2023-05-03
Proverbs 15:27 NKJV
Today one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage is money. That is because a husband and wife often have opposite ideas about how it ought to be used. Stop and consider the words “delayed gratification.” When one spouse is willing to delay purchasing something until their financial house is in order, but the other one isn’t, the battle lines begin to form. Another disagreement that can arise is deciding when, and for what, credit should be obtained. This is treacherous territory. Nothing irritates a disciplined, thrifty person more than living with someone who wastes their income and their future earnings on things that aren’t truly needed.
Another potential minefield in marriage for many of us is deciding when and how much to give to our children. Because we love them so much, we want life to be easier and better for them growing up than it was for us. But it takes a steady hand to hold a full cup. The Bible clearly teaches the virtues of hard work, living frugally, saving, building, and producing by the sweat of our brows. And if our children don’t learn these virtues the right way – while they’re living in our home – there is a good chance they will learn them the hard way – while building their own home.
So here is some good advice: Stay out of debt as much as possible and be extremely cautious with credit cards. Their misuse can weaken your family’s stability and future. Indeed, credit cards should be labeled, “Danger! Handle with care!” Jesus put it this way: “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15 NLT).
Soul food: Num 3:1-4:33; Matt 5:27-37; Ps 2; Prov 10:30-32
2023-05-02
Ecclesiastes 3:22 NLT
Solomon writes: “I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one can bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.” Begin now to think about what you can do to find more joy in every experience. The present moment is all you’re guaranteed, so don’t wait until later – until you get married, retire, go on vacation, or until your children finish college – to enjoy your life. No one knows what will happen next in their lives or in the world. You’re alive now, so maximize it, embrace it, and celebrate it.
Nobody was busier than Jesus, yet He knew how to celebrate! His first miracle was performed at a wedding reception. His schedule was hectic, yet He interrupted it to enjoy time with children. The needs He faced were endless, yet He took time off to rest.
These words are from an anonymous writer: “If I had my life to live over, I would take more chances… [and] more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones… I have been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places and do things and travel lighter than I have.”
Don’t wait; enjoy your life now.
Soul food: Num 1-2; Matt 5:21-26; Ps 35; Prov 10:28-29
2023-05-01
Psalm 16:11 NKJV
If you were miserable before you met Jesus, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the only place His presence can be enjoyed is in church. No, you can enjoy His presence everywhere. At home, at work, at school, in business, and even in times of suffering and adversity.
Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in a French monastery, wrote the best-selling book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He resented his daily routine in the kitchen. Then God showed him that everything he did each day could be done for God and with God. That truth transformed his life.
You can cultivate your mind to be more productive, and you can also cultivate your spirit to be more sensitive to God. You can reach the place where you sense His presence and His pleasure in all that you do. Believing God is present with you won’t help you much if you think He is always upset with you. But when you see yourself as accepted in Christ, you realize that He is not only present with you at all times but pleased with you (See Ephesians 1:6). That will radically change your thinking about God.
There are dozens of things pertaining to everyday life, and you can enjoy them all if you just make the decision to do it – getting dressed, going to work, organizing things, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. After all, these are the things life is made up of. Joy comes not merely from being entertained, but from a decision to be grateful for each moment you are given as a rare and valuable gift from God.
Soul food: Jam 3-5; Matt 5:13-20; Ps 94:12-23; Prov 10:27
2023-04-30
2 Peter 3:10 NLT
Don’t let “date-setters” make you cynical about Christ’s soon return. When the founder of a major church denomination predicted in print the date of Christ’s second coming, his successors faced the embarrassment of having to publicly acknowledge that they were wrong. Do you remember the alarmists of Y2K? Declaring to a scientific certainty that the year 2000 would bring the end of the world and the return of Christ, they caused people to leave their jobs, sell their homes, stock up on food, and head for the hills. And because of such embarrassments, many preachers today have silenced or toned down the truth of Christ’s second coming.
Yes, when some folks hear the message, they roll their eyes and say, “Not again!” But doubt about Christ’s return is one of the signs that guarantees it will happen. The Bible says: “In the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth… They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.
‘…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief… the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment… so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (vv. 3-4, 9-10, 14 NLT).
Soul food: Col 1:9-23; 1 Sam 3
2023-04-29
Colossians 3:16 NIV
Before written languages were developed, memory was the only way to learn. In our day, memorizing has gotten a bad name as “rote learning.” But memorizing never makes your mind a duller place – just the opposite! When we have stored wonderful words in our memory, we will have a much richer inner life than someone who doesn’t.
Eva Hermann spent two years in a Nazi prison camp. She wrote how a young cellmate happened to recite the prayer of St. Teresa: “Let naught trouble thee; let naught frighten thee; all things pass. God alone changeth not. Patience can do all things. Whoever has God, has everything. God alone sufficeth.” When Eva saw how much this helped the girl, she began to repeat the prayer at the end of every day. Eva later wrote of how her time in prison was transformed by the words she had memorized.
This illustrates that the words we carry in our minds are available to transform any given moment. So when there is a verse of Scripture that speaks to you, stop and write it on a card. Put it on a mirror in your bathroom, or on your smartphone or calendar, or in your car. If you’re an auditory learner, listen to the Scripture being read on CDs or on an iPod. If you’re a visual learner, light a candle and read these words: “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5 NIV).
When God’s Word is rehearsed, remembered, and repeated often, it’s like a stream of joy, peace, and strength that flows and carries your soul along with it.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Matt 5:6-12; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 10:24-26
2023-04-28
John 15:11 NKJV
Why did Jesus say, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full”? Because if you let it, stress will drain you of joy and consign you to a life of depression, dullness, and discontent.
Let’s face it – most of us are way too serious! We make a big deal out of everything. Being five minutes late, getting stuck in traffic, somebody giving us a wrong look, waiting in line, overcooking a meal, gaining a pound, discovering a wrinkle, making an honest mistake… you name it; we lose all perspective. The real problem is we have unrealistic expectations. That’s not how God wants you to live!
If you want to experience the joy Jesus promised, do these two things: (1) Concede that your uptightness is largely because of the way you have decided life should be. (2) Acknowledge that your expectations are causing you much of your frustration. When you keep expecting things to always be a certain way and they’re not, you will always be upset.
Here is an idea: Try approaching life today without all those expectations. For example, don’t expect everybody to be friendly – then when some are, you will be delighted. Don’t expect your day to be hassle-free; when trouble comes, look up and say, “Thank you, Lord, for another chance to grow.” Go ahead, try it and see how much better things are.
Rather than swimming against the tide, learn to flow with it. Pretty soon, you will find you’re enjoying life more! And not just that: Other people will enjoy being around you more.
Soul food: Dan 11-12; Matt 5:1-5; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 10:22-23
