You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘relationship’ tag.
May he reign under God’s protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him. Psalms 61:7
Have you ever noticed how people slow down when a police officer is behind them? Maybe it’s just me. I don’t drive fast, at most I’m 4-5 MPH over the limit. But when a police car is behind me I tend to drive at order a couple MPH below the limit!
Why is that? Because we are being watched! You may see that at the workplace as well. The old adage “When the cats away the mice will play” has real meaning when the manager/boss steps out or leaves for the day.
In Psalms 61:7, King David continues his prayer to God, asking him to protect David in his daily activities, whether in the palace, on the battlefield or in his personal time.
He acknowledges that God watches over him, “…May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him”, but asks that the watching is covered in love and faithfulness.
God is not some angry cop hoping we step out of line so he can ticket us. He’s not a micro-managing boss that doesn’t trust us and is always worried about the bottom line.
He’s a loving father that has promised to love us unconditionally. He’s a loving father that keeps his word. He’s a loving father that always has our best in mind.
May you feel his love today in whatever you face. May you be reminded of his faithfulness in the past as you look into an uncertain future!
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58
If you have ever had a puppy that you were training, you know the value of ‘treats’. Your dog will most likely do anything if a treat is involved!
The same is true for children. Teachers and parents alike will tell you that something as simple as a sticker will elicit proper responses to your requests.
We never really outgrow the need for recognition. Employers know the value of recognizing those who work for them, and their customers. Recognition, in its various forms instills value. Recognition builds a fire in those recognized to excel. Recognition gives us a feeling of belonging. Recognition boosts morale.
The opposite is also true. When we don’t get recognition for our efforts discouragement, frustration and the lack of desire to excel can happen. Lack of recognition is a real morale killer in the workplace, the family and any other relationship.
It’s easy to feel like nothing you do is making a difference when it seems no one is noticing. You may feel like people aren’t responding to your message. The work you do today needs to be redone tomorrow. With all the time and effort you put into a project, it seems like no one notices.
Always remember this. God sees you. He sees your efforts. He feels your intentions. He comforts you in your defeats and high fives you in the victories. Press on. Do what he leads you to do. Don’t be discouraged by the response you get from people, be encouraged by the one who has gifted you to do what you do.
When Paul writes this verse in 1 Corinthians, he isn’t about ministry, or service organizations. Elsewhere Paul writes, ‘do everything for the glory of the Lord’. He makes no distinction between washing dishes and laundry and saving someone’s life. The importance of what you are doing isn’t dependent on the recognition of fickle humans God has gifted you for excellence. Stay strong. Press on. Endure the struggle and celebrate the victories when/if they come.
Always remember. God sees you and appreciates you.
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:2
Sometimes we read scripture with a glass-half-full philosophy. For example, John 15 is one of the most intimate passages in all of the gospels. In Jesus final hours, he shares with his disciples his love. “I’m the vine.” “I call you friends” “I love you, love as you’ve seen me love time and again”.
Read through this passage with the glass-FULL (or overflowing) philosophy. Read it with the theme of unconditional love and mercy and grace.
Ironically, some get caught up in the ‘pruning’, the ‘cutting away’, the ‘casting in the fire.’ What if we look at this passage in positive, loving, graceful eyes. This cutting isn’t an act of anger or punishment, but an act of love.
The Father, the master gardener knows exactly what we need to rise above the muck and mire of life. The Master Gardener knows which things to take away so we can flourish. The Master Gardener wants his vines to be healthy, vibrant, effective. Healthy branches can fight off disease better. Healthy branches are able to receive all the benefits of a vine that continually sends vital nutrients into it.
Pruning? Yes, it will happen. Cutting away? Yes, it may seem painful to us at the time. Draw closer to Christ and His teaching, ask Him to help you abide in Him. Let ‘Him who began this good work in you complete it.’ Remember that everything the Master Gardener does in his vineyard is for our good. Trust the Master Gardener to care for you. He knows exactly what you need in this hour of struggle.
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:4
Two of the most powerful words in language are ‘Thank You’. You learned it as a kid. Always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. That’s the way life works. Sometimes it’s easy to say thank you. When someone opens a door for you, lets you in to traffic, offers you a cold drink on a hot day, ‘thank you’s’ are in order.
But what about those other times. Do you say thank you to the rude store clerk. Do you say thank you to the person who cuts you off in traffic? Do you say thank you to the person who, once again, is critical of you or how you do your job? ‘Of course not’ you say, right?
But Jesus would. So would the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote a very difficult letter to one of the churches he planted. The church in the city of Corinth started strong in grace, mercy, love and generosity. But sin and conflict broke out and in concern for his spiritual children, Paul was forced to write a letter to this group of struggling ‘Christ followers.’
It’s interesting that at the very beginning of this difficult letter, Paul expresses his appreciation for them. He didn’t appreciate them because they were people of character. He didn’t appreciate them for the way they held to God’s word. He didn’t appreciate them because of their high moral standards. Those things weren’t praiseworthy to First Church – Corinth.
Yet Paul appreciated them because of the grace they found in Jesus. There will always be people who annoy us. There will always be people who ridicule us or don’t meet our expectations. There will never be people who are outside of the reach of God’s grace. Appreciation of others doesn’t mean we agree with them, it simply means we value them because Jesus values them.
Who do you need to show value to today? Showing appreciation to others is a great way to show the grace Jesus offers everyone.
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16
Many people dream of being able to work from home. No clock to punch, stay in your jammies all day, your schedule on your time. Sounds amazing doesn’t it?
When the pandemic hit, many were forced to work from home and the reality of how hard it is to work from home hit many people. Some were/are successful at it, others? Not so much.
The key to working from home, as I found it, was to treat it like any work day. Get up, get ready as though you were in the office and move on towards productivity. The struggle with working from home is distraction. Too many things that keep us from carrying out our good intentions.
Life can seem like one big rabbit trail at times! Those that found they could work from home learned the importance of being disciplined. They learned to set goals and conquer the desire to do other, more enjoyable things.
What’s true in the work world is true in our spiritual lives. Have you ever talked with God and said something like, “I’m sorry God. I won’t do that again. I’ll be stronger and wiser next time”. Two days later (or earlier for some) you are right back at the same place. Your human desires overcame your spiritual desires. Your passion for pleasure conquered your passion to follow God.
The spiritual life is a battle between human nature and Holy Spirit guidance. The Holy Spirit is sent to be our helper, our guide and our prayer warrior. I love how the Psalmist writes, (my paraphrase of Psalm 119:36) ‘Give me the desire to follow your ways and not the ways of my human nature!”
Too often we strive to be better and work harder at the Christian life, but we were never called on to do that in our own strength. Every day (or as often as necessary) ask Holy Spirit to help you conquer the passions of your heart. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail (and you will!), ask for forgiveness and help to move on!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 