"Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you."
-James 4:10
Most of us enjoy getting recognition when we do something good, but our goal shouldn't be to get recognition, but to do something good. All good things come from God, so that should help us remain humble and resist trying to take credit for anything good that we do. We shouldn't really be exalted except through God being exhalted through us.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thousandth Generation
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments.
-Deuteronomy 7:9
Our love for him will benefit ourselves, our kids, and our grandkids down to the thousandth generation. Whenever I take my two older kids to daily Mass on Saturday mornings, I have gotten comments about how my faith is going to make (or break) theirs. It's not like this promise of God's is necessarily a free pass for the next 999 generations, but the foundation that has been started for you by your parents, grandparents, etcetera, has helped mold your faith and your faith will help mold your children's (for better or worse).
-Deuteronomy 7:9
Our love for him will benefit ourselves, our kids, and our grandkids down to the thousandth generation. Whenever I take my two older kids to daily Mass on Saturday mornings, I have gotten comments about how my faith is going to make (or break) theirs. It's not like this promise of God's is necessarily a free pass for the next 999 generations, but the foundation that has been started for you by your parents, grandparents, etcetera, has helped mold your faith and your faith will help mold your children's (for better or worse).
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Does standing in a forest make you a tree?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
-James 15-17
This reminds me that going to church doesn't make you anymore a Christian than standing in a forest makes you a tree. A lot of people talk a good game, but if you haven't learned already, there's little use in listening to what anyone says, whether it's good or bad. A person's actions give authority to their words. There's more to be learned by watching a person than listening to a person.
-James 15-17
This reminds me that going to church doesn't make you anymore a Christian than standing in a forest makes you a tree. A lot of people talk a good game, but if you haven't learned already, there's little use in listening to what anyone says, whether it's good or bad. A person's actions give authority to their words. There's more to be learned by watching a person than listening to a person.
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Kingdom of Priests
"You shall be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation."
-Exodus 19:6a
It's not just the priests (and ministers) that are called to be holy. The role that God is asking us to play, whatever it may be, needs just as much holiness as priests and ministers need. Obviously, we can think of examples where priests and ministers have fallen short just as readily as we can recall when we have fallen short as spouses, parents, childen, or neighbors. No matter whether you are blessed with a great priest or minister, we are called to be our best, better than a priest or minister perhaps. Anyone fully open to God's grace can be their best.
-Exodus 19:6a
It's not just the priests (and ministers) that are called to be holy. The role that God is asking us to play, whatever it may be, needs just as much holiness as priests and ministers need. Obviously, we can think of examples where priests and ministers have fallen short just as readily as we can recall when we have fallen short as spouses, parents, childen, or neighbors. No matter whether you are blessed with a great priest or minister, we are called to be our best, better than a priest or minister perhaps. Anyone fully open to God's grace can be their best.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Where to start helping
"Learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow."
-Isaiah 1:17
Certainly, these are still good things to do today, but there's even more to it now than there may have been then. Too many kids I see in school come from broken homes. Both parents may be alive, but the children are emotionally orphaned. There are mothers that may have let Solomon slice their child in two. Many already do so before their babies are born. These are extreme cases.
The widow back then is comparable to the many single mothers today. It certainly helps to have two parents, but God can certainly use a single parent to give a child everything the child needs just as if there were two parents, even though it may seem more difficult. These women need support just like the widows of the past whether their husbands have died or just plain left.
There's a time to help the kid and there's a time to help the helper (help the kid). Only you can hear what God is calling you to do with the people he has put in your life at this time.
-Isaiah 1:17
Certainly, these are still good things to do today, but there's even more to it now than there may have been then. Too many kids I see in school come from broken homes. Both parents may be alive, but the children are emotionally orphaned. There are mothers that may have let Solomon slice their child in two. Many already do so before their babies are born. These are extreme cases.
The widow back then is comparable to the many single mothers today. It certainly helps to have two parents, but God can certainly use a single parent to give a child everything the child needs just as if there were two parents, even though it may seem more difficult. These women need support just like the widows of the past whether their husbands have died or just plain left.
There's a time to help the kid and there's a time to help the helper (help the kid). Only you can hear what God is calling you to do with the people he has put in your life at this time.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Chili's
As a good steward, I like to take advantage of free stuff, so here's a link for free Chili's stuff that you can copy and paste into your browser:
http://assets.fbmta.com/clt/chlscrp/lp/join/join.asp?inputsource=FFbtstevens@hotmail.com
http://assets.fbmta.com/clt/chlscrp/lp/join/join.asp?inputsource=FFbtstevens@hotmail.com
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mary's Husband
Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ.
Typically, people like to be called by name and not a title, especially if the title is so-and-so's husband or so-and-so's dad because the person is able to remember someone's name, just not yours. It looks like they think the other person is more important even if that isn't the way it is meant. Of course, that should be fine with us because it's our job to put others first and it should be easy when it's people we love.
Joseph was given a job that he didn't want to do until he learned God wanted him to do it. Even though an angel probably won't be as explicit with us, we should treat the jobs we are given by those God puts above us as coming from him, as menial as those tasks may be (as long as they are not God's will). If you can go to work every day for God, it's easier than going to work every day for your boss. Whatever your boss gives you, whether it's your AM boss at work or your PM boss (as some spouses are referred to) at home, do it with a smile on your face to honor God. If you do it moaning and groaning, that's your reward.
Typically, people like to be called by name and not a title, especially if the title is so-and-so's husband or so-and-so's dad because the person is able to remember someone's name, just not yours. It looks like they think the other person is more important even if that isn't the way it is meant. Of course, that should be fine with us because it's our job to put others first and it should be easy when it's people we love.
Joseph was given a job that he didn't want to do until he learned God wanted him to do it. Even though an angel probably won't be as explicit with us, we should treat the jobs we are given by those God puts above us as coming from him, as menial as those tasks may be (as long as they are not God's will). If you can go to work every day for God, it's easier than going to work every day for your boss. Whatever your boss gives you, whether it's your AM boss at work or your PM boss (as some spouses are referred to) at home, do it with a smile on your face to honor God. If you do it moaning and groaning, that's your reward.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Happy John 3:16 Day
When I heard the idea of posting, tweeting, etc. about John 3:16 on March 16th, I was excited and curious to see how it would turn out nationally. It basically says that God loved us so much that he sent his son down to us from heaven, so that everyone that believes will never die. Coincidentally, it goes along with the morning reading from Christian Prayer, which is where I usually get my inspiration.
"It was because the Lord loved you that he brought you out from the place of slavery."
-Deuteronomy 7:6
Back then, most people would have thought that simply meant escaping Egypt, but the Holy Spirit is always inspiring new insights for different times and places. Today, although you are probably not, never have been, and never will be a slave in Egypt, we have all been slaves to sin in our past. Hopefully, God's love will open our hearts to his grace and mercy, so we can escape the slavery of sin in our lives, whether that be pride in not admitting when we are wrong to our children or telling lies that build upon lies to our loved ones until we feel trapped.
"It was because the Lord loved you that he brought you out from the place of slavery."
-Deuteronomy 7:6
Back then, most people would have thought that simply meant escaping Egypt, but the Holy Spirit is always inspiring new insights for different times and places. Today, although you are probably not, never have been, and never will be a slave in Egypt, we have all been slaves to sin in our past. Hopefully, God's love will open our hearts to his grace and mercy, so we can escape the slavery of sin in our lives, whether that be pride in not admitting when we are wrong to our children or telling lies that build upon lies to our loved ones until we feel trapped.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
And mean it
“Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.”
Joel 2:12
How you return to God is important. You can’t just say you’re sorry. You have to mean it. Actions speak louder than words. If you are sorry, you should want to do something to show you are sorry like crying or choosing to fast to prove to yourself that you mean it. God already knows whether you really mean it or not. These actions are so you don’t try to rationalize with yourself. These actions will help you know the truth that God already knows.
Joel 2:12
How you return to God is important. You can’t just say you’re sorry. You have to mean it. Actions speak louder than words. If you are sorry, you should want to do something to show you are sorry like crying or choosing to fast to prove to yourself that you mean it. God already knows whether you really mean it or not. These actions are so you don’t try to rationalize with yourself. These actions will help you know the truth that God already knows.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Step-by-step
“Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.”
-Isaiah 1:16-17
Although I don’t suppose anything here comes as a surprise to anyone, the sequence that they are presented in is important. First, stop sinning yourself. Second, start doing good works yourself. Third, help others. Of course, they all overlap, but it’s useful to break it down to get a better grasp of it and apply it to ourselves. Is there anything wrong that I am still doing? Are there any good works I have the opportunity to do and neglected to do so (which is also a sin, of omission)? Are there other people I can help (which may be the good works you are doing)? Nevertheless, you must remove the plank from your own eye before you are capable of helping others remove a speck from theirs.
-Isaiah 1:16-17
Although I don’t suppose anything here comes as a surprise to anyone, the sequence that they are presented in is important. First, stop sinning yourself. Second, start doing good works yourself. Third, help others. Of course, they all overlap, but it’s useful to break it down to get a better grasp of it and apply it to ourselves. Is there anything wrong that I am still doing? Are there any good works I have the opportunity to do and neglected to do so (which is also a sin, of omission)? Are there other people I can help (which may be the good works you are doing)? Nevertheless, you must remove the plank from your own eye before you are capable of helping others remove a speck from theirs.
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Blame Game
"Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses."
-Isaiah 53:11b-12
How offended we get when we are blamed for something we don't do, and how frustrating it is when there's nothing we can do about it. As a parent, it probably happens a lot with our kids (when there's more than one) because it's hard to get the same story out of any two of them.
Jesus chose to take the blame for us, even though he could have gotten out of it. We deserve to go to hell, but he went through hell for us, so now we are able to go to heaven if we choose to follow him. Unfortunately, not everybody will.
-Isaiah 53:11b-12
How offended we get when we are blamed for something we don't do, and how frustrating it is when there's nothing we can do about it. As a parent, it probably happens a lot with our kids (when there's more than one) because it's hard to get the same story out of any two of them.
Jesus chose to take the blame for us, even though he could have gotten out of it. We deserve to go to hell, but he went through hell for us, so now we are able to go to heaven if we choose to follow him. Unfortunately, not everybody will.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Give credit where credit is due
"For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work."
-Philippians 2:13
Even when we do something good, God deserves credit for it, not us. All we can take credit for is our sins. You should be glad if you have the faith and thank God for it. He doesn't give everyone the same consolations. It's harder for some to believe than others. That's important to remember to help us not be quick to judge others.
-Philippians 2:13
Even when we do something good, God deserves credit for it, not us. All we can take credit for is our sins. You should be glad if you have the faith and thank God for it. He doesn't give everyone the same consolations. It's harder for some to believe than others. That's important to remember to help us not be quick to judge others.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Serve and Be Served
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others.
-Philippians 2:3-4
If you make a point to look after others, others will begin to look after you. However, you have to let people look after you. I prefer to be the one helping than the one helped, but other people want to feel that sense of self-worth as well and if you don’t allow them to help you, they may not get that feeling anywhere else.
-Philippians 2:3-4
If you make a point to look after others, others will begin to look after you. However, you have to let people look after you. I prefer to be the one helping than the one helped, but other people want to feel that sense of self-worth as well and if you don’t allow them to help you, they may not get that feeling anywhere else.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Work is a Gift
For, to me, "life" means Christ; hence dying is so much gain. On the other hand, if I am to go on living in the flesh, that means productive toil for me--and I do not know which to prefer. I am strongly attracted to both: I long to be freed from this life and to be with Christ, for that is the far better thing; yet it is more urgent that I remain alive for your sakes. This gives me confidence that I will stay with you.
-Philippians 1:21-25
There is so much truth wrapped in this short statement. The first is that work is a gift. How often have you heard of people retiring from their jobs to do nothing and passing away shortly there after? Perhaps there is something to the saying that you are too busy to die (if you are doing God’s work). Eventually, no matter how hard we work, we will be called home and it will be someone else’s turn to do the work that needs done. However, it is our job to give our best while we are out there until the coach calls us off the field. If we start slacking before he planned on pulling us, we might find ourselves pulled prematurely and that would not be far better. It’s far better when you can go to Christ knowing you have done your best. It’s not better to go to Christ knowing you did not love him enough to do try your best. Play each play like it’s your last. Live each day like it’s your last (before you are judged).
-Philippians 1:21-25
There is so much truth wrapped in this short statement. The first is that work is a gift. How often have you heard of people retiring from their jobs to do nothing and passing away shortly there after? Perhaps there is something to the saying that you are too busy to die (if you are doing God’s work). Eventually, no matter how hard we work, we will be called home and it will be someone else’s turn to do the work that needs done. However, it is our job to give our best while we are out there until the coach calls us off the field. If we start slacking before he planned on pulling us, we might find ourselves pulled prematurely and that would not be far better. It’s far better when you can go to Christ knowing you have done your best. It’s not better to go to Christ knowing you did not love him enough to do try your best. Play each play like it’s your last. Live each day like it’s your last (before you are judged).
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Bloom's Taxonomy
“My prayer is that your love may more and more abound, both in understanding and wealth of experience, so that with a clear conscience and blameless conduct you may learn to value the things that really matter, up to the day of Christ. It is my wish that you may be found rich in the harvest of justice which Jesus Christ has ripened in you, to the glory and praise of God.” –Philippians 1:9-11
The phrase “wealth of experience” is an interesting one. In context, it seems to suggest more than just understanding. Bloom’s taxonomy of learning domains includes understanding towards the bottom, with applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating considered higher. Sometimes we think we understand what the Bible says, as if we just had to give a book report on it. Perhaps “wealth of experience” helps us to apply those principles to the routine moments in our lives, analyze the more difficult situations we find ourselves in, evaluate past situations, and most importantly create the kind of situations God wants us to. Hindsight, for example, is 20/20, so we should get better the older we get because we have more hindsight to refer to.
The phrase “wealth of experience” is an interesting one. In context, it seems to suggest more than just understanding. Bloom’s taxonomy of learning domains includes understanding towards the bottom, with applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating considered higher. Sometimes we think we understand what the Bible says, as if we just had to give a book report on it. Perhaps “wealth of experience” helps us to apply those principles to the routine moments in our lives, analyze the more difficult situations we find ourselves in, evaluate past situations, and most importantly create the kind of situations God wants us to. Hindsight, for example, is 20/20, so we should get better the older we get because we have more hindsight to refer to.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Cafeteria Catholics
The way we can be sure of our knowledge of Christ is to keep his commandments. The man who claims, “I have known him,” without keeping his commandments, is a liar."
-1 John 2:3-4
Cafeteria Catholics pick and choose what parts of the faith they want to believe. Our faith is based on the Bible and tradition, which is summarized in the Catechism. Protestants only believe in the Bible and not tradition passed down by word of mouth, but even some Protestants conveniently neglect parts of the Bible that they find difficult for them. If you are what you say you are, people should be able to tell by your actions because they speak louder than words. If your actions indicate that you don’t have faith, you have some work to do that God will graciously help you with if you are open to him.
Can you think of anyone in your life that this might apply to?
-1 John 2:3-4
Cafeteria Catholics pick and choose what parts of the faith they want to believe. Our faith is based on the Bible and tradition, which is summarized in the Catechism. Protestants only believe in the Bible and not tradition passed down by word of mouth, but even some Protestants conveniently neglect parts of the Bible that they find difficult for them. If you are what you say you are, people should be able to tell by your actions because they speak louder than words. If your actions indicate that you don’t have faith, you have some work to do that God will graciously help you with if you are open to him.
Can you think of anyone in your life that this might apply to?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thankfulness
“Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness.” –Colossians 3:15
Our society seems so negative at times, we must seem ungrateful to everyone so less fortunate than ourselves in a material sense. However, I am always amazed at what remarkable faith seems to be present among the most trying third world countries. Perhaps being thankful for all we have will help us increase our faith as well.
Can you name a person you’ve thanked today? Can you think of someone who needs to be thanked?
Our society seems so negative at times, we must seem ungrateful to everyone so less fortunate than ourselves in a material sense. However, I am always amazed at what remarkable faith seems to be present among the most trying third world countries. Perhaps being thankful for all we have will help us increase our faith as well.
Can you name a person you’ve thanked today? Can you think of someone who needs to be thanked?
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