"I've had some good days. I've had some hills to climb. I've had some weary days and some sleepless nights. But when I look around and I think things over, all of my good days outweigh my bad days. I won't complain." (Excerpt from "I Won't Complain," by Rev. Paul Jones)
Sometimes when we're climbing steep hills, growing weary and losing sleep, it seems natural to complain. In fact, it IS natural.
The Israelites complained when they had to eat "chicken and biscuits" every single day in the wilderness. They forgot all about the true function of food as fuel for the body, and the fact that even though they were in the wilderness, they didn't have to do anything to obtain the food.
There they were, bellies full of food and mouths full of complaint about their poor deprived palates. It seems to me that hungry folks would not necessarily care if the food was good, but would realize that simply having food was in and of itself, good. Some folks are just never satisfied!
While it is natural to complain, those of us who are followers of Christ have a helper to enable us to do the supernatural. That helper is God's Holy Spirit who leads us and guides us into all truth. And, the truth is, regardless of how bad things are, we really have no room to complain if we truly walk by faith and not by sight. If we really believe that ALL things work together for the good, we can begin to see the steep hills and even the low valleys as tools of preparation:
Sometimes the clouds are low. I can hardly see the road. I ask a question, Lord, "Why so much pain?" But he knows what's best for me, although my weary eyes, they can't see. So I'll just say, "Thank you Lord." I won't complain....
God's Word in 1Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks..." The key word here is in. Honestly, there are some things that we simply cannot be thankful for. But, in the midst of hard times, we can still give a sacrifice of praise to God, whose praiseworthiness is not based upon our lives, but His.
This Thanksgiving, ask the Lord to give you supernatural strength not to complain. If your Thanksgiving meal is not picture perfect, don't complain. If a certain family member predictably behaves more like a turkey than the meat on the table, don't complain. If you are asked to lead the grace at dinner, don't complain. If none of your plans seem to fall in place, don't complain. Complaining won't change anything for the better, and giving thanks can help prevent you from becoming bitter. Remember, the song is not titled, "I can't complain," it's "I won't complain...."
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, November 24, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Keep the Change
Sometimes, when we find ourselves in a comfortable financial position, we might decide to allow a waiter or cashier to "keep the change" that we are supposed to receive following our transaction.
Spiritually, when some of us get too comfortable, we might find ourselves saying, "keep the change" in reference to the change, transformation or growth that we are supposed to undergo regularly as a result of our interaction with the Lord.
When we truly give our lives to the Lord, something is bound to change. Every time someone in the Bible had an encounter with Christ, they were different afterward.
Some of us want to have a relationship with the Lord, but only on our terms. We don't want to give up anything, or we want to at least hold on to a thing or two as lovely parting gifts and mementos from our time away from God.
We might think holding on to old ways of thinking and living are harmless, but unless we completely empty ourselves and allow ourselves to be completely refilled with God's Spirit, we are stepping into dangerous territory.
Luke 11:24-26 tells of a man who had been freed of an unclean spirit, but having failed to fill himself with God's Holy Spirit, he was vulnerable to the refilling of evil, for the demon, "....taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first."
If we want to eliminate some of the trauma and drama we experience in our lives, we have to be very conscious and deliberate about making sure we do whatever it takes to "keep the change" that we experienced when we were first saved or delivered.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Spiritually, when some of us get too comfortable, we might find ourselves saying, "keep the change" in reference to the change, transformation or growth that we are supposed to undergo regularly as a result of our interaction with the Lord.
When we truly give our lives to the Lord, something is bound to change. Every time someone in the Bible had an encounter with Christ, they were different afterward.
Some of us want to have a relationship with the Lord, but only on our terms. We don't want to give up anything, or we want to at least hold on to a thing or two as lovely parting gifts and mementos from our time away from God.
We might think holding on to old ways of thinking and living are harmless, but unless we completely empty ourselves and allow ourselves to be completely refilled with God's Spirit, we are stepping into dangerous territory.
Luke 11:24-26 tells of a man who had been freed of an unclean spirit, but having failed to fill himself with God's Holy Spirit, he was vulnerable to the refilling of evil, for the demon, "....taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first."
If we want to eliminate some of the trauma and drama we experience in our lives, we have to be very conscious and deliberate about making sure we do whatever it takes to "keep the change" that we experienced when we were first saved or delivered.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Touchy Situation
Most of us can recall at least one time in our lives when we found ourselves in a touchy situation. Things may have been very tense and we may have been anxious about how the situation would turn out. In fact, it may have seemed that there was no way out.
In Luke 8:43-48, the Bible tells of a woman who had an issue of blood that no doctor could heal. She suffered for 12 years and it seemed there was no way out of her condition.
In Bible times, people with medical issues were often required to be separated from the main population, essentially forced to live as outcasts, but, she heard that Jesus was passing by....
If she had taken time to consult with others about whether she should approach Jesus to ask Him for healing, she might have been told, "Well...I don't know...that's a touchy situation. It's not acceptable for a woman to just walk up to a man she doesn't know. And, you know, with your medical issue, you are considered unclean, so you shouldn't even be walking through the crowd to try to get to Jesus...."
Perhaps she had all of this in mind when she humbly crouched down and stretched her hand to touch the hem of Jesus' garment instead of walking up to Him for a face-to-face request. Her situation was, indeed, touchy, but, somewhere within her a mustard seed of faith wouldn't let her suffer on the sidelines another day.
How long will we allow our conditions to keep us sidelined? Some of us may have several strikes against us according to society's standards, but no matter how touchy our situation is, we have a God who specializes in touchy situations! In fact, all it takes is a touch and we will never be the same! That's what the woman with the issue of blood found out. She was not rebuked for touching Jesus, she was rewarded. Jesus told her, "...be of good comfort: thy faith has made thee whole...."
Decide today to press your way for at least a touch of Jesus. Whether that means finding a Bible study, prayer meeting, worship service, a phone call to a friend for prayer, a search on the internet for a transforming message from the Lord or just opening your Bible and meditating on a favorite verse. It doesn't matter how long you've known the Lord or have been studying His Word, His mercies are new every morning. That means today's touch might not be the same as yesterday's, so keep pressing.
Even those of us who minister sometimes need to press through the overwhelming "business" of ministry and get a fresh touch from the Lord to help us withstand the touchy situations we face in our work for the Lord. We also have to be mindful of not becoming so "holy" and pious that we no longer allow ourselves to be touched or moved by God's presence, relegating such experiences to a fond but distant memory.
Maintaining a touch point with the Lord on a regular basis is critical for our own growth and relationship. When we are not regularly in touch with the Lord we are "out of touch" with the reality that the only wisdom and power we have comes from the Lord, not us. Whenever we think it's o.k. to live, love, or lead without the Lord's touch, we have definitely placed ourselves in a touchy situation.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
In Luke 8:43-48, the Bible tells of a woman who had an issue of blood that no doctor could heal. She suffered for 12 years and it seemed there was no way out of her condition.
In Bible times, people with medical issues were often required to be separated from the main population, essentially forced to live as outcasts, but, she heard that Jesus was passing by....
If she had taken time to consult with others about whether she should approach Jesus to ask Him for healing, she might have been told, "Well...I don't know...that's a touchy situation. It's not acceptable for a woman to just walk up to a man she doesn't know. And, you know, with your medical issue, you are considered unclean, so you shouldn't even be walking through the crowd to try to get to Jesus...."
Perhaps she had all of this in mind when she humbly crouched down and stretched her hand to touch the hem of Jesus' garment instead of walking up to Him for a face-to-face request. Her situation was, indeed, touchy, but, somewhere within her a mustard seed of faith wouldn't let her suffer on the sidelines another day.
How long will we allow our conditions to keep us sidelined? Some of us may have several strikes against us according to society's standards, but no matter how touchy our situation is, we have a God who specializes in touchy situations! In fact, all it takes is a touch and we will never be the same! That's what the woman with the issue of blood found out. She was not rebuked for touching Jesus, she was rewarded. Jesus told her, "...be of good comfort: thy faith has made thee whole...."
Decide today to press your way for at least a touch of Jesus. Whether that means finding a Bible study, prayer meeting, worship service, a phone call to a friend for prayer, a search on the internet for a transforming message from the Lord or just opening your Bible and meditating on a favorite verse. It doesn't matter how long you've known the Lord or have been studying His Word, His mercies are new every morning. That means today's touch might not be the same as yesterday's, so keep pressing.
Even those of us who minister sometimes need to press through the overwhelming "business" of ministry and get a fresh touch from the Lord to help us withstand the touchy situations we face in our work for the Lord. We also have to be mindful of not becoming so "holy" and pious that we no longer allow ourselves to be touched or moved by God's presence, relegating such experiences to a fond but distant memory.
Maintaining a touch point with the Lord on a regular basis is critical for our own growth and relationship. When we are not regularly in touch with the Lord we are "out of touch" with the reality that the only wisdom and power we have comes from the Lord, not us. Whenever we think it's o.k. to live, love, or lead without the Lord's touch, we have definitely placed ourselves in a touchy situation.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Pardon My Dust....
Have you ever noticed the signage at a construction site? One of the signs that always stands out to me is the one that says, "Pardon Our Dust...." Usually the phrase is accompanied by additional words explaining how the construction is necessary for improvement.
The sign, "Pardon Our Dust...." is meant to make us feel good about the construction instead of annoyed by it--to see it as a sign of progress rather than a frustrating impediment.
Perhaps if we all wore such signs on our bodies we might better appreciate the incredible transformation we are all undergoing on our journey through sanctification.
The very moment we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead we receive the gift of salvation. However, working out our soul's salvation, or applying that gift on this side of glory is a daily process. Being saved on Sunday doesn't make us perfect on Monday. It just sets us on course to press toward the mark.
When we remember that we are all under construction, hopefully we will begin to be a little more patient with one another--and ourselves! Being mindful of our construction zones also reminds us that we must be more careful with one another--after all, construction workers don't wear hard hats as a fashion statement!
Construction zones are dangerous places. There is always the possibility of flying debris hurtling from above, or gaping holes and large obstacles lurking below. That's why, when we are at the most intense phase of our construction, it may not the best time to initiate new relationships. We may feel vulnerable during this time and desirous of companionship, but someone could get seriously injured by some of the junk that flies off of us as God chips away at the crusty barnacles we have accumulated through life.
Perhaps the best thing to say when someone wants to get close to us during a dangerous time is, "Pardon my dust" and tell them to stay clear until the construction is complete. Of course, most of us don't do that. We do just the opposite. We pull people into our construction zones with no warning, no signage, and worst of all, no hard hat! Those poor souls often have no clue that they've even entered into a construction zone until they come to the end of a road and realize...there IS no end to the road because the construction hasn't been completed!
Whoever and whatever is meant for us will be there for us at the end of construction. So, we shouldn't try to deny or hide the fact that we are a work in progress. We only complicate or hinder the process by having people on the site who don't belong there. If we've already committed to a marriage, a ministry or a business with someone, it's still not too late to ask them to "pardon our dust."
Those closest to us might actually find it refreshing and encouraging to hear us finally acknowledge what they've been dealing with all along. In fact, with everything in the open, those closest to us can then become our allies instead of scapegoats. And, they might be a lot more willing to don a hard hat--maybe even safety goggles--when we lovingly and honestly implore them to "Pardon Our Dust...."
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
The sign, "Pardon Our Dust...." is meant to make us feel good about the construction instead of annoyed by it--to see it as a sign of progress rather than a frustrating impediment.
Perhaps if we all wore such signs on our bodies we might better appreciate the incredible transformation we are all undergoing on our journey through sanctification.
The very moment we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead we receive the gift of salvation. However, working out our soul's salvation, or applying that gift on this side of glory is a daily process. Being saved on Sunday doesn't make us perfect on Monday. It just sets us on course to press toward the mark.
When we remember that we are all under construction, hopefully we will begin to be a little more patient with one another--and ourselves! Being mindful of our construction zones also reminds us that we must be more careful with one another--after all, construction workers don't wear hard hats as a fashion statement!
Construction zones are dangerous places. There is always the possibility of flying debris hurtling from above, or gaping holes and large obstacles lurking below. That's why, when we are at the most intense phase of our construction, it may not the best time to initiate new relationships. We may feel vulnerable during this time and desirous of companionship, but someone could get seriously injured by some of the junk that flies off of us as God chips away at the crusty barnacles we have accumulated through life.
Perhaps the best thing to say when someone wants to get close to us during a dangerous time is, "Pardon my dust" and tell them to stay clear until the construction is complete. Of course, most of us don't do that. We do just the opposite. We pull people into our construction zones with no warning, no signage, and worst of all, no hard hat! Those poor souls often have no clue that they've even entered into a construction zone until they come to the end of a road and realize...there IS no end to the road because the construction hasn't been completed!
Whoever and whatever is meant for us will be there for us at the end of construction. So, we shouldn't try to deny or hide the fact that we are a work in progress. We only complicate or hinder the process by having people on the site who don't belong there. If we've already committed to a marriage, a ministry or a business with someone, it's still not too late to ask them to "pardon our dust."
Those closest to us might actually find it refreshing and encouraging to hear us finally acknowledge what they've been dealing with all along. In fact, with everything in the open, those closest to us can then become our allies instead of scapegoats. And, they might be a lot more willing to don a hard hat--maybe even safety goggles--when we lovingly and honestly implore them to "Pardon Our Dust...."
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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