A Self-Made Challenge

I just finished the Book of Ecclesiastes by King Solomon. OK, I’ll admit it. I made myself read it!

I’ve read it before but never studied it. My large-print *Life Application Study Bible (New International Version) motivated me with its footnotes, cross-references, introductory notes, and charts. We are blessed to have such help available

I’ve always enjoyed the classic beauty of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Solomon wrote, “There is a time for everything,” then contrasted positive and negative events in our lives. It’s worth a read!

Ecclesiastes opens by using the word “meaningless” four times in the NIV (in the King James Version, the word is “vanity”). Not exactly words to draw us in, but this time I determined to plow on through it. Raised on the plains, plow was exactly how I felt about it. . . breaking into fertile, untouched territory, one chapter a day. Footnotes were the biggest help. Then I considered cross-references.

I discovered some “meaningful” scriptures along the way. For example, as a history major, I could agree with Solomon that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).

From other Scriptures, I also knew he was correct in saying “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked” (Ecclesiastes 3:17). Also, it’s better NOT to make a vow to God than to make a vow and not fulfill it (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7).

I finished the book and then paged through to review. Chapter two caught my attention because sixteen verses in a row were extremely self-focused: “I” will do this, “I” will do that. My previous note in the margin said: Great accomplishments with no eternal motives.

At the end, with his focus on God and not himself, Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13).

Remember: All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Even the Book of Ecclesiastes!

Ready for a self-made challenge? You might be pleasantly surprised, or at least get a feeling of accomplishment.

*Life Application Study Bible, Lge. Print (NIV: New International Version) is published jointly by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and Zondervan. Life Application Study Bible copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2005 by Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL 50188. All Rights Reserved. (Note: Available where Bibles are sold. I purchased from christianbooks.com. It comes in different translations.)

*Pixabay: Explore, Word, Letters; WOKANDAPIX.

Do It Yourself

In earlier days, it was popular to be considered a “Renaissance Man.” That meant you were proficient in several areas of life. Leonardo da Vinci was considered the greatest of his time, a mathematician, artist, and inventor.

In our day, we admire self-sufficient, productive people. To admit a need for help seems like a failure. Some would even say that makes us “less than” those who seem to have their lives in order independently.

From the beginning, we were created to be involved with others. God, Himself, came to talk with Adam in the Garden of Eden, and He created Eve so Adam would have companionship.

On the other hand, as we mature, we learn to become more independent, make choices, and take care of ourselves.

David understood self-care. In Psalm 42:5, 11 and Psalm 43:5, he asked himself a couple of probing questions: (1) Why are you downcast, O my soul, and (2) Why the unease within me?

When life seems extremely challenging, how do you respond? Do you try to keep busy and avoid thinking about it? Do you drink alcohol, overindulge in food, go shopping, or self-medicate in some way?

David’s response to himself was this: Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:11, 43:5).  

Do you try to truly absorb God’s word and put it into practice? How many Christian songs could you sing if separated from your electronic devices?

Paul and Silas understood the importance of *DIY encouragement. They were beaten and jailed after rebuking a spirit of divination in a young girl who kept following them, shouting a good thing, but for the wrong reason (Acts 16:16-24).

In the darkness of midnight, Paul and Silas encouraged themselves in the Lord by praying and singing spiritual songs (Acts 16:25).

The other prisoners weren’t the only ones listening. God was, too, and He responded with a mighty earthquake that set them free and resulted in the salvation of the jailer and his family (Acts 16:26-34).

Faith offers hope. Scripture says God rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). 

Have you learned to “do it yourself?”

 Pixabay: Steam, Vintage, Engine; Artsy Bee.

 *DIY: Do It Yourself 

Three Types of Temptation

“The devil made me do it.” That was a line made famous by Comedian Flip Wilson, but there’s nothing new about the blame game.

Way back in the Garden of Eden, when God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience, Adam blamed it on Eve, and Eve blamed it on the serpent. God knew the truth and punished all three of them (Genesis 3:8-24).

The blame game still doesn’t work. The truth is that personal desires tempt, lure, and entice us to evil (James 1:14).

There are endless variations, but three big temptations are: 1) the desires of the flesh, 2) the desires of the eyes, and 3) the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

What the Berean Standard Bible calls “desires,” the New King James Version calls “lust,” and the New Living Translation calls “craving.” No matter which version you choose, the idea is the same.

In our flesh, we crave things for physical pleasure. With our eyes, we see things and sometimes won’t rest until we get them. And it’s easy to take pride in our achievements and possessions.

Satan likes these three types of temptations. He tried them on Eve and Jesus with very different results.

Eve listened to what he said and responded to a craving for good fruit. She considered it very pleasant to look at, and thought it would be great to be wise! (Genesis 3:1-7)

Jesus, on the other hand, refused to be enticed by craving any food, even after fasting. Satan showed Him the kingdoms of this world and Jesus was unmoved. He also refused to take any pride in the fact that if He threw Himself off a pinnacle, angels would rescue Him. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Jesus refuted each of Satan’s temptations by saying, “It is written,” and quoting an appropriate scripture.

Have you been aware of any temptation in these areas?

Have any of them caused you to stray from your intent to live by God’s word?

If so, what have you done about it?

Remember I John 2:16-17:

. . . the desires of the flesh,

the desires of the eyes,

and the pride of life—

is not from the Father

 but from the world.

 

The world is passing away

 along with its desires,

but whoever does the will of God

 remains forever.

Pixabay: Logo, Penrose Triangle; ptra.

An Unexpected Challenge

I took the Proverbial challenge last week. But finding one verse that speaks to me more than all the others in the chapter for the day is not a snap.

I keep a list of my chosen verses, then for good measure, I put a small checkmark beside them. I’m on a quest, but this will not be the last time I read Proverbs. Future readings might draw my attention to something new, or I may be reminded to work on what I know now.

Once you get through the first few chapters, the verses start to pop. Whether scriptural or cultural, proverbs are short sayings or moral truths that encourage us to make wise choices.

If you want to have some fun with this, Google “cultural proverbs” and you’ll see examples from around the world. God’s word is for all cultures, but I’m sure it presents a challenge for translators.

One verse I marked this week was *Proverbs 9:12, (NLT):

If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

My first thought was that this was another way of self-care - - - be wise and make good choices. But then I thought of an earlier section of scripture that I had labeled “Wisdom is Rewarding.”

According to Proverbs 3:13-18 (NLT), the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding is joyful. It also says those who hold wisdom tightly are happy. Did you notice joy and happiness are not automatic? We are to find and hold on to wisdom and understanding.

Solomon has convinced me they are worth the effort. Read these five verses in your Bible, computer, phone, or tablet, and ponder them for yourself. Proverbs 3:13-18 lists nine (9) positive results provided by wisdom.

If you’ve found Proverbs to be an unexpected challenge, don’t give up. Personal conclusions are always the most meaningful.

If you're new to this, just read last week’s blog. It’s never too late to do something good for yourself.

*All scripture quotations are NLT, taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Photo "Proverb, Poetry, Sign," by Peggy Marco on Pixabay.

The Advent of Christmas: Week 2

Wouldn’t it be great if the world could be peaceful . . . calm, quiet, without trouble anywhere? The keyword this week is just that - - - peace.

It’s not always easy to come by. You may be trying to seek peace, and pursue it, as suggested in Psalm 34:14; however, you may experience frustration because of opponents.

Opponents can rough up relationships. Some are like sandpaper, slightly annoying. Others act like a steel fence, cutting us off from our desired goal. The Apostle Paul gave this advice in Romans 12:18 (NKJV): If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

In the beauty of darkness, angels lit up the sky outside Bethlehem. Can you think of Christmas songs without *“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear?”

Perhaps, like me, the first phrase coming to mind is “Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all-gracious King.” It sounds so powerful and majestic,

Their message was God’s . . . offering us a way into His eternal kingdom. In the fullness of time - - - centuries of earthly time, plus the months required for a baby to grow in the womb - - - God sent His Son to be born the Savior of the world. John 3:16 gives the extended invitation.

Jesus, in His ministry, offered personal peace. In John 14:1(NLT) He says: “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” How is that possible? His answer: “Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

During this Advent Season let’s aim for personal peace. Only a few powerful people are called upon to achieve world peace, but personal peace is up to each of us.

Will we trust in Jesus and receive His peace, or will we let our minds focus on the world's lack of peace? It's a major opponent, but we have a choice. Personal peace can be ours.

*Hymnary.org says this song was authored by Edmund H. Sears in 1849 and has been published in 857 hymnals.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Used by Permission, All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Photo by Theo Crazzolara on Pixabay 

What Can You Trust?

A friend and I had a good laugh over a recent text message. After sharing an answer to prayer, her closing comment was, “Our Lord does work in mysterious ways.” At least that’s what she meant to say.  

The message I received said, “Our Lord does work in mistletoe ways.” I was pondering the mistletoe message when she texted her correction. 

I have learned to check my auto-correct. I’ve sent garbled messages with one-word changes, too. Modern technology is supposed to make life easier, but it doesn’t.

In the past two weeks, I’ve spent hours with one tech company, trying to update my accounts. I have two-step verification with several companies, but theirs seemed unusually challenging.

Technology is here to stay. My husband used to say, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.” I try, but always being told to go “online” is simply tiresome.

When E-books came out, publishers thought they’d lose a lot of money. Time proved people still preferred the printed page. That’s me! I like to pick up a book, read it, lay it down, and pick it up later. So easy! 

The best seller of all time still remains popular in print. I can read scriptures on my cell phone, but I have a satisfying *hard-cover study Bible. It comes complete with explanatory notes, cross-references, a concordance, Bible charts, and maps.

Since childhood, I have read, studied, and trusted God’s Word. He gives a lovely illustration of its trustworthiness in Isaiah 55:8-11 (NLT). I’ve always relied on verse eleven: **It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it (NLT).

The King James Version says: ***It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (KJV).

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, it’s nice to have something we can trust. I have put my hope in God’s Word more times than I could ever tell. There is one thing I can say, however, “God always keeps His Word.”  

*Life Application Study Bible is an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, 2007. All Rights Reserved.

**Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright . . . 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, IL 60188. All Rights Reserved.

***King James Version, YouVersion app.

Pixabay Illustration, Trust, Reveal Identity, John Hain

 

3 Ways to Cool Your Jets

 

When warming up for takeoff, the power in jet engines is noticeable to everyone. On a personal level, have you ever heard someone say, “Cool your jets?” If so, you might have noticed an angry adult, ready to explode. 

Power used in the right way is a tremendous blessing. People purchase airline tickets, counting on those big jet engines to get them up in the air and on to their destination. 

Humans have fiery jets, too. They’re called emotions, and some people control them than others. 

If you would like to “keep your cool” more often, consider this easily-read advice. Psalm 37:8 (NKJV): Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret---it only causes harm. 

The nouns are what fire up our emotions.  

ANGER

Make all hot and bothered

Make one blow his top

Lose one’s temper 

WRATH

Fury

Vengeance

Madness

FRET

Suffer or cause annoyance

Disturb, agitate, or vex

Worry or be bothered 

The verbs, or action words, are what put the fires out:

 CEASE from anger: Stop, terminate, or discontinue it . . .

FORSAKE wrath: Relinquish, renounce, or abandon it . . .

DO NOT fret: Don’t indulge in worry, or let yourself remain anxious over something . . .

The Psalmist emphasizes that fretting, or worry, leads to harm. Some people actually make themselves sick with worry; however, I think anger and wrath buildups can also harm our health, and our relationships.

A habit is something we do without giving it much thought. The good news is that habits CAN be changed. Articles about this seem to agree on one thing: There is no magic number of days required to create a new habit.

The important thing is to desire change, then start working on your desired goal.

Help is available if you ask. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) says, “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Do you want to be healthier . . . improve relationships . . . develop better self-awareness? Then start learning NOW how (and when) to “cool your jets.”

Equality and Submission

                  

Here’s a dichotomy for you. Like a boat on dry land the title words oppose each other, so let’s take a closer look.

I was listening to a Bible teacher* the other day whose key points brought up a personal memory.

There has been a lot of misinformation about women and submission, but here are some truths:

1)      Men and women are created equal before God

2)      All women are not required to submit to all men

3)      Women can be leaders, CEOs, or military commanders

4)      Submission applies only to a wife and her own husband

Marriage is not for everyone. If the idea of submission sets your teeth on edge, you may want to say, “No.” For sure you should not marry someone you don’t respect or trust, or who doesn’t care about what you think or feel.

In the days when this scripture was written women, children, and slaves in Roman, Greek, and Jewish cultures had great responsibilities. Men, on the other hand, had a great deal of freedom.

The true translation of submission means “to place under rank,” and Paul spoke not only to women. He also addressed men, children, and slaves (Colossians 3:18-4:1). Think about it. Everyone in the world is in submission to someone. That’s the orderliness of society.

My husband and I enjoyed equality in marriage for many years. I was comfortable submitting because he cared what I thought. After freely sharing my opinion or insight, I expected him to make our family decision. 

Strange as it seems, in the 1980’s women started teaching submission to the extreme. In taking some of their advice, I stopped freely sharing my thoughts and feelings. The result was that gradually my husband stopped asking for my opinion.

Things came to a head while exploring options for housing on a new job. Riding around, I became extremely depressed. God had given me a clear vision (warning) a few weeks earlier and I said to myself I’m not going to share this. He won’t listen anyway.

I can still see the street where I finally burst into tears. Shocked, my husband pulled into a parking lot and asked, “What’s wrong?” I told him about the vision and why I had not shared it with him earlier.

Besides his apology, he asked me to promise I would always share what I thought or felt. The fresh start was good, but it wasn’t magic. We had to rebuild our trusting relationship.

Equality and submission are positive truths. Please avoid getting bogged down with false teaching.

*Dr. Robert Jeffress, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX, Pathway to Victory.

 

Don't Ignore Needed Elastic

Comfort wear often comes with elastic in certain places, especially at the waist. You’ll find it in comfort slacks, pajamas, sweat pants, and sports clothes in general.

Elastic is popular because it’s flexible. You can bend, stretch, and even gain weight without resistance. And if you lose weight, elastic will just return to its original size, no problem.

Did you know that elastic can be applied to temperament also? Thinking about the dictionary meaning in that way I come up with adjectives like buoyant, adaptable, resilient, and flexible. These qualities would definitely put elasticity into relationships.

Non-elastic people are rigid, harsh, stiff, and hard to be around. Sometimes it simply boils down to their self-centered attitudes.

Inflexible people totally disagree with Barbara Streisand’s “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” 

They prefer Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way;” however, their version is “I’ll Do It My Way,” and you can like it or not.

It’s not easy to live in harmony with people. We’re all different and sometimes those differences bring strong feelings. Relationships falter due to misunderstandings of all kinds.

Wise people insert elastic into these situations with forgiveness or forbearance. Do you know the difference?

Forgiveness means you’re willing to give up resentment against someone. You willfully release your right to exact a penalty for an offense.

Forbearance means you choose to keep yourself in check or tolerate something you know will happen. For example, a friend told me she was going to lunch with a friend who was late for everything. She said, “I know she’s that way, but I want her for a friend, so I choose to overlook her lateness.”

Elastic stretches in any direction. Matthew 6:12, The Lord’s Prayer is a great example. First, we stretch vertically . . . Father forgive me . . .  then we stretch horizontally, as I forgive those around me.

In your relationships, don’t ignore the need for elasticity. Misunderstandings might stretch it to the max, but forgiveness will bring it back to normal.   

  

Keep the Peace

 

It’s a nice slogan, isn’t it? But it comes with questions: Who should keep the peace? How often? With whom? Let’s face it. . . there are no simple answers.  

I still remember a poem written by a little girl in my first-grade class years ago. It said: The sky is blue, the grass is green, and all the people, are different.              

That difference in people, plus a never-ending variety of situations, is what makes peace so elusive.

Some people are perpetual porcupines. You can’t be near them without getting pricked. I generally get along with people, and I’ve met all kinds. But years ago, I met a man who enjoyed being prickly to the point of exhaustion.

He always seemed on edge, coming up with negative views, and pushing back if you tried to remain positive. I finally gave myself permission to avoid him. It was my final solution, not perfect, but it worked most of the time.

It may be that peace with others comes after making peace with yourself.

I love the analogy of Jesus’ teaching on this subject. He compared criticizing others to looking at a small speck in someone else's eye while ignoring the log in our own (Matthew 7:1-5 NLT). 

The basic concept is beware! You will be judged by the standard you use to judge others.

We are to deal with ourselves first. After clearing out our problem log, we might have a clearer (less critical) view of that speck of wood in the eyes of others.

Another way to keep the peace is to avoid sharing your initial reaction. Unfortunately, life is not like Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy where your first response may win you a prize.

In real life, our first response, whether spoken or written, sometimes shuts people down. The result may be regret, with no option for overs at the moment.

Like the little girl said, “All the people are different.” That includes you!

Try to keep the peace for your own sake. Regardless of the outcome, knowing you tried is what really counts.

 

The Way I Remember It

Everything we do creates a memory. Memories are part of our human composition. 

Memories are like sunshine and shadow and that variety makes life interesting. It’s one reason I enjoy reading autobiographies. Thoughtful authors acknowledge that others in the same events may not have the same memories.

Have you ever noticed how memories seem to be triggered by our five senses? We smell something and a memory comes floating back. Or we see, hear or taste something that conjures up the familiar. Sometimes they pop up from something we’ve touched.

During the Exodus from slavery to freedom, out in the middle of the desert, people began to remember some tasty food from the old days (Numbers 11:4-6).

Conversations went something like this: “Remember that fresh fish in Egypt? Oh,

and what about those delicious cucumbers and melons we used to enjoy? This daily manna is so unappetizing. What I wouldn’t give to be able to flavor it with some leeks, onions, or garlic.”

Sometimes memories need a little help. The people above had positive memories, but they let them trigger negative attitudes. If caught in such conversations, try to be the catalyst for change.

Happy memories can be a choice. Sometimes I remember especially encouraging people. Other times I relive vacations or special events. I’ve had a variety of jobs and lived in a variety of places. That simply means I find even more memories to enjoy.

Was everything in my life positive? No, but why dwell on the negative?

Psalm 126:3 says, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Choice memories make it easy to give God thanks, and science has proven that being thankful is a positive trait for health.

If someone disagrees with your memory, you have an out. Simply say, “That’s the way I remember it!”

  

I Can Take It From Here

 

“This town sure has a lot of dog lovers.” My sister-in-law’s comment was something I had noticed myself, many times.

In the heart of our historic downtown is a lovely courthouse square. It’s a popular place to walk, and many people seem to walk their dogs there.

A few years ago, my husband and I observed an awesome dog!

So many dogs seem to pull on their leash, wanting to sniff and explore. Not this dog. Head held high, he simply trotted ahead of a young couple coming our way.

A little later they returned, the couple eating ice cream and ignoring the dog. The leash had fallen down and was dragging between the dog’s front legs.

Since he was free, we fully expected the dog to trot away. To our surprise, he slowed down, took the leash in his mouth, and kept on with his regal pace.

My husband and I looked at each other and said, “What a dog!” But dogs aren’t the only ones who need to make choices when free.

During COVID lockdown I heard Bible sales went up. That’s great, I thought, but I wonder how many really read or studied the Bible they bought?

When it comes to Bible learning, some people prefer to only be on a leash. They enjoy the pastor’s sermon, the small group lesson, or even the daily devotional online. But once the leash is dropped, they never pick it up to walk forward on their own.

Do you know how to use your Bible? It contains sixty-six books, in two sections---the Old and New Testaments. The books are listed in front, along with page numbers for easy access.

Be glad we live in a time when Bible books are divided up into chapters and verses. Find Psalm 51:10 . . . book . . . chapter . . . verse . . . you’ve got it!!

Your slogan should be, “I can take it from here!” Hold your head up high and enjoy your freedom.

Early Warning Systems

Along with our monsoon season, I have received multiple flash flood warnings. They suddenly burst out of my cell phone with an irritating noise that continues until I punch OK.   

I remember an early warning system (EWS) in my elementary years, for tornadoes. At the time, I lived where cellars were considered safe for survival. I’m still thankful I never had to personally prove it.

I was curious about today’s early warning systems. My initial web inquiry turned up UN.org's (United Nations) climate-change warning systems. I’m sure communities worldwide appreciate the integrated systems that prepare them for hazardous events.

The next site was USGS.gov (U.S. Geological Survey). Again, natural hazards were referenced, but a special note was made of California wildfires creating hazardous flash floods in heavy rains.

Having lived in California and personally witnessed powerful mudslides from burned-out areas, I consider early warning systems a wise move.

Civil Defense Sirens were popular during WW II. A piercing sound from a high tower would warn of a possible air raid. After the danger had passed, the siren would signal an all-clear. If you were outdoors, it definitely invaded your space.

General warning systems gradually became more specific. A good example is today’s noisy not-to-be-missed flash flood warnings on my cell phone.

Would you believe there are important spiritual early warning systems, too? I heard one today.

If I say, “Three sixteen (3:16),” would you think I was telling the time, or would you think of it as the first sound of an early warning system?

Your second thought would be correct. Even without a Bible, people can get this signal. The go-to app on my cell phone is the YouVersion.

Locate the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16. You'll find an early warning signal. God is sending an explanation of why Jesus came into this world. Read verses 16-19 for the full siren sound.  

The signal is clear whether you read it in the New International Version (NIV), The New King James Version (NKJV), or The Message Bible (MSG).  

Early warning systems are important, especially this one.

  

4 Important Areas of Self-Awareness

Wouldn’t it be great if life could be perfect, or better yet . . . if we could? Somehow perfection has never shown up in the human race.

Oh, some people are nicer than others. In fact, you may observe that they have a healthy sense of self-awareness. This leads them to interact with people positively, creating an upbeat connection.

On the other hand, four important areas drag us down: Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, and Tiredness.

1.       Hunger can cause us to do foolish things. Esau was famished after a day of hunting; he carelessly gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:27-34).

2.       Anger causes carelessness. Some people toss about thoughtless words, while others act out in physically inappropriate ways. If you want to be wise, be friendly but do not develop a close relationship with a hot-tempered person (Proverbs 22:24).

3.       Feeling lonely can definitely affect personal interaction. Lonely people sometimes smother others by clinging too closely to anyone who notices them. Others deal with loneliness by withdrawing from life. One cure is to remain open to others: To have a friend, be a friend (Proverbs 18:24, KJV). Even the smallest action can bring a positive result.

4.       Are you aware of how you act or react when tired? Mental tiredness causes us to stop weighing options. It’s so much easier to give in to “whatever will be, will be.” But breaks of various kinds can cure physical tiredness. Even “power naps” are helpful. Get alone somewhere, relax and close your eyes. Be in the moment—break your routine by listening to things around you

What could be more personal than self-awareness? Each of us is responsible for our own actions and attitudes.

When you realize you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired don’t just keep pushing! Stop---be considerate of yourself---then move on.   

 

Mileage and Maintenance

 

I finally did it . . . took my new car in for maintenance. I received regular emails from the dealership saying I should make an appointment for service.

My car is only 9 months old and I’m a low-mileage driver. Everything I need is close by. Even in a few years, my car should fit the joke category of “low mileage . . . driven by a little old lady from Pasadena.”  

Those unwanted emails were a reminder that maintenance depended on me. Making the appointment was easy, and after I followed through it was done; I felt at peace.

Now I even have a sticker on the window. No more email notices for me!  I’m free to be---on my own!

On my drive back home, I thought spiritual maintenance also requires effort. The Apostle Paul advised believers to test themselves to be sure they were in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV).

When I take my car to a certified mechanic, he runs tests on sophisticated equipment. It gives him confidence that repairs will be correct. No need to guess what’s wrong.

Eugene Peterson explains spiritual testing like this: Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another---showing us the truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way. Through the Word, we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV; The MSG, page 2172, paragraph 2).

We all require Godly maintenance. Whether we’ve been a believer for years or days, we all have spiritual mileage. On-going maintenance is important.

If you don’t already have a plan, check in with God's Service Department by reading a chapter a day in Proverbs. It’s a good way to start.