Friday, September 23, 2011

Rise Above the Fray!

It's so easy to get sucked in! It's so easy to let the gossip, the negativity, the criticism get to us. When our coworkers, classmates, family members...even our fellow churchgoers become negative, the easiest thing in the world is to go along with them...and, like a whirlpool, we get gradually sucked in and dragged down!

Unfortunately, in our society, this happens all the time!

It is rare, in fact, to find a person who is positive, one who chooses not to gossip or criticize others. One who chooses to 'believe the best' (ala 1st Corinthians 13:7)

If you are blessed to know someone like that, I'm sure they stand out in your life and experience.

They're like a breath of fresh air!

Isn't that what Jesus called us to be, though?

Remember, He said "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; neither do people light a lamp and cover it up. Rather, they put it in a prominent place, that it may give light to the whole house. In the same way, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16).

What if one of those 'good deeds' had to do with our speech? What if we asked God to enable us to think and speak well of others, and to be positive, helpful, and optimistic--because God is at work!

I guarantee we'd stand out!

I was reading Romans recently, and came across these verses that I haven't been able to get out of my mind:
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Romans 12:17-21


How refreshing it would be if we lived this out!

If we applied this to our world, in our workplace, our classrooms, and even in our homes and churches!

Instead of keeping score, choosing to be negative, and gossiping about it, we chose instead to be 'the one' who chooses to rise above it. How cool would that be? Others might look at you crosseyed at first...

...but I'll bet they'd want to be around you more!
...and I'll bet they'd want to know why you're so positive...

...and God would recieve the glory!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

You Never Know What's Going to Hit you!...but you can RISE!

So...I heard on the news that a satellite the size of a schoolbus is headed for Earth in the next day or two.

Might break apart into several 250 pound chunks, plus many small ones...but might not; Might hit over water...over the US...over Michigan...but might not.

So far, I haven't seen 'wall to wall' media coverage, but I've got to assume that this will actually become pretty serious when it starts entering the atmosphere (anyone seen 'Transformers'?)

So, the real question is: What should we DO about this? Should you stay in your basement? Should you wear a helmet all day? Carry an umbrella?

Seriously, I'm sure some people will be pretty concerned about this. Some might even be scared. (Don't get me wrong: If I look up and see a large object hurling toward me in flames, I'm gonna be a bit perplexed...might even run!).

Now, the odds of any specific piece of land getting hit by this stuff is miniscule. The odds against any specific person getting hit is incredibly small...but someone probably will!

...and that brings us to the serious question:

What SHOULD be our strategy for handling impending doom? What SHOULD we do when we think something might cause our death?

Here's a quick thought: Live in such a way as to be 'prepared' for death at any time!

Think about it: the odds of 'space junk' killing you or I is pretty slim...but the odds of us dying (at a time we don't know) is pretty much 100%!

What can we do to be 'prepared' for death?

Give our lives to Jesus Christ and let Him give us Eternal Life...then Live Like It!

Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die." (John 11:25-26)

That's the secret: We will all experience death, but some of us (by God's grace) will experience eternal LIFE, by faith in Jesus!

So, how about it? You may not get hit by space junk...but you DO need to be prepared for the inevitable. Are you living your own life, ignoring eternity, or are you living with belief in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, following Him to a triumphant end, no matter how it come!