1Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Good morning Zebras,
Last week I told you I tend toward the truth side of Christianity. That was not a revelation to me, but rather an admission that love is a trait that I am always working on. God showed me years ago through today’s verse that all my knowledge and ability to explain God’s word would be useless if I did it without love.
A few weeks ago my husband and I watched Fireproof again. That movie didn’t impact me like Facing the Giants did, but I do believe God has blessed the Kendrick brothers’ ministry and since the movie is about learning to love others I decided I should watch it again. Watching the movie made me want to buy the book.
So last week I went to the store to look for it. When I opened the front cover and saw today’s verse inside I knew I needed to read it
The focus of the book is marital relationships, but I figured what is good in marriage is also good in life so I decided to read it as a “how to love others” book.
The first two traits are patience and kindness and that makes sense since they are the first things mentioned in the definition of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 Love is patient and kind; Notice they are mentioned together.
That’s because, according to this book, patience and kindness are the pillars that love is built on.
Patience is how we react in a negative situation. You are slow to anger. You choose to have a long fuse rather than a quick temper. Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps you settle down and begin extending mercy to those around you. Patience is an internal calm during an external storm.
Kindness, they say, is love in action. It consists of four basic core ingredients: gentleness, helpfulness, willingness and initiative.
While patience avoids problems, kindness creates blessings.
One is preventative, the other proactive.
For me, just those two traits alone, if put into practice, would dramatically improve the way I interact with others.
Love,
Jill
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Grace and Truth
John 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Good morning Zebras,
If you look at the life of Jesus I think you will see the two in perfect balance. Jesus didn’t mince words. He was bold with the truth. But He also loved the people He was talking to. In fact He loved them so much He gave His life for them.
Jesus is the only person who has ever had the perfect balance of love and truth.
It is said Christians fall into two groups: the love camp and the truth camp. The latter value right and wrong, living by the truth and telling the truth. The love camp, on the other hand, majors in feelings between people.
Both are important, but it is even more important to learn to balance them both. If you look at the life of Jesus I think that is what you will see. Jesus didn’t mince words. He was bold with the truth. But He also loved the people He was talking to. In fact He loved them so much He gave His life for them.
A person who focuses too heavily on the love aspect overlooks sin and hesitates to challenge people even when they feel they should. They will do anything to maintain the relationship, even compromising truth. They would rather allow their friend to perish without Christ than risk offending them with the gospel.
Now truth people can be a little harsh. They have an overdeveloped sense of right and wrong with very little room for grace. They will speak truth even if it hurts and can be legalistic at times. They aren’t always pleasant to be around.
Each one of us has our “bent.” We tend to lean one way or the other. And that is good; it is how God made us. But He didn’t intend to leave us that way. The whole goal of sanctification is to make us more like Christ.
So if you are like me, and you tend to lean towards truth you probably need to work on loving others. And if you are really good at loving others you probably need to work on being brave enough to speak truth.
Either way, you need to know truth before you can speak it and that’s where the Bible comes in.
Love,
Jill
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Good morning Zebras,
If you look at the life of Jesus I think you will see the two in perfect balance. Jesus didn’t mince words. He was bold with the truth. But He also loved the people He was talking to. In fact He loved them so much He gave His life for them.
Jesus is the only person who has ever had the perfect balance of love and truth.
It is said Christians fall into two groups: the love camp and the truth camp. The latter value right and wrong, living by the truth and telling the truth. The love camp, on the other hand, majors in feelings between people.
Both are important, but it is even more important to learn to balance them both. If you look at the life of Jesus I think that is what you will see. Jesus didn’t mince words. He was bold with the truth. But He also loved the people He was talking to. In fact He loved them so much He gave His life for them.
A person who focuses too heavily on the love aspect overlooks sin and hesitates to challenge people even when they feel they should. They will do anything to maintain the relationship, even compromising truth. They would rather allow their friend to perish without Christ than risk offending them with the gospel.
Now truth people can be a little harsh. They have an overdeveloped sense of right and wrong with very little room for grace. They will speak truth even if it hurts and can be legalistic at times. They aren’t always pleasant to be around.
Each one of us has our “bent.” We tend to lean one way or the other. And that is good; it is how God made us. But He didn’t intend to leave us that way. The whole goal of sanctification is to make us more like Christ.
So if you are like me, and you tend to lean towards truth you probably need to work on loving others. And if you are really good at loving others you probably need to work on being brave enough to speak truth.
Either way, you need to know truth before you can speak it and that’s where the Bible comes in.
Love,
Jill
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Chasing Christ
Hebrews 1:1-2
God’s Final Word: His Son
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Good morning Zebras,
I just love it when God shows me a new direction!
For the last year or so I have been focused on getting to know God the Father, the holy creator of Israel who deserves and demands our full obedience. And it has been a wonderful journey. Learning who the Father really is has been a transforming experience which has enabled me to put to rest a lot of questions and insecurities.
But recently God has shown me it is time to change direction. It is time to learn about the Son.
At retreat I didn’t really finish everything I wanted to talk about. It talked about Abraham, Moses and David but I really didn’t get to finish talking about Paul and now I think I know why.
Abraham, Moses and David were dealing with God before Jesus, not before Jesus existed because the Bible says that Jesus existed from the beginning, but before He walked on earth. They were all driven to do what they did by God the Father.
But Paul wasn’t. Paul wasn’t driven to change his whole life and give up everything because he saw the Father; he was driven to do what he did because he saw Jesus.
I have two friends who can’t even mention the name of Jesus without crying. They are so grateful for what He has done for them and for the relationship they have with Him that they are overwhelmed just thinking about it. I’m not like that.
I look and them and think “What am I missing?”
Now I know. What they have but I don’t is a deep understanding of who Jesus is.
God challenged me a year ago to learn to boast on Him. To be able to boast upon who He is not what He has done, to learn to boast upon His character and not just His blessings. Now He is asking me to do the same thing with Jesus. And I am excited.
Love,
Jill
God’s Final Word: His Son
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Good morning Zebras,
I just love it when God shows me a new direction!
For the last year or so I have been focused on getting to know God the Father, the holy creator of Israel who deserves and demands our full obedience. And it has been a wonderful journey. Learning who the Father really is has been a transforming experience which has enabled me to put to rest a lot of questions and insecurities.
But recently God has shown me it is time to change direction. It is time to learn about the Son.
At retreat I didn’t really finish everything I wanted to talk about. It talked about Abraham, Moses and David but I really didn’t get to finish talking about Paul and now I think I know why.
Abraham, Moses and David were dealing with God before Jesus, not before Jesus existed because the Bible says that Jesus existed from the beginning, but before He walked on earth. They were all driven to do what they did by God the Father.
But Paul wasn’t. Paul wasn’t driven to change his whole life and give up everything because he saw the Father; he was driven to do what he did because he saw Jesus.
I have two friends who can’t even mention the name of Jesus without crying. They are so grateful for what He has done for them and for the relationship they have with Him that they are overwhelmed just thinking about it. I’m not like that.
I look and them and think “What am I missing?”
Now I know. What they have but I don’t is a deep understanding of who Jesus is.
God challenged me a year ago to learn to boast on Him. To be able to boast upon who He is not what He has done, to learn to boast upon His character and not just His blessings. Now He is asking me to do the same thing with Jesus. And I am excited.
Love,
Jill
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Check the Motive
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Good morning Zebras,
What is your motive for…?
A seemingly simple question that is fraught with self-deception.
Last night I was reading something and it asked this question. What is your motive for wanting to …? It then went on to say that any motive other than desiring to bring glory to God would be the wrong motive.
So I had to stop and think. Was glorifying God my true motive? Was it my motive for everything? Am I constantly aware that the purpose of my life is to bring glory to God?
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Good morning Zebras,
What is your motive for…?
A seemingly simple question that is fraught with self-deception.
Last night I was reading something and it asked this question. What is your motive for wanting to …? It then went on to say that any motive other than desiring to bring glory to God would be the wrong motive.
So I had to stop and think. Was glorifying God my true motive? Was it my motive for everything? Am I constantly aware that the purpose of my life is to bring glory to God?
I had to honestly admit I didn’t know anymore, a few weeks ago I would have said “Yes,” but now I wasn’t so sure.
So I took it to God in prayer. And this is what I learned.
I know that glorifying God should be the motive for everything I do, but I don’t really put it into practice. I suffer from intermittent, job specific glorification. I glorify God in some areas, but not in others.
For example, I know this ministry must be done for God’s glory. There is no other reason to do it. If it is all about me I need to stop. But because it's not about me God has blessed it.
So I took it to God in prayer. And this is what I learned.
I know that glorifying God should be the motive for everything I do, but I don’t really put it into practice. I suffer from intermittent, job specific glorification. I glorify God in some areas, but not in others.
For example, I know this ministry must be done for God’s glory. There is no other reason to do it. If it is all about me I need to stop. But because it's not about me God has blessed it.
But what about more mundane activities in my life like house cleaning. Do I realize that it too should be done in a way that honors God?
Or what about taking care of my family, my car, my body? Do I know those things should be done to God’s glory too? Do I realize that every word I utter, every little thing I do should always be done with the motive of glorifying God? Have I really internalized that truth to the point it permeates everything I do?
Nope, not yet, but I want to.
Dear Heavenly Father, help met be aware today that everything I do should be done with the motive of bringing glory to You. The big things like sharing the gospel and doing ministry work and the little things like cleaning a toilet or taking out the trash. All are equal in Your eyes when the motive is to bring you glory.
Love,
Jill
Or what about taking care of my family, my car, my body? Do I know those things should be done to God’s glory too? Do I realize that every word I utter, every little thing I do should always be done with the motive of glorifying God? Have I really internalized that truth to the point it permeates everything I do?
Nope, not yet, but I want to.
Dear Heavenly Father, help met be aware today that everything I do should be done with the motive of bringing glory to You. The big things like sharing the gospel and doing ministry work and the little things like cleaning a toilet or taking out the trash. All are equal in Your eyes when the motive is to bring you glory.
Love,
Jill
Friday, February 18, 2011
Well Done!
Matthew 25: 21a (NIV)
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Good morning Zebras,
Isn’t today’s verse what most of us want to hear at the end of our lives? We want to get to heaven and have Jesus meet us and say that we have done a “good job.” Because of that I have started thinking of this as the “death verse.” The verse you want to hear when you die.
But ever since the retreat this verse has been running through my head. Jokingly, I told friends, “Maybe God is subtly trying to tell me my time is up….”
This morning during my quiet time I decided I needed to look the verse up and see what it actually said in context. Imagine my surprise to find out that this is not a “death” verse at all, but a wonderful verse to live your life by.
The verse is right in the middle of the parable of the loaned talents. Three servants were given different amounts of money before their master went off on a journey. Two of the servants invested what the master had given them. One chose to bury the money in the ground.
When the master returned he was pleased with the servants who had invested their talents. He greeted them with “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” And he threw the third servant out.
The master was not only pleased with what the faithful servants had done; he gave them more to do!
Isn’t that exciting?! It is to me! Because it tells me God wants to give me more to do. He wants to give me more time, more money, more abilities and more opportunities to serve Him; He is just waiting to see how I use what He has already given me.
Love,
Jill
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Good morning Zebras,
Isn’t today’s verse what most of us want to hear at the end of our lives? We want to get to heaven and have Jesus meet us and say that we have done a “good job.” Because of that I have started thinking of this as the “death verse.” The verse you want to hear when you die.
But ever since the retreat this verse has been running through my head. Jokingly, I told friends, “Maybe God is subtly trying to tell me my time is up….”
This morning during my quiet time I decided I needed to look the verse up and see what it actually said in context. Imagine my surprise to find out that this is not a “death” verse at all, but a wonderful verse to live your life by.
The verse is right in the middle of the parable of the loaned talents. Three servants were given different amounts of money before their master went off on a journey. Two of the servants invested what the master had given them. One chose to bury the money in the ground.
When the master returned he was pleased with the servants who had invested their talents. He greeted them with “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” And he threw the third servant out.
The master was not only pleased with what the faithful servants had done; he gave them more to do!
Isn’t that exciting?! It is to me! Because it tells me God wants to give me more to do. He wants to give me more time, more money, more abilities and more opportunities to serve Him; He is just waiting to see how I use what He has already given me.
Love,
Jill
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Mind Your Own Business
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Good morning Zebras,
Until yesterday I thought this verse was only about salvation, but this morning on a hunch I looked the verse up read it in context and then I checked to see what the commentaries had to say about it.
This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount and it begins a section that talks about not only salvation but how we live our life. The New American Commentary on Matthew says: The rest of the Sermon on the Mount adds no new commandments but encourages obedience to those already given while warning against disobedience. By three illustrations, Jesus makes plain that there are ultimately only two categories of people in the world, despite the endless gradations we might otherwise perceive…These three illustrations contrast those who select the narrow rather than the wide gate and road, those who bear good rather than bad fruit, and those who build their homes on solid rock rather than shifting sand. In each case the first category refers to those who hear, obey, and are saved; the second, to those who only hear and so are destroyed. In each case eternal life and judgment are at stake.
Salvation comes from God alone, but our lives should show evidence of that salvation.
The reason God started me thinking about all of this, is the verse He has currently laid upon my heart. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV) and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you
Minding your own business is a narrow road, really narrow. Most things that happen around us do not really concern us. We think they do, but they don’t.
For example, how my husband lives affects me but it really isn’t “my business,” it is his. He doesn’t need me to tell him what to do, he has God for that. And to some extent that goes for my almost grown children as well. My job in both cases is to pray for them, support them, and love them as God has called me to do and let Him guide them.
When I worked, I used to get crazy about how other people did their job until I realized it really wasn’t any of my business. My business was to do my job to the best of my ability “working for God and not men” and leave everything else in God’s hands.
Then there is ministry. God has called us to work together for the kingdom. To use our variety of gifts to advance the gospel and that happens best when everyone does what they are supposed to do and trusts others are doing the same.
And the more I thought about it, the narrower the road became until I realized that my business is to love God with all my heart, mind and soul, to live a life honoring to Him, and to love others as myself. Period. Everything else is His business.
Love,
Jill
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Good morning Zebras,
Until yesterday I thought this verse was only about salvation, but this morning on a hunch I looked the verse up read it in context and then I checked to see what the commentaries had to say about it.
This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount and it begins a section that talks about not only salvation but how we live our life. The New American Commentary on Matthew says: The rest of the Sermon on the Mount adds no new commandments but encourages obedience to those already given while warning against disobedience. By three illustrations, Jesus makes plain that there are ultimately only two categories of people in the world, despite the endless gradations we might otherwise perceive…These three illustrations contrast those who select the narrow rather than the wide gate and road, those who bear good rather than bad fruit, and those who build their homes on solid rock rather than shifting sand. In each case the first category refers to those who hear, obey, and are saved; the second, to those who only hear and so are destroyed. In each case eternal life and judgment are at stake.
Salvation comes from God alone, but our lives should show evidence of that salvation.
The reason God started me thinking about all of this, is the verse He has currently laid upon my heart. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV) and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you
Minding your own business is a narrow road, really narrow. Most things that happen around us do not really concern us. We think they do, but they don’t.
For example, how my husband lives affects me but it really isn’t “my business,” it is his. He doesn’t need me to tell him what to do, he has God for that. And to some extent that goes for my almost grown children as well. My job in both cases is to pray for them, support them, and love them as God has called me to do and let Him guide them.
When I worked, I used to get crazy about how other people did their job until I realized it really wasn’t any of my business. My business was to do my job to the best of my ability “working for God and not men” and leave everything else in God’s hands.
Then there is ministry. God has called us to work together for the kingdom. To use our variety of gifts to advance the gospel and that happens best when everyone does what they are supposed to do and trusts others are doing the same.
And the more I thought about it, the narrower the road became until I realized that my business is to love God with all my heart, mind and soul, to live a life honoring to Him, and to love others as myself. Period. Everything else is His business.
Love,
Jill
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Playing Hurt II
Philippians 4:13b-14
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Good morning Zebras,
I couldn’t shake yesterday’s post about playing hurt. It was intended to be about doing ministry even when we are wounded but I couldn’t stop thinking about all the wounded women I have met who are playing their whole lives hurt.
Last month, my church’s Zebras were instructed to meditate on Philippians 3 and 4 in preparation for retreat. At the herd meeting on Saturday many shared today’s verse saying that through their quiet time and at retreat God had told them to leave everything behind and press on toward the goal of knowing Him.
When Paul wrote this verse, he was thinking about all the good things he’d left behind, how he’d been a religious leader of high standing and a Roman citizen. But most often what we need to leave behind is the pain and disappointment of the past.
Speaking from experience I can tell you that learning to let go of your past is one of the most difficult, but most important tasks, you can ever do. It will literally set you free.
Too often we blame men for the bad things that happen to us. We hold on to bitterness and unforgiveness for the way we’ve been treated. But there is a bigger picture and a larger issue to wrestle with.
God is sovereign and all-powerful; He is in charge of everything that happens. Nothing happens that He does not allow, the good and the bad, and we have to deal with that and accept it or God is not God.
Ten years ago, I asked God why He allowed certain things to happen in my life. He gave me this verse: Job 5:18 "For He wounds, but He also binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal". With it I began to heal.
God does allow us to be injured, He does let us become wounded, but He also heals us and binds us up. Somehow that changed everything. God had not turned His back on me, He had not forgotten me, He was not unable to protect me, He had allowed me to get hurt but He had been standing right there waiting to make me better.
God does not want His people playing hurt, He wants to heal them and make them whole, but He can’t do that unless you get to know Him.
Love,
Jill
I realize that this is huge topic for a small Zmail. But if this is an area you are wrestling with here’s a link that might help you. http://www.gci.org/spiritual/trials/whysuffer
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Good morning Zebras,
I couldn’t shake yesterday’s post about playing hurt. It was intended to be about doing ministry even when we are wounded but I couldn’t stop thinking about all the wounded women I have met who are playing their whole lives hurt.
Last month, my church’s Zebras were instructed to meditate on Philippians 3 and 4 in preparation for retreat. At the herd meeting on Saturday many shared today’s verse saying that through their quiet time and at retreat God had told them to leave everything behind and press on toward the goal of knowing Him.
When Paul wrote this verse, he was thinking about all the good things he’d left behind, how he’d been a religious leader of high standing and a Roman citizen. But most often what we need to leave behind is the pain and disappointment of the past.
Speaking from experience I can tell you that learning to let go of your past is one of the most difficult, but most important tasks, you can ever do. It will literally set you free.
Too often we blame men for the bad things that happen to us. We hold on to bitterness and unforgiveness for the way we’ve been treated. But there is a bigger picture and a larger issue to wrestle with.
God is sovereign and all-powerful; He is in charge of everything that happens. Nothing happens that He does not allow, the good and the bad, and we have to deal with that and accept it or God is not God.
Ten years ago, I asked God why He allowed certain things to happen in my life. He gave me this verse: Job 5:18 "For He wounds, but He also binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal". With it I began to heal.
God does allow us to be injured, He does let us become wounded, but He also heals us and binds us up. Somehow that changed everything. God had not turned His back on me, He had not forgotten me, He was not unable to protect me, He had allowed me to get hurt but He had been standing right there waiting to make me better.
God does not want His people playing hurt, He wants to heal them and make them whole, but He can’t do that unless you get to know Him.
Love,
Jill
I realize that this is huge topic for a small Zmail. But if this is an area you are wrestling with here’s a link that might help you. http://www.gci.org/spiritual/trials/whysuffer
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Playing Hurt
2 Timothy 1:15 (NIV 2010)
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Good morning Zebras,
I have LOGOS Bible software on my computer. I wanted to go to seminary, but God led me to purchase this instead. It is a study tool that allows me to dig deeper into God’s word. The version I have contains over 1,200 books, some of which are written specifically for pastors. One of those books, Character Forged from Conflict: Staying Connected to God During Controversy turned out to be a fascinating read.
It was written by a pastor who had been asked to resign from his church and it was filled with excellence observations and advice for anyone involved in ministry.
The second chapter of the book is titled “Playing Hurt.” We all know athletes play when they are injured but I never really thought about the fact that pastors and other ministry workers do as well. Continuing to serve God when our hearts are heavy or our spirits are broken is just like playing injured and it takes commitment.
In the last scene of Facing the Giants, Brock, the captain of the football team, wants to be pulled out of the game. He is injured and tired and the opposition is huge. He just wants to rest. But the coach won’t let him quit. Instead he gives him an inspirational speech that I hadn’t thought much about until I read that book.
He tells him that anyone can lead when it is easy, but hanging in and leading when the going gets get tough is what really matters.
Of course Brock goes back in and they win the game.
Ministry work is never easy, whether you are a pastor, a pastor’s wife, church staff, or a lay volunteer. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, Paul, or the disciples, so it probably won’t be easy for us. And the level of difficulty seems to increase with the level of responsibility.
If you have been called into ministry work you need to know that you are going to meet opposition. Do not let it deter you from what God is calling you to do, simply be forewarned and resolve to keep playing, even if you’re hurt.
Love,
Jill
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Good morning Zebras,
I have LOGOS Bible software on my computer. I wanted to go to seminary, but God led me to purchase this instead. It is a study tool that allows me to dig deeper into God’s word. The version I have contains over 1,200 books, some of which are written specifically for pastors. One of those books, Character Forged from Conflict: Staying Connected to God During Controversy turned out to be a fascinating read.
It was written by a pastor who had been asked to resign from his church and it was filled with excellence observations and advice for anyone involved in ministry.
The second chapter of the book is titled “Playing Hurt.” We all know athletes play when they are injured but I never really thought about the fact that pastors and other ministry workers do as well. Continuing to serve God when our hearts are heavy or our spirits are broken is just like playing injured and it takes commitment.
In the last scene of Facing the Giants, Brock, the captain of the football team, wants to be pulled out of the game. He is injured and tired and the opposition is huge. He just wants to rest. But the coach won’t let him quit. Instead he gives him an inspirational speech that I hadn’t thought much about until I read that book.
He tells him that anyone can lead when it is easy, but hanging in and leading when the going gets get tough is what really matters.
Of course Brock goes back in and they win the game.
Ministry work is never easy, whether you are a pastor, a pastor’s wife, church staff, or a lay volunteer. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, Paul, or the disciples, so it probably won’t be easy for us. And the level of difficulty seems to increase with the level of responsibility.
If you have been called into ministry work you need to know that you are going to meet opposition. Do not let it deter you from what God is calling you to do, simply be forewarned and resolve to keep playing, even if you’re hurt.
Love,
Jill
Monday, February 14, 2011
You Are Loved
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Good morning Zebras,
Today is Valentine’s Day; the national holiday dedicated to a love that often ends up making people feel bad. And that’s because too often, on this day, we are encouraged to look to others to make us feel loved. But the truth is even if you don’t receive a big box of chocolates or a dozen roses you are loved, because God loves His people and that means He loves you.
Yesterday at church the pastor gave a wonderful sermon on the need to be accepted. All of us, he said, want to be accepted, all of us want to be loved. To illustrate his point he said 15,000 people a day register on eharmony, an online dating site, and over 33 million people have already filled out applications. The world is craving love and acceptance, but they are looking in the wrong place.
Only God has the love that people crave.
But we forget that. We have God’s love but we act like it still isn’t enough. Instead of sharing what we have, we look to others to fill up holes and get angry when they fall short. No one has enough love to fill up another person and none of us have any love to give unless we first get it from God.
At weddings, the pastor will often read 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It is a wonderful description of how we should deal with one another, but it usually ends up making me feel guilty. I fall so far short of God’s standard.
Yesterday I realized this passage is also a description of how God deals with me.
God is patient and He is kind. He is not rude or self-seeking. He is not easily angered and He keeps no record of wrongs. He always protects, and He never fails.
Today if you are feeling unloved, stop! It isn’t true. God loves you. And because He does, we are commanded to go out and love others.
Love,
Jill
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Good morning Zebras,
Today is Valentine’s Day; the national holiday dedicated to a love that often ends up making people feel bad. And that’s because too often, on this day, we are encouraged to look to others to make us feel loved. But the truth is even if you don’t receive a big box of chocolates or a dozen roses you are loved, because God loves His people and that means He loves you.
Yesterday at church the pastor gave a wonderful sermon on the need to be accepted. All of us, he said, want to be accepted, all of us want to be loved. To illustrate his point he said 15,000 people a day register on eharmony, an online dating site, and over 33 million people have already filled out applications. The world is craving love and acceptance, but they are looking in the wrong place.
Only God has the love that people crave.
But we forget that. We have God’s love but we act like it still isn’t enough. Instead of sharing what we have, we look to others to fill up holes and get angry when they fall short. No one has enough love to fill up another person and none of us have any love to give unless we first get it from God.
At weddings, the pastor will often read 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It is a wonderful description of how we should deal with one another, but it usually ends up making me feel guilty. I fall so far short of God’s standard.
Yesterday I realized this passage is also a description of how God deals with me.
God is patient and He is kind. He is not rude or self-seeking. He is not easily angered and He keeps no record of wrongs. He always protects, and He never fails.
Today if you are feeling unloved, stop! It isn’t true. God loves you. And because He does, we are commanded to go out and love others.
Love,
Jill
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Our Awesome God
Psalm 113:5
Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high
Good morning Zebras,
I love God.
I love the fact that He is faithful, even when I’m not. I love the fact that He is unchanging and always good even when I’m moody and hard to get along with.
I love the fact that He has all knowledge and all power so I don’t have to. I love the fact that He is everywhere all the time and that nothing escapes Him. I love the fact that He is perfect and holy. I love that fact that He is nothing like me.
I used to look at my circumstances and try to understand God. Now I look at God and try to let Him take care of my circumstances.
Last night Gary and I were discussing our future. Every time we could get to something we couldn’t really do anything about we would say “That’s God’s business.” By the end of the conversation we had very little left to worry about.
Whether or not Gary gets a new job, how much that new job pays, and if it has medical benefits are all things we really can’t control. Gary has to do his part, he has to look for work, but God has to do the rest.
And the same is true for me. Whether or not I go back to teaching next year is up to God. If I need to go back to work, and God makes it possible, then I’ll go back. If God wants me to work full time and continue doing Zebras He will give me the strength to do it. If not, then that’s His choice, He’s God, He gets to call the shots.
Preparing for retreat was an incredible experience for me. To be prepared to teach I spent a lot of time pursuing God. I prayed, like Moses in Exodus 33, that if God was pleased with me He would show me more of Himself. And I believe He did. He put me in the “cleft of a rock” by allowing me to have hip surgery and showed me parts of Himself that I did not fully understand. And then at retreat He brought it all home.
Last July when God gave me the title for the “Pursuing God” retreat and the desire to do it He also gave me another phrase, “Resting in His Presence.” At the time I thought it was supposed to be the theme of the next retreat. But I was wrong. What I think He was telling me is that “resting in His presence” is what happens after you wholeheartedly pursue God, because the more you know Him the more you can rest.
Love,
Jill
Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high
Good morning Zebras,
I love God.
I love the fact that He is faithful, even when I’m not. I love the fact that He is unchanging and always good even when I’m moody and hard to get along with.
I love the fact that He has all knowledge and all power so I don’t have to. I love the fact that He is everywhere all the time and that nothing escapes Him. I love the fact that He is perfect and holy. I love that fact that He is nothing like me.
I used to look at my circumstances and try to understand God. Now I look at God and try to let Him take care of my circumstances.
Last night Gary and I were discussing our future. Every time we could get to something we couldn’t really do anything about we would say “That’s God’s business.” By the end of the conversation we had very little left to worry about.
Whether or not Gary gets a new job, how much that new job pays, and if it has medical benefits are all things we really can’t control. Gary has to do his part, he has to look for work, but God has to do the rest.
And the same is true for me. Whether or not I go back to teaching next year is up to God. If I need to go back to work, and God makes it possible, then I’ll go back. If God wants me to work full time and continue doing Zebras He will give me the strength to do it. If not, then that’s His choice, He’s God, He gets to call the shots.
Preparing for retreat was an incredible experience for me. To be prepared to teach I spent a lot of time pursuing God. I prayed, like Moses in Exodus 33, that if God was pleased with me He would show me more of Himself. And I believe He did. He put me in the “cleft of a rock” by allowing me to have hip surgery and showed me parts of Himself that I did not fully understand. And then at retreat He brought it all home.
Last July when God gave me the title for the “Pursuing God” retreat and the desire to do it He also gave me another phrase, “Resting in His Presence.” At the time I thought it was supposed to be the theme of the next retreat. But I was wrong. What I think He was telling me is that “resting in His presence” is what happens after you wholeheartedly pursue God, because the more you know Him the more you can rest.
Love,
Jill
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Not What it Seems
Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter. “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Good morning little Zebras,
This summer I took care of my mother-in-law after her knee surgery. One of the places I took her was the beauty parlor to get her nails done. As a way of thanking me for helping her, she offered to pay for me to have my nails done too. Since I don’t really have nails I opted to have artificial ones put on instead. And they look great.
On Friday I opened the car door wrong and one of the nails came off. Instantly my beautiful nail was gone and the ugly nail underneath was visible.
Now I could have gone in and had a new nail put on, but I haven’t because looking at it reminds me that things are not always what they seem.
I bet you can all think of things that you thought were wonderful but turned out awful or things that you thought were awful that turned out great. I know I can.
For example, when I was younger I worked as a police dispatcher. It was the first “real” job I ever had and I wanted to do well. But I didn’t and eventually they let me go. It is the only job I have ever been asked to leave and at the time I was devastated. In hindsight I can see it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
Working at the police department was not good for me. I ran into too many people who did not want to do the right thing and I had started getting very jaded. If I had continued in that job my personality would have completely changed.
On the flip side I thought getting the huskies, my cat killing hounds from heck was a good idea, but I was WRONG! Really, really wrong.
And then there is today’s verse where Peter wanted to stop Jesus from going to the cross because he thought it was a bad idea. Which it was from Peter’s point of view, but not from God’s and that’s what Jesus told him.
So yesterday when my husband was told that his company was in financial trouble and he should start looking for other work, I immediately thought “This isn’t what it seems. It seems like it is a bad thing, but it isn’t because God has it ALL under control.”
Don’t you love what God can teach you from a broken nail?
Love,
Jill
Jesus turned and said to Peter. “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Good morning little Zebras,
This summer I took care of my mother-in-law after her knee surgery. One of the places I took her was the beauty parlor to get her nails done. As a way of thanking me for helping her, she offered to pay for me to have my nails done too. Since I don’t really have nails I opted to have artificial ones put on instead. And they look great.
On Friday I opened the car door wrong and one of the nails came off. Instantly my beautiful nail was gone and the ugly nail underneath was visible.
Now I could have gone in and had a new nail put on, but I haven’t because looking at it reminds me that things are not always what they seem.
I bet you can all think of things that you thought were wonderful but turned out awful or things that you thought were awful that turned out great. I know I can.
For example, when I was younger I worked as a police dispatcher. It was the first “real” job I ever had and I wanted to do well. But I didn’t and eventually they let me go. It is the only job I have ever been asked to leave and at the time I was devastated. In hindsight I can see it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
Working at the police department was not good for me. I ran into too many people who did not want to do the right thing and I had started getting very jaded. If I had continued in that job my personality would have completely changed.
On the flip side I thought getting the huskies, my cat killing hounds from heck was a good idea, but I was WRONG! Really, really wrong.
And then there is today’s verse where Peter wanted to stop Jesus from going to the cross because he thought it was a bad idea. Which it was from Peter’s point of view, but not from God’s and that’s what Jesus told him.
So yesterday when my husband was told that his company was in financial trouble and he should start looking for other work, I immediately thought “This isn’t what it seems. It seems like it is a bad thing, but it isn’t because God has it ALL under control.”
Don’t you love what God can teach you from a broken nail?
Love,
Jill
Monday, February 7, 2011
Count on God
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Good morning Zebras,
One of the people I taught on at retreat was David, the shepherd boy who became the greatest king Israel ever had and the only person called “a man after God’s own heart.”
There were so many lessons from David’s life it was hard to pick which ones to talk about. He had some spectacular victories and some spectacular failures. And even though many people know about his sin with Bathsheba, they are not aware that David also got in trouble with God for counting his fighting men. (2Samuel 24)
Counting men does not seem to be as big a sin as adultery and murder but God was not pleased and David was punished. Why? Because of the reason David counted.
David counted out of pride and arrogance so he could see how big an army he had. He did not count out of need. If Israel had been going to war, David would have needed to count the men to draft an army, but God had given them rest, so counting wasn’t necessary and therefore it was a sin.
Ever since retreat I have been noticing how much I count. I count the Zebras on Facebook, herds that have been started and this morning I was counting the days left until my daughter left for Korea. And all of us count money!
Now there is nothing wrong with counting, but I am really being challenged to take a look at my motives.
If I count money to see if I’m going to starve, Zebras and herds to measure if I am “doing a good job,” and time in anticipation of some future event that interferes with my enjoyment of the present, then I probably need to stop.
God, not money is my security. It really doesn’t matter how much money I have because tomorrow God could bring more or He could make what I have disappear. God is the only thing that doesn’t change and the only thing that can really be counted on.
God, not men, should be the reason I continue Zebras. I write and speak because God has told me to, not for man’s approval. It shouldn’t really matter if there are ten Zebras or ten thousand, God’s the One I’m working for.
Counting time tends to focus me on tomorrow instead of today. I count time like I know how much I have left and can control what is going to happen. But I don’t, and I can’t, that’s God’s job. My job is not to count and plan but to live today in total obedience to God, trusting that He has tomorrow well in-hand.
Love,
Jill
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Good morning Zebras,
One of the people I taught on at retreat was David, the shepherd boy who became the greatest king Israel ever had and the only person called “a man after God’s own heart.”
There were so many lessons from David’s life it was hard to pick which ones to talk about. He had some spectacular victories and some spectacular failures. And even though many people know about his sin with Bathsheba, they are not aware that David also got in trouble with God for counting his fighting men. (2Samuel 24)
Counting men does not seem to be as big a sin as adultery and murder but God was not pleased and David was punished. Why? Because of the reason David counted.
David counted out of pride and arrogance so he could see how big an army he had. He did not count out of need. If Israel had been going to war, David would have needed to count the men to draft an army, but God had given them rest, so counting wasn’t necessary and therefore it was a sin.
Ever since retreat I have been noticing how much I count. I count the Zebras on Facebook, herds that have been started and this morning I was counting the days left until my daughter left for Korea. And all of us count money!
Now there is nothing wrong with counting, but I am really being challenged to take a look at my motives.
If I count money to see if I’m going to starve, Zebras and herds to measure if I am “doing a good job,” and time in anticipation of some future event that interferes with my enjoyment of the present, then I probably need to stop.
God, not money is my security. It really doesn’t matter how much money I have because tomorrow God could bring more or He could make what I have disappear. God is the only thing that doesn’t change and the only thing that can really be counted on.
God, not men, should be the reason I continue Zebras. I write and speak because God has told me to, not for man’s approval. It shouldn’t really matter if there are ten Zebras or ten thousand, God’s the One I’m working for.
Counting time tends to focus me on tomorrow instead of today. I count time like I know how much I have left and can control what is going to happen. But I don’t, and I can’t, that’s God’s job. My job is not to count and plan but to live today in total obedience to God, trusting that He has tomorrow well in-hand.
Love,
Jill
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sitting on the Sidelines
Psalm 25:5 (ESV)
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Good morning Zebras,
Sorry I haven’t written lately, but God has me in a very strange place.
For the last three years I have felt driven to do stuff for God, to start Zebras, to make the blog, go on Facebook, share it at Awana conferences and finally to organize the retreat. But now that the retreat is over I feel “lost.” I feel like God is saying “Well done, take a break.”
So I keep checking to see if that is Biblical. Does God tell His people to stand down?
A few years ago I was so busy I thought I would lose my mind. But I kept taking my schedule to God and He would confirm I was doing exactly what He wanted me to do.
Then He started taking things away from me. Until I now have almost nothing at all to do. I check with Him all the time, but the answer I keep getting is “rest.”
So I guess I’ll rest.
Doing things just to do them is as stupid as not doing things you are supposed to do.
One of the great lessons out of the Bible is you don’t do anything unless God tells you to. Abraham and David both got into trouble when they did things without checking with God first. Paul would change his travel plans if God showed him he should. And Jesus came and did exactly what His father commanded Him.
Being open to the leading of God is really important and sometimes that means we are supposed to do nothing.
Most of us like to keep busy, we want to do, do, do. But God maybe wants us to stop, stop, stop so that He can “do” instead.
It reminds me of when my kids were little and I would let them “help” me with the chores. It was fun and they learned a lot but when I really wanted to get some work done fast I would send them out to play and do it myself.
Love,
Jill
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Good morning Zebras,
Sorry I haven’t written lately, but God has me in a very strange place.
For the last three years I have felt driven to do stuff for God, to start Zebras, to make the blog, go on Facebook, share it at Awana conferences and finally to organize the retreat. But now that the retreat is over I feel “lost.” I feel like God is saying “Well done, take a break.”
So I keep checking to see if that is Biblical. Does God tell His people to stand down?
A few years ago I was so busy I thought I would lose my mind. But I kept taking my schedule to God and He would confirm I was doing exactly what He wanted me to do.
Then He started taking things away from me. Until I now have almost nothing at all to do. I check with Him all the time, but the answer I keep getting is “rest.”
So I guess I’ll rest.
Doing things just to do them is as stupid as not doing things you are supposed to do.
One of the great lessons out of the Bible is you don’t do anything unless God tells you to. Abraham and David both got into trouble when they did things without checking with God first. Paul would change his travel plans if God showed him he should. And Jesus came and did exactly what His father commanded Him.
Being open to the leading of God is really important and sometimes that means we are supposed to do nothing.
Most of us like to keep busy, we want to do, do, do. But God maybe wants us to stop, stop, stop so that He can “do” instead.
It reminds me of when my kids were little and I would let them “help” me with the chores. It was fun and they learned a lot but when I really wanted to get some work done fast I would send them out to play and do it myself.
Love,
Jill
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