Month: March 2011

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Cereal with Marshmallows on Top

This morning my whole household was running late. It could be the rainy spring mornings, or maybe it really was draining on them while I was out of town. Anyway, the eldest child did not have time for his normal frozen waffles and so therefore I bagged up some breakfast cereal for him to take on the go. I also threw a few chocolate sprinkled marshmallows and 2 mini Reese’s Cups in the bag. For breakfast? what sort of parent gives a child candy in the morning? A bad one I am sure. I merely assumed that finding a special and odd item in the bag way add a little bit to his day and get it off to a better start.

So it should be in our days. As we go about interacting with people, we need to be the special thing in the bag of the day. The odd and unique and out of place item that brings a smile to their face and makes their day better. Add a little extra sweetness around you today!

24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24, King James Version)

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On Notice

Last night I was listening to the JJ Heller’s song “Love Me” while I was streaming K-Love Radio in the hotel room. It’s a very nice song with a very emotional plea in the chorus:

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

So, of course I started thinking about these words, not that I was dwelling on these thoughts from a personal perspective, but it did strike me that this song describes some of everyone’s basic needs. The more I thought about it, the more I started thinking about my daily life and the number of peeople I may have a chance to impact as the person who shows love.

Take a moment to consider the people around you – the people you deal with everyday. Who will you notice? Who will you see as a person created by God placed in your path today by the creator of the world? That seems to change the way we will interact with each and every person. It seems that maybe we will want to love them for them, and not what they may or may not have done for us.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4, New International Version, ©2011)

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Hope

As you know lots of time I recount my experiences and conversations to generate object lessons and thoughts. Once again today I will extract one little conversation from yesterday day full of technology talk to find one nugget that maybe can provide you some insight.

In conversation yesterday one of my co workers used the word ‘hope’ when they were discussing the outcome of a project that none of us had any control over. He inferred that he hoped that it would end in the direction he thought we should be going. Nothing wrong with that! However, that word hope just stuck in my head and stayed there the rest of the day.

I started thinking of the things I have hoped for – my flight to be ontime, to win the $312 M powerball, that the Mountaineers would be in the Final Four. Hm.. Nice things, but nothing that really had any merit, or real impact on me regardless of the outcome – especially since I had not even bought a Powerball ticket!

So, today, I ask you ( and myself). What are you hoping for? What are you really hoping for?

 7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
   My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7, New International Version, ©2011)

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Truth in Love

I am a little pressed for time today as my morning schedule as taken quite a different turn this morning, so just a quick thought to ponder as you get your Monday off to a great start.

As you go about this life interacting with others, remember that you are always teaching others something by your words and your movements.  Today consider what Paul says happens as we mature.

 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:14-15, New International Version, ©2011)

As you spend the day today remember that as you ‘buffet your body daily’ you purcahse is to grow like Him who is the head. So one way to do that is to make sure you are speaking the truth in love as you intereact with others. Not condemming, not hateful, but full of the love , grace and joy we see in the Christ!

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Saved

Yeah yeah, I have been suckered into American Idol – well not really, I am more of a skimmer.  I watch American Idol like I read a magazine, I start at the back, and I only hit the high spots. But amidst all the fun last night the end was probably the best part.

This one guy, Casey Abrams, had the lowest number of viewer votes and was heading off the show, but evidently the judges can issue one save in a season. Last night, they surprising used there save with 10 other people left to eliminate.

What I was so amazed by was the emotional reaction of both the artist and his ‘competition’ to being redeemed by the judges. It so uplifting to see how overtaken he was- how joyful, how thankful, how overwhelmed. When he thanks the judges he says something like “why would you do this with so many left to eliminated”, essentially saying “Why did you spend that one save on me?” And then his competition seemed to be incredibly happy for him as well with all the hugging, crying and jumping.

Hm, emotional after being redeemed? Excited about being saved. Thrilled about being given a second chance. Seems slightly familiar!

Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14