"'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to . . . the least of them, you did it to Me.'" Matthew 25:40

What do you do when someone enters your world?

Maybe the neighborhood kids stop by at your house.

Maybe the co-worker who talks a lot stops by your office.

How do you treat them?

What would you do if that person was Jesus? What if Jesus stopped by your house? Your office?

Here's the challenge: see Jesus in everyone who comes into your life. Give them your time. Give them your attention. Do your best to help them realize how precious they are to the Father, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit. Don't let them leave your presence without realizing they are loved.

This is what Jesus told us to do. Are we doing it?

"And [Elizabeth] cried out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'" Luke 1:42

Author Jean E. Syswerda in her study Women of the Bible says, "Elizabeth didn't just smile and offer a quiet prayer when Mary arrived. She 'exclaimed' and praised God 'in a loud voice' (1:42). What would have to happen for you to exclaim your praise to God in a loud voice?"

I read this and at first wrote about myself "I don't know." But then I thought about it. Daily I already shout for Jesus but this is my norm. My kids love it and my Sunday School class loves it too. But, what would have to happen for me to do it in an extraordinary way for me?

Here is my answer: the day my almost 13 year old son walks or talks or both -- that would freak me out so much that I might faint then shout to Jesus so loud. I would also have to post a YouTube video of him right away and call everyone I know who would  care. Wow, wow, wow....

So, what would it be for you?

What if you started praying for that situation?

Share if you can. I'd love to hear your answers (and I could pray for you too).

"I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24c

Does giving to God make a dent in your finances, your time, your priorities?

Does your giving give you an opportunity to rely totally on God believing Him for your provision?

Our family (like many families) has often been on the receiving end of giving. I'm thankful for every gift we've ever been given, but there are two ways people give. And no one is fooled.

For a few years a lot of men at Shannon's work decided to empty their freezers of all the meat they and their families didn't want so they could go hunting and refill them. Let me tell you -- I didn't want the meat either! But they told themselves they were doing a good deed. They were giving meat to a "family in need" and there is that mentality that people take upon themselves I think to make themselves feel good that "beggers can't be choosers."

We weren't begging but they wanted to get rid of it so that's that. 

Then on the other hand we once had a family give us a boxful of really good beef. Wow -- we were so touched because that meat had been processed by the family and had cost them. They were giving us a good gift that really blessed us. It was a gift with dignity. It was a gift that was given with a loving heart that gave to bless and for no other reason. 

What kind of giving do we do with God? 

Do we give Him the leftovers? Do we give Him stuff we really don't want anyway? Do we give the bare minimum so we can say to ourselves, "I'm doing my part."

What about giving way more than you think you can "afford" and watch God meet your lack with such overflowing generosity that you will be speechless?

He is your provider whether you acknowledge it or not, but it is so exciting to have to wait on Him and see how He will come through. It is an opportunity for witnessing. It is an opportunity for your faith to explode. It is an opportunity to teach your kids or whoever is watching you that God will indeed come through. We need not worry (that's a sin anyway). We need not strive for finances. We need not kill ourselves with exhaustion to provide -- - that is the world's. way.

Choose God's way. Give so it hurts this week. Give so you have to wait on Him to make up the difference. Don't worry -- He knows every single bill you have and even ones you might not know about. He's not worried or fretting about any of it. Jump into His giving game and have fun. Seriously -- it is the way He calls us to live. And when we do, we give Him opportunity to prove

 

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven . . . A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak." Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7-8

You can't force people to change.

You can't force people to grow emotionally.

In and out of the church, in the world at large there always has been and always will be people who are stunted or crippled emotionally. We don't know why they are that way. There is healing for them, but that is between God and them.

We have to love people where they are at.

My son Hawk can't do any life skills without assistance. He cannot walk or talk or whatever. I know this. I can see this. Everyone who sees him can see this. So, it would be ridiculous and cruel of me to tell him he has to walk over to the table to get his food. He'd perish. He can't walk. He couldn't even drag himself to the table. Because of my insistance to get him to do better, he would die.

That wouldn't be mercy. That would be prideful and cruel and not loving at all.

Now, I'm not going to do that of course. But I think we who have chosen to grow emotionally and spiritually, maybe sometimes resent other Believers who have chosen not to. We don't know what is going on in other people's hearts, but often people may say, "Grow up."

Is that merciful?

Instead, we need to love people where they are at. No, our goal isn't to make each other comfortable in the faith. We are to challenge each other and love each other. But, often we need to approach people who are stunted within in a roundabout way -- God will give us wisdom if we ask for it. We have to stay teachable. God never forces anyone to grow. He encourages. He always encourages.

We can do that too.

And when it gets personal, when you're dealing with yourself, show yourself mercy. Give yourself time. Don't make excuses. Just learn and grow and grab hold of that lovingkindness of God that is new every morning (that's in Lamentations 3).

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;" Philippian 2:3

This is the best way to live.

This is how Jesus lived when He walked on this earth.

"do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant," Philippians 2:4-7a

I don't know how your spring/summer is shaping up but mine is filled with children. In years I'd sometimes get frustrated because I'd have my things I just had to get done -- my own personal agenda. And with children (actually whenever any age of people are involved) having an agenda for the day and insisting it happen only produces strife and stress.

Let it go.

Let it all go.

Let it all go and just live and enjoy life.

Here's an assignment for you: be a student of the people you interact with. Be a student (especially) of that one person or persons who drive you crazy.  Learn from them. Ask God to show you the incredible parts of that person. God loves each and every person and He has plans for them all. If He has placed them in your life, it is so you can show them God's love.

See people today as loved ones -- not obstacles.

See people today as cherished ones -- not enemies to your agenda.

See people today as those Jesus died for -- not as competition.

"And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Luke 18:15-17

Summer vacation started yesterday for my children. Today is our first full day of summer break. And it goes until the last week of August!

When I gear up for summer break (weeks ahead of time) my whole soul sighs. Honestly, I enjoy my quiet days. My middle child, Hawken, stays home with me while the other five attend public school. Hawk is almost 13 but he cannot talk or walk, really do anything without assistance. So, he and I read a lot together. He's brilliant (I know because I can see it in his eyes). We read physics books and fiction and history -- all sorts of stuff . . . oops, sorry for the tangent.

Anyway, as I wrote above our days during the school year are quiet, calm days.

That all ends when summer vacation begins.

I love my kids. I adore them, but I've realized I have to just embrace the chaos. I have to "go along for the ride." I have to discover life with them every day of summer.

Reread the verse above. Jesus says the kingdom of God belongs to "such as these." He was talking about the children.

Maybe we grownups (who hang out with kids all summer) need to give up our agendas and goals and schedules and immerse ourselves in our children lovely and chaotic activity. Maybe that is the point. Maybe that is what God is calling us to for this season.

We have a kitten we call Killer. She is absolutely adorable. Killer is a prophetic name for I'm believing she will one day be a great mouser (female cats overall are better mousers than male cats -- plus, if you're reading this could you pray she learns to use the litter box). She is so much fun to watch. She is chaotic -- her little brain is distracted by so many things. If she isn't sleeping she is on the move. She chases this and that -- anything. She is fun to watch.

She reminds me of my youngest child!

Maybe this summer we need to just enjoy our kids. Watch them in their play. Kids love to be watched! Watch them laughing, creating, just being kids.

"'Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.'" Matthew 11:29

What do we need to be to grow in Christ? 

Flexibility.

Another name for flexibility is humbleness. 

If a person is bitter, rigid, religious, stiff, that person is in need of humbleness and flexibility.

If we don't have flexibility we are going to have a rough time with following God.

For God is creative and works so outside the box -- He never works in the way we think He will.

The only way we can be content in Him and be free enough to let Him work in our lives is to stay flexible.

If you need flexibility, ask God for help.

"Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." 
2 Corinthians 9:7

The above verse is the only "rule" about giving in the New Testament. We are told to tithe 10% of our income. And that is a good place to start, but that is a manmade rule, not God's for New Testament life. God wants us to give cheerfully. It all belongs to Him anyway. Give Him even more than you think you can. He will meet your needs.

The rest of the chapter in 2 Corinthians has great stuff to say about the consequences of giving to God. 

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance for every good deed." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Some TV preachers are guilty of telling people if they give to them they will reap a bunch of money. This is not right. 

We shouldnt' give just because it is then a guarantee for us to get riches. That isn't giving cheerfully. That is giving with an agenda. And we shouldn't give out of fear. You can't have faith if you are in fear. God isn't up there with a book checking off how much you give and how much you don't.

We need to be so free and generous with the money in our lives and also all the material things in our lives that we give it freely knowing we don't have to worry about giving too much. For God will meet our needs and more.

"Now this I say he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. . . You will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11

The spiritual principle applies of reaping and sowing but it shouldn't be our motivator. 

Give because it is a privilege to give to God's work. Give because it is an honor to help meet others' needs. Give because it is just so darn fun to give. It is so much fun to be generous. Holding tight to your money, holding tight to your possessions leeches life from you. Stinginess, greediness and financial worry will make a person unpleasant -- these things do nothing for you at all.

"having nothing yet possessing all things" 2 Corinthians 6:10c

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32

"So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you . . . and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." 
1 Corinthians 3:21, 23

Things. 

Stuff.

Possessions.

We can own them or they can own us.

Everything belongs to God. Everything belongs to Christ. All things belong to us. That is what scripture says in 1 Corinthians.

So, what does that mean? If we went to our neighbor's house and helped ourselves to their stuff and then said, "Well, scripture says this belongs to me" they wouldn't agree. 

So, the meaning has to be deeper. 

It has to do with our attitude toward stuff and this world and God. We must hold onto things loosely and let them go willingly. We should be generous in all things knowing all things belong to God anyway. We need to be free with things and hold tight to those we love -- always putting God and people above material and tangible goods.

Any thoughts?

"O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all. Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, And laid Thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. 

"Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,' Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee.

"For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them." Psalm 139:1-16