swing! Now that the holidays are over; I’m sure many of you have taken down your decorations by now. Trees have been dismembered and either tossed or tucked away. Wreaths and lights are probably bundled up and safely stored in basements or attics. Soon the event of the holidays will be mere memories.

The weather will change; time will pass and for those of us who remain, life will go on. But before you know it, the pages on your calendar will once again read December and it will be time to do it all over again. So many things can transpire and change in a year’s time. Technology evolves, babies are born and people pass away. However, there is one thing that remains constant and consistent, that is GOD.

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” You can’t count on your I-phone to be efficient for the next forty years. You can’t depend on your parents to be around for the next century. 

You can’t even guarantee that you will be alive and well tomorrow! We cannot predict the events of our day no matter how hard we try or how good we are at scheduling.

God is the one person we can depend on to never change. His love is unfailing and His power is immeasurable. Since we know this, why do we change on Him so often? Have you ever declared your love for the Lord to others one day and the next day curse Him in your heart because things didn’t work out the way you desired them to and you blamed God?

Why are people so quick to stop trusting God? If your bank makes a mistake on a transaction, do you immediately switch banks, maybe but not always?  Sometimes it seems we have more confidence in man than we do in God, even if that “man” is ourselves. Remember this, “man” (including yourself) can and will let you down or change on you. But our mighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

Think about it! 

Let's eat it all!!

How many of us know someone who will grab a bag of mixed nuts and pick through it, eating all of them, leaving only the cashews? When you and your family order pizza does anyone leave the crust behind? As a child did your mother constantly reprimand you for refusing to eat your peas, spinach or any other green “disgusting” food?

My three- year-old has to be one of the pickiest eaters on the planet! Recently however, she has cooperated and tried new foods after my many attempts to broaden the horizons of her taste buds.

We may not realize it but often times when it comes to the word of God, many of us are “picky eaters.”  We attend church on a regular basis only to pick and choose what we actually receive. Now, let me be clear, you should only eat at a table (church) where the word is spread in fullness, holiness and truth.

I wouldn’t tell you to receive from a hypocrite preacher any more than I would tell you to eat off a dirty plate! However there are some who declare that all preachers are hypocrites to justify their poor diet. Woe unto any who refuse to receive God’s word when it is declared by one of His chosen servants.

If you think I’m “off my rocker” with all my “eating” analogies when it comes to the word I do have a scripture to back me up.  In Matthew 4:4 Jesus Himself is quoted saying, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

It safe to say that if food sustains us in life and if Jesus Himself said that we need more than natural food to live, then we need to consume or receive the “bread” or Word of God.  

Jesus further solidifies His point in John 6:35 where He says, “I am the bread of life, He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

So let’s remember the next time we pull up a seat at the table (go to church), when the plate is set before us, (the word of God), we should say grace (be thankful) and eat it all (receive God’s proclaimed word).

Think about it.

Be a Billboard in 2013

Billboards are common place not only in America but pretty much worldwide. They can be seen on a daily basis as we commute to and from home, church or work. They stand towering over us, boldly declaring their messages. They don’t care whether or not we agree with what they have to say. They don’t water down or try to reword their message for fear we will shun them. Nope! They are proudly screaming their messages to us without our permission. Some of them even have the nerve display more than one message. Better yet some eliminate their message not even to be hidden by the dark of night. 

Gospel artists Lecrea and Mali Music have a song called "Tell the World", here are some of the lyrics. "I'ma tell the world, tell em, tell it everywhere I go. Tell the world tell it, yeah I'm a billboard." I love this song and it's message. Isn't it past time for us to become billboards for the Lord?

II Timothy 4:2-5 says, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering a d teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

No we are not all “called preachers” per-say, but we should all strive to do the work of evangelists and witness to non-believers. The latter part of Proverbs 11:30 says, “and he who wins souls is wise.” We may all have different methods of witnessing to others. Some of us may use blogs. Some of us may use our personal testimony. No matter how you do it, in 2013 I urge all believers in Christ to make it their business to be a billboard, and proclaim the word of the Lord everywhere you go! Do so standing proud, strong, and bold, without sugar coating or being fearful. Illuminate the word of God so that others can see His light shine through your life, walk and talk.

I’m sure we have all seen billboards we didn’t like for one reason or another, but our dislike for them didn’t cause them to fall. So remember everyone is not going to like what you have to say about God’s divine word, but that should not stop you from sharing it anyway. Stand boldly on the promises of God and watch them “speak for themselves.’”

Think about it.