Sometimes as we travel along the road of life, we not only have to keep our eyes on the path ahead of us, we also have to be extra alert to who or what is behind us.
Criminals count on us to not watch our back so they can catch us off guard and do us harm. Once, when I was in college, I was being followed down the street by a strange man who locked in on me as if he had me on radar. I took a circuitous route through a nearby mall and kept watching my back until I was finally able to elude him.
Automobile manufacturers understand the critical importance of being able to "watch your back", which is why they install rear view mirrors. In fact, a car will not even pass a safety inspection if it does not have a rear view mirror.
Most of the time, when we think of watching our back, we think of looking out for danger. Thankfully, God's ways are not our ways and He has given us two positive, comforting things to look for when we watch our backs: Goodness and Mercy.
The 23rd Psalm declares, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...." When we allow the Lord to be our shepherd, not only does He order our steps toward a glorious future, He gurantees that goodness and mercy will track us down and stay with us, watching our back all the days of our life. That's good news!
When I'm going through a tough time or facing a situation that seems hopeless, I can look back and see God's goodness shining all throughout my history, reminding me that God causes all things to work together for my good.
When I'm caught up in trouble from my own doing, God's mercy keeps me from receiving the consequence I deserve, as He provides me with a way out of no way.
Regardless of what this world sends to frighten me off the path God has for me, with God on my side I don't have to walk a circuitous path like I did to shake off that stranger. I can walk the straight and narrow and keep looking up because God is watching my back.
And, as God watches my back, I don't have to watch it so closely. All I have to do is keep watching God.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
A weekly posting of encouraging and challenging thoughts about life from Rev. Karen W. Curry, a pastor's wife and mother of two who is also --in her "spare time"-- a dynamic preacher, teacher, motivational speaker, facilitator, writer, reviewer, poet, MC, liturgical dance/drama consultant and storyteller. Contact Rev. Karen at BNcouraged247@msn.com to speak at your next service or retreat.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Blessed Assurance...
...Jesus is mine. Oh! What a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchased of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood....
I am so glad that I belong to God! It's not enough to simply believe in God, for scripture tells us that even the demons believe and tremble (at least some of them have enough sense to tremble at the awesomeness of God. Sometimes we claim to believe, yet never tremble!).
When I say that I belong to God, I say it out of recognition that I have been bought with a price --Jesus' shed blood; that I do not belong to this world--I am a peculiar person; and that I am a child of the King--Jesus is my Savior and Lord.
Recognizing who I am and whose I am gives me blessed assurance that the blessings I have seen in this life are but a foretaste of glory divine. I can press on through my bad days because I know that there are better days ahead in this life and beyond.
...Perfect submission, perfect delight. Visions of rapture now burst on my sight!
Recognizing who I am and whose I am allows me to submit to God's will and to delight in doing so, as I look forward to being raptured away from the cares of this world. I am learning not to dwell on my struggles but to dwell and delight in the promises of God--for those will far outlast any troubles I experience.
...Watching and waiting, looking above. Filled with His goodness, lost in His love!
Recognizing who I am and whose I am keeps me looking above, from whence cometh my help! When I allow God's Holy Spirit to fill me and have full reign in me, I am able to see and feel His love for me everywhere I look.
Regardless of the story the world tries to tell me about life and and how to find joy in it, THIS is my story, THIS is my song....Praising my Savior all the day long!
Try praising God today. If you can't praise Him because of your circumstances, try praising Him in spite of your circumstances. Your sacrifice of praise will enable you to hear God's echoes of mercy and whispers of love. In times like these, that's just the type of Blessed Assurance we need.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
I am so glad that I belong to God! It's not enough to simply believe in God, for scripture tells us that even the demons believe and tremble (at least some of them have enough sense to tremble at the awesomeness of God. Sometimes we claim to believe, yet never tremble!).
When I say that I belong to God, I say it out of recognition that I have been bought with a price --Jesus' shed blood; that I do not belong to this world--I am a peculiar person; and that I am a child of the King--Jesus is my Savior and Lord.
Recognizing who I am and whose I am gives me blessed assurance that the blessings I have seen in this life are but a foretaste of glory divine. I can press on through my bad days because I know that there are better days ahead in this life and beyond.
...Perfect submission, perfect delight. Visions of rapture now burst on my sight!
Recognizing who I am and whose I am allows me to submit to God's will and to delight in doing so, as I look forward to being raptured away from the cares of this world. I am learning not to dwell on my struggles but to dwell and delight in the promises of God--for those will far outlast any troubles I experience.
...Watching and waiting, looking above. Filled with His goodness, lost in His love!
Recognizing who I am and whose I am keeps me looking above, from whence cometh my help! When I allow God's Holy Spirit to fill me and have full reign in me, I am able to see and feel His love for me everywhere I look.
Regardless of the story the world tries to tell me about life and and how to find joy in it, THIS is my story, THIS is my song....Praising my Savior all the day long!
Try praising God today. If you can't praise Him because of your circumstances, try praising Him in spite of your circumstances. Your sacrifice of praise will enable you to hear God's echoes of mercy and whispers of love. In times like these, that's just the type of Blessed Assurance we need.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
What's Your Angle?
That phrase is often used when someone is trying to determine someone else's motive--where he or she is "coming from" and what he or she is actually "getting at." Also, the question implies that there may be more going on beneath what one sees on the surface. When the word, "angle" is used as a synonym for "perspective," what you see depends on where you stand.
Sometimes angles are quite useful. An angled broom, for instance, allows one to get at crumbs and other debris that can't be reached with an even-shaped broom. Sports and recreational activities like skiing, sledding or snow tubing require an angle or the participants will never get enough momentum to move beyond the starting position.
When it comes to Christian service, what's your angle? What's behind your reason for serving? Is it the need to feel important or powerful? Is it an inability to say "no"? Is "people pleasing" at work behind the scenes?
If we are not serving from the right motive, then what we deem to be honorable service may be viewed and received entirely differently by others. When Christian service comes from a place of love within us--a deep, abiding love of Jesus Christ--then love is what will come out of us.
True unconditional love will make us serve without regard for reward or comfort. A "not my will but THY will be done" attitude toward service empowers us to see and respond to needs in ways that are "exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine."
When our motivation comes from the right place, then no matter which angle it is viewed from, all that is seen is love. Love from the right. Love from the left. Love from the front. Love from the back. Love from above and love underneath. When love is underneath and all around what we do, all that is seen is God, for God is love. When all that is seen is God, the right one gets the glory!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Sometimes angles are quite useful. An angled broom, for instance, allows one to get at crumbs and other debris that can't be reached with an even-shaped broom. Sports and recreational activities like skiing, sledding or snow tubing require an angle or the participants will never get enough momentum to move beyond the starting position.
When it comes to Christian service, what's your angle? What's behind your reason for serving? Is it the need to feel important or powerful? Is it an inability to say "no"? Is "people pleasing" at work behind the scenes?
If we are not serving from the right motive, then what we deem to be honorable service may be viewed and received entirely differently by others. When Christian service comes from a place of love within us--a deep, abiding love of Jesus Christ--then love is what will come out of us.
True unconditional love will make us serve without regard for reward or comfort. A "not my will but THY will be done" attitude toward service empowers us to see and respond to needs in ways that are "exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine."
When our motivation comes from the right place, then no matter which angle it is viewed from, all that is seen is love. Love from the right. Love from the left. Love from the front. Love from the back. Love from above and love underneath. When love is underneath and all around what we do, all that is seen is God, for God is love. When all that is seen is God, the right one gets the glory!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Be Still!
These are two words you will hear quite often from a parent with an active, energetic child. Regardless of how often these words are said, there will still be countless more times it will have to be said again--to the same child!
How many times has our Heavenly Father told us to, "Be Still!" yet we continue to wriggle, writhe and wrestle our way through life as if we were not children of the King and had no divine help available to us? How quickly we forget that we have a God who never sleeps nor slumbers, who cares for us and watches over us, and who will never leave us or forsake us. Even when we have no one around who seems to care for us, God's Word tells us that even if our mother and father forsake us, the Lord will take us up.
"Be Still!" is a polite way of saying "Stop!"or "Cut it out!" When a parent tells a child to be still, it's because at that moment, the child is being everything but still. Sometimes, when we are simply too busy for our own good, God will let us know that it is time to Stop. When we are too busy, we are subject to stress and burnout, which leave us vulnerable to sin. When we are too busy, we forget who is really in charge, leaving another portal for sin to enter. When we are too busy, we stray further and further away from the center--we veer too much too the right or too much to the left.
God tells us in Psalm 46:10 to "Be Still and know that I am God." The conjunction "and" lets us know that stillness leads to knowing. Stillness leads to deep listening, which leads to clearer discernment, which leads to a peace that passes understanding, which leads to a blessed assurance, which enables us to stay on the path and see what the end will be.
When we learn to "Selah" (pause and reflect) we learn to cease from worry, anger, lust, frustration, envy and the need to feel we have to know it all and show it all--and all at once.
The next time you hear a parent or teacher tell a child to "Be Still!", or the next time you find yourself wanting to tell someone to "Be Still!" or "Go somewhere and sit down!" take it as a loving reminder from God for YOU to rest in Him.
When we take time to "Be Still" and reflect, it allows us time to see that, despite our trials and tribulations, God will "Still Be" all that we need and all that matters.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
How many times has our Heavenly Father told us to, "Be Still!" yet we continue to wriggle, writhe and wrestle our way through life as if we were not children of the King and had no divine help available to us? How quickly we forget that we have a God who never sleeps nor slumbers, who cares for us and watches over us, and who will never leave us or forsake us. Even when we have no one around who seems to care for us, God's Word tells us that even if our mother and father forsake us, the Lord will take us up.
"Be Still!" is a polite way of saying "Stop!"or "Cut it out!" When a parent tells a child to be still, it's because at that moment, the child is being everything but still. Sometimes, when we are simply too busy for our own good, God will let us know that it is time to Stop. When we are too busy, we are subject to stress and burnout, which leave us vulnerable to sin. When we are too busy, we forget who is really in charge, leaving another portal for sin to enter. When we are too busy, we stray further and further away from the center--we veer too much too the right or too much to the left.
God tells us in Psalm 46:10 to "Be Still and know that I am God." The conjunction "and" lets us know that stillness leads to knowing. Stillness leads to deep listening, which leads to clearer discernment, which leads to a peace that passes understanding, which leads to a blessed assurance, which enables us to stay on the path and see what the end will be.
When we learn to "Selah" (pause and reflect) we learn to cease from worry, anger, lust, frustration, envy and the need to feel we have to know it all and show it all--and all at once.
The next time you hear a parent or teacher tell a child to "Be Still!", or the next time you find yourself wanting to tell someone to "Be Still!" or "Go somewhere and sit down!" take it as a loving reminder from God for YOU to rest in Him.
When we take time to "Be Still" and reflect, it allows us time to see that, despite our trials and tribulations, God will "Still Be" all that we need and all that matters.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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