It happened again. There was something I needed to do. A little task to complete. A skill to demonstrate. Nothing I hadn’t done before. Lots of times. I had the tools I needed. They seemed like old friends when I pulled them out. Had it really been that long since I had used them?
It didn’t take long for me to realize I had lost much of the expertise I had once developed. The years of neglect were not inconsequential. What had once been so simple now became a challenge that required every bit of my attention—and I still couldn’t do it as well as I remembered.
Perhaps something like this has happened to you. You pulled that band instrument down out of the attic. You uncovered your paints and brushes while you were cleaning out the closet. You stumbled across those chisels you thought you had given away. However it happened, you were reminded of an ability you once had that has atrophied due to your lack of attention and practice.
God gives gifts to his children. You were created by a loving God who designed you in his image and has a special role for you to fulfill in his eternal plan. You are unique, your circumstances are unique, and you bring special distinction to God’s family. This is not an excuse for anyone to think too highly of themselves or to become self-centered. Rather, it is a reminder to consider your responsibility for making the most of your natural abilities, your acquired skills, and your spiritual gifts.
You may be tempted to think that only people with remarkable skills and brilliant minds are truly useful in God’s service. The truth is that no person is more useful in the Lord’s service than any other person who is equally obedient and yielded to God. The true measure of your value to the work of the Kingdom is not related to your prominence, superiority or popularity; but to your faith in God and your commitment to him.
Don’t let what happened to me happen to you. Be aware of the abilities God has given you. Believe that God has given them to you to be used to serve God’s people. Look for confirmation from those who serve with you. Discern the particular occasions and circumstances where your gift is needed. Most of all, exercise your gift at every opportunity God brings your way. That is the way to make the most of every ability.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Help When You Need It
It is inevitable. It may not happen with every new appliance, game system or entertainment system component; but eventually something doesn’t work like it is supposed to. You push the button and nothing lights up. You twist the knob and it comes off in your hand. You go through the steps in the manual for the fifth time and it still doesn’t work. The only option you have left is to call tech support.
I’m not sure when or why calling a company for assistance with their product became such painful ordeal. Every once in a while you may have a very satisfactory experience when you call customer service. More often such calls help you understand why some people just put a piece of masking tape over the “12:00” flashing on the front of their VCR.
With such calls it is not unusual to experience long periods of time on hold. You often have to negotiate an extended menu by pushing a button or saying a number. When you are wondering if you will ever get the opportunity to speak to a real human being; someone finally answers with an accent so thick it is apparent that English is not their first language.
Most people already have a hard time asking for help. A few difficult calls to the product support line makes them even more determined to solve their problems for themselves. That’s not such a problem, as long as they reserve it to the way they deal with the products they purchase. Making the most of your life means learning how tap into the support God has to offer in the midst of the concerns of your life.
Every believer has the privilege of direct communication with the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of the universe. Prayer is your instant access to the ultimate help desk. You are never put on hold. You don’t have to find the serial number or supply any proof of purchase. Nevertheless, Jesus did give his disciples some helpful instructions about how they could be more effective when they pray in chapter 11 of the Gospel of Luke.
As you spend time looking over the model Jesus teaches, I urge you to pray earnestly, expectantly and even, unceasingly; so that you may experience all the blessings God has planned for you.
I’m not sure when or why calling a company for assistance with their product became such painful ordeal. Every once in a while you may have a very satisfactory experience when you call customer service. More often such calls help you understand why some people just put a piece of masking tape over the “12:00” flashing on the front of their VCR.
With such calls it is not unusual to experience long periods of time on hold. You often have to negotiate an extended menu by pushing a button or saying a number. When you are wondering if you will ever get the opportunity to speak to a real human being; someone finally answers with an accent so thick it is apparent that English is not their first language.
Most people already have a hard time asking for help. A few difficult calls to the product support line makes them even more determined to solve their problems for themselves. That’s not such a problem, as long as they reserve it to the way they deal with the products they purchase. Making the most of your life means learning how tap into the support God has to offer in the midst of the concerns of your life.
Every believer has the privilege of direct communication with the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of the universe. Prayer is your instant access to the ultimate help desk. You are never put on hold. You don’t have to find the serial number or supply any proof of purchase. Nevertheless, Jesus did give his disciples some helpful instructions about how they could be more effective when they pray in chapter 11 of the Gospel of Luke.
As you spend time looking over the model Jesus teaches, I urge you to pray earnestly, expectantly and even, unceasingly; so that you may experience all the blessings God has planned for you.
Friday, January 14, 2011
It’s All about Relationships
Relationships. They are the source of some of life’s most joyful satisfaction; but they are also the setting for some of life’s most bitter disappointments. If you are like most people, one of your perennial hopes is to improve the quality of your relationships with the other people in your life—and that is no small task.
John Andrew Holmes, Jr., the author of Wisdom in Small Doses, wrote, “It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.” So if you really want to make the most of your life it is worth the energy to focus on making the most of the relationships in your life.
When Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important,” he responded that loving God with your whole being was the most important; but he continued, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31). Throughout his life Jesus made it clear that loving others was as much a part of living a life that honored God as any other act of sacrifice, worship, or devotion.
On the other hand, Jesus warned his disciples that they would encounter people who would refuse to welcome them, some who would openly oppose them, and others who would physically abuse them (see Matthew 10:9-23). In fact, Jesus warns, “You will be hated by everyone because of me” (Matthew 10:22a).
Paul was someone who responded wholeheartedly to the invitation to spread the good news, and yet who experienced the full extent of people’s resistance to the message. When he wrote the community of believers who were living in Philippi, he encouraged them to focus on three ways they could honor God in their relationships with one another: Be thankful for people. Be thoughtful of people. Be trustworthy with people—all the time remembering that God was at work in them through the power of the Holy Spirit because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Relationships. They are a crucial element in our lives—impossible for us to escape. I pray that as you reflect on God’s word you may be guided to live in ways that help you experience greater joy in knowing that you have been faithful in your relationships with others.
John Andrew Holmes, Jr., the author of Wisdom in Small Doses, wrote, “It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.” So if you really want to make the most of your life it is worth the energy to focus on making the most of the relationships in your life.
When Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important,” he responded that loving God with your whole being was the most important; but he continued, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31). Throughout his life Jesus made it clear that loving others was as much a part of living a life that honored God as any other act of sacrifice, worship, or devotion.
On the other hand, Jesus warned his disciples that they would encounter people who would refuse to welcome them, some who would openly oppose them, and others who would physically abuse them (see Matthew 10:9-23). In fact, Jesus warns, “You will be hated by everyone because of me” (Matthew 10:22a).
Paul was someone who responded wholeheartedly to the invitation to spread the good news, and yet who experienced the full extent of people’s resistance to the message. When he wrote the community of believers who were living in Philippi, he encouraged them to focus on three ways they could honor God in their relationships with one another: Be thankful for people. Be thoughtful of people. Be trustworthy with people—all the time remembering that God was at work in them through the power of the Holy Spirit because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Relationships. They are a crucial element in our lives—impossible for us to escape. I pray that as you reflect on God’s word you may be guided to live in ways that help you experience greater joy in knowing that you have been faithful in your relationships with others.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Looking for Opportunities
Some people seem destined to live below their expectations. The comic strip character, Ziggy, regularly expresses what many of those folks must feel. Years ago Ziggy conveyed his waning hope this way: “When my ship finally comes in, it’ll probably be during the dock strike.”
Sometimes it certainly seems like the people around you live a charmed life. With every change of the tide, a new opportunity seems sail into their life. You haven’t given up hope that opportunity will knock at your door, but you are beginning to worry that when it does you might not be home.
If there are days when you feel like Ziggy, let me encourage you to remember that God really wants you to experience blessings you haven’t even thought of. Indeed, the apostle Paul writes, “With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
You may also want to consider adjusting your focus. Standing on the dock you can see a cargo ship while it is still miles away. It is fun to imagine what it might be carrying and how much of it you would enjoy (if it were yours). But while you are spending all of that time fantasizing, you may be missing some of the real opportunities God has placed right at your feet.
Paul encourages the community of believers in Ephesus to “make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16). Paul not only warns them about the distractions that might cause them to miss an opportunity God has prepared for them, but also offers them some advice on ways they can make more of the opportunities that come their way. Think. Stay sharp. Tune in. Give thanks. That’s it really.
As you spend time reflecting on this advice from Paul, I pray you will begin to experience all that it means to “live a life filled with love” (Ephesians 5:1). Talk about a great opportunity. God has some great expectations for you. I can think of none greater.
Sometimes it certainly seems like the people around you live a charmed life. With every change of the tide, a new opportunity seems sail into their life. You haven’t given up hope that opportunity will knock at your door, but you are beginning to worry that when it does you might not be home.
If there are days when you feel like Ziggy, let me encourage you to remember that God really wants you to experience blessings you haven’t even thought of. Indeed, the apostle Paul writes, “With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
You may also want to consider adjusting your focus. Standing on the dock you can see a cargo ship while it is still miles away. It is fun to imagine what it might be carrying and how much of it you would enjoy (if it were yours). But while you are spending all of that time fantasizing, you may be missing some of the real opportunities God has placed right at your feet.
Paul encourages the community of believers in Ephesus to “make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16). Paul not only warns them about the distractions that might cause them to miss an opportunity God has prepared for them, but also offers them some advice on ways they can make more of the opportunities that come their way. Think. Stay sharp. Tune in. Give thanks. That’s it really.
As you spend time reflecting on this advice from Paul, I pray you will begin to experience all that it means to “live a life filled with love” (Ephesians 5:1). Talk about a great opportunity. God has some great expectations for you. I can think of none greater.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Making the Most of Your Life
As you take time to reflect on the past year, I hope you recollect more than a few occasions you count as significant accomplishments. Even if you achieved more than you intended in 2010, you can probably still think of one or two areas where you wish you had been able to do more. Now may be just the right time to consider what you want to focus on as the new year begins.
When Jesus met the women at the well, her life was much less than she had hoped (John 4:1-42). Even in the midst of this great opportunity to spend time one-on-one with “The Lord,” she seems determined to miss the blessing that is being offered to her. "If you knew the gift of God,…” Jesus says. There was so much more God was offering her. There was so much more she could experience. There was so much more she could accomplish.
Is your life less than you hoped? Would you like to experience more of the blessings God has prepared for you? Would you like to accomplish something of great significance? Do you want to make more of your life in 2011?
The next few weeks are going to be the perfect time to consider a few of the areas of your life where you may be missing some of the blessings God wants to give you. Many times our lives are disappointing because we fail to take advantage of the gifts God offers. How can we be better managers of the gifts God gives us? Discovering the answer to that question is the key.
To make the most of your life you have to make the most of what your life is made of. God offers some clear directions about how we can make the most of every day, the opportunities than come to us, the relationships we have with others, the concerns that touch our hearts, our abilities, the assets we possess, and the commitments we make. When you have a better grasp of how to manage all that God has given you, you may discover that you have a better understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10b).
When Jesus met the women at the well, her life was much less than she had hoped (John 4:1-42). Even in the midst of this great opportunity to spend time one-on-one with “The Lord,” she seems determined to miss the blessing that is being offered to her. "If you knew the gift of God,…” Jesus says. There was so much more God was offering her. There was so much more she could experience. There was so much more she could accomplish.
Is your life less than you hoped? Would you like to experience more of the blessings God has prepared for you? Would you like to accomplish something of great significance? Do you want to make more of your life in 2011?
The next few weeks are going to be the perfect time to consider a few of the areas of your life where you may be missing some of the blessings God wants to give you. Many times our lives are disappointing because we fail to take advantage of the gifts God offers. How can we be better managers of the gifts God gives us? Discovering the answer to that question is the key.
To make the most of your life you have to make the most of what your life is made of. God offers some clear directions about how we can make the most of every day, the opportunities than come to us, the relationships we have with others, the concerns that touch our hearts, our abilities, the assets we possess, and the commitments we make. When you have a better grasp of how to manage all that God has given you, you may discover that you have a better understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10b).
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