Gratitude

Someone gives something to a little kid, and then the parent says, “What do you say?” They’re trying to teach their child to say thank you—to show gratitude. Unfortunately, saying thank you often becomes being polite rather than being truly grateful. Living a life of gratitude for what you have requires intentional effort. It’s far too easy to think everything you have is just a given. Of course there’s going to be running water. Of course I’m going to sleep safely in my bed tonight. Of course I’m going to be surrounded by people who love me.

While most of these might be true for you, they aren’t true for everyone. There are people in this world who dream of living a life as blessed as yours. There are people who pray every day that there will be water available tomorrow. Gratitude is all about perspective. It is looking at your life and realizing many things that you think are normal are actually a huge blessing.

It is an exceedingly difficult lesson to live out, but it is important to remember where our hope comes from. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 says, “15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

If you never slow down to appreciate all that you have—whether it was given to you, or you earned it yourself—you can get lost in the endless pursuit of more. When we are grateful, we look to God and say, “you are enough for me, and everything else is a blessing.” We know that there are people in this world who go without their basic needs, and that adds perspective to the life we live now. Last year’s phone works just as well as next year’s phone, when we are grateful for having a phone at all.

Worship

How do you show your love for other people? You spend time with them. You talk to them. You listen to them. You recognize all the good things that they have brought into your life. This is not different than how we can treat God. A lot of times we think worship is only the singing we do when we are at church. But worship is so much more.

We worship God with our whole heart, mind, and spirit. This means we bow down before our king. We don’t do this because we are conquered. We do this because we are thankful. God has shown so much love to us that we just want to give some of that back to him in worship. God loved us so much that he sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. We get to join in the loop of adoration: God loves us, and we love God.

Hear these words of Psalm 95,
1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Worship is all about love. When we feel lost and desperate we can reach out and worship God because God is always with us. Through Jesus we receive salvation and connection. In worship we can pour out our whole heart to God. All our hopes and dreams. Our fears and insecurities. All our thanks and adoration. Worship is something that starts in your heart and doesn’t require anyone else around. Worshipping in private can be better and more freeing than worshipping with a large group.

Move it

Have you ever had a day when you literally did nothing? Maybe you walked to the bathroom or the kitchen, but for the most part you sat still in front of various screens? If it’s relaxing by choice, then by all means the occasional nothing day is okay. However, if this is a regularly occurring lifestyle, it might be time to examine what you’re doing.

God gave you a body, and from where science is today, you’ve only got the one. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6, our body is a temple for our spirit. He says, “19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” This chapter is mostly referring to the sexual immorality of the Corinthians, but I believe the message still stands for us today and can be applied more broadly.

As you treat temples with respect, you should treat your own body with respect. God does not care about how fit you look or how fast you can run. God wants you to be able to use the gift of your life. Don’t waste the gift of your youth (if you can still read this and move by choice, you’re still young). We can learn about God by getting up and moving around. Go for a walk. Play a game. Dance while no one is watching.

It is for freedom that Christ set us free. We are not called to be bogged down by shame. Moving a little bit today helps you move a little more tomorrow. We should rejoice when we get out there and can see one another. But that can never happen if we hide ourselves away. Use your gifts, it is through God’s compassion that we are able to live. Let us use what we have for the glory of God. It can all start with a walk around the block.

Confession

Have you ever messed up big time? It’s easy, the answer is yes. We all have. Making mistakes is just a part of life that will eventually find you. However, the choice comes in what you do next. Our gut reaction is to hide the problem and deny it for as long as possible. We think, “if no one knows what happens, I won’t have to face the consequence of my actions.”

When that stuff is out there, we can live in the fear that it’s only a matter of time before we get found out. We spend time worrying about getting caught. We feel the weight of lying to our friends and loved ones. God has not called you to bear the burden of guilt. God has called you to set yourself free through the act of confession.

In 1 John 1:7-9 we are reminded, “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession requires us to live in community with God and other believers. We need people who will walk through the hard times with us in love. While we may need to face some real-world consequences for our actions, we can’t start the healing process until we have been open about our actions.

It is good judgment to be honest with those closest to us, even when we make mistakes. The other side of giving confession is receiving it. There will be times when people come to you to seek forgiveness, they will confess some wrong they’ve done. When we hear this confession, we should hope to lead them towards healing and (if safe and possible) reconciliation.

Simplify

What do you NEED to have access to every day to live your life? Food, water, shelter, and clothes are probably the most obvious things people need. But each of us probably have a few more things on the list if we’re honest. What else is on that list for you? Is it your phone? Your Starbucks order? Your comfort show? What are the things that you love to have but aren’t necessary for human survival.

For many people this list is way longer than it should be, the goal in life is to add more and more and more. I need to make more money so I can have the best stuff. I need the best stuff so people can know how important I am. What if you were called to simplify? As one artist put it, a song is not done when you can’t add anything else; a song is done when nothing else can be taken away. Time and again we get caught in the trap of MORE, and the things we own end up owning us.

This is not the life you were called to live. Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:12-14 reminds us, “12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, … 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand…that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

Our goal should be to live in such a way that having God is enough to make us happy. According to one study nearly 90% of Americans look at their phone within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. What if we liberated ourselves from the ropes that bind us? What single small change could have echoes of growth that reverberate through your life?

Solitude

What is the difference between being alone and being lonely? Many of us are surrounded by noise and people all day long. Finding a moment to yourself to think a single thought or breathe a single breath is so hard to find. This is why we need to intentionally make time for solitude. You don’t need to journey off into the woods or a mountain top to find alone time. You can go to your room, take a long shower, walk the dog, or walk yourself. You can communicate and set boundaries with the people around you.

It's easy to feel lonely, even in a crowded room, but when we practice solitude, we learn that we are never alone because God is with us always. God wants to spend time with us, but we have a hard time hearing what God is telling us if we never make time to listen.

In his preamble to the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus gives us this instruction in Matthew 6:5-8, “5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

When we feel lonely or abandoned, we can look back on our intentional times of solitude to remind us that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. God is with you, even to the end of the age. We can have great and blessed days spending time with our friends and loved ones, but we can grow in new and unexpected ways if we spend time alone listening to God.

Tell ‘Em

What is the last show, song, movie, or book that you HAD to tell someone about? Sharing the things we love with the people we love is one the best parts of the human experience. There is little better than seeing someone else feel the same joy you did. If someone shows you something new that you love you feel seen and understood. They’ve tapped into something that is deeper than your preferences.

Hopefully, this is our goal when we share the good news of Jesus with other people. We are sharing something that we love and is important to us. And we do it in the hope that they will experience God the same way we do. It’s okay that evangelism can sometimes feel scary. You are taking a vulnerable position and can fear rejection, but that is when we remember that this is God’s calling on all our lives. We share the truth we have in our hearts because we want the people we love to have the joy and comfort that we do.

Jesus, in Matthew 28:19-20, gives us what is called the Great Commission. “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus doesn’t say, “just tell your best friends,” or “tell anyone who you think deserves it.” Jesus commands us to tell ALL nations.

The best part of this is that their response isn’t up to you. When you share the truth of the Gospel you can’t make anyone believe. As one pastor put it, “you can’t argue anyone into heaven.” Our job is just to open the invitation. Let them know what God has done in your life. Demonstrate the truth about what you believe with your life.

Show love, show kindness, help the people around you.

Choices

How do you make the best choice? If you’re choosing between pizza and burgers, it’s hard to go wrong. Both are delicious and can fully cater to your preferences. What about the bigger choices like where to live, what job you want, or who should be your friends. For all these there can be multiple correct answers that lead to a blessed life.

This is where we meet discernment. Discernment is a Christian skill that is easy to understand but is difficult to master. Unlike a normal choice between right and wrong—if your choice is cheat or not cheat it’s obvious which is wrong—discernment is choosing between what is right and almost right. Our days are filled with decisions and each one could range from zero consequence to long-lasting, life-altering consequences.

This could easily lead to decision paralysis. “There are so many things to do, WHAT’S NEXT?” Instead of getting stuck, just ask yourself, “what is the next right thing I can do?”

Paul, in the beginning of his letter to the Philippians (1:9-10) says, “9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

As we act in love, we learn and grow. We won’t make perfect decisions every time, but we will always have the opportunity to learn more. When we are only looking for the next right thing, we can find ourselves on a path that takes us closer to God. We turn away from worthless things because we have God’s law in our hearts. We can follow Jesus and discern the best path for our lives and that helps us make a lot more right choices.

Ruminate on God

Did you know that some animals have multiple stomachs? Cows, goats, giraffes, and many others go through a process called rumination where they chew their food and send it to their first stomach. Then it pops back into their mouths, and they chew on it some more. And this cycle continues for as many stomachs as the animal has. They do this so that they can get every last bit of nutrition out of their food.

We unfortunately, only have one stomach, but we can still ruminate—only we do it with our thoughts. There are times when something is on your mind, then you get distracted, and it will pop back up and you’ll think about it some more, and this will keep cycling. If we do this on purpose, we can call it meditating.

Meditation is something that has taken on a lot of meanings for a lot of groups. For our purpose here we will use it to simply mean intentionally taking time to think about Jesus and the scripture. One writer said when we meditate, we grow in our familiar friendship with Jesus.

When God is calling Joshua in Joshua 1:8 we read, “8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

There’s going to be a time in your life that you feel like you’ve been laid low. It is during these times that we will appreciate the effort we’ve taken to meditate on the promises of God. This all goes back to hiding God’s word in your heart, so you have it available when you need it. As we meditate/ruminate on God’s promises we can get every last bit of truth out of them.

God Knows

Sometimes it feels weird to pray. You’re just talking (out loud or in your head) to someone who you cannot see about the deepest parts of your life. It can feel weird to find the words. Let’s simplify it. If you’ve been in certain churches, you’ve heard people pray with long elegant words and phrases, their prayers sound impressive, and it can feel like they know some secret code that makes God hear them. But you don’t need any of that. God knows your heart.

There is nothing you can say in your prayer that is going to shock or surprise God. So, instead of giving a long list of requests just talk to God like you would the most loving parent of all time. I’m talking classic TV sitcom, all your problems will be solved in 22 minutes, parent. If you went up to the best parent in the world and asked for protection (something they always do their best to give you), they would smile at you and say of course I will that is why I am here. Talk to God instead about what’s going on in your life. I’m scared about this. I’m worried about that. I’m so excited I get to.

God knows what is on your heart, and like that good parent, is excited to hear you talk about your life in any way that helps the two of you grow closer. A great way to start praying is opening up to any Psalm and just read it to God as if you wrote it. Treat it like the Psalmist’s words are your words. Try it with the verses below. Most of all, know that prayer is like a muscle. It gets stronger and is more comfortable to do the more you use it.

Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Hidden in the Heart

How often do you face temptation? Sometimes it feels like it’s an all-day, everyday kind of thing. How do you react? If you are a normal human, sometimes you give in and sometimes you resist. And we’re not always talking about life altering, relationship ruining temptation. We face the temptation to lose our tempers, take more than our share, or any number of small nicks and scratches to our integrity. When we are faced with these hard questions, we must rely on what we’ve learned to find our strength.

We read the scripture to make a home in our heart for the word of God. Whatever you put in your mind and heart is going to be what comes out of your mouth and is seen in your actions. Think of all the slang terms you used growing up that your parents and teachers had no clue how to use. They weren’t exposed to them because they consumed different media than you and had different friends than you (and they weren’t as cool as you).

The author of Hebrews 4 tells us, “11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Where you put your priorities will be seen in your life. If you can take time each day to study the word of God, you will see a change in the way you view and treat other people. You will react differently when you face the temptation of life. You can start by reading one verse a day. You can start by reading huge chunks at a time. There are a million Bible apps with a million reading plans, you can listen to the audio version, you can get a picture Bible, you just need to find a way to start.

Dig In

What is the first thing you do when you want to learn how to do something new? If you’re anything like me, you check the internet! The internet holds the wealth of human experience, and it’s usually right in your pocket. You can learn how to fix your car, how to do your makeup, how to make a cake, and just about anything else you could possibly think of.

One of the great defining features of humanity is our ability to share knowledge. We look to the people that came before us for ways to make it through our modern world. This is especially true for Christians. We look to the early church mothers and church fathers for ways to grow closer to God.

And while they may have some wise words for us, nothing is better than going back to the source. We read the Bible today for instruction, for inspiration, and for comfort. All of these things work together to help lead us down the path God wants us to travel.

Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible is a twenty-two stanza love letter to the word of God. I had one pastor comment that it could address every aspect of our life on earth. It asks hard questions and gives hard answers. Throughout the chapter it encourages us to live into our calling as children of God.

Psalm 119:9-11
9 How can a young person keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Where do you meditate all day? Where are your eyes fixed?

Thumbs Out

I got a really bad boo-boo on the side of my thumb a while back. It hurt a lot when it happened and looked a little gross. But after the initial shock went away it was mostly just sore. That is until it gently bumped something while I was walking, or I tried to tie my shoe, or I was typing a lot. Do you know how often your thumb taps the phone in your pocket while you’re walking? I didn’t either, then it started stinging every time it happened.

There are things in our lives that don’t matter at all until they suddenly matter a lot. There are things that we are perfectly fine ignoring until they show up and demand our attention. When we are faced with these things our natural instinct might be to try and ignore it even harder, but too often this leads to a problem becoming worse rather than going away.

As followers of Christ, we should be ready to confront the discomfort in our lives because we know that we don’t need to face it alone. God is with you. Your community is with you. It is rarely easy. It is rarely simple. And it may take all that is within you to seek out the help you need, but the help is available.

Ephesians 6:10-13 tells us, “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

God has a plan to protect you, whether you are fighting against the problems of this world, or the problems in your own heart. We just need to stand strong and courageous, trusting in the promises of God.

Daniel Lion

In the Old Testaments we are introduced to Daniel. He was a Jewish kid taken into captivity in Babylon. This was a normal thing for an occupying force to do. They would kidnap young men of the nobility and raise them in a bit of luxury in the hopes that they would start siding with their captors. And they could then go back to the people in a few years as “one of them” saying, “sure, they invaded and enslaved most of us, but they’re not so bad.” Daniel and the others were given much better food and lodging than you would usually expect when you’re kidnapped by the bad guys.

Daniel knew the trap that was laid before him. It would be very easy to succumb to the temptation of being fed from the king’s table. It was all the best food and best wine. But Daniel stayed resolute. He and his friends ate only vegetables and drank water. Through acting righteously and being helpful Daniel is raised to a position of authority. Making some of the Babylonians jealous that he was trying to replace them.

They tell the king that Daniel is worshiping God instead of worshiping the king, and this gets him into all kinds of trouble. The king is so angry that he decides to punish Daniel by throwing him into a den filled with hungry lions. You may have heard this one before; Daniel spends the whole night in there and remains perfectly safe. The King is so shocked and amazed that God would save Daniel in this way that he falls down to worship.

The king in Daniel 6:26-27 says,

26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

You may not be kidnapped, you may not be thrown into a lion’s den, but the struggles of life can still feel like they are beating down your door every day. In these times I hope you can hold on to the reminder that our living God endures forever! The God who saved Daniel from the power of lions, is working to save you too.

God So Loved You

In the Church we talk a lot about repentance and forgiveness. We say it all the time, “we are all sinners who need saving through the work of Jesus Christ.” When times are good it is easy to say, “I know I am forgiven because Jesus loves me.” However, there are also times when we cry out like David did in Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” And there are seasons when life can make us feel like a pinball bouncing between every possible extreme.

Once those times of doubt rear up, we need to lean into the promises that God has made to us. We must remember that God’s faithfulness in the past is a pattern and a promise for what God will do in the future. You are a child of God, and you are loved so deeply that nothing can come between you and your loving savior. The world (or your own mind) may come at you and try to convince you that you cannot be loved. This is a lie! You are a beloved child. You are always welcome to turn back to God. God does not lie. He showed us His love through Jesus.

Paul in Romans 8 says it this way,

“38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When Paul says “nothing” he means “NOTHING.” There is not one thing in this world (or out of it) that can make God stop loving you—nothing that you’ve done, nothing that you’ve said, nothing that you thought. No matter what, there is always a path back to hope and redemption because God so loved you, that he sent his only son, that you should not perish but have eternal life.

Even when it feels hard to believe, Jesus loves you.

Hurry Up and Wait

I love taking the train out to my destination. No need to worry about traffic, gas, or the endless circles searching for a parking spot. I have more mixed feelings about taking the train to get home. Recently, I missed my train by less than a minute, I heard it pulling away as I was running down the stairs. And due to that one minute I had to wait an hour for the next one. I was immediately annoyed. Unfortunately, you can’t blame the train for leaving on time.

It's easy to chalk this up as an opportunity to learn a little patience, and trust in God’s timing. Yet, in the moment, patience is stupid. Like that girl in that movie, “I don’t care how, I want it now!” Of course, patience is a virtue, and a fruit of the spirit, and an aspect of love, and James calls it a growth opportunity (my paraphrase). To all that I would reply, “while true, it’s also really, really hard in the moment.”

We hate waiting. Whether it was due to our own poor time management like my missed train, or factors outside of our control like a flight delay, unplanned/forced waiting throws a wrench in the way we expected life to go. However, we can also think of waiting in the same vein as fasting. While challenging, we can learn from it, if we are mindful. When we look back, we can see what we’ve learned and how our muscle of patience has grown. God is faithful. God has come through for us again and again. God has strengthened us when we thought we’d lost it all.

Isaiah 40:29-31 says, “God gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint.”

We don’t like when our timing is interrupted, but each time it is, we have a choice. We can lean into God, or we can wallow in anger. It’s a hard choice to make; I hope we can all make the right one—at least once in a while.

Dude Be Nice

When I was in youth ministry, one of the niches I found was working with the kids that had a hard time fitting in. If you were ever a young person then I’m sure you know that, at times, kids can be brutally inconsiderate. Someone new came along that looked different, or acted different, or didn’t know the arbitrary rules your group had set up for inclusion and they got pushed away. That’s where I would step in and introduce them to some kinder kids or for the real outliers just be the listening ear they desperately needed.

Looking back with the eyes and experience of an adult it’s easy to forgive children acting this way because their brains are still (hopefully) developing empathy. However, for some this attitude hangs on. It is all too easy to find a routine we like and put everyone into neat little boxes to categorize our life. Anything that could cause even the most minor disturbance to one of these boxes is an abomination.

If you consider yourself a follower of Christ then Jesus made it pretty clear for us in Matthew 28:18-20 when he said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

“Go and make disciples of all nations,” one translation says everyone you meet. If you have been given the life changing gift of the gospel of Jesus, you should be excited to bring people along with you on the journey. And it’s hard, it’s hard to be loving to new people. What if they’re weird? What if they ask me a question and I don’t know the answer? What if we didn’t go to high school together?

There are people looking in on what you have and wondering how they could have something similar. Be it your marriage, or your job, or your community. And while you may not be able to help someone find a spouse or a job, you can let them be a part of your community. Even if you need to adjust or get used to a new normal, you know what Christ has called you to do. We have been called to show the love of Christ to everyone.

How do YOU increase community?

Called to Freedom

Tomorrow is the 4th of July, the day Americans come together to grill hot dogs, set off fireworks, and wave flags to celebrate freedom. Unfortunately, in that coming together and talking about America, there is also going to be a lot of arguments. “This country used to be XYZ,” “What we really need is ABC,” and “I don’t care what you say that town should let the dog be the mayor!”

All this coming from different people having different perspectives on what it means to be free. If this happens to you, I pray that you can keep things at a respectful/conversational level and the you remember the words of Galatians 5:13-15.

Here Paul says, “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

Love your neighbor. Three little words that end up so complicated when we try to live them out. It is much easier to bite and devour one another, but that’s exactly what we are told not to do. We sadly don’t need to go very far to see this kind of arguing. Talking heads on the news, people all over the internet, and even our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. It can feel inescapable.

This is why we are called to do our best to be the bigger person. This is why we are called to try and show love to our neighbor. This is why we are told elsewhere to “do unto others what you would have them do to you.” Treat people the way you want to be treated. You don’t need to engage in every possible debate and argument. You have the freedom to say, “I love you, but I don’t think this discussion is productive.”

Shhhhh

Matthew 6:2-4

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

With the rise of social media and the internet there are more famous people now than there has ever been before. There are people who are super famous but in a niche you’ve never heard of, so you can’t understand why they became a millionaire. Even if you’re not trying to get famous, getting ahead at work or life can feel like it requires you to do endless self-promotion. It feels like the people we see getting promoted are the ones who are constantly bragging.

This is what make the words of Jesus in Matthew 6 so challenging. If you do something big, or cool, or sacrificial then there is a part of you that wants everyone to know about it. However, we too often do it to bring glory to ourselves. You should do work that brings you pride. You should give to the needy but do it because you want to help the needy not because it will impress the people around you.

The only time you should tell others of your good works is when it might inspire them to join the effort of doing good. Working in the church I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten to see good works done in secret. People of means who remain humble in their effort to support the ongoing work of the church. We are so thankful for their support and humility.

We can help people because it is the correct thing to do. And feel good that we have the privilege to offer help. With God’s approval, why do we need the world’s?

Summertime Swing

School is out, summer is in full swing, and I’m sure there is someone out there who is already sick of being asked, “what are we going to do today?” For kids, summer can be a weird mix of super fun highs and super boring lows. During the school year, most days have a similar routine, contrasted with the summer when we go to the park, we play in the water, and we might just go on a trip somewhere cool. Every day has the possibility of being a fun new adventure and the excitement for the unknown leads to that question being asked again and again.

Eventually you leave school and are forced to deal with the realities of adult life. Gone is the annual 2-month full break from work and responsibility. It becomes far less likely that someone is going to wake you up and say, “get dressed, today you get to do something awesome.” Good things still happen, but more often they are saved, planned, and accounted for. In this adult world we become responsible for finding our own joy. Which isn’t always easy. We must set our eyes and our hearts on the things of God.

In Psalm 16:5-8 David says,

“5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

because God is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

We may not have the excitement of random trips or extended breaks from our routines, but we do have a God that loves us and leads us to find joy in the places we need it. God is with you in the hard times and the good. Celebrate the small things that bring you joy.