"Pastimes Count"

STRESS.

It's slowly but surely beginning to define life for many of the people I'm talking with. Anxiety imperceptibly builds. Wallets are getting leaner. The flu season is upon us. Pressure to perform at the workplace is increasing. The holidays are around the corner. Relationships are getting strained. A good night sleep is harder to come by. We laugh less and less. Healthy perspectives on life and love and God seem to allude us.

WHAT TO DO?

A first step toward stress relief might be as simple as grabbing your coat and going for a brisk walk. On a regular basis. Or resurrecting an abandoned hobby. Or beginning to explore something that's always interested you.

When I ask people what they do to "play," many of them look back at me with a blank expression. They haven't a clue. Perhaps it's time to discover what that looks like for you - what's fun. What energizes your spirit. What makes you relax. And laugh.

As the days grow shorter and the weather becomes colder, let's agree to consider some positive alternatives to the way most of us handle stress and boredom, especially during the long winter months. The mindless eating of junk food. Zoning out in front of the TV. Aimlessly trolling the internet.

Been there. Done that.

Read on ... and discover why "pastimes count!"

Linda

Hearing the Voice of God

A Christian conviction is that God speaks to His people. Countless times the Bible says, "And God said. . . " He has spoken to us in His written Word, through His Living Word (Jesus), and continues to speak to us through His Holy Spirit. While I am careful about someone saying, "God told me. . . ," I do know that He emphasises portions of Scripture and makes them stand out for us; He brings things into our minds that we know are from Him; He leads; guides etc.

Jesus instructed us about hearing the words of God through a story in Luke 8:4-15. One of the cool things about this story is that Jesus also gives the interpretation of the parable.

Here Jesus describes four mindsets that respond to God's words. They answer the question, "How do I hear God speak to me?"

1. Cultivate an Open Mind - If we want to hear God, we must be open, eager and willing to listen to Him, not doubting that God speaks. Luke 8:5 & 12 describe the first kind of attitude or mindset toward hearing the voice of God. It is like a foot path in a field - hard, narrow, and packed down. It is a mind that is closed by things like:

A. Pride - "I don't need God." "I can make this business decision on my own." "I can resolve this conflict alone - no need to pray and ask God."

B. Fear - "Me, listen to God? He may tell me to do something hard and unpopular." "I don't want to become a looney religious nut." "He might make me do something that would cause me to lose my fun or my freedom."

C. Bitterness - "Why did God allow this hurt to come into my life? Do you think I would listen to Him after what He has done to me?" The truth is that God does not stop people from doing evil but does allow people to act in freedom to indulge their sin. He, however, does feel our pain and works to bring healing to us.

D. Disbelief - "I don't believe that anyone can hear God speak to them today."

James 1:21 instructs us to "humbly accept the word planted in us."

If you have not been hearing the voice of God, could it be that your attitude is like a hardened path - unreceipive to His loving call? Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." Are you one of His sheep? Are your mind and heart prepared to listen?

Time to search our hearts with this post and watch for Soil #2 in the next post ~

Listening ~ Bob

Lame Excuses

I had to smile as I read "Say Goodbye to Alibis." I'll be the 1st to raise my hand and admit that I can entertain some very creative, yet lame excuses when I don't choose to eat nutritious food or stick with an ongoing fitness routine. Even after a substantial weight loss this past year, I'm realizing that maintaining a healthy lifestyle will always be an ongoing challenge for me.

So I appreciated the author's responses to such all-time favorites as:

"I'm too tired."

"I just had a baby."

"I'll do it tomorrow."

"I'm too old."

My challenge? Take a few minutes to jot down your favorite excuses. And then decide what you want to do with all those alibis. They're getting kind of old, aren't they ...

Are you ready to release them to the only One who can help you make those oh-so-hard choices?

In the boat with you ~

Linda

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength"
- Philippians 4:13.

God's Alternative

I Corinthians 3:16,17 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys "God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."

The church at Corinth had gradually slipped into ungodly attitudes and practices - arguing, jealousy, rivalry, boasting, factions, divisions, etc which took them from focusing on the nature of the church. In this passage, Paul reminds us that "YOU" (plural, meaning the collective body of believers) are God's temple. You and your fellow believers compose the actual sanctuary ("naos") of God.

The Corinthians had visited the temples of the gods in the city of Corinth. Now, Paul is saying that since there is only one God, He can have only one temple and THEY, collectively, ARE IT!

The believers (the church) is God's alternative to Corinth. Paul urges them not to destroy the only alternative that God has for the city. God's people are "holy" - set apart for God's purpose.

Paul warned them and invited them to become what they were - holy. That admonition is the same for us. We - the believers in our towns are the church - God's holy alternative. Be very careful not to destroy it.

Respecting God's holy domain ~ Bob

Resolving Conflict

Yesterday, I shared with you Ken Sande's "7 A's of Confession." Confession is a part of resolving conflict - it is owning and dealing with the what we contributed to the problem.

Confession is one part of what Ken Sande calls the "Four G's of Resolving Conflict." Here they are:

1) Glorify God - I Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." How can you glorify God in this conflict? What is the difference between how you handle this and how a good atheist would handle this? How can your attitude and actions point those involved and those who observe to Jesus Christ?

2) Get the log out of your own eye. Matthew 7:5 "First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will clearly see to remove the speck from your brother's eye." What are/have you contributed to the situation that needs to be confessed and dealt with before trying to confront or correct a brother?

3) Gently restore - Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Watch yourself or you also may be tempted." To gently restore refers to mending fishing nets or re-setting a fractured bone - it is done carefully, gently, sensitively, causing as little pain as possible.

4) Go and be reconciled - Matthew 5:24 "Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your grother; then come and offer your gift." The priority of taking care of business quickly is paramount - even before you can worship. Don't procrastinate - do it now!

Trusting Him, the Peacemaker, to bring growth and harmony out of the conflicts we will face today ~ Bob

Keys to Confession

When we have wronged, hurt, sinned against someone, the Bible tells us to confess. How do I do that? Ken Sande in "The Peace Maker" gives the "7 A's of Confession:"

1) Address everyone involved who you have wronged.

2) Avoid "if," "but," "maybe." These words negate everthing we have already said in our confession.

3) Admit the sin specifically - Luke 15:21 - the Prodigal Son said, "I have sinned against heaven and against you."

4) Acknowledge the hurt that your behavior or attitude has caused to others.

5) Accept the consequences of your behavior. Luke 15 - the Prodigal Son says, "I am not worthy to be your son, please make me one of your hired hands."

6) Alter your behavior so that you do not commit the same transgression again.

7) Ask for forgiveness from those whom you have offended and allow time for them to deal with their pain or disappointment.

Forgiveness does not imply the re-establishment of the relationship to its condition prior to the sin; but it does allow us to give desire for revenge to God. Forgiveness means freedom from baggage that has been loaded on us by others.

James 5:16 "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Experiencing His Grace ~ Bob