Are you for real?

I think it is okay sometimes as a Youth Worker to let your young people know you are "for real" and have areas you struggle with just as they do. They need to know you face temptations and weaknesses also. (To some extent...Be careful not to disclose private information, especially regarding your family. They don't need to know all of your business and personal life!)

I recently listened to a podcast from Ministry 127 by pastor's wife, Mrs. Terrie Chappell. "A Life in Balance" http://ministry127.com/resources/podcasts/episodes/a-life-in-balance-terrie-chappell. She was so down to earth and honest about her own life and short-comings as she talked about organization. I found it so refreshing! I could relate to her on so many levels which challenged me to make some changes in my life as well.

I will start...Hello, my name is Helen and I am an email hoarder! Ha! Seriously, I have kept years worth of stuff in my inbox. It would have taken me MUCH more time than I have available to sort everything into folders. Are any of you like that too?

Today, I finally decided it would be best to just "Select All" and "Delete." This was one area I needed to unclutter my life. I have now created folders for different emails that contain info I have to keep. All other emails will be deleted after they are read.

Let's ask God to show us what areas we need to "unclutter," re-think or simplify in our lives.

Let's also ask God to give us the wisdom to be a "for real" role model for the young people in our lives, whether it be our own children or those we influence through our lives!

Will What I Say Affect What I Do?

I Corinthians 15:33 "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."

I find it interesting that God used the word "communications" here rather than speech. He knew in the future how many different means of communication we would have access to! This verse of truth covers ANY way we communicate with others...letters, texting, emailing, Facebook, phone calls, etc. It seems this would even include our body language, facial expressions, reactions to others, etc.

If our communications become evil, they will begin to affect our manners, or the way we act.

Every moment of my life is important and may have a large influence on others. Every little text, email, note, expression is SO important.

Thank You, God, for this reminder to keep you in every single area of my life today!

Good Deeds Without Love...

I Corinthians 13:1-3 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

All the good deeds I do, all the knowledge I possess, all the good intentions I can muster will profit nothing without charity, or true love.

I John 4:7-8 says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

If God is love, and without love our life has no profit, then it seems God is teaching us to include Him in every single area and relationship of our lives. If we leave him out, all the good things we can do are empty and fall short of their potential.

It is still important for me to do good no matter what spiritual "temperature" my life registers. However, those good deeds will not make a lasting impact on a person's spirit without true love which comes ONLY from God!

Is love the motive for everything I do, or do I serve God out of obligation?

Thank You, Lord, for this reminder today to include you into every minute of my day. I love You!

Church...For better or for worse?

I Corinthians 11-17-18 "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it."

According to this passage of God's Word, when a church gathers together to serve, it ought to be a building experience and not a display of selfish and prideful feelings.

It seems it would behoove us occasionally in our ministry to stop and re-evaluate why we go to church and serve in our ministry.

It seems that we as Christians start with the right intentions for God. But often, after years of service, our heart's desire leaves and we are simply going through the motions. We still do what we are supposed to do, but without the passion, drive and desire in our heart to please God.

When we continue in a ministry for self-image rather than a desire to please our Saviour, chances are we will become a bitter and discontented Christian.

Thank You, God, for the reminder this morning to put the right motive back into my service for You!

Created to be...

I Corinthians 11:7-9 "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man."

Man was made in the image of God, but a woman was made to be the glory of the man. Satan tries SO HARD these days to "dethrone" women from this lofty position. He tries to make us as women feel that we are "too smart" to follow the footsteps of a man, when in all actuality we were created for that purpose! If we were created to be the glory or help meet for a man, doesn't it only make sense that this would be the most fulfilling and happy way for us to live?

It seems God teaches us that He calls a man to a ministry, but he calls a woman to a man. Of course, a single lady would have a different purpose for serving God with her life. However, when we as women have our own "agenda" for our lives, we will take away a little bit of our potential as a help meet to our man. God has a plan for that man; God's job for us as wives is to "help him meet" that plan!

What an honor; what a privilege is mine. I get to help Daniel Callaghan fulfill God's plan for his ministry! In turn, I get to live a happy fulfilled life by following God's plan for me!! Truly it is a wonderful and happy thing to live for God!

Lending a Spiritual Helping Hand...

I Corinthians 10:23-24 "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth."

Paul was a grown man who, in actuality, could have done anything he wanted. He could have rationalized adding many things to his life that were not necessarily sinful or wrong.

However, Paul realized that a wise Christian will look past the present to the effects of the future and the affect our decisions may have on the life of another.

To edify means to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift.

Before we decide to do something we should think about whether or not it will uplift or benefit our life and the lives of others around us.

Verses 31-33 say, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

EVERYTHING I do should bring glory to God. It shouldn't just qualify as "not being bad," but it should bring glory to the name of God.

The mark of a mature Christian is making our decisions based on whether they bring glory to God and build others rather than searching for a reason to justify that our actions are not wrong.

Before making a decision, I must ask myself the question...Does it build my life AND the lives of others around me?

Thanks, God, for this great reminder today!

It's not all about me!

I Corinthians 9:16, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

I have no right to glory or boast about my service for God; it is of necessity as Paul says. In other words, I owe everything to God.

Why is it then that I feel the need for praise and recognition when I serve Him?

God, please help me to remember that I am simply paying back what I owe in my service for You.

Let us serve God in all humility as unto God and not for the laud of men.

Thank You, God, for this reminder!