make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Philippians 2:2 NAS)
“Their personalities don’t really click, but they get along well working together.”
That’s a remark many bosses can accept from supervisors when it comes to evaluating team spirit and resolving members’ conflicts. Unless a team works together in harmony toward a common goal, it can make or break an organization or a project.
Like the members in a team of a project or an organization, all of us as believers in the Lord are also members of one body in Christ (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27). The Bible exhorts us that we should therefore be of one mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, and intent on one purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:2). We may differ in personalities and at times need to resolve conflicts. Yet we must always stay together to encourage one another, and all the more as we see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25b).
In humility of mind, therefore, let us regard one another as more important than ourselves. Rather than merely looking out for our own interests, look also for the interests of others. Do not be haughty in mind to think of ourselves as wiser than others or do things from selfishness or empty conceit (Romans 12:16; Philippians 2:3-4).
Have this attitude in us which was in Christ, who although He existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself to take the form of a bond-servant (Philippians 2:5-7). Like Christ, let us then instead of asserting our rights, be like-minded, sympathetic, compassionate, and humble in spirit toward one another. Even if our personalities do not really click, let us learn to get along well working together (1 Peter 3:8).
Dear Lord, help us live harmoniously with one another despite our differences in personalities. Make our joy complete O Lord to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Humble us Lord that we may have this attitude in us not to always assert on our rights but be ready to serve with compassion and love.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5 NAS)
"Achoo!" I exclaimed as I quickly covered my mouth with my hand. “Looks like I'm going to have another day at the mercy of my allergy.”
Allergic reactions are an exaggerated response by one’s body to one or more allergens or external foreign substances, according to the doctors. A standard method of diagnosis for allergy is the skin-prick test or pricking the skin with a small amount of various allergens to provoke a small, controlled response. Mild reactions to allergy include sneezing, running nose, teary eyes and skin rash. Serious reactions can be fatal. Medications for allergies control include antihistamines, steroids, among others.
One of the most effective, least expensive, and simplest treatments for allergies mentioned in an article at MedicineNet.com is avoidance. This includes simple methods like regular cleaning and keeping the house as mold and dust free as possible. Temperature and humidity reduction can also lead to fewer symptoms and vastly improve the quality of life. However, this approach is not always followed and many people continue to choose medications or vaccinations instead, despite their drawbacks.
Like the sneeze that comes as a result of allergy, our spiritual walk with God can at times also be visited by ‘allergens’ or external ‘foreign substances’ such as our old sinful nature or temptations. A good method of diagnosis to measure our spiritual health is through a test to examine ourselves and our ways to see if we have lowered our standards (Lamentations 3:40; 2 Corinthians 13:5). If mild reactions of areas we have fallen behind are detected, we should quickly address the problems and lay them down before the Lord, otherwise persistence can result in serious reactions leading to fatality (Romans 1:28).
An effective, simple and yet free ‘treatment’ to get back on our feet when we slack behind is avoidance. Avoidance is about coming clean before God through the confession of our sins and purification from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It is also about keeping our house—our body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit—mold and dust free from our sinful nature and being led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
Avoidance demands we keep clear from the 'heat and humidity' of worldly enticement and ungodly people (Romans 16:17; 2 Timothy 3:5; Titus 2:11-12). Doing this will help reduce our exposure to unneeded trouble and vastly improve our quality of life and walk in Christ. Sadly, however, such advice is not always heeded and many people continue to sit on the fence despite knowing the dangers. Are we one of them?
Forgive us dear Lord for sometimes slacking behind in our walk with You. Purify us O Lord and cleanse us from all our sins. Do not let us be caught up in the entanglements of this world or persist in our old ways. Remind us Lord to regularly examine ourselves to see if there be areas in our lives that are not pleasing to You. Keep us clear from ungodly activities Lord that we may not expose ourselves to unneeded trouble but improve our quality of life and walk in You.
Tell him, ‘You think you are like a lion among the nations. Instead, you are like a crocodile in the water. You splash around in the water. You stir up the water with your feet. You make the streams muddy.’ This is what the Almighty LORD says: When many nations gather together, I will spread my net over you, and they will haul you up in a net. (Ezekiel 32:2-3 GWT)
As an employee, I have met many bosses and supervisors who are Christians. Not all of them are easy to work with or for and some are extremely difficult to get along, especially when it comes to meeting their demands and expectations. How should we as subordinates respond to such bosses and supervisors?
A good example of the correct working attitude we should adopt is found in the relationship between King Saul and David. Despite the dangers and hardship David went through to serve King Saul, there was never a time David harbored any thought of revenge or retaliation. Even when he was on the run, he said to his men it would be unthinkable for him to raise his hand against the LORD's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:11). Doubtless to say, our bosses and supervisors are not necessarily God’s anointed. But they are the appointed authority over us and we know what God’s word says about submission to our leaders, even to those who are unfair or unreasonable (Romans 13:1; Colossians 3:22; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14, 18-19).
If we are employers, bosses, or supervisors, how should we treat our subordinates? By providing them what is right and fair, and not threatening them (Colossians 4:1; Ephesians 6:9). Remember what God said to the Pharaoh in the days of prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 32:2-3). God warned Pharaoh that while he thought he was a lion among the nations, to God, he was merely like a crocodile splashing around in the water, stirring with its feet to make the streams muddy. When the nations shall gather together, God said He would spread His net over him and they would haul him up in a net.
Like the crocodile that stirs up water with its feet, bosses and supervisors are able to ‘splash around’ and stir up much trouble in a work environment to make life difficult and unsuitable for their subordinates. If that happens, be aware that the ones who have suffered shall come together to God, and He will surely intervene.
Dear Lord, help us keep our cool amid working for those who may not treat us well. Do not allow us to harbor thoughts of seeking retaliation Lord, but put in us an attitude of complete trust in You. As bosses and supervisors Lord, help us not to abuse our authority or stir up trouble for others. Keep us in Your hands O Lord and guide us to provide whatever is right and fair to our subordinates. Remind us constantly Lord never to threaten those who work with or under us to perform beyond their abilities, for we know they have a Master in heaven too.
There are many decisions to make in life. I often wonder which choice is the best and right one for my life. I suppose I should seek God's wisdom and direction more earnestly than I do. Often times I tend to rely upon my own wisdom and intelligence in decision making. This does not always lead to the best outcome. It is easy to let my mind be most focused on the decisions which would affect my life here on earth, while not giving consideration to that which is eternal. For example, should I replace my older car with a new one? Should I learn skills which could result in new career opportunities? What should I do to secure my financial future, especially if the economy goes into a depression?
These are all worthy and important decisions to make. Yes, it is wise to seek God's wisdom and direction in these and other areas in life. However, this brings me to another question, "What is God's will for my life? Can I find the answer in the Bible?"
While God leads some people to do certain things, for example, to be a pastor or a missionary, this is not God’s call on everyone. We each have our own unique set of skills, likes and dislikes leading each in different directions. However, there is one thing which applies to every believer in Christ. We are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Out of this, everything else in life should flow.
Through Adam's disobedience, mankind became disobedient, ungodly and self centered leaving us dead in our trespasses and sins. Through one man's obedience many will be made righteous (Romans 5:19). We were originally created in the image of God, but sin corrupted us and the offspring of Adam was born into the image of man. However, when one is saved, God begins to transform them into the image of Christ. We have borne the image of the earthly Adam, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:49). We are born again, the new birth, through repentance toward God and faith toward Christ (Acts 20:21). We were born into Him; He became our life (Colossians 3:3-4). We are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When we fill our lives with earthly things, we will become more like the world. When we fill our lives with Godly things, we will become more Christ like. We must allow Christ to work in and through us molding us into His image. Through letting Christ work in us and through us, everything else in life should flow.
Remember Jesus' words, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33 KJV). What is the primary purpose God has for each of our lives? That is, to seek the kingdom of God first. When we seek the kingdom of God first, I believe our decision making will be easier and we will make wiser choices. The beautiful thing is, we will glorify God in the way we live our lives. —Ken Mickel
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him. I will protect him because he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me and I will answer him;” (Psalms 91:14-15 NIV)
As a mother of what I lovingly call a chatterbox, I often found myself drifting off when she was talking. When she was little, the car ride could feel endless. It seemed like her little mouth would go into overdrive while my ears stayed in neutral. Often I was jostled out of my reverie by a voice calling,”Mom did you hear me?”
Usually I followed the conversation enough where I could repeat the words she had just said back to her. But even during those times, I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t really listening. Sure I heard the words she said, but I didn’t listen to the tone of her voice, catch an occasional glimpse of her face, or empathize with the story she was telling me.
Now she’s a teenager and I long for a car ride with my little chatterbox. It appears while I was off daydreaming about what to cook for dinner, or how to arrange it so all the kids made it to their after-school activities, and of course home again, my baby grew up on me and turned into a moody teenager.
Now, the words “Do you hear me?” are coming from my mouth and my daughter is the one nodding her head and repeating my words back to me. I know she’s not actually listening to me because hours later when I check to see if she did the chores that I had asked her to do, I find the litter box hasn’t been touched by human hands, the dishes never made their way to the dishwasher, and her backpack is still in the middle of the kitchen floor.
I feel sad that time has changed my daughter so much. I long for a bedtime chat where she is still talking incessantly. But she doesn’t have the time now. She’s too busy with her friends, sporting events, and even studying.
However, I am blessed to have a Heavenly Father who is more than willing to listen to my every word. If it’s important to me then it’s important to Jesus. How refreshing it is to know Jesus is up in heaven hearing my every word. Not once does His mind drift off to other more important matters.
He loves me so much; He even came to earth to die for my sins, enabling me the chance to spend eternity with Him. All He asks is that I believe in Him and follow His word; in exchange He gives me everlasting love. —Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom
Dear Jesus, Thank you for loving us enough to truly listen to us. Remind us to listen to the people we encounter today. In Your name we pray. Amen.
And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the
Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here;
behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
~ Mark 16:6 (NAS) ~
Remembering ...
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;
for by His wounds you were healed.
~ 1 Peter 2:24 (NAS) ~
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15 NAS)
Among the many lessons my wife and I learned in our marriage life is that a lasting and bonding relationship begins with accepting one another for who we are in spite of. This means the need for mutual understanding and the willingness to give and take in loving care for one another. We hide nothing from each other, share joys and sorrows together, and hold each other up during difficult times. We enthrone Christ as Lord of our lives and stay thankful always for what we have and what we do not have.
Our career lives have gone through many ups and downs like a rollercoaster ride. We have experienced what it means to get along with humble means and to live in prosperity (Philippians 4:12). No doubt, it is only right that we do our very best for the ones who pay our bills, but we have learned that our very best is seldom enough when it comes to the expectation of employers. Too frequently we have put our hearts and souls in our jobs only to receive more distress than necessary. Yes, in whatever we do we are to do our work heartily, and yes, we ought to be submissive to our bosses, even to those who are unreasonable (Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Peter 2:18-19). Yet when we fall ill, few are the bosses who care about our health or our wellbeing, while our loved ones are worried sick. They are the ones who care for us and deserve better from us.
One thing we are assured of as we draw nearer to our old age is that even in our graying years God will sustain us and hold us up (Isaiah 46:4). Though we may begin to wear out physically, we need not lose heart, because inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). All the things that have happened in our lives, our pain and our joy, our experiences, are for our benefit that the people who God has placed in our lives may have reason for thanksgiving (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Thank You, dear Lord, for bringing us together and for seeing us through the years of marriage. We know Lord that without You in our lives, things would have been very different. Renew us Lord and grant us the strength as we continue to walk in Your footsteps for the coming years. Help us do our best in our jobs Lord, and leave the impossible to You. Do not allow us to be over stressed, but keep us sane to focus on You.
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NAS)
Knives must always be kept sharp because a blunt knife is dangerous, as it requires more pressure and is more likely to slip and cause a cut, according to an article on knife care at HospitalityInfoCentre.co.uk. A professional chef sharpens his or her knives every time they are used.
A sharp knife means a better, faster, and easier job for the chef to work neatly and more accurately. Once a knife is sharpened, the knife must first be cleaned to remove any filings that might be on the blade. A good way to test the knife’s sharpness is to cut a soft tomato to see if it slices through easily with little pressure.
Understanding knife sharpening provides many lessons we can take home. The Bible teaches that iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). Now think for a moment and ask ourselves, are we notable for sharpening others? Do we help others do better? How often do we reach out to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)? Do we know that leaving our brothers and sisters in the Lord to struggle on their own is dangerous because without guidance they require more effort and are more likely to slip and fall?
If we hope to do better, faster, and easier in accurately handling the word of truth, we must first keep ourselves constantly sharpened in God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15). The word of God is living, active and sharper than any two-edged sword, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). We need therefore to be careful when seeking to encourage or correct another to first examine ourselves and remove our own bad habits, wrong attitudes, and presumptions (Luke 6:42).
A good way to test whether an encouragement or correction is helpful is to watch the receptivity of the person and how he or she responds. Remember, however, that just as not all tomatoes taste the same, so the people we seek to help differ largely in personality, sensitivity, experiences, degree of faith, among other things. Always understand them first before reaching out to them. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Do not force a correction, speak without thinking, or let eagerness take center stage.
Dear Lord, help us be sensitive to the leading of Your Holy Spirit, especially when encouraging or correcting a person. Do not let our hearts be hardened to leave our fellow believers to struggle for themselves, but guide us Lord as we help them keep from slipping or falling. Remove from us all that is not pleasing in Your sight O Lord and sharpen us by Your word that we may accurately handle the word of truth.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (Deuteronomy 6:8 NIV)
Among the many strategies to help a person remember better is one we are all familiar with that is closely associated to the concept of tying a string around the finger. In essence, this approach is about putting something in our environment to create a visual reminder for ourselves, explained Molly Edmonds in her article on the top ten ways to improve memory at Discovery.com.
Directions on how to employ this strategy is found in another article on the same topic at Muskingum.edu. Steps to be taken include identifying the task or information to remember, picking an action or mental picture to remind oneself of the task or information, and rehearsing the action or mental picture several times. An example is turning the sleeve of a coat inside out to remember to bring something the next day or placing an object on the floor in front of the door leaving the house as an obvious reminder.
Like the visual reminder used in memory strategies, the Bible in the Old Testament mentioned a similar strategy to help the sons of Israel remember the instructions of God. The tefillin are two small leather boxes worn on the head and on one arm as a symbol and reminder of God’s word to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). These boxes are held in place by leather straps and contain verses from the Torah or the five books of Moses.
What about us? How do we remind ourselves to love the Lord our God? Do we use something similar to tying a string around our finger to remind ourselves to walk rightly in God? What visual reminder can we employ to help us remember to put God first in our lives in every situation?
The first step of identifying is obvious and can only be achieved by studying the word of God daily and remembering what we have learned. The next is for us to pick an action or mental picture to remind us to seek God in every situation or to do something good each day. We can then rehearse mentally and purpose in our heart to dwell our minds on and do whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us Your word to guide us in our walk. Your word O Lord we have kept in our heart that we may not sin against You. Help us Lord to be mindful of You and Your teachings in every situation. Place in our minds visual reminders of whatever is good, pure, and worthy of praise Lord that we may put into action such things in love. We love You O Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength.
“Their personalities don’t really click, but they get along well working together.”
