Plan on it!

I am a planner! There have been times that I have found it difficult to function at events or services because the planning wasn’t to my specifications. I would say that I can be organized to a fault and I’m sure my family would agree. Sometimes I drive them nuts because I want some circumstances at my house to be “just so.”

Because I have so many things going on at one time, it serves me well to be a multi-tasker. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Everyone plans. Even if you don’t “over plan” like I do sometimes, I’ll bet - if you stop and think about your day-to-day life - you’ll realize you plan more than you might think.

Each night you go to bed with plans to get up the next morning and take care of things, to go to work, to cook dinner, etc. You may plan to finish some pending tasks at work or  to attend evening bible study. Whether you know it or not, you plan for things daily as well as throughout your day.

But while we are generally planning, are we planning for the future? I mean are we planning for our divinely destined future not just retirement. Too often we may take for granted that of all the things we plan for, we will come to regret not planning for our eternal future now.

Matthew 25:1-13 tells the story of the ten virgins. Five were considered wise because they were prepared for the coming of the bridegroom. The other five were foolish because they were not prepared properly; and while they were off trying to get prepared, the bridegroom came.  When they returned, the door was closed and they weren’t allowed to enter. Matthew 25:13 says, “Watch therefore, for you know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man is coming.”

It doesn’t matter how well you plan; tomorrow is not guaranteed. Tragedy strikes every day. Do you think those runners in Boston planned on being involved in an explosion that day? Do you think people get in their cars and plan on dying in fatal car crashes, of course not!

Hebrews 3:15 says, “Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts as in rebellion.” Hear this, the word of the Lord is His voice; He is calling you right now through this very article. Give you heart and life to Christ today. Though we can’t plan His return, we know that His return is sure and we can prepare. Yesterday is gone; tomorrow is not promised; life is short and Jesus is soon to come. So plan on it!

Think about it!

Did you get what you paid for?

I am a budget shopper. I’m not really ashamed to admit that some have even called me “cheap.” I consider myself to be frugal. I’m not an extreme “couponer” by any stretch of the imagination, but I highly value a good deal! Two-for-one and buy one, get one free are signs I love to see while shopping. I have friends and family members who love to shop. They can spend hours searching for what they want or need and they don’t mind paying what I call “a pretty penny.”

Recently I decided to change laundry detergent. I realized that the detergent I had been using for some time was not really getting my clothes clean the way I wanted. It wasn’t leaving the clothes smelling fresh like I desired. I had heard that a particular detergent was “the best” so I went to the store to get some. Once I arrived the frugalness in me rose when I saw the price of the quote, unquote best detergent. For a few moments I scanned the shelves wondering if any of the other cheaper detergents would do the job I had heard this brand would do. Ultimately I purchased the detergent I had heard so much about. Once I used it, I realized why they say, “You get what you pay for.” The detergent did not disappoint; it made my clothes smell and feel much cleaner than the other brand had and I was very pleased with my decision to switch.

This made me think. When it comes to getting what you pay for spiritually, the scripture says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What would we do if we were repaid with death every time we sinned? I venture to say there wouldn’t be many alive to read this article, including me. In addition to that we must recognize a price has been paid for our souls. Romans 3:23-26, tells us in detail how Jesus paid the price with His life, to ensure that we can afford the grace of His salvation.

Your life is a hefty price to pay for someone else’s; don’t you think? But this is what Jesus did. He not only paid for our sins with His life but also offers us life through the blood He shed. Now I wonder; did Jesus get what He paid for? Are you living your life in constant thanks and tribute to Him for His pricey sacrifice? Many would say we could never repay Jesus for what He did for us and this is true in the literal sense. But spiritually Jesus paid the price for our right to live sin-free. If we strive to live as He ordained, we are in turn repaying Him.  Just like we desire to get the most for our money, doesn’t Jesus deserve to “get what He paid for?”

Think about it!

Giant Slayer!

If you live long enough, there will be times in your life when you will face unforeseen situations or circumstances. There can be times when life brings challenges that make you feel small. In these times you must ask your Heavenly Father for the strength to stand up and fight, even when everything in you makes you want to run.

Let’s consider story of David in the Bible. I Samuel 17 tells us the story of a courageous young boy, David. By all accounts David was “scrawny” and appears to be very weak! However when the Philistine army was facing the challenge of sending someone to fight the giant Goliath, they were scrawny in heart! The entire army of well-trained men who were fully suited in armor and ready for battle all stood there terrified.

Now I don’t know about you, but I have faced some giant situations in my life that have caused me to stop in my tracks and consider running in the opposite direction, spiritually.  David heard Goliath challenging the army of Israel and instead of “tucking tail,” he stood up ready to fight. Everyone around him looked at him like he was crazy. After all he was just a young boy and didn’t even have a suit of armor.

David didn’t consider his size, the opinions of those around him, or the fact that he was weaponless. He just saw a sudden challenge and he “stepped up to the plate!” How many of us are prayed up enough to go right into warfare mode when spiritual issues arise in our lives? Are we quick to fight, or are we always finding ourselves caught off guard and scrambling when trials come our way?

David may have looked weaponless to everyone else, but he had a battle plan in mind right away. He refused the king’s heavy artillery and opted for a simple sling and five smooth stones. Sometimes we neglect the simple power of prayer, and daily study that can make demons tremble. Standing on faith and determination, David not only approached but quickly defeated Goliath leaving everyone in awe.

David was a giant slayer and we can do likewise. David knew something that we all quote more often than we actually believe and that is what Philippians 4:13 says, which is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Remember that the next time you face a giant!

Think about it!

D.I.R.T

Life is a beautiful thing. After cold winter chills, and the rainy months that often follow, comes spring. With spring there is a promise of new beginning for flowers that have been dead or bare. The blooming process reminds me a lot of human life.

Initially there is just a lonely seed in the soil waiting for the water, sun and nutrients it needs to grow. Soon the seed begins to sprout and a stem starts making its way upward from the soil. As the sun shines upon the stem, leaves emerge. Finally the process is complete when a bud blossoms into a beautiful flower.

In life there are many seeds planted in us. We must nurture the seeds that will help us push upward into our new beginnings and sprout from beneath the soil or “dirt” of our situations. Though the ultimate goal is to spring up from the “ground,” bud, then blossom into a beautiful creation, one key factor in the equation is DIRT.

Many think that living a Christian lifestyle is (no pun intended) all “rosy.” But without dirt, flowers couldn’t exist. It is the dirt that helps the flowers stay firmly planted. Likewise I believe that difficult times come in our lives that we could consider “dirt.” These challenging times come to make us strong.

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” There are many types of temptations. We can be tempted to lie, cheat, steal or even tempted to simply stop trusting God in our times of adversities.

It is in the “dirtiest” times in our lives that we must be determined to move forward in spite of what we see or even feel.  We should choose to trust God no matter what challenges we face. In order to walk into your new beginning, remember, always allow the “d.i.r.t” in your life to help you blossom so that you can be Delivered In Righteousness and Truth! 

Think about it!