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Conquer yourself

A few days back I stumbled across this quote from the great author Max Lucado 

Conquer yourself rather than the world.

That’s a pretty simple yet powerful thought.  I know there are lots of times when I personally get so concerned about how others act and I think I do set out to conquer them.   But this simple thought about conquering yourself will more than likely have more of a profound impact of those around you then your brutal up front onslaughts!

I also read a few days ago about some “Christian” comments that people had made to other folks. I found this one incredible entertaining and heartbreaking at the same time

“I have removed the moat from my eye and I can know clearly see you are going to hell!” or something like that

That is just so wrong.  We are not to attempt to ‘fix’ others in that sort of way.  Look at how that little spiel from Matthew reads in the Message: 

  1-5“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.  Matthew 7:3-5 The Message (MSG)

So today, work on conquering yourself.  I think it will amaze us how that action in the end actually does conquer the world!

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Wear Your Colors

Today is College Colors Day.  It’s obvious that this day is really about the start of college football this weekend. So I hope you have clothed yourself with the colors of your favorite college.

But as I wrote about last football season when the old Mountaineers had some new fancy suits to wear, lets make sure you are clothed with something else today as well.

You see the whole idea of this day is to get you to identify yourself with your team – whose colors are you wearing?  Who do you support?  It’s a fun day.  But look at this, these words from the Christ.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20 New International Version (NIV)

He says – “hey y’all,  you can tell who is on my team by what they do – how they act, by what legacy they leave”. And then later he says – “well boys, it’s like this, they will know you are my team because you love other people”.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 New International Version (NIV)

So put on the old Gold and Blue, the Purple and Gold, the Orange, the Crimson, the Red and Black, and also put on the fruit of the spirit and the colors of the Christ!

Let us be known by our fruit!

 

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Freely Give

This morning I am trying to remove the cold hard depressing realization that the weekend is over and the work week has returned from the front of my mind.  Yes, as depressing as that thought is, I am forcing myself this morning to look for the wonderful things that exist in this curse we call work.  Benefits the extend beyond funding the weekend.

So, as we head off for a week of cubicle warfare, I am cementing the power of the time away from work in my brain, and on of those things in the acknowledgment of the amount of grace and blessings that my life is bathed in.  And so, here is where my mind goes as I head off to the ‘work-a-day’ world.  I look towards the instruction the Christ gave his disciples, as he sent them out on a mission.

 

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

No, I will not be healing the sick, raising the dead or messing with lepers or demons today, but I have received freely, and so, I will attempt to give in that same way.  Well who knows, maybe that will help someone who feels like a leper or is dealing with demons, or feels dead as they live or is broken.

hm.. that’s pretty good motivation for the day.

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Laziness, or Fear?

Last night I was laying in bed recounting my day, and I thought to myself – was that it?  I mean really, what did I do?  Yes,there were some great highlights, like dinner with some good friends and time with my family.  But what did I do?  And I as I lay there, ending another day on this wonderful planet, I wondered to myself, are all the days to be like this, or is there something else that I am to be doing.

Of course, then I fell into hours of sleeping!

But as I awoke, to the same radio station, which somehow plays just about the same songs everyday at the same time, I started another day of sameness – checking email, Facebook and twitter – catching up on the events of the night time, and making sure nothing ‘important’ happened in some other person’s  life.  That’s when I saw this tweet:

Spark Good (@sparkgood)
7/19/11 3:05 AM
RT @laura_ocean: bloggity blog:
“babble”
read it.
http://laceandleaf.blogspot.com/2011/07/babble.html

There was something about this that was intriguing, so I did read it this morning and I think you should too. I do not know Laura Ocean, but I understand her babble this morning and I think her name is especially cool sounding.

I completely get her idea of being in a rut of habit – of being lazy, and watching others go and do, while I sit on the sidelines, not even adding a cheer.  It’s been driving me crazy of late.  I especially found this part of her post intriguing and personally relevant.

And then, instead of saying “you know what, you’re right Nike. Thanks!” and then trotting off to go do it, I find some little distraction, something that doesn’t really move me in the right direction, and go do that instead. Because its easier. It won’t require sacrifice. It doesn’t sting when it goes wrong.
But how many times have I heard and seen evidence of how important and just awesome it is when we do the things we were created to do, no matter the cost, despite the potential and inevitable failures, risking what we cling to most – our pride – and humble ourselves to the point of, heaven forbid,

being who we are supposed to be.

There is such a challenge in her words – and quite a clever observation of the state of our lives. One that I think many of us can relate.  This is a big challenge.  To get out of our habits of ‘laziness’ and into a habit of being and doing and impacting. So, today, start something new – don’t just agree – but begin to move. Don’t try to be someone else, but do the things that you are meant to do to reach others and really live this life.

18Jesus came to them and said: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20 CEV

11Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. 13This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. 14We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. 15Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head 16of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love. Ephesians 4:11-16 (Contemporary English Version)

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Hurray, It’s Iced Tea Day

Now, this is a day for me – National Iced Tea Day.  The only way it could be better is if it were National Sweet Tea Day.  But who cares, pick your version and sit back and sip on it and enjoy this pre-summer heat way.

Speaking of T’s – here’s two that are quite cool – Tim Tebow.  Tim is back in action selling his new book Through My Eyes and getting getting ready for this fall’s “football season”.   Anyway, apparently according to this Focus on the Family story Tim has created quite a buzz among Broncos fans with his mixed up priorities.  Here is what he has been recently quoted as saying

My No. 1 focus was on my foundation, the Tim Tebow Foundation, to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in the darkest hour of need.

That is not only sweet, but is quite icey coming from the double T.
(Yes, that was a pretty ridiculous sentence, and yes, I probably should have deleted that!)

But it’s not a ridiculous thought.  It’s actually very impressive and shows his priorities.  I thinks it’s a good example of living for christ and dying for yourself, even though the foundation is named afer himself :),  and it should give you some motivation today.  It sort of reminds me of this.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 New International Version (NIV)

So grab your iced tea, but remember what you are really seeking.