I believed a lie for two decades. It was something I had been told as an 8-year-old ballet student. The other students made negative and demeaning comments about my appearance. “You are fat” which my mind translated into “You are not good enough.” It felt like a poison dart and it affected my self-perception. You might struggle with the same lie; or perhaps the lies you believe are different.
It’s January 1st and we’ve decided to go to the gym daily and to lose weight in the new year. We’re all geared up and ready to go! By February 15th at the latest, we are not going to the gym and losing weight will have to wait for another year.
Why is that?
We’re a high school senior and looking at college choices, degrees, lifetime decisions, etc. and we finally find the college/university of our dreams and then we put that life on hold and decide to go to work to save money.
Why is that?
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3, ESV).
Our hubris and inflated (or deflated) ego tend to blind us.
According to a recent Harvard Business Review article, inflated ego is the enemy of good leadership. And if you’ve ever interacted with someone who has an inflated ego—be it at work, home or in friendships—you know its destructive power.
We share an unspoken desire motivated by the need to provide for our families, care and nurture our children, love and honor our parents, and perhaps make the world a better place. We pray that our efforts are blessed, perhaps so that others won’t have to face the struggles we have endured. We can point to, and perhaps boast about, our accomplishments; but, often fail to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of others, including God. It may be we lack humility, but I would rather believe we simply take our blessings for granted. When we take our blessing for granted, Hebrews 13:16
“I’m calling to let you know we have the results of your test. There is no sign of cancer.”
I breathed out a quiet sigh that felt like I had been holding in forever. After more than a month of detailed medical screenings, those anxious thoughts tapping on my shoulder, I knew I would always honor prayer requests from people undergoing tests.
“Who will roll away the stone?”
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:1-3).
I was thrilled when I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was elated when a few months later, I gave birth to my daughter. I learned a lot about God’s love through being a parent. Soon after, I was excited when God gave me the opportunity to serve Him in children’s ministries in my church. I learned about God’s tenderness by serving in the nursery, I found out about God’s patience in potty-training toddlers, I understood God’s playful side when I organized games for elementary kids.
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:10).
Survey after survey shows that trust is a big deal. No, let me rephrase that. Survey after survey shows that lack of trust is a big deal. I’m not sure this is a “new” thing; after all trust issues go all the way back to the garden of Eden, don’t they? I guess you could say Adam and Eve were the first ones who failed the trust test, and we’ve been struggling with trusting one another—and trusting God—ever since.
“Where are you going with that huge bowl of ice cream?”
I was a new server at our local country club, my first job working for someone besides my father. I stood there with what I thought was a proper portion of this familiar treat. After all, I knew how much it was going to cost the customer, and I wanted him to get his money’s worth. My supervisor, however, stopped me before I could leave the kitchen.
It was late in the evening as the military Casualty Affairs Officer and the Chaplain approached the door. After knocking, the door opened, and they were greeted by “the look.” It is no ordinary look but one that communicated the knowledge that something was wrong. They were ushered into the living room. The family members sat down and heard the dreaded words, “It is with deep sorry and regret that we must inform you of the death of your (husband, wife, son or daughter).” There is no way to convey the feelings and there are no words to express the pain, so they cry.
