All posts by Patti Greene

Patti Greene is the author of three outstanding devotional prayer journals, Answer Me, Anchor Me, and Awaken Me. She has also published Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending, and a Bible Word Search Puzzles series. Patti earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and pursued graduate studies in religious education and library science. Patti spent 18 more years as a school librarian. She currently facilitates a Joy of Living Bible Study. Patti and her husband have three adult children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren.

Bible Study, Christian Living, People in the Bible

Leadership Part 2: Nehemiah

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

My husband is a manager in the corporate real estate profession. If you were to ask him how difficult it is to get a building project started, he would definitely tell you that it is not the easiest thing to accomplish. There are a lot of factors involved, like in which country are you going to build it; what are the legal laws of the land; how much money is needed; who would be involved; how obstacles should be handled, the leadership of the involved people, and the timeline for completion.

Nehemiah faced similar obstacles as he attempted to fulfil his spiritual calling to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. The entire city, including the wall , was destroyed in 587 BC during the siege led by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

Last week, we looked at the first five leadership skills using Nehemiah as a model. We saw how Nehemiah was delving into his project with faith in God, compassion, and a huge goal in mind. As a refresher, the first five leadership skills were:

Make your voice and presence known to those who count.
Spend time planning your project(s).
Stand up for what is right.
Set clear expectations for performance.
Surround yourself with the best talent possible.

To read, Leadership Part 1: Nehemiah, click here.

Leadership Skills

Be humble and acknowledge that God is your strength.

The books of Nehemiah and Ezra are thought to have originally been one combined book inthe Bible. It is obvious that Ezra, the priest and scribe, and Nehemiah, governor in Jerusalem and re-builder of the city wall, were colleagues. After the completion of the wall, the people needed some reconstruction of their own. We find Ezra and other Israelites gathering by the Water Gate worshipping, reading the Law, teaching the people to acknowledge the Lord, and encouraging them to study and understand the words of divine instruction. Then, on this HOLY DAY, we see Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites rejoicing.

If you are in a ministry role, after a big project (like Vacation Bible School), the workers need to regroup and be encouraged again to stay working for the Lord and seeking again to please Him as they move forward. If in the ministry, do you encourage your employees (or volunteers) to humbly worship, read the Bible, encourage them to study God’s Word, and reiterate that God is their strength?

If in a job situation, when your employees perform remarkably well in completing a difficult project, do you just let their “high” accomplishments go unnoticed, or do you praise them and encourage them to continue on with their good work?

The letdown after a big project can loom for a long time, but as leaders, we can prevent that with a little time spent afterwards looking forward to the next project, the next ministry, or next learning opportunity.

“And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. . . And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them.”

Nehemiah 8: 6, 9-12

Correct and admonish when needed.

The time will come when someone who works for you needs correction and admonishment. It is a tough and sensitive issue that leaders face. Nehemiah was able to lessen the load by pre-handling this, giving his men an example from the book of Deuteronomy which they all understood: Moses’ explaining to the gathered rebellious children of Israel the consequences of their disobedience (namely, arousing God’s ire, and where that may lead). What better way than to pre-warn people of situations which may arise, where correction, admonishment or even firing may result, by talking about it beforehand? How wise!

“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion, you delivered them time after time. You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.”

Nehemiah 9:28-29

Obey the company or ministry policies.

Companies, churches, organizations, and families have policies and/or rules of ethics. They are there to be abided by unless, of course, they are against God’s laws; in that case, decisions and prayerful considerations need to be made on a course of action. If your ministry (individual or group) does not have policies, it may be time to develop them. Many ministries have or are developing boards or foundations to oversee their own activities to be sure they are operating under an authoritative source.

In Nehemiah 10, the purpose was to join and bind the people together with an oath to follow God’s laws, commands, regulations, and decrees. Regulations and codes of behavior are very important in corporate offices, ministries, and even within homes, especially where children are growing up under the instructions of their parents.

“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand—all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.”

Nehemiah 10:28, 31

9. Celebrate the achievements of others.

Nehemiah celebrated the dedication of the wall with gladness. In both businesses and churches, we see achievement awards, 10-year anniversary recognitions, and “Good Job” certificates. All these play an important role among those who have worked with you to achieve the goals the Lord has given you. You may not even be aware that those who are working for you are inwardly proud of their own personal accomplishments through “your” project. If you close a deal at work, how about a party to acknowledge the good and steadfast work of your employees? How about throwing a dinner to thank those who volunteer their time and effort in the ministry? And, what’s wrong with some ice cream for good grades?

“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.”

Nehemiah 12:27

Define roles and responsibilities AGAIN.

And finally, in Nehemiah 13, we see that Nehemiah had left Jerusalem during the 32 years of King Artaxerxes’ reign. But, when he returned, he found the house of God in disarray. Widespread shenanigans were going on in his absence. Upon arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah proceeded to command that the chambers be cleaned. He contended with the officials and asked them why the house of the Lord had been neglected and forsaken. He reproved the nobles and warned them. He cleansed them from everything heathen and he started all over again with defining roles and responsibilities [Nehemiah 7:65]

In ministry and work, defining roles and responsibilities is not a one-time thing. It must be continually taught. Just as in our lives, we must incessantly be in the Word of God and frequently hear God’s expectations continually. It isn’t just going to church on Sundays. It isn’t just going to a conference. It isn’t praying only in our time of need. Our bosses or ministers will not always be around to instruct us as was the case with Nehemiah; when he wasn’t there, the people turned to ungodly activities.

We, as individuals, must remember that is our duty to stay in contact with the Lord. We can’t live in someone else’s shadow. And, as a leader, we need to constantly remind those working with us to be responsible and obedient with or without “the leader or boss” around. This chapter reminds me of the idiom, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Let’s be responsible ourselves and teach those who are under our leadership to always act like the cat is around!

“But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Sometime later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.”

Nehemiah 13:6-7

In conclusion, let’s celebrate Nehemiah’s contributions. His administrative skills were outstanding. He completed the work God assigned to Him. He faced obstacles honorably. He acknowledged his strength came from the Lord. If only he were here, I’d throw him a party of grain, legumes, and domesticated beasts to celebrate the legacy he left behind to the family of God!!!

Bible Verses:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. (Luke 15:23)

Prayer:

Oh mighty God, thank You for the leadership roles You have placed me in. Let me be an example to others through Your strength. Give me wisdom and humility so I can lead as You want me to. Let me rejoice at the achievements of others. In YOU alone I trust.

God bless you.

Works Cited:

“Nehemiah: Who wrote the book?” The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. [21 June 2015.]

Stedman, Ray. “Nehemiah: Rebuilding the walls.” Authentic Christianity. [June 21, 2015.] Wallace, Wanda T. and David Creelman. Leading people when they know more than you do. Harvard Business Review. 16 June 2015. Web.

Edited by E. Johnson

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using the BG² List.

Bible Study, Christian Living, Doctrine

Spiritual Gifts: I’m NOT gifted in that!

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts inventory survey? They are surveys that help define where you are best-suited to serve in the body of Christ. Whenever I take these surveys – and I have taken plenty of them – I find myself scoring consistently high in certain areas and scoring consistently low in other areas. Through my survey results, I have come to understand that God has fashioned and knit me together just how He wants me to be by the gifts He has bestowed upon me.

But, I have also learned that just because I score low in some areas, God may still choose to use me in those areas that I just don’t feel comfortable, capable, or even care to be involved in.

While the main thrust of this blog is not to teach about specific spiritual gifts, I want to show you how we can operate and be used by the Lord outside of our high-scoring spiritual gifts.

But, what are the spiritual gifts? The major spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible that can be used effectively by believers within the church are:

Leadership
Administration
Teaching
Knowledge
Prophecy
Discernment
Exhortation
Shepherding
Faith
Evangelism
Apostleship
Service/Helps
Mercy
Giving
Hospitality*

If you would like more information about discovering your spiritual gifts; what specific gifts encompass; and take a spiritual gift survey, please click on the link below by Lifeway Christian Resource. There is nothing like knowing what your spiritual gift(s) are. Knowing creates peace: It creates confidence: And it creates the knowledge that God knows exactly what He is doing in our lives.

http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_Discover_Your_Spiritual_Gifts.pdf

Sharing the truth about our gifting is tough. We don’t want to sound proud and righteous if we possess certain gifts. On the other hand, we hate to admit that we have a very hard time working within the reins of other gifts. In school, most of us want to score high in every subject, but spiritual gifts don’t work that way. In a true confession, I share that I am consistently low in the gift of the Service/Helps ministry. Maybe that is because I don’t particularly like to cook. So if you are sick, please be happy I have given you a McDonald’s gift card instead of trying to make you a gourmet meal! Or maybe it is because I live in a state of fatigue and serving requires energy. I just don’t know.

But, even though I score low in this area, I recognize that God still wants me to serve and help my friends, family, and the body of Christ. It is important to understand God can and will use you outside of the realm of your spiritual gifts. You are not required to operate only in your high scoring gifts.

Periodically, we are asked to step out of our comfort zone. I like animals, but I am not a huge animal lover. But one day, I was truly impressed to take a friend to the vet to comfort her as she experienced the tough decision to put her dog down. Not my comfort zone, but God used me. And, I was totally blessed being with her during this sad time in her life.

When God leads you or I on a mission outside of your gifting, think of it as the Lord stretching us through the Holy Spirit. When God sets us apart for a mission, He can use any gift or personality trait to fulfill His purposes. The Lord will walk beside us empowering us to fulfill His goal. I find it so exciting and adventurous to see the new and sometimes bizarre ways God might use me, like the time I witnessed to a Buddhist only to be told they could not except the Lord because their relatives were on the mantle (in a jar)! Let’s approach our life with the attitude that we are ready to be used by the Lord in whatever area He wants to use us.

Sometimes we are on receiving end of gracious acts of service or help from others. Sometimes we aren’t. I have experienced both and benefited from both. I was once in a position where I was ostracized without a real or tangible explanation of why. I went through speculation, hurt feelings, anger, and loneliness. I was particularly hurt because the criticism came from fellow believers. It was a tough time and it stayed with me for a long time. Even today, 20 years later, I think about it. At the time, I remember wishing someone (a real human being, besides my husband) was walking this road with me. However, God allowed me to walk through this experience alone. I was alone with my feelings and emotions – with only God to talk to. I didn’t like going thorough those emotions by myself. None of us like suffering alone. But, that experience has made me more sensitive to the sufferings and ill-treatment of others. It has given me a little more “Discerning Smarts” to recognize someone who is inwardly suffering or needs some help.

We all need encouragement at times in our lives: Some more than others.

While serving and helping is tough for me, I need reminders on how to do it. As I share some tips on how we can help others, think of the people you know. Maybe you are desperately in need of help from others right now. Or maybe it’s time for you to help someone else.

How to Serve and Help Others

Be practical.

Ask yourself what you can practically do to help others. Can you bring a meal? Can you take their child to soccer practice? Can you make some calls? Usually, people don’t want to be an imposition on others, but use your judgment and try to put yourself in their shoes to see what you can do or offer. I have found rather than saying, “Call me if you need anything,” it is better to say, “I’m stopping by the grocery store and I can pick up some groceries for you. What do you need?”

Be there.

Maybe a person just needs someone to listen to them. It is amazing how we can help by just listening. We don’t even have to respond. I think Job’s friends would have been a lot better off in the “Service/Helps Department” if they just listened to Job instead of feeling they had to point out his failures and inconsistences.

Be kind and patient.

Recently my husband broke 6 ribs (in 2 places each) – OUCH! Believe me, there is a reason I am not a nurse. Just being in the hospital made me nauseous a few times. The smells, sounds, and sights in the hospital were not my cup of tea and a few gags occurred in my system!

While recuperating, I had to put my husband socks on his feet. I had to pick up everything he dropped. I had to help him put his arm in his shirt and jacket. But, I didn’t mind, because I love him!

You may encounter similar events like this. If so, give your time, love, kindness, and patience to the needed recipient.

Remember also that it takes time to heal – whether healing is in the area of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing.

Be an encouragement.

Encouragement can come in many forms. It can be a timely note or a phone call. It can be giving hope or security. Just ask the Lord how you can encourage those He brings in your path. He will show you. To use an old cliché, “You may be the only Jesus someone sees.” Think about how Jesus would encourage those in need, then as Nike says, “Just do it.”
God may not call you to help in every situation you encounter. But, if God is giving you the ‘holy hunch’ to be involved in a person’s life, take the role with enthusiasm and thankfulness! And see where God leads it.

You may not be called to use your top level gifts in every situation, but go with His leading. Whatever it is, let Him have His way with you. Let’s praise God for whatever He chooses to do with our lives.
Like vocalist Darlene Zschech sings in I give you my Life, let’s give the Lord all of our life without limiting our service to Him and see what He can do.

I give you my Life by Darlene Zschech

This is my desire, to honor You
Lord, with all my heart I worship You
All I have within me, I give You praise
All that I adore is in You

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul, I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me

Lord, I give You my heart

I give You my soul, I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me

Bible Verses:

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 ESV

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV

Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
Matthew 25:44-45 ESV

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8 ESV

Prayer:

Thank you Lord for creating me exactly how you wanted me to be. Thank you for using me for Your glory. Lord, show me areas where I can grow. Lead me to people I can help. Let me recognize your leadership in my life. Allow me to always give glory and honor to your Name. Amen.

God Bless You.
Patti Greene

*The gift of tongues is excluded from this blog as we are concentrating on the major gifts used within the church body.

And don’t forget COMMENTS are always welcome!

Books by Patti Londa Greene Awaken Me: a devotional prayer journal and God, It’s Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study

Bibliography

Fischer, Sharon. “What to do when you don’t know what to do.” Worldwide Challenge, June 1983.“Spiritual Gifts Survey.” Lifeway Christian Resources. (2003). Web 5 July 2015.

<http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_Discover_Your_Spiritual_Gifts.pdf>.

Zscheck, Darlene. “I give you my heart.” <http://www.songlyrics.com/darlene-zschech/i-give-you-my-heart-lyrics. 3 July 2015>.

www.PattiGreene.com

God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, Life Issues

Shoes, Sin, and Savior

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

My excitement began when I put on my brand new pair of silver high-heeled shoes! While I don’t have an obsession with shoes, most women [like me] feel pretty confident slipping their feet into a new pair of sandals, wedges, boots, flats, heels, or tennis shoes. I am no exception.

Yesterday, I was “pumped” gracing my feet in this new pair of shoes for their first time. My shoes and I were going out-on-the-town for the first time to Sax Fifth Avenue in Houston’s Galleria to enjoy lunch with my good friend Dorothy. I stepped out of the house with my serotonin level bouncing high!

As I pulled out of my driveway, I noticed my garbage man (okay, sanitation worker) had come, and I needed to bring the garbage can to the back of the house. I exited my car and dragged the garbage can to its resting place. But then the unthinkable happened. I was heading back to my car and I stumbled on the front of my right shoe. Right then and there, I experienced grief, regret, and discouragement all at the same time. Nothing affects a girl’s mood more than getting a tear in a brand new pair of shoes tear the first time they wear them.

But, I continued to the Galleria with the express thought that I would stop at the shoe repair store on my way home and see if the cobbler could somehow prevent my shoe from tearing more. On the drive to the Galleria, my tiny tear somehow became a BIG rip in my mind. When I walked into the Galleria, I was so conscious of the tear in my shoe that my mind even thought, “The Galleria is so fancy that no one should be wearing a torn shoe here.” Crazy, right!

After a lovely lunch with my friend, I decided to drive directly to the cobbler to fix this problem before it got out of hand. In my mind, the cobbler had all of a sudden become elevated to having a doctorate degree in ‘Shoe Repair.’ If anyone could fix my shoe, he could!

I arrived at the shoe repair shop, parked my car in the parking lot, and began pondering and contemplating whether I should go in or not. I finally decided that I was putting way too much emphasis on my new pair of shoes. To make a long story short, I decided not to spend $10.00+/- to get a small tear fixed when my shoes only cost $39.00. I drove home without entering the hallowed doors of my savior –THE COBBLER.

So, why am I compelled to tell my shoe story? It is because all through the day my mind was drifting to find a spiritual meaning to this event. For now though, let’s pretend the small TEAR in my shoe is SIN and the COBBLER is THE LORD.

Just like the cobbler wants to fix our shoes, God wants to fix us. When you and I first sin, we would be wise to go to the Lord immediately to get our sins forgiven and deal with it before we sin more. We all sin, but do we always turn to the Lord after one little bitty sin? Sometimes we do, but other times, we wait until our sins mount. The longer we wait to go to the expert, the problems and consequences of our sins (our tears) get bigger and bigger.

Take the prodigal son. He went off with his inheritance. Excited about his new adventure, he squandered his wealth and became involved in ungodly behavior. He enjoyed himself until one day, he found himself eating with the pigs. His sins accumulated, but finally he decided he had it better at home and he returned to his father. And, the good news is his father accepted him. It would have been best if the ‘prodigal son’ never left home and sinned, but he did.

Sometimes however, we try to avoid our Father. When avoiding Him, He will be constantly pursuing us to come to Him or to come back to Him. When we postpone or reject God, our situation and consequences usually get worse. The longer we wait the harder it becomes, but remember that God continues to pursue us until the days of pursuing are over.

Whether we have been involved in a crime; had an abortion; deceived our spouse, or other actions, God still loves us. He cares about us, and He will continue to put spiritual people, spiritual literature, spiritual songs, and more in our pathway as he convicts us to return to Him. Our Heavenly Father sees the small tears (sins) in our life, and He wants to fix them as soon as possible before they turns into large tears that come with more dire consequences.

By deciding not to go to the cobbler, I didn’t get the small tear in my shoe fixed. But, it’s just a shoe!!!

Our lives are more important than shoes. God is there to heal all the small tears and big tears in our lives. When we turn to Him, we experience true freedom and well-being. Actually, it can mean the difference between heaven and hell. Wherever you are in your spiritual walk, choose God. Don’t wait. He loves and cares for all of us.

Make God the Master Cobbler in your life. Today!

Bible Verses:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

But if we keep living in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NIV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-24 ESV

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you for being with me today. Lord, show me my sins – even those little ones that I barely notice. I confess both the small sins and the big sins to you right now. Let me quickly recognize when I hurt others. Lord, you are better than a cobbler who is limited to their expertise. You can fix everything. I ask you to fix me and forgive me for where I have failed you. And trust you as my personal Lord and Savior. Amen.

I hope you enjoyed my blog today, but I’ve got to run. I saw these really cute pair of red strappy sandals . . .

Patti

www.PattiGreene.com

Bible Study, Christian Living, How to Guides

A Biblical How-To File

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

I created a folder on my computer called, “HOW-TO.” This is the most important folder I have. It saves me the most time and alleviates more frustration than any other folder I have made. All articles, tips, and important documents that I don’t want to spend time looking for again are stored in this HOW-TO folder. I refer to this folder almost every day for one thing or another.

Some of the document titles are:

– How to do a Quick Book entry;

– How to get rid of millipedes;

– How to give a wedding toast;

– How to make a Facebook banner;

– How to make a good tradeshow display;

– How to make an adult bib;

– How to mentor;

– How to potty train a toddler;

– How to resize images;

– How to write a book.

But, what if we had a Biblical “HOW-TO” folder? Well, we do. It is the Bible. It is in this book that we can find stories, encouragement, and important words from God on how to live our lives according to His purpose. All through the Bible, people spoke or pondered the HOW-TO’s of life just like we do today.

[Jeremiah] Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6

[Ezekiel] Show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:23b

[Job] For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Job 32:22

In this blog, I want to just take a minut portion of some of the HOW TO questions that people ask God about and give a short answer through the Word of God. It is my prayer that maybe one or more of these alphabetically listed HOW TO questions will speak to you today.

A – How to deal with ANGER

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20

B – How to be your BEST for God

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

C – How to accept CHRIST

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:9-10

D – How to view DEATH

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20

E – How to handle EVIL

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17, 21

F – How to understand your FUTURE

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

G – How to deal with GREED

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:15

H – How to understand HOLINESS

For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:44-45

I – How to be an INTERCESSOR

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18

J – How to deal with JEALOUSY

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

K – How to become KIND

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:5-7

L – How to handle LONELINESS

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

M – How to view MONEY

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

N – How to love your NEIGHBOR

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8

O – How to be OBEDIENT

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25

P – How to PRAY

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:6-8

Q – How to live a QUIET life

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1Timothy 2:1-2

R – How to deal with RESENTMENT

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.
Hebrews 12:14-15

S – How to understand SUFFERING

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:2-3, 12

T – How to resist TEMPTATION

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

U – How to UNDERSTAND God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7

V – How to handle VOWS

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Ecclesiastes 5:5

W – How to deal with WORRY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6

X – How to be an EXAMPLE to others

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3

Y – How should we view YEARS from God’s perspective

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:8

Z – How to be ZEALOUS for God

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14

Bible Verses: Above

Prayer:

My heavenly Father, I love you. Let me seek you for all the questions I have in life. Assure me that you know what is best for me at all times and in all circumstances. Let your Holy Word be my guide and comfort every day of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

May the Lord our God bless you as you walk with Him. Have a great weekend!

Patti

www.PattiGreene.com

Parenting and Family

Babies make me Laugh!

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

I wish I were the kind of blogger who has blogs written months in advance, but I am not!!! Most weeks I am on the lookout for new material to write about and what you see is usually about as new and fresh as it comes. But, this week you will have to indulge me a little. You see, for the past 5 days, my husband and I have been given the wonderful opportunity for some “special” time with our 16-month old granddaughter while her parents and two brothers went on a vacation of their own. And as always, babies are so much fun. [Pictures have been removed. To be replaced soon.]

This little girl has been such a joy, but caring for a baby takes time and ENERGY. So, in this week’s blog, I am allowing myself some creative time sharing some baby pics and Bible verses since I just experienced one of those busy summertime weeks.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 2 Timothy 1:5

“When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age.” Victor Hugo

. . . likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire. 1 Timothy 2:9

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. Psalm 31:9

Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 20:10

With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. Psalm 142:1

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 1 Peter 2:2

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. Proverbs 1:5

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17

www.PattiGreene.com

Christian Living, Life Issues

Compromising

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

We live in an age where compromise is all around us. Compromises are made daily in the areas of values, morals, ethics, relationships, and belief systems. Compromising in areas God has warned us about can, and most often does, lead to disastrous consequences in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

In The Danger of Compromise, Pastor Greg Laurie says, “Have you ever heard the story of the guy who could not decide what side he wanted to fight for during the Civil War? He put on the coat of the North and the trousers of the South, and guess what? He got shot from both sides. This is what happens to the compromiser, the person who tries to live in two worlds. It is one miserable life.”

Bernie Madoff, founder of the Wall Street firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was convicted of fraud and of operating a Ponzi scheme that is well-known as one of the largest investment scandals in the history of the United States. He defrauded many investors of billions of dollars. Madoff was convicted and sentenced to 150 years in prison. His small compromises, which eventually became huge compromises, led to investors losing their entire life-time savings. But on a personal level, the consequences were even higher. His wife left him. His son Andrew died of cancer while blaming his cancer relapse on the stress caused by his father’s fraud. His other son, Mark, committed suicide by hanging himself on the second anniversary of his father’s arrest. Madoff lives with the regret that both sons never forgave him for his corruption. We would be wise to recognize that our compromises/sin will always affect other people – even our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

It is imperative that we be attentive to the Lord in all areas of our lives and strive to be consistent and mature in our actions. We can see in the Bible how some believers led impeccable lives and were devoted to God until small compromises/sin affected the life that God intended for them to have.

Solomon was a righteous and Godly King until his later years when corruption overtook him. Solomon even asked God for wisdom above worldly possessions. He went from fully trusting God for his life and kingdom to worshipping idols in the form of wealth and power in his latter days. Notice that Solomon continued worshipping God while loving many foreign Gods and burning incense to paganism. This led to God’s anger against him. Solomon is known today as the godly king who compromised. He did not keep God’s commandments and the Bible states that Solomon did turn away from the Lord.

In 1 Kings 11:1-13, the Bible says:
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lordcommanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen. And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite.”

If compromising can affect Solomon, a king who was originally so devoted to God, it can happen to us also. Even good Christians can compromise. Usually it occurs very subtly. We get wrapped up and ensnared – unaware until our compromising goes from a little compromising to continual compromising. However, it can be avoided by being attentive to the Lord in all areas of life. By daily giving Him our lives, we can avoid compromising/sinning. This is where daily praying and daily Bible reading come into play. But, we aren’t perfect. Jesus knows that, so when we do find ourselves in little lies or little compromises, we need to ask for forgiveness and for help to change our ways immediately.

Our friendship with the world can take the form of materialism, popularity, sex, and more. Compromising can affect our marriage, our spiritual life, our relationships with our children, and our business relationships. Unfortunately, we are sometimes the recipient of someone else’s compromises. Even then, we need move forward structuring our life around God and His provisions for us. He will rescue us and sustain us during these times.

In the Old Testament, Daniel, and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are examples of those whose strong beliefs did not allow compromise in their lives. They refused to bow down to the gold statue set up by Nebuchadnezzar even with the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace. [Daniel 3:1-15] They trusted in the God who was sufficient for all their needs and a God who rescued them.

Let’s ask for God’s help this week to be believers that walk in Biblical standards. Let’s not be believers who only want to get into Heaven and be thought of as good people. Let’s truly get our relationship with Christ on solid ground, so we can live daily in His presence trusting that God will help us when we are weak.

Bible Verses:

Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”Jeremiah 6:16 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness.2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Prayer:

Lord, give us power to praise and love you always – to the end of our days. When we compromise, show us immediately, so we can get back on track quickly. Prevent us from causing damage to others through our actions. Help us not to damage our Christian witness through our actions. Let us walk with you daily through our prayers and Bible study. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Patti

www.PattiGreene.com

Politics and Current Events, Prayer

Choosing a President: Psalm 72

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

Choices are everywhere for everything under the sun. You go to the store and you decide what bread you want: whole wheat, grain, barley, oven-baked, or rye. You decide between vacationing in the mountains, a remote island, or a busy city. You pore over hair styling magazines to see if you want a pixie, a shag, a French twist, or even hair extensions. Some decisions are easy and some are not quite as easy – like choosing the next President of the United States.

Let’s assume you are wondering how to choose a candidate worthy to be our next president. The first U.S. Presidential debate is over. You had the choice to watch it or not. You have the choice to whom you liked and whom you didn’t. Soon, you will have the choice to vote or not to vote. You may be the silent type who keeps your voting history to yourself or you might be one who purposely visits the nearest candidate headquarters to pick up yard signs, bumper stickers, and buttons to advertise your choice.
Many extremely important and volatile issues will face our next leader. Many issues that faced other countries have now infiltrated into the United States of America. Global issues that previously did not affect us now have an impact on us.
Psalm 72 suggests that a leader should be one who:

Judges the people with righteousness;
Judges the poor with justice;
Defends the cause of the poor;
Gives deliverance to the children of the needy;
Crushes the oppressors;
Delivers the needy when he calls;
Pities the weak and needy; and
Saves the life of the needy (redeems their lives)

Some commentaries say Psalm 72 was written by Solomon himself. However, most commentaries believe it was written by an older King David as a prayer for his son Solomon and for his future leadership as King. Regardless, this chapter is a prayer for Solomon and his reign and Kingdom, it is also a prophetic look toward Jesus’ reign in future times.

But, what else did both Solomon and Jesus do consistently and purposely? They prayed. Unfortunately, towards the end of King Solomon’s reign, he fell into idolatry and disobedience. But for the majority of his life, he prayed for the welfare of those God allowed him the privilege of leading.

While we should pray for our government leaders, I am convinced that we should also pray that our government leaders be Bible-reading, praying people themselves. Something we might want to consider as we evaluate all the candidates and who the next leaders of our country will be.

Abraham prayed. And through his prayers, he received guidance and direction. King Hezekiah prayed and through his prayers idolatry was destroyed. He also prayed for his health and God restored 15 more years to his life. That is a powerful testimony for prayer.

Prayer can change the course of history, of cities, and nations. According to E.M. Bounds in The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds states, “Prayer and the divine providence are closely related . . . Prayer brings God’s providence into action. Prayer puts God to work in overseeing and directing earth’s affairs for the good of men.” And because of this I am praying for a “Praying President.”

Let’s lift up all the candidates in prayer and seek God’s wisdom and guidance as to a new leader. Let’s pray for our leaders and future leaders as they will shape and govern the affairs of this world. But, more than that, let’s pray for a President, who fits the mold of Psalm 72 and who is dedicated to prayer and praying for God’s wisdom as he leads our nation and faces issues, such as, education, foreign policy, immigration, energy, healthcare, homeland security, social security, and more.

Let’s seek a future leader that:

Has proven himself/herself;
Has shown evidence of God’s preparation for the office of Presidency; and
Will pray consistently and fervently to the Mighty God.

As for me, I am praying for a PRAYING PRESIDENT! How about you?

Bible Verses:

And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.1 Kings 9:3 [ESV]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.James 1:5 [ESV]

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, as we seek to pray for Your person to fill the office of President of the United States, give us wisdom and discernment. Let us listen to candidates with Your ears. Let us see with Your eyes. Allow us understand the issues that will affect ourselves and Your will upon the earth. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Patti

Bounds, E.M., The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 1990, (p. 213, 216).

www.PattiGreene.com

Bible Study, Christian Living, Prayer

The Speck and The Log: Matthew 7:1-5

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene 1 Comment

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

As I pondered these verses, so many questions came to my mind.

Why is it we can see the faults of others, but we can’t see our own faults?
Who is supposed to tell me what my logs are – my kids, my husband, my parents, You God?
And how is that done? Is there an appropriate way to show me my faults?
Is there an appropriate way to show others their faults?
How should I prepare myself to hear bad news about myself?
Why do I feel the need to judge others for their faults?
Where does humility come into play here?
What if I perceive another person is in danger? Is it alright to tell them what their speck is?
What if they have a “log” in their eye? Why doesn’t the Bible talk about getting a log out of other people’s lives – only specks?
How do I get the log out of my own eye?
Am I a hypocrite?
Have I ever really prayed for God to show me my log?
Do I really want to hear what He might say?
Why does Jesus say speck and log versus specks and logs?

As you can see, these 5 verses brought a lot more questions to my mind than there are verses. And if I thought beyond the few minutes it took to come up with these questions, I could probably double the amount of questions that came quickly to the top of my head.

Pondering these verses, there are three subjects to consider: Judging others, our brother’s speck, and our own log. It is not addressing our speck or our brother’s log. While I am not a theologian, I suspect that speck and log are used in the singular vernacular because the Lord may want us to only concentrate on one speck or one log at a time. But, a theologian scholar would be best able to answer that question as my cursory research into Bible commentaries and ‘Google’ gave no answers. As for this article, the word speck and log will be used uniformly throughout. In addition, Strong’s Concordance defines a brother as a member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian.

JUDGING OTHERS

Preceding the verses about specks and logs are 2 verses about judging.

Jesus states, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”Matthew7:1-2

But, on the other hand, in Galatians 6:1-2 Jesus declares, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

These verses sound rather paradoxical, don’t they? On the one hand, we are told not to judge others, but then we are told, we should keep others accountable. What Jesus is saying is before we judge (condemn or confront) others, we must first repent and become clean ourselves.

But how are we to do it?

After our repentance;
After our cleansing , and
With a spirit of gentleness.

For example, it would be very hypocritical if we tell someone not to have an affair, but we are in the midst of having one. First repent of our sin, cleanse ourselves, and then and only then might we have the opportunity to restore someone else, but only in the spirit of gentleness.

WHY WE JUDGE OTHERS
Many reasons abound as to why we enjoy judging others and take secret delight in seeing the speck (fault) in our brothers. We can blame it on human nature: the fact we like to revel in gossip, pride, or anger to name a few.

Often, when we judge others, it is a form of justifying ourselves and our own actions. A fine example of this type of justification is seen in Luke 18 between the Pharisee and the tax collector.

He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Luke 18:9-13

SPECK AND LOG

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4

Different versions of the Bible call a speck a “mote” or a “speck of sawdust” while a log may be called a “beam” or a “plank.” No matter what synonymous term is used, a speck is defined along the terms of a minor fault (comparing it to something that might fly into your eye) and a log is compared to a beam which could support an entire building.

If you are like me, you might see “specks” in your children, spouse, so-called friends, bosses, co-workers, and even people you don’t know like public speakers or preachers. I even hate to admit it, but there is a newscaster who really bothers me because she tilts her head back and forth in both directions.

It is amazing what we do with our perceived faults/specks of others. Sometimes we do nothing; sometimes we hastily burst out their faults to them or to others; sometimes we hold our thoughts in and let the annoyance grow and grow; and sometimes we pray about it. And, through our meditation and Bible reading we ask the Lord what, when, if, and how God wants us to deal with another without being an unrighteous judge!!! Many times, we are just seeing a reflection of us in others and God is using that annoyance/fault/sin to show us our log.

A SPECK HURTS

Think about how you feel when you get something in your eye. Eye doctors know that even small objects in someone’s eyes can cause scratches or abrasions on a cornea. While usually just rinsing your eye can alleviate the symptoms and discomfort occasionally these small objects can cause an infection and/or possibly cause one to lose their eyesight.

Our son once experienced extreme pain in his eye. He tried driving to work, but had to turn around and come home within a mile. He couldn’t see, the pain was excruciating, and he couldn’t even keep his eye open. This eye problem became an emergency situation calling for immediate treatment. Pain, attentive parenting, excellent doctors, and medicine remedied our son’s situation in time. His eyesight was restored. Because our son was sleeping in his contacts and thus, not following the suggested “rules” for contact wearers, he put himself in harm’s way.

An Eye Photo Credit: Copyright GreeneFamily — An Eye
Photo Credit: Copyright GreeneFamily

When we do not follow God’s Biblical “rules” set forth in the Bible, we can easily and quickly get ourselves in a position where a speck needs immediate attention. And possibly, the one who has already taken the log out of their own eye is the one to come to their rescue. If we told our son that he was responsible for his eye situation and that he put himself in this dire situation, but didn’t offer any solutions to help him, his life could have changed dramatically. This is sometimes why God will call others to confront people about their speck expeditiously – because it could be an emergency situation and God does not want our condition to worsen.

OUR LOG

Let’s now talk about our own log. Remember, our log is like a big beam – something we have a hard time seeing ourselves. Confronting our log is painful.

Many times we don’t even think about what log we have in our own eyes. I read once that when you want to really know what log you have in your own eye, you should ask someone close to you – someone who would be totally honest with you.

So, I tried that as I was writing this article. I asked my husband if he would tell me what log I have in my life. His immediate response was, “Just one?” Not exactly what I was expecting, but as he pondered how to answer me, he couldn’t quite pinpoint what to tell me on Day 1. But, when I asked him again the next day, he gave me an answer after he prayed about it. Honestly, I was shocked at his answer. I never thought of myself in the word he described. However, I asked him with a full desire to know. Now, I have a new area to research and pray about. Hopefully, this revelation will help me to become more and more the person God wants me to be.

We usually don’t think about the log in our own eye. While I have read Matthew 7 multiple times, I am not even sure I have really thought my log until I started writing this article. Some might not want to confront your log because it might because it might cause us to change, disrupt our lives, confront our sin, and/or recognize our own pride.

PREPARE YOUR HEART FIRST THROUGH PRAYER

Praying will prepare our heart in case the Lord wants to use us to help with someone else’s speck. When we pray, we receive God’s love and grace. We will be taught to “judge righteously” in love and humility. What happens when we prepare our hearts first? Praying will help us to:

Identify our log/sin [God will show us if we have an honest heart to know.]
Humble ourselves [We do not want to confront with proud heart.]
Confess the log/sin He shows us. [We want to help others with a clean heart.]
Gain wisdom. [We will be able to discern if the Lord wants to use us to offer to a solution to their problems. It may be we are only called to pray.]
Judge righteously. [Only help when we can see our brother’s speck through Jesus’ eyes.]

We are not perfect; but our willingness to be clean vessels for God does not go unnoticed by Him. We might be called to speak out to others about their speck, but only after the log is out of our own eyes. It is not love to criticize others and call attention to their faults without being sure our log has been laid at the feet of Jesus.

Matthew7:5 sums it up adeptly when it says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Bible Verses:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24ESV

Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father. Please give me wisdom as to when to open and close my mouth. Let me cleanse myself so I will only talk to help and edify my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me not judge others un-righteously, but in righteousness. Allow me the opportunity to minister in love and gentleness. Show me my sins so that I can be cleansed. Let me minister to others in love and gentleness through your Holy Spirit. Take the log out of my eye, so I can be your servant to others. Amen.

Blessings Always,
Patti

www.PattiGreene.com

Bible Study, Christian Living

Wonderfully Made with Unique Experiences

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

What in the world? Are we really wonderfully made?

My Houstonian husband and I were recently sitting on an airplane flying from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Sibenik, Croatia to attend a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of a friend of ours whom we met in Lagos, Nigeria 18 months ago. While I am not a jet setter by any means, I am learning how to maneuver around some awfully big airports!

Over the last three years, the Lord has graciously provided multiple ‘unanticipated experiences’ for me – Experiences I never would have dreamed possible 3 years ago. I came face to face with a cheetah. I have traveled to the top of a mountain in a cable car. I have lived in Nigeria. I have even had the opportunity to tour through Makoko – a slum on stilts located in Lagos, Nigeria – in which only members of the Nigerian Field Society area allowed to enter.

Looking back over time, my adult life changed from a stay-at-home mom to a high school librarian to a “world traveler.” At least that’s how I felt sitting in seat 6B on that German Wings airplane which was about to land in a former-socialist country which was formerly part of the now-divided Yugoslavia.

I tell you this because we are all unique in and of ourselves and in our experiences.

We have different:

Abilities
Accomplishments
Adversities
Anxieties
Appearances
Assignments
Attention Spans

And these are only unique distinctions from the letter A. We also come from different nationalities, speak different languages, possess different genetics, adhere to different political beliefs, encounter different upbringings, and have been subjected to different spiritual experiences.

When pondering the enormity of our uniqueness, I recalled King David’s words in Psalm 139:13-16. “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Here we can see that we are all different because we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ by our Heavenly Father.” We are who God designed us to be US!

While each person lives in a world with some similarities, like sharing the sun, moon, stars, and oceans, we graciously have been given different experiences so we can do the works intended by our heavenly Father for us to do. Someone once asked me, “Why do you think you were led to live in Nigeria for two years?” My response was, “I think that God wanted to teach me some things, and being in Nigeria was the only way He could do it.” This response was rather shocking as they were expecting me to say, “money, a change of pace, or ‘I have no idea.’”

God allows people to go through different experiences with the express purpose of growing them into who He wants them to be and to prepare them for possible unseen ministries opportunities. However, it is up to us whether we take advantage of these opportunities or not. We can be prepared and open to accepting the experiences God places in our lives, by living a life pre-prayed up and filled with Scripture to guide us unto His opportunities for us.

Along with our God-given opportunities, Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Special care must be taken as we speak about our tomorrows, because God is the one who sees the big picture of our lives, and He is the one who can change plans mid-stream in job assignments, health situations, or family needs.

We should live our lives looking and praying to understand that God knows what He is doing in any situation and/or experience we encounter. Look at various Biblical characters. Paul, Rahab, and even Jesus came from totally different backgrounds and experiences, but they were all used to fulfill God’s purposes.

Sometimes following the Lord’s leading is to test our obedience. Abraham went up the mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac only to be shown that God was testing his obedience and then He provided a sacrificial ram.

Once I really psyched myself up and put myself in my parent’s shoes – one at a time. In my mind and on paper, I imagined and analyzed their life. I looked at the background they were raised in, their heritage, their sibling order, their parent’s occupations, where they grew up, where they went to school, what size cities/towns they lived in, and more. It was an amazing adventure for me to understand their experiences and see how even God used their experiences to affect my experiences.

If you are up for an interesting activity, get two sheets of paper and label one page “Mom” and one page “Dad” and start writing. My experiment looked something like this, but much more extensive. Once you have done this, we are in a much better position to understand why we and others act like they do and why we might experience situations where others do not.

Mom

Youngest of seven children;
Immigrant parents from Italy;
Catholic;
Raised in small town in Vermont;
Scared of birds;
Moved to New York City as young adult, etc.
Loves to cook, etc.

Dad

Raised as an only child;
His Dad – Jewish;
His Mom- Presbyterian;
Grew up near New York City;
Was in the Army;
Loves to read, etc.
Ivy League education, etc.

If you take this challenge, I’d love for you to share your insights atpattilondagreene@gmail.com or in the comments section on this blog.

Throughout life, we encounter both good and unfortunate experiences. It is hard sometimes, but we need to be grateful for both experiences.Psalm 16: 11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Our experiences make up the path of our lives. While rejoicing when things are good is usually effortless, it is very easy to become bitter through our unfortunate experiences. Life brings us joyous occasions and not-so-joyous occasions. Psalm 118:24 exhorts us to look at each day as being the day that the LORD has made. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” While we don’t rejoice in our sadness, we can rejoice because God knows what He is doing. We rejoice because he will be our sustainer through both our good and bad experiences. We should try to evaluate each experience through the eyes of God.

To put it in a nutshell, let’s decide daily to see our experiences through the eyes of Jesus. Let us remember that our experiences will not be like the experiences of others – they are unique to us – because we are unique. Let us remember that through ALL of our experiences, God has our best interests at heart. Jeremiah 29:11says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

And, if you find yourself pinching yourself because you find yourself on some random plane flying to a country you have never been to, ask God to show you the purpose of the experience! There is one even if you don’t see it now.

God Bless You and “Carpe Diem!”

Patti

Bible Verses:

So, then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians6:10

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John16:33

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 1Peter 4:19

Prayer:

Jesus, let me see the opportunities that you have placed in my life as experiences sent from Heaven. Let me see them as opportunities to partake in what you are providing for me. Lord, as I look at the experiences of others, please don’t allow jealousy to seep into my heart. Let me not covet their experiences, but be looking with open arms to accept and enjoy the experiences you have put into MY life. Let me see life through your eyes and your eyes only. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

www.PattiGreene.com

Life Issues, Medical

Stress

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

The Office on Women’s Health defines stress as “what you feel when you react to pressure from others or from yourself . . . Stress comes in many forms and everyone feels stress.”

We all experience stress, pressure, despair, dread, and discomfort at one time or another in our lives. It can hit you on the most relaxed beach; it can hit you while overlooking a beautiful green pasture; it can hit you at the funeral of a loved one: and it can even hit you in the comfort of your own secure home.

No matter how or why it hits, it can last for days, weeks, months, and/or years. Your blood pressure might rise, your heart might flutter, or you may overeat or starve yourself. The pangs of stress might even cause an uncontrollable panic. But, despite what you experience or how you react to the stresses in your life, remember that God knows exactly what you are going through. He knows and understands the circumstances surrounding your present-day state of anxiety. He really does.

It may be difficult, almost impossible, to sense His presence. But Scripture promises us that God is omnipresent meaning He is always with us. He is also omnipotent meaning His power can lift us out of the violent stressors we are presently enduring. If we can remember those two principles we can rest assured that soon we will be out of our pit.

Resting in Him isn’t easy at this point. It may be a season you must go through to learn some mighty truths from Him or a situation you must plow through so you can be used in service to others. In John 10:14-15, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” If Jesus loves us enough to lay down his life for us, He loves us enough to see us through whatever situation we find ourselves in until a point of rest.

Today, just imagine God wrapping His loving arms around you, comforting you. Ask Him to allow you to see your present trial through His eyes. Exhale your stress and inhale God’s love, peace, and presence right now.

And, if your stress becomes unbearable, please visit a physician and discuss your situation with him or her. God can and many times does work through the medical profession.

God Bless You,

Patti

Bible Verses:

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live. Psalm 119:143-145 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV

Prayer:

Lord, please let me always be aware of your special presence. Help me know and feel that that you are there guiding me and giving me directions in all situations. Grant me the faith needed to know that you are always right there beside me. As stress is overwhelming me today, allow me to give all my current hardships to you – knowing that you always see the big picture and know what is best for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Feeling Stressed.” Girls Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015.

Leadership Skills

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How to Serve and Help Others

Be practical.

Be there.

Be kind and patient.

Be an encouragement.

I give you my Life by Darlene Zschech

Bible Verses:

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A – How to deal with ANGER

B – How to be your BEST for God

C – How to accept CHRIST

D – How to view DEATH

E – How to handle EVIL

F – How to understand your FUTURE

G – How to deal with GREED

H – How to understand HOLINESS

I – How to be an INTERCESSOR

J – How to deal with JEALOUSY

K – How to become KIND

L – How to handle LONELINESS

M – How to view MONEY

N – How to love your NEIGHBOR

O – How to be OBEDIENT

P – How to PRAY

Q – How to live a QUIET life

R – How to deal with RESENTMENT

S – How to understand SUFFERING

T – How to resist TEMPTATION

U – How to UNDERSTAND God

V – How to handle VOWS

W – How to deal with WORRY

X – How to be an EXAMPLE to others

Y – How should we view YEARS from God’s perspective

Z – How to be ZEALOUS for God

Bible Verses: Above

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