Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18 ESV, 2 Corinthians 7:8-16 ESV, Psalm 48:1-14 ESV, Proverbs 22:17-19 ESV

Daily Verse: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV)

AMETAMELETOS (278): “As an adjective, means “not repented of” and is translated “not to be repented of” 2 Cor. 7:10.”[i]

Not repented.

Paul describes two ways to react to pain or sorrow.  When we have Godly repentance, it leads to a change of heart, a submittance to Jesus which doesn’t cause regret.  But when we respond in a worldly manner, we experience bitterness and resentment.

A few weeks ago, the pastor challenged us.  What do we do when God says no?  Godly responses show humility; worldly responses show pride.  Everyone will suffer in life, one way or another.  Some people experience physical ailments, others financial or emotional; pain happens to everyone.  How we respond when difficulties arise makes the difference.

As a child, I internalized the lie, “No one cares about me,” because my parents yanked me from one life to another.  My juvenile eyes couldn’t understand; they made a move to offer my siblings and me more opportunities.  Instead, I responded with worldly grief, producing bitterness and resentment.

Godly grief.

When life threw me a curve ball, I had a choice in my response.  Instead of responding with a victim mentality, I could have submitted to God’s guidance.  Looking back forty years later, if we hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t have experienced the things I have.  Nor would I have met my husband.  But my short-sighted view didn’t allow me to see the possibilities.

Submitting to God’s sovereignty means trusting when life goes in a different direction; God does have a plan.  What surprises us doesn’t surprise God.  Everything works to the good for those who believe, trusting His calling on their life (Romans 8:28).

Life comes with pain; everyone feels it at some point.  How we respond to suffering shows our heart.  Trusting God means understanding we won’t have all the answers, but we know the one who does.  When nothing else makes sense, we can rely on God’s promises to carry us through.  One day, we’ll look back and realize God had a plan.

Lay your hurt at the foot of the cross.  Ask God to comfort your broken heart, trusting He will redeem all things in His time.  Don’t let bitterness and resentment take root; find life to the fullest with godly grief.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 16) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12 ESV, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7 ESV, Psalm 47:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 22:16 ESV

Daily Verse: “Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.” (2 Corinthians 7:2 ESV)

PTHEIRO (5351): “Signifies “to destroy by means of corrupting,” and so “bringing into a worse state” in 2 Cor 7:2, of the effects of dishonorable dealing by bringing people to want (a charge made against the apostle).”[i]

Worse state.

Paul wants the whole affection of the Corinthians, but he faces accusations of causing moral and financial distress to innocent victims by exploiting them.  Some of the Corinthians believed the allegations.  Paul says he didn’t commit the crime and begs them to look at the truth of his actions.

Corrupting someone means leaving them in a worse state than when you met them.  When a drug dealer offers an innocent child an addictive substance, he corrupts them.  Any type of unfavorable influence can leave someone in a worse state.

If my husband comes home in a bad mood, he can corrupt me.  Peace becomes tension.  However, if Ron comes home from work joyous, he can turn my frown upside down.  Our actions impact those around us.

Intentionally uplift.

Paul didn’t corrupt the Corinthians; he uplifted them.  Understanding his role as a Christ follower, Paul knew he must encourage, not discourage.  Following Jesus makes life better, not worse.  Christ pulls us from the mud and cleanses us, making us whole.

To help people discover Jesus, we must not corrupt.  Following Christ means taking every opportunity to uplift and encourage the people in our lives.  Paul didn’t take advantage of anyone, and neither should we.

Everyone struggles in this world.  You may not see someone’s issues, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.  Help people find Jesus by not making their lives worse.  Don’t take your bad mood out on them; give grace when offended, and look for ways to help them, not hurt them.

When we intentionally uplift and encourage the people in our lives, God willing, they will begin to do the same for others.  As the ripple effect of love and kindness spreads through the world, we will find it in a better state, not worse.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 263) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22 ESV, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 ESV, Psalm 46:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 22:15 ESV

Daily Verse: “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  (2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV)

DEKTOS (1184): “Approved; propitious: accepted, acceptable.”[i]

Approved.

Paul, quoting Isaiah, applies the passage to the age of grace.  Through Jesus, God shows His favor to humankind, offering salvation.  Where Isaiah meant the words as vindication in due time, Paul uses them to show God’s grace.

When Jesus entered the world, so did God’s favor.  We find salvation through God’s Son.  Placing our faith in Christ and submitting to His will for our lives helps us become the person God desires.  With Jesus, we can change into a new creation.

Recently, God revealed a bitter root in my heart, planted decades ago.  As a result, I had a chip on my shoulder.  In other words, I felt like the world owed me something because things didn’t go my way. Mad at my parents for moving me from my childhood home, the bitter root impacted my relationships for years to come.

But then Jesus.

Following Jesus reveals the bitter roots in your heart.  Pursuing life to the full in Christ means uncovering the unhealthy areas.  My childish anger impaired my vision.  Because I looked at the world through a distorted lens, my relationships suffered.  Jealousy impacted those I perceived had a better life than mine, those who got their way, unlike me.

In reality, no one ever gets everything they want. Bad things happen to everyone, not just me.  People must move, whether they want to or not.  Just because things don’t go the way we want doesn’t mean we can take it out on other people.  My husband grew up in a military family; he moved constantly; unlike me, he didn’t let bitterness take root.

Pursuing Jesus healed my heart and removed the bitter root.  As a result, the anger issues I struggled with lessened, and I see more clearly now.  God’s favor in my life happened when I placed my faith in Jesus and began following Him.

Accept God’s grace, and place your faith in Jesus.  Ask Him to reveal the bitter roots in your heart and remove them.  Experience life to the fullest as you let God into all aspects of your life.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 63) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 40:1-42:17 ESV, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 ESV, Psalm 45:1-17 ESV, Proverbs 22:14 ESV

Daily Verse: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV)

PRESBEUO (4243): “To be an ambassador,” act as a representative.” [i]

                      Represent well.

When you begin to follow Christ, you become His representative. People will look to you as an example of Jesus. Most people don’t read the Bible, but they will read you.

Of course, you will fail, as have I. Our imperfections highlight Christ’s perfections. If we become honest about our faults, not only with Jesus but with others, we’ll become more Christlike, drawing others to Jesus.

Every day God gives me something to accomplish. Whether God’s word convicts me of a wrong heart attitude or bad actions, the journey never ends. When I overcome one hurdle, the next one looms. But remembering that I represent the Big Guy helps me keep trying.

Use the uniform.

Every job has a dress code. During my days working for Nautica, I wore business casual attire. Jeans and polos covered my body. As a Flight Attendant, I wore a navy blue pantsuit and heels. As a waitress, I’ll never forget the bright yellow apron over my white shirt and black pants. For every job, we have a uniform, just like the one God wants us to wear.

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 ESV)

Clothing ourselves in humility will help us represent God well. Placing others before yourself requires letting go of prideful notions. God supports the humble but opposes the proud.

Our current housemate, a young man fresh out of college, completing an internship, epitomizes humility. Far more intelligent than me in engineering, he always prefaces his conversation with, “Take what I say with a grain of salt because I don’t know everything and am only operating from what I do know.”

Humility comes easily to him, even though he possesses much knowledge. Recognizing his limitations helps him not only stay humble but allows himself to remain teachable.

Represent God well by clothing yourself in humility. Remember, you work for God, no matter your job on earth. Everyone you meet, God loves. Dressing in the uniform of Jesus will help you become an ambassador for Christ. Stay humble, and people will respond to the love you have to offer, the unconditional love of Christ.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 209) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 37:1-39:30 ESV, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10 ESV, Psalm 44:9-26 ESV, Proverbs 22:13 ESV

Daily Verse: “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15 ESV)

PLEONAZO (4121): “To do, make or be more, i.e. increase; by extens. to superabound.  This word, from pleion, or pleon, “more” (greater in quantity), akin to pleon, “to fill,” signifies intransitively, “to superabound,” of grace, Rom 6:1, 2 Cor. 4:15.”[i]

Do more.

Paul understood grace better than most because God forgave him so much.  Once a murderer of Christ-followers, meeting Jesus changed Paul’s life completely.  Instead of killing people, Paul spent the rest of his life trying to point them to the One who could save them.

Experiencing God’s grace changes your life.  God forgives the ugly, embracing you into His arms no matter what your past holds. As you begin to understand, Jesus truly does love you entirely and died for you, knowing the sins you would commit, you become more grace-filled.

Learn from your past mistakes instead of staying stuck in them.  Give yourself grace for not always making the right decision.  Accepting your life’s good, bad and ugly will help you live more fully.  Instead of hiding from the picture in the rear-view mirror, you can take it as something that happened and learn from it.

Give grace.

Lead with grace in all you do, for yourself and others.  Follow Jesus’ example.  When Christ came to earth, He led with grace—crawling on the cross for our sins, the most loving thing anyone has ever done for us.  Jesus lived, died, and came back to life so we could live freely, without condemnation in Him.

Forgiving others for the transgression against us takes work.  When I become offended by someone else’s actions, my simple prayer has three words: “Take no offense.”  Saying the short sentence helps me refocus my thoughts and invite Jesus into the situation.

And when I struggle to forgive myself, my prayer becomes, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”  The power behind the words washes over me and helps me remember all God does for me through His Son.

Not born a person who gives grace naturally; becoming more grace-filled requires intention.  Spending daily time with God helps me fill my tanks, enabling me to give more grace to others.  And when I falter, God’s grace covers my sin.

In a world where everyone wants to do more, extend more grace.  Decide to mimic Jesus, forgive yourself and others, trusting God will take care of the rest.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 513) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 34:1-36:33 ESV, 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 ESV, Psalm 44:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 22:10-12 ESV

Daily Verse:  “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV)

THESAUROS (2344): “This word denotes “a place of safe keeping” (possibly akin to tithemi), “to put,” in 2 Cor 4:7 it is used of “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” descriptive of the gospel, as deposited in the earthen vessels of the persons who proclaim it.”[i]

Safe keeping.

God entrusts us with the treasure of the gospels.  Within our human bodies, we possess the knowledge of Jesus.  Our mission becomes sharing the news with the world around us.  Inside us lives the treasure of Jesus, one we get to share with all we meet.

Take a moment and think about the treasure you possess inside of you.  We live in a post-Christian nation; people don’t know the priceless joy Jesus brings to life on earth.  Instead of filling themselves with Christ’s Spirit, they search for other things to fill the God-sized void.

Share the treasure.

Working with children reminds me of how we should share the treasure.  Teaching tennis camp, one little girl found a snail’s shell.  To her, she discovered a hidden gem.  She immediately showed everyone else in the class, sharing her new treasure with them.

Like, little children, we should share what we have found.  Anne Wilson does this well in her song, “Let me Tell You About My Jesus.”

He makes a way where there ain’t no way
Rises up from an empty grave
Ain’t no sinner that He can’t save
Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus
His love is strong and His grace is free
And the good news is I know that He
Can do for you what He’s done for me
Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus
And let my Jesus change your life

Sharing the treasure of Jesus means telling people how He changed your life.  Tell people how Christ healed your broken heart, carried you through the storm, and rejoiced with you on the mountain top.  Help others find the miraculous treasure Jesus offers when we place our faith in Him.

Inside of you lives the treasure of Jesus.  With Him, you can do all things.  Share the good news of Christ with everyone.  Let them find eternal life in the one true God.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 116) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 31:1-33:33 ESV, 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 ESV, Psalm 43:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 22:8-9 ESV

 Daily Verse: “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4 ESV)

PEPOITHESIS (4006): “Denotes “persuasion, assurance, confidence,” and is translated “confidence” in 2 Cor. 3:4.”[i]

Translated confidence.

Following Jesus gives us confidence.  As we practice the teachings of Christ, we’ll become more and more sure of following Him.  However, our faith won’t grow if we don’t try.

As a coach, building confidence in my players happens over time.  The more they practice their tennis strokes and movement, the more confident they become as a player.  But without practice, they don’t feel sure of themselves.

The same thing happens when taking a test.  If you don’t study, you won’t feel confident when the time comes to take the test.  As a person who struggled in college, I know this feeling well.  Thirty years later, I still have dreams of taking an exam unprepared.

Practiced confidence.

Doctors practice medicine because they don’t have all the answers.  They make decisions based on the knowledge in front of them.  The longer doctors practice, the more confident they become in their choices.

In the same way, we practice following Christ.  Each day, we make decisions based on our knowledge.  The more we know about Jesus, the better our choices will become.  As we grow in Christ, our confidence grows as well.

But if we don’t practice what Jesus teaches, we won’t become better at following Him.  Instead of trusting Jesus, we’ll place our trust in things of this world.  When we do, we will find ourselves separated from God and not enjoying the grace and mercy He offers.

Become more confident in your walk with God one day at a time.  Spend time learning about Jesus and mimicking what He did.  The more you practice, the more confident you will become.

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2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 28:1-30:31 ESV, 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 ESV, Psalm 42:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 22:7 ESV

Daily Verse: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

OSME (3744): “A smell, and odor” is translated “odour” in Jn 12:3; it is used metaphorically in Eph 5:2, “a sweet smelling savor,” of the effects God-ward of the sacrifice of Christ; in Phil 4:18 of the effect of sacrifice, on the part of those in the church at Philippi, who sent material assistance to the apostle in his imprisonment.  The word is translated “savor” in 2 Cor. 2:14, 16.”[i]

Sweet smelling.

Knowing God brings a sweet smell to your life.  Hope springs eternal when we follow Jesus.  With Christ, everything becomes possible; overcoming our past happens one day at a time as we follow Jesus.

Recently, I spent the week with my lifelong friend Lori.  Friends since elementary school, our friendship spans decades.  After visiting my childhood home, still occupied by the people who bought it from my parents 40 years ago, I said.  “I think I’ve finally forgiven my parents for moving us from here.”

“God had different plans for you,” Lori said.

Let go.

I held onto anger and bitterness for forty years because we moved from the place I loved.  Yet I didn’t realize the pain I caused myself by not accepting God’s will for my life.  Rebelling against the uncontrollable, I let a bitter root grow.

God’s will for your life carries a fragrance that blooms when we follow Him.  When Jesus exams our hearts, He illuminates the bitter roots that stop us from living fully.  Accepting the Lord’s direction with humility will help His fragrance fill our world.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 6:9 ESV)

Allow God to fill your world with His fragrance as He directs your steps.  When the Lord takes you in a direction you don’t want to go, submit to His will.  Ask Jesus to give you the right attitude that will glorify Him and allow you to live your life to the fullest.

Bloom where God plants you; let His fragrance fill your nostrils as you follow Him closely.  In Him, you will find peace.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 197) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 23:1-27:23 ESV, 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 ESV, Psalm 41:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 22:5-6 ESV

Daily Verse: “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, and supremely so toward you.” (2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV)

EILIKRINEIA (1505): “Denotes “sincerity, purity”; it is described metaphorically in 1 Cor 5:8 as “unleavened (bread); in 2 Cor 1:12, “(godly) sincerity,” it describes a quality possessed by God, as that which is to characterize the conduct of believers.”[i]

Godly conduct.

Paul, accused of acting insincerely by the Corinthians, responds the only way he can.  Charged with showing worldly shrewdness in his letters, Paul asks them to look at his actions.  God motivates the apostles’ movements, giving Paul purity of intention, governed by Christ’s grace.  Actions do speak louder than words.

In this world, people will accuse you of many things.  As a Christ-follower, expect harsh judgment from both believers and non-believers.  One lady I served with on church staff didn’t think “her Jesus loving friend was acting like Jesus” because I didn’t do what she wanted me to do.  I missed the memo of her promotion to God.

Flittering sparrow.

When people falsely accuse you of misdeeds, Godly sincerity becomes evident in your actions.  Instead of responding to my friend’s cruel words, I let my actions speak for themselves. 

“Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.” (Proverbs 26:2 ESV)

Following Christ puts you under the microscope.  People love to find reasons not to submit to God.  Like a fish swimming in a bowl, people watch for you to fall, holding faults they find against you. Where Christ offers grace, people provide judgment.  Do the best you can, trusting God’s promise:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Godly sincerity means doing your best with what the good Lord gives you.  When you falter, own your mistakes and trust God will use them to further the kingdom.  Success doesn’t come without failure.  Our weaknesses highlight God’s strength.  We can do all things in Christ, including standing firm in the face of wrong judgments.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 77) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Job 20:1-22:30 ESV, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 ESV, Psalm 40:11-17 ESV, Proverbs 22:2-4 ESV

Daily Verse: “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” (2 Corinthians 1:5 ESV)

Parakelesis (3874): “Means, “a calling to one’s side.” “An exhortation, or consolation, comfort,” e.g., “looking for the consolation of Israel” is equivalent to waiting for the coming of the Messiah.”[i]

Calling to one’s side.

Paul shares how God comforted him in his distress.  As the apostle’s struggles increased, so did Jesus’ presence in his life.  With Paul’s struggles came Christ’s comfort, which compelled him to share the divine sympathy Paul experienced with others.

Comfort means showing up.  Coming alongside someone when they have trouble in life comforts them.  As Christ-followers, we can call Him to our side in times of need.  In this world, we will have struggles, but Christ comforts us.

When my mother had her first heart attack, it devastated me.  A woman of good health, I rarely saw her sick, much less in the hospital.  One of my most precious memories during that tough time still encourages me over twenty years later.

Divine comfort.

Seeking solace from God, I sat by her bedside as she slept, reading my Bible.  Although I can’t remember the exact passage, I do remember the comfort I felt as my eyes skimmed the pages of the Good Book.  Then her pastor walked into the room, offering to sit with me for a while, God in the flesh.

On the darkest days of my life, Christ shows up.  His comfort comes in unexpected ways, but it always comes.  God used my husband’s arms when my nephew died to comfort me.  Throughout my life, friends, family, and even strangers comfort me.

I still pray for the stranger who helped me choose the right train.  After a taxi cab rammed my rental car, totaling it, near Washington D.C., I caught the train home.  In shock, tears streaming down my face, I didn’t know which train to take, my mind incapable of thought.  But the businessman on his way to work helped me find my way.  God in the flesh, again.

When in need of comfort, call out to Jesus.  Lose yourself in the scriptures as you wait expectantly on God’s help.  The Lord comes in many ways, but He always comes.  Show up for people when they need you, and comfort them with your presence.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 190) Thomas Nelson