When we hear the phrase, "Mind your own business," we sometimes take offense, especially if we believe we are being accused of being nosey or meddlesome in someone else's affairs. Even in those instances when we really are being nosey, we don't like to be called out on it!
Sometimes the phrase is used as a smart-alecky response from someone who doesn't want to be questioned. No matter how and when the phrased is used, most of us do not like being told to "mind our own business."
Regardless of how we feel about the phrase, God tells us quite plainly in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 to "mind our own business...." Is God trying to offend or distance us? Of course not. On the contrary. God is actually speaking profound truth to us through that statement--truth about our purpose and His awesome plan for us:
"Mind"-- the noun form of the word implies intent, intellect, ingenuity. God wants us to be very intentional, intelligent and resourceful/creative in what we do. After all, we are created in the image of God, the one who embodies, employs and endows all of those characteristics, as evidenced in creation and in how God moves in our everyday lives. The verb form of the word, "mind," involves watching or caring for something or someone. We are taught to "mind our manners," we "mind the store," if someone asks us to "mind the children" we might respond by saying that "we don't mind" helping. God wants us to "mind," or be good stewards over what He gives us and to genuinely care about what we do.
"Your Own" -- God has designed gifts and tasks that are exclusively and specifically placed in our hands. We can't compare what we have been given with what others have or with what others have been called to do. A refrain from a popular Gospel song says it best, "What God has for me, it is for ME." Some of us are waiting for someone else to develop or lead a ministry that God told us to lead. If you've ever found yourself in a church or community that is lacking something that seems like a glaring omission to you, it could be that you have been sent there to birth it. If you find yourself thinking about what's necessary, drawing on your intellect and ingenuity as you plan it all out in your head, it might be yours to own up to.
"Business" -- As Christians, our "business" includes our calling as well as our everyday affairs. When we place the words, "mind your own" in front of the word, "business" we hear God telling us to be intentional, creative, intelligent, careful and watchful over that which we have been sent and equipped to do for the Kingdom (our calling), and in the way we conduct our everyday interactions with others, recognizing that wherever we are and whatever we do we are ambassadors for Christ. We are always on display, like it or not.
When people looked at Jesus, they saw a man who was always about His Father's business. Through Jesus Christ we have inherited the family business, and all of us have a job to do. If you don't know what your "business" is yet, make it your business to find out! None of us are here by accident-- we are here on purpose. And, if we are here on purpose, then we are here for a purpose.
By the time we put all that is required into "minding our own business" we won't have the time or interest to mind anyone else's business! If you find someone meddling too much into your business, just lovingly refer them to God's word in 1 Thessalonians 4 so they, too will understand the importance of each of us learning to "mind our own business."
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, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Happy Birthday "Think On These Things" !!!
Beloved Family and Friends,
Join with me in celebrating the one-year Birthday/Anniversary of my "Think On These Things" blog!
The Lord has brought me a long way in one year's time. This time last year I was still recovering from major surgery and I started blogging at the urging/encouraging of my beloved husband, Kendrick E. Curry. He knew I needed something to help lift my spirits and pull me through my recovery, and what better tool could I use than what I already had in my hand!
I cannot begin to express what a joy it has been for me to serve as a vessel of blessing for the Lord. The prayers of the righteous truly availeth much, for I never know from one week to the next what I will write, yet it seems I always end up writing something in line with what some of you have been praying about.
This week, I'd love to hear from you. I understand that "Think On These Things" has been shared all throughout the U.S. and abroad, and I'd love to get a "roll call" of those of you who receive the blog.
Use the "Comment" feature on the blogsite to send me the name of your city/country. Feel free to add any additional comments about your favorite blogs, etc. if you'd like. You don't have to include your name, it will be a blessing to just to see what cities are represented.
Thanks in advance for helping me to celebrate! And, let's continue to....
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Witness Protection
The words "Witness Protection" are most commonly associated with situations where people have risked their lives to serve as informants for law enforcement in exchange for life-long protection.
Persons participating in the witness protection program have either witnessed or been connected to something so intense, so serious, so critical, so life-changing that their lives are forever altered. Their names are also usually altered so that they begin an entirely new life, leaving all that they were and all that they knew far behind. Once they share what they know, or are simply exposed to certain situations and people, there is no turning back. Even if they are apprehensive about moving forward into a new life, they are forced to move in a new direction, because if they return to their old life, there is certain danger.
So it is with us as Christians. If we have truly encountered the risen Christ, we have witnessed someting so intense, so serious, so critical, so life-changing that our lives are forever altered. In the Old and the New Testaments, there are stories of those who had divine encounters and their names were changed as a result of those encounters. Unlike our legal "Witness Protection" program, those who witnessed the incredible power of God, love of Christ and presence of the Holy Spirit did not go into hiding. They, like we are charged to do, went "into all the world" telling everyone about what they knew.
When will we stop being afraid to share what we know about the Lord? People will readily share vivid details about all sorts of sordid experiences they have had, but too many Christians are silent or too embarrassed to talk about truly divine experiences or the joy of salvation.
The good thing about God's "Witness Protection" program is that we can talk all we want to whomever we want without fear, because God's got our back. Indeed, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." Whenever we speak and witness to others about what we know about God, the Holy Spirit will give us the power we need to speak up, the love we need to approach people the right way, and sound judgement as to the best time to share. We just need to have the desire and willingness to be a witness.
Keep in mind, we have to be willing. God doesn't need reluctant witnesses--those who have to be threatened into testifying about what they know. A reluctant witness for God isn't really a witness at all. When we allow God's Word to move beyond our heads and into our hearts, it will be "like fire shut up in our bones" and we will not be able to hold back from speaking and sharing what we know. We will be ready to serve as an expert witness for God and embrace the new identity He has for us. We can keep moving forward because, like those in the legal witness protection program, we know that going back to our old lives would bring certain death--spiritual and maybe even physical.
I don't know about you, but I'd much rather walk by faith into a future with God than to walk in circles in a past with no path to the future. Can I get a witness?
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Persons participating in the witness protection program have either witnessed or been connected to something so intense, so serious, so critical, so life-changing that their lives are forever altered. Their names are also usually altered so that they begin an entirely new life, leaving all that they were and all that they knew far behind. Once they share what they know, or are simply exposed to certain situations and people, there is no turning back. Even if they are apprehensive about moving forward into a new life, they are forced to move in a new direction, because if they return to their old life, there is certain danger.
So it is with us as Christians. If we have truly encountered the risen Christ, we have witnessed someting so intense, so serious, so critical, so life-changing that our lives are forever altered. In the Old and the New Testaments, there are stories of those who had divine encounters and their names were changed as a result of those encounters. Unlike our legal "Witness Protection" program, those who witnessed the incredible power of God, love of Christ and presence of the Holy Spirit did not go into hiding. They, like we are charged to do, went "into all the world" telling everyone about what they knew.
When will we stop being afraid to share what we know about the Lord? People will readily share vivid details about all sorts of sordid experiences they have had, but too many Christians are silent or too embarrassed to talk about truly divine experiences or the joy of salvation.
The good thing about God's "Witness Protection" program is that we can talk all we want to whomever we want without fear, because God's got our back. Indeed, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." Whenever we speak and witness to others about what we know about God, the Holy Spirit will give us the power we need to speak up, the love we need to approach people the right way, and sound judgement as to the best time to share. We just need to have the desire and willingness to be a witness.
Keep in mind, we have to be willing. God doesn't need reluctant witnesses--those who have to be threatened into testifying about what they know. A reluctant witness for God isn't really a witness at all. When we allow God's Word to move beyond our heads and into our hearts, it will be "like fire shut up in our bones" and we will not be able to hold back from speaking and sharing what we know. We will be ready to serve as an expert witness for God and embrace the new identity He has for us. We can keep moving forward because, like those in the legal witness protection program, we know that going back to our old lives would bring certain death--spiritual and maybe even physical.
I don't know about you, but I'd much rather walk by faith into a future with God than to walk in circles in a past with no path to the future. Can I get a witness?
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
No Deposit No Return
Some of us go through life expecting--sometimes even demanding--something for nothing. There are those of us who have somehow convinced ourselves that we are entitled to receive things like paychecks or privileges even if we never show up for work--or only show up physically and not mentally.
Some of us complain that we don't feel God's presence or can't hear God speaking to us, but perhaps it is because we don't "seek the Lord while He may be found." Perhaps we haven't fully accepted His gift of salvation and eternal life because we're afraid we'll miss out on something in this life. If we are honest, some of us don't even want to read God's Word and pray daily; we don't want to settle down and commit to being discipled at a church and be fed consistently; we have no desire to serve others; we don't strive to feed our spirit with Spirit-filled music; we are more excited about football and will spend countless hours watching it on Sundays, but start watching the clock on God if service gets too close to two hours (I won't even mention the fact that the players on the field don't even know most of us and didn't/wouldn't shed their blood for us) ....yet, we get angry at God when our requests are not granted instantly.
Sometimes, when we go through hard times we expect the church to bail us out without batting an eye. Since the church tries to model the unconditional love that Christ demonstrated, it often will reach out a helping hand even to those who rarely participate in the life of the church. Sadly, even after receiving help from the body of Christ, some will immediately return to their "regularly scheduled program already in progress" -- at least until the next crisis.
How many of us think it would be reasonable to get angry at a bank for refusing to give us money out of someone else's account? If we don't have an account of our own in which we have been depositing resources, why should we expect the bank to give us something just because we want it?
While we can never earn God's blessings and favor, when we sincerely strive to "love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength....and love our neighbor as ourselves" we are depositing energy into an account that yields incredible returns. Yet, sadly, some of us are willing to take more risks on the stock market than we are on God--but only God gives guaranteed returns!
The more faith, time and energy we deposit into our relationship with God the more we experience and enjoy the fruit of God's Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Again, not because we can actually earn these things, but because they are a naturally occuring result of a genuine relationship with God.
Some of us have been depositing for a long time and still have yet to see a return. Just hold on. Your labor is not in vain. A divine delay is not a denial, for indeed you will "reap if you faint not." Remember, "God is not a man that He should lie" and He has promised that "no good thing will He uphold from them that walk upright" plus He will do "exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine."
There's a certain peace and blessed assurance in knowing that, with God, every deposit yields a return no matter how long the delay. So, don't forfeit your deposit just because of a delay. Remember, no deposit, no return.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Some of us complain that we don't feel God's presence or can't hear God speaking to us, but perhaps it is because we don't "seek the Lord while He may be found." Perhaps we haven't fully accepted His gift of salvation and eternal life because we're afraid we'll miss out on something in this life. If we are honest, some of us don't even want to read God's Word and pray daily; we don't want to settle down and commit to being discipled at a church and be fed consistently; we have no desire to serve others; we don't strive to feed our spirit with Spirit-filled music; we are more excited about football and will spend countless hours watching it on Sundays, but start watching the clock on God if service gets too close to two hours (I won't even mention the fact that the players on the field don't even know most of us and didn't/wouldn't shed their blood for us) ....yet, we get angry at God when our requests are not granted instantly.
Sometimes, when we go through hard times we expect the church to bail us out without batting an eye. Since the church tries to model the unconditional love that Christ demonstrated, it often will reach out a helping hand even to those who rarely participate in the life of the church. Sadly, even after receiving help from the body of Christ, some will immediately return to their "regularly scheduled program already in progress" -- at least until the next crisis.
How many of us think it would be reasonable to get angry at a bank for refusing to give us money out of someone else's account? If we don't have an account of our own in which we have been depositing resources, why should we expect the bank to give us something just because we want it?
While we can never earn God's blessings and favor, when we sincerely strive to "love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength....and love our neighbor as ourselves" we are depositing energy into an account that yields incredible returns. Yet, sadly, some of us are willing to take more risks on the stock market than we are on God--but only God gives guaranteed returns!
The more faith, time and energy we deposit into our relationship with God the more we experience and enjoy the fruit of God's Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Again, not because we can actually earn these things, but because they are a naturally occuring result of a genuine relationship with God.
Some of us have been depositing for a long time and still have yet to see a return. Just hold on. Your labor is not in vain. A divine delay is not a denial, for indeed you will "reap if you faint not." Remember, "God is not a man that He should lie" and He has promised that "no good thing will He uphold from them that walk upright" plus He will do "exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine."
There's a certain peace and blessed assurance in knowing that, with God, every deposit yields a return no matter how long the delay. So, don't forfeit your deposit just because of a delay. Remember, no deposit, no return.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Back to School
Ahhh! It's that time of year...time when the smell of magic markers, crayons and scented ink fills the air....the time when--if you sit still and listen very carefully--you can hear the crack of new book binders being unhinged...the time of year when a symphony of alarm clocks reaches a crescendo, accentuated by the pitter patter of tiny (and not so tiny) feet scurrying about in a dance of early morning preparations....
Yes, it's...Back to School time!
Saying goodbye to summer vacation and returning to the discipline of the classroom was considered a childhood ritual for most of us. It was almost always met with mixed emotions, but eventually we resigned ourselves to accepting the cycle of discipline and vacation as the rhythm of life.
Our Christian education requires a similar rhythm, for we learn and grow best when we have a balance between rest and work. We grow from the disciplines of reading, praying and fasting. But, just like the physical growth spurts children experience during summer vacation, our times of resting in God and delighting in His creation yield significant spiritual growth, growth that is later guided and strengthened through the spiritual disciplines.
This fall, take some time to gaze at the changing colors of the leaves, observe the struggle between summer and fall as one season fights to hang on while the other fights to take over. Look and listen for God everywhere. Take what you experience and then get ready to go "Back to School." Revisit some of the fundamentals of the faith, like The 10 Commandments (and the two!) and John 3:16. Begin to appreciate them with new eyes.
Commit to attending a Bible Study on a regular basis--and don't be afraid to be the teacher's pet! Sit up front, ask questions, soak up everything you can. Do all of the homework assignments-- when the Pastor tells you to read a chapter of the Bible in its entirety following a sermon or lesson, actually do it! Take your Bible with you and study it like you're preparing for an exam--because you are!
Even if you've been out of school for many years and have been a Christian for many more years, let this time of year be an annual call to "study to show yourself approved." When it comes to learning the things of God, none of us--from the Pastor to the pew warmer--are ever to old to go Back to School.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Yes, it's...Back to School time!
Saying goodbye to summer vacation and returning to the discipline of the classroom was considered a childhood ritual for most of us. It was almost always met with mixed emotions, but eventually we resigned ourselves to accepting the cycle of discipline and vacation as the rhythm of life.
Our Christian education requires a similar rhythm, for we learn and grow best when we have a balance between rest and work. We grow from the disciplines of reading, praying and fasting. But, just like the physical growth spurts children experience during summer vacation, our times of resting in God and delighting in His creation yield significant spiritual growth, growth that is later guided and strengthened through the spiritual disciplines.
This fall, take some time to gaze at the changing colors of the leaves, observe the struggle between summer and fall as one season fights to hang on while the other fights to take over. Look and listen for God everywhere. Take what you experience and then get ready to go "Back to School." Revisit some of the fundamentals of the faith, like The 10 Commandments (and the two!) and John 3:16. Begin to appreciate them with new eyes.
Commit to attending a Bible Study on a regular basis--and don't be afraid to be the teacher's pet! Sit up front, ask questions, soak up everything you can. Do all of the homework assignments-- when the Pastor tells you to read a chapter of the Bible in its entirety following a sermon or lesson, actually do it! Take your Bible with you and study it like you're preparing for an exam--because you are!
Even if you've been out of school for many years and have been a Christian for many more years, let this time of year be an annual call to "study to show yourself approved." When it comes to learning the things of God, none of us--from the Pastor to the pew warmer--are ever to old to go Back to School.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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