Showing Love in Communication

I Peter 3:8, "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

I knew better, but I still allowed myself to be persuaded against my better judgment. My good friends, Rex and Mary Pou, had a gentle, well trained bull dog named Boots. When Boots Pou died at a ripe old age, my friends were very sad about their loss. Another friend of the Pous convinced me that we should surprise Rex and Mary with a puppy, which we did. The puppy was neither gentle nor well trained. He did all the things puppies usually do, including messing in the house, chewing on the furniture, and crying at night. After the puppy had spent a week in the Pou household, Rex and Mary found him a new home.

If we had communicated about a puppy to our friends before getting them one, we could have saved us all trouble and expense. We didn't know the Pous didn't want a puppy because we didn't ask. We just did what we thought was best for them We failed to communicate, and because of that we were ignorant of the thoughts, desires, and needs of our friends.

My husband John loved radios. I am not a radio listener. I am a reader, and my passion is books. One year shortly after we were married, John bought me a birthday present and presented it to me with such excitement I could hardly wait to open it. It was a radio. I was not the least bit excited. If we really want to minister to people we need to take the time and effort to listen and learn about their needs and desires rather than assuming they are the same as ours. Good communication is the oil in the gears of human relationships, making life with others much smoother and happier. Communicating well is a major way for us to show sincere love.

Father, help me to take the time and effort to see into the hearts and needs and desires of those I love so I can minister to them most effectively. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

My New Year's resolutions sound familiar,

And why that is should be very clear.

No wonder I recognize them so easily--

They're the very same ones I made last year!

God's Power

God's Power

I Cor. 4:7, "We have this treasure in earthern vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us."

Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? If so, how are you doing with them a week and a half into 2011? What would you guess some of the most common New Year's resolutions might be? What about dieting off those extra pounds gained by eating Christmas goodies and exercising for a healthier lifestyle? Some people plan to quit smoking, and others have determined to have a quiet time each day. If you are like me, some of your resolutions may really be very familiar, left over not only from last year but from previous years as well. We all have certain areas of weakness, and these areas differ from person to person. We each struggle with our bad habits because we lack the power to change.

Would you say our good intentions generally come under the area of self-control? Is there a secret to self-control or to being able to fulfill these commitments? The Bible says there is. From Gal. 5:24-25, "When the Holy Spirit is in control of a life, He will produce.....self-control." The secret to successful living in all areas of the Christian life is to stay under the control of--and thus to experience--the power of God's Holy Spirit at all times. I have discovered that I cannot change myself as I would like, but God can, and He will if I yield completely to His control.

Father, thank You that You have not only the power but the will to change us day by day into the beautiful image of Your Son Jesus. May we yield ourselves totally to You, no holding back. Amen.

Happy New Year!

Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

James 4:13, 14a, 15, "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money. Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow........" Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

We are facing a brand new year, and not a single one of us knows what is in store for us in 2011. We could be worried, apprehensive, about the future. But there is One who not only knows our future but holds it in His hands. He is sovereign; He loves us; He has a plan for our lives at all times; and He has promised to guide us if we are willing to yield to Him. There is that very familiar passage in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

As we look back on 2010, we will probably all remember some events which we enjoyed and other events that were sad or difficult. With hindsight we can usually trace the hand of God through all the different kinds of circumstances.

We have God's wonderful promise in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." So if we are yielded to God, He will cause even our most difficult and unpleasant circumstances to turn out for our good and His glory. The rub comes in the definition of "good." I would define my good as comfort, convenience, ease, pleasure. God defines my good as the development of such attributes as character, compassion, patience, perseverance, and faith. Sometimes the greatest challenges we face result in the greatest character development. So it's wonderful to know that our times are in God's hands, according to Psalm 31:15, that God loves us and will cause whatever happens to turn out for our best.

The hymn writer called God "our help in ages past, our hope for years to come." Just as God has been faithful to love us and lead us in the past, He will surely do so in this coming year. Someone has well said, "Don't fear the future. God is already there." Walking with Him day by day, yielded to His will and guided by His Spirit, is life's greatest adventure. So, I wish you a wonderful, God-directed Happy New Year.

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the gift of time, of this new year. May I not waste it but spend it under Your direction for Your glory. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

When we're having fun, time just seems to fly,

But when we wish it would hurry, it crawls slowly by.

Joy

Neh. 8:10b, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

It is after nine p.m. on Christmas night. We have had a wonderful day, and the snow that blanketed our area with its pristine white was a wonderful gift. But the children have tracked the snow, and mud is showing through. I am too full of turkey, dressing, and pecan pie. The Christmas tree will soon be stripped of its ornaments and put away for another year. There are dishes piled in the sink and leftovers in the refrigerator. It really is cold and dreary outside with at least two long winter months in the immediate future. Life's Little Frustrations reflects that kind of mood. But I would really just like to add a few lines to that little poem to encourage us all tonight.

We've had our fill of Christmas cheeer.

The holiday's over for another year.

The weather outside is dreary and cold.

The year 2010 is weary and old.

This is the most discouraging thing--

It's such a long, long time until spring!

So what is a person supposed to do?

Walk closely with Jesus and His joy will shine through.

Acknowledge His Presence, know that He's near

And allow Him to guide us through this next New Year.

Give thanks for His blessings and bask in His love.

Walk closely with Jesus and the Father above.

And remember--Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving every single day!