Tag: Philippians

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Hyper Sensitive to Blessings?

Last night I woke with a start when I heard the sound of high winds blowing around the house at 3 in the morning.  Immediately I jumped up and check out the weather radar.  This spring has definitely made me a little hyper sensitive to severe weather.

As I laid back in bed I and listened to the sounds of the storm, I realized what a blessing it is to have a house that provides so much shelter and allows for rest.  This “mansion on the hill”, as one of my friends calls it, is such an incredible blessing that I take for granted so many times.  Especially when you consider what the Christ said about his home”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20, New International Version)

It made me wonder as I laid there what the day would be like if I were to be as hypersensitive to the blessing of the Lord as I have become to this extreme weather.  If I could truly detect and appreciate all the fantastic blessings that are around me everyday how would my attitude and approach be different.  Things like, a house, a car, clothes, an Internet connection, clean running water, family, street signs, and eyes.  This list could go on and on.

Today, as the old hymn suggests “count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!”

19 My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. (Philippians 4:19, New Century Version)

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Sonic Flavors

Today I zoomed into Sonic to grab a beverage for my morning, and was reminded of the almost 400K combinations of drinks they have. I was thinking of getting a  chocolate raspberry Coke, or maybe a blue coconut cherry lemon Sprite. But there is always the Strawberry Watermelon diet Dr Pepper, I mean 23 flavors is just not enough.

Those choices are so much like life.  We have so many combinations of things to choose from, some that are good and some that are most definitely bad. We have to examine the options and pick what is good, and right.

  8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8, New International Version)

I think I am glad that I went with Vanilla Coke something excellent and praiseworthy. 

Think about those things that are good and right today – and I am not just talking about food and drink, and examine the choices you are making.

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Bin Laden and Lookie Lous

What a week of news and activity. My mind is swirling with toughts and emotion as the sight of bucket trucks and the sound of chain saws fills my head. My home is still without power which although is a minor inconvience, does make it hard for a blogger:)!

So just a few simple thoughts today, as my online time is a bit limited right now.

First of all there’s the bittersweet news from the war zone – Bin Laden has been killed. When I read that on Facebook on my tiresome Windows Mobile phone last night, I was surprised on my reaction last night – which was sort of “oh well”. I was a little more surprised by the  joyous celebrations of others. I am just not convinced that is the right reaction. Yes, its a good thing, but it is also a somber event.

   Saying 28

 17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
   and turn his wrath away from them. (Proverbs 24:17-18, New International Version, ©2011)

I sort of like The Message on this one as well:

 17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
   don’t crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
   and then take pity on his plight. (Proverbs 24:17-18, The Message)

And then there is this. After putting in our volunteer time at the Corn Bread Festival in South Pittsburg yesterday we decided to be “Lookie Lous” and come home through Trenton and Flinstone to see the damage. Let me just say that pictures do not do it justice. The devastation in those areas is enormous from just the little bit we were able to see. If you can help, in any way please do so. There are so many ways to help from money, to giving blood to moving debris, to cooking food.

Really, do all you can to be a light for those in these communities that have been hit so very hard with damage.

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, New International Version, ©2011)

And well The Message is pretty good here as well:

 12-13What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (Philippians 2:13, The Message)

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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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How Can I Benefit You?

This weekend I was kicked back watching some TV with sick boy.  It was mostly the same stuff T.U.F.F Puppy, Sponge Bob,  crazy kid movies from the past, yesterday a LEGO movie.  We are big fans of LEGO in our house, so that just tickled our fancy!

It had the usually LEGO humor, but also provided a little bit of motivation for today’s blog.  At one point where the Indiana Jones looking mini fig from the future was attempting to teach the King from the past some new tricks with his magic sword, the dude gets a little frustrated.  It was then when the talking rhino dude said “Remember, he is not here for you, you are here for him!”

That stuck me as profound, and interestingly enough later in the day, I heard the same theme in a movie I watched that I will blog about later this week ( I think).  In that movie, a certain individual was attempted to determine why this co worker was frustrating him so much and his wife said something like – “you need to figure out why you were brought to him, not why he was brought to you.”

So, today, think about all of those around you, and consider this whole concept – they are not there for you, you are there for them.  Be a blessing.  My company used to make the call center folks answer the phone by saying “How can I benefit you?”.  Some of my co-workers would make fun of that a little bit – as it is a little bit corny – especially since we are a “benefits company”.  However, the message is plain, and good and true.  When you interact with people today, think about that – how can you benefit them?

1Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. 2Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. 3Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. 4Care about them as much as you care about yourselves Philippians 2:1-4 (Contemporary English Version)

They are not here for you, you are here for them!