Genesis 30:15 = "But Leah angrily replied, 'Wasn't it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son's mandrakes, too?' Rachel answered, 'I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.'"
Sibling rivalries are nothing new. They go all the way back to the beginning of time. Here are just a few Cain/Abel, Ishmael/Isaac, Esau/Jacob and here Leah and Rachel. These kind of things can reek havoc on families. As parents or in the case here as a spouse we have one of two options: 1. Encourage the behavior or 2. Seek resolve.
Jacob is a prime example. This behavior is encouraged by him and the choices he makes. First, he favors Rachel over Leah and later he favors Joseph over the rest of his sons, which leads to another rivalry.
Most of us are no strangers to sibling rivalries either as kids growing up or as parents seeing our kids fuss and fight. I am appreciative of the relationship I have with my sister and the fact that we do get along, even though we had our moments as kids. I won't go into detail here...
However, I believe whatever our role as parents/spouses etc., God wants us to be the later of the two decisions. I believe that God wants us to be resolve seekers and peacemakers and not encouragers of rivalries when it comes to family relationships.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Controlled Emotions
Psalm 4:4 = "Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it over night and remain silent." (NLT)
How often do we let our emotions get the best of us? How often do we do things without thinking about the consequences that will follow? Many times we allow our emotions to get the best of us and cause us to do things that later we regret and things that we have to apologize for.
Many people live life without a filter. I know because many times I am one of them. If it crosses the brain it comes out the month. My wife will testify to that, and many times she is just the person I need to keep me from putting my foot in my mouth.
Here David encourages us to think before we act. He tells us to not let anger control us, but rather us take control of it. When we learn to control our emotions we make life not only easier on ourselves, but others as well.
My thought for today: How much better would our lives be if we controlled our emotions instead of them controlling us? How different would our lives be if we stopped and thought about things instead of making rash judgments and decisions based on passing emotions?
How often do we let our emotions get the best of us? How often do we do things without thinking about the consequences that will follow? Many times we allow our emotions to get the best of us and cause us to do things that later we regret and things that we have to apologize for.
Many people live life without a filter. I know because many times I am one of them. If it crosses the brain it comes out the month. My wife will testify to that, and many times she is just the person I need to keep me from putting my foot in my mouth.
Here David encourages us to think before we act. He tells us to not let anger control us, but rather us take control of it. When we learn to control our emotions we make life not only easier on ourselves, but others as well.
My thought for today: How much better would our lives be if we controlled our emotions instead of them controlling us? How different would our lives be if we stopped and thought about things instead of making rash judgments and decisions based on passing emotions?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Mountain Moving Faith
Mark 11:22-23 = "Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.'"
Ever heard the statement; "I have to see it to believe it."? I have many times and the sad thing is this is the mentality of most people today. Most people say they have faith, and to a certain degree they do. However, the problem is, it is circumstance faith. Faith that is dependent upon the situations and circumstances around them.
In this passage of Scripture, we have a promise from Christ that when we have faith beyond doubt and really believe, ANYTHING is POSSIBLE. We must learn to move past our doubts and into the promises of God. I remember an old hymn we used to sing in the church as a kid and maybe you do to called "Standing on the Promises of God." When I read back through the lyrics of that song today, I couldn't help but think of all the promises we have in Christ and how much hope we have as Christians in a doubt filled world.
If we truly want mountain moving faith in our lives, then we must stop living by the "see it to believe it" mentality and really believe God and take Him at His Word. We must realize that this mentality not only puts limits on God, but also limits our potential for God as well.
So I close by saying: Have faith in God, and go move some mountains...
Ever heard the statement; "I have to see it to believe it."? I have many times and the sad thing is this is the mentality of most people today. Most people say they have faith, and to a certain degree they do. However, the problem is, it is circumstance faith. Faith that is dependent upon the situations and circumstances around them.
In this passage of Scripture, we have a promise from Christ that when we have faith beyond doubt and really believe, ANYTHING is POSSIBLE. We must learn to move past our doubts and into the promises of God. I remember an old hymn we used to sing in the church as a kid and maybe you do to called "Standing on the Promises of God." When I read back through the lyrics of that song today, I couldn't help but think of all the promises we have in Christ and how much hope we have as Christians in a doubt filled world.
If we truly want mountain moving faith in our lives, then we must stop living by the "see it to believe it" mentality and really believe God and take Him at His Word. We must realize that this mentality not only puts limits on God, but also limits our potential for God as well.
So I close by saying: Have faith in God, and go move some mountains...
Friday, October 21, 2011
Driven By Jealousy
Acts 13:45 tells us that when the Jews saw the crowds that were gathered around to hear Paul and Barnabas preach, they were driven by jealousy and immediately began to slander them and argue against everything they said. It is amazing what jealousy will do to you and the things it will make you do.
The sad thing is, this same spirit of jealousy is prevalent in today's society. I wish I could say it was only in the media, but the sad thing is it is running rampant in the church as well. We do the gospel of Christ and we do the church no justice or good when our thoughts, actions and words are driven by jealousy.
What if instead of probing and prodding around to make other ministries look like a fluke because they are successful we rejoice with them and learn from their successes and we too become effective in kingdom building. If there is one thing that I don't have time for, it is ministers and ministries who think it is their goal in life to belittle other ministers and ministries especially when they are more successful than you are.
Ever heard the statement; "Why can't we all just get along?" Well???? What's the hold up??? Jealousy should never be the motivating factor as to why we do or say anything. How about this statement; "Do not envy..." If you're wondering where that one is, try Exodus 20.
Jealousy led the Jews to stoning Paul and throwing him out of the city for dead, yet God wasn't finished with him and brought him back to preach to other cities and write most of the New Testament. If jealous led them to this extreme what will it lead us to?
The sad thing is, this same spirit of jealousy is prevalent in today's society. I wish I could say it was only in the media, but the sad thing is it is running rampant in the church as well. We do the gospel of Christ and we do the church no justice or good when our thoughts, actions and words are driven by jealousy.
What if instead of probing and prodding around to make other ministries look like a fluke because they are successful we rejoice with them and learn from their successes and we too become effective in kingdom building. If there is one thing that I don't have time for, it is ministers and ministries who think it is their goal in life to belittle other ministers and ministries especially when they are more successful than you are.
Ever heard the statement; "Why can't we all just get along?" Well???? What's the hold up??? Jealousy should never be the motivating factor as to why we do or say anything. How about this statement; "Do not envy..." If you're wondering where that one is, try Exodus 20.
Jealousy led the Jews to stoning Paul and throwing him out of the city for dead, yet God wasn't finished with him and brought him back to preach to other cities and write most of the New Testament. If jealous led them to this extreme what will it lead us to?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Misfits and Basket-Cases
Acts 9:15-16 = "But the Lord said, 'Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake."
It is amazing to me the misfits and basket-cases that God uses in the Bible to advance His Kingdom and uses to spread the gospel around the world. Saul later known as Paul is a prime example of one who went from being a persecutor of the gospel to one of the greatest preachers in the new testament.
When you really stop to think about the different types of people God used throughout the Bible there is no reason to discredit or disqualify ourselves from being used by God as well. Here is a sample of some of the people I am talking about:
1. Moses = Murderer
2. Aaron = Liar
3. David = Adulterer/Murderer
4. Peter = Hot-Head
I know this is a short list but really think about it. If God can use misfits and basket-cases like this, God can use you and God can use me. We must realize that it is the broken things that God most often uses to manifest his glory, not the perfect things.
So today instead of automatically forfeiting yourself because of your faults, failures and weaknesses, give those things to God and allow Him to use them to manifest His glory and use you to advance His Kingdom.
It is amazing to me the misfits and basket-cases that God uses in the Bible to advance His Kingdom and uses to spread the gospel around the world. Saul later known as Paul is a prime example of one who went from being a persecutor of the gospel to one of the greatest preachers in the new testament.
When you really stop to think about the different types of people God used throughout the Bible there is no reason to discredit or disqualify ourselves from being used by God as well. Here is a sample of some of the people I am talking about:
1. Moses = Murderer
2. Aaron = Liar
3. David = Adulterer/Murderer
4. Peter = Hot-Head
I know this is a short list but really think about it. If God can use misfits and basket-cases like this, God can use you and God can use me. We must realize that it is the broken things that God most often uses to manifest his glory, not the perfect things.
So today instead of automatically forfeiting yourself because of your faults, failures and weaknesses, give those things to God and allow Him to use them to manifest His glory and use you to advance His Kingdom.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Maintaining Integrity
Job 1:22 = "In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God."
In all the sudden changes of Job's life and devastating circumstances taking place, Job never questioned why God would allow such things to happen. Instead, he was accused of maintaining his integrity.
Many times in life we do the exact opposite of what Job did here. Our first response most of the time is to blame God and question God as to why He would allow things to happen to us.
There are two questions that should be removed from our thought process if we are going to maintain a life of integrity in difficult and trying times in life.
1. Questioning the love of God. - If God really loved He wouldn't allow things like this to happen.
2. Questioning the existence of God. - If there really was a God He wouldn't allow things like this to happen.
We allow these thoughts of the enemy to rob us of valuable learning moments in life. Trials, difficult circumstances and situations in life are inevitable, we are all going to face them at some point and time. Because of this we must change our mindset from blaming and questioning God's motives to seeking out what it is we can learn from those situations in life and maintain a spirit of integrity.
In all the sudden changes of Job's life and devastating circumstances taking place, Job never questioned why God would allow such things to happen. Instead, he was accused of maintaining his integrity.
Many times in life we do the exact opposite of what Job did here. Our first response most of the time is to blame God and question God as to why He would allow things to happen to us.
There are two questions that should be removed from our thought process if we are going to maintain a life of integrity in difficult and trying times in life.
1. Questioning the love of God. - If God really loved He wouldn't allow things like this to happen.
2. Questioning the existence of God. - If there really was a God He wouldn't allow things like this to happen.
We allow these thoughts of the enemy to rob us of valuable learning moments in life. Trials, difficult circumstances and situations in life are inevitable, we are all going to face them at some point and time. Because of this we must change our mindset from blaming and questioning God's motives to seeking out what it is we can learn from those situations in life and maintain a spirit of integrity.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Duh
Luke 20:7 = "So they finally replied that they didn't know."
It may just be me, but I find this story and disposition between Christ and the religious leaders of that day rather amusing. When they try to question the validity of Christ authority and he challenges their opposition they become dumbfounded.
I guess I look at this story and wonder how often are we just like these religious leaders who embark in conversations and accusations without really having a clue what we are talking about? These guys really bit off more than they could chew and didn't realize it until they were challenged by Christ.
This teaches me that some things are best left alone, especially if I don't have a clue about what I'm getting involved in. This is something that we should take to heart. Think before you speak, have all the facts before you accuse or challenge others. Otherwise, we become like these religious leaders and the only thing we can say is; "Duh, what just happened?"
It may just be me, but I find this story and disposition between Christ and the religious leaders of that day rather amusing. When they try to question the validity of Christ authority and he challenges their opposition they become dumbfounded.
I guess I look at this story and wonder how often are we just like these religious leaders who embark in conversations and accusations without really having a clue what we are talking about? These guys really bit off more than they could chew and didn't realize it until they were challenged by Christ.
This teaches me that some things are best left alone, especially if I don't have a clue about what I'm getting involved in. This is something that we should take to heart. Think before you speak, have all the facts before you accuse or challenge others. Otherwise, we become like these religious leaders and the only thing we can say is; "Duh, what just happened?"
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