You Did It To Me

"The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back."

I work about nine hours a week taking care of children in the nursery at the Y. I love my job because it gives me opportunities to serve others. Matthew 25:40 says, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Some of the children I've cared for have had parents going through a separation. I remember one who was diagnosed with cancer, another who had heart surgery, some who were autistic, one who was blind. Some were foster children who had come from abusive homes. Some just need us to love and care for them so their mom's can have a break and be refreshed. I can definitely relate to that. It's a privilege to take care of these little ones. I am there to serve them and love them. Sometimes when I'm at work I get frustrated when my own children need, well, extra attention. As if, they were taking me away from my ministry. I forget that they are my ministry too. I've been having a hard time with my three year old lately and my husband worked late tonight. I took my kids to the nursery and it was such a blessing for me to see them being well taken care of. As I ran around the track, I could see the workers happily playing on the playground with them. The night always seems to go better when I can get a little break. Knowing my kids are loved there makes it even better.

I've been trying to figure out a charity that my family can get involved in, slowly at first, but more involved as we all get older. I think sometimes I hide from the needs around me because it can be painful to see. I want my family to see how other people live, learn compassion, love for others and appreciation for all that we have.

 ^"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."  Matthew 25:35-40

Casting Crowns Concert

My husband and I went to a Casting Crowns concert last week. I bought the tickets a while ago. At first, I was unsure if I wanted to spend the money and worried we would be too much out of our element. Would we be the only ones not raising our hands. What if it was too loud. What if we didn't enjoy it as much as we thought we would. What if we got sick and couldn't go? But, would we regret missing out on the experience. Would it be a tremendous blessing. Would it be really fun and something we would enjoy doing together. I decided it was worth the risk and committed to going.  I was actually really thankful that we were all sick in January, because I knew it would be unlikely that we would be sick again in March. I was excited at first and became more unsure as it got closer. I didn't tell my family. I knew it would either bother them or they wouldn't care.

We had such a good time and will definitely do it again. Our seats were six rows from the stage right on the middle aisle. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to see but that was not a problem. I can't wait until the kids are old enough to go with us. The Gospel was presented in the challenges as well as in the music and it was entertaining. They looked joyful when they sang. Have you ever noticed how some people look so sad when they sing in church? It was actually not as emotional as I expected it to be. Just a lot of people worshiping God together who weren't ashamed to show feeling and excitement for Him.  I've had more emotional experiences at camp than I did at the concert.

A few days after the concert we got a message from a friend who was saddened by our new attitude towards music. He challenged us to make our music decisions based on good theology and said "The problem with "CCM" and other popular religious movements is not that there is an absence of a gospel message, but rather does that message truly line up with the God of the Bible and His Gospel message." I appreciate friends who keep us on track and challenge us to give an answer for what we believe and the decisions we make." I can answer him with confidence that we did make our decision based on good theology and we choose to listen to music that does line up with the God of the Bible and the Gospel message. We need to be discerning in the area of music as well as all areas of life.  If I decided that I would not listen to any CCM because some of it was lacking in depth I would be missing out on something God wanted me to enjoy. Here are the words of one of my favorite songs that I got to hear that night.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

 I'm thankful that I know what I believe about music and why. I'm blessed to be in a church where the preaching is based on the Bible rather than opinion and for godly people who help me sort through these things and encourage me in the right direction. Some think styles of music are worldly, but it's the philosophy behind the words that make it worldly. Worldliness is a philosophy that promotes worship of self rather than worship of God. The style of music is culture. Culture is not sinful. However, sometimes culture and worldliness overlap. We can easily see that in music. I use to worry about answering the questions my kids would someday ask. "If styles of music can be wrong, how do we know which ones to avoid? Why is okay for you to listen to rock music when you're working out, but no other time? Why can we dance and have fun with the music at the end of a movie, but no other time?" I don't have to worry about that any more. I had my kids clean their rooms and they wanted to listen to music. Faith put in one of her Patch the Pirate cd's and sang along. Brady turned on HIS Radio and cranked the volume as loud as he could stand it. We all like different things. I'm glad they can enjoy so many varieties of music.

Abundance For Every Good Deed

"We are not blessed so we can have, we are blessed so we can give."- Mark Hall
  
Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

A couple of months ago our Sunday school teacher asked our class the question, "Why don't Christians give more?" There were the expected church responses of good stewardship and taking care of our families first. I really wanted to raise my hand and say, "I don't give more because I'm selfish and I like my stuff." I think that's the honest reason why I don't give more.

I know it's okay to be wealthy and God gives us all things to enjoy, but what keeps us from selling much of what we don't use, living in smaller houses, giving to the poor and needy and furthering mission work? Do you think when Christians have fancy houses and dress well, unsaved people think they have a double standard? Do you think we focus too much on the being a good steward verses and the taking care of our families verses while we try not to look too closely at the story of the widow who gave all she had or the ones who were so poor they had to sell their possessions just so they could have money to give, and what about the people that gave as though they were rich? Am I living according to the Gospel or am I making the Gospel fit my life so I can be comfortable? These are some of the questions I've been asking myself. I don't have the answers.

I decided to challenge myself to give away the things I don't need or use instead of selling them. There's certainly nothing wrong with selling things to make a little extra money. I just wanted to challenge myself in this way. I'm finding it harder than I thought it would be, though I'm still enjoying it. Sometimes it can be difficult to give knowing that you will get nothing in return. I'm working on a bigger project to be able to give more in the future. I also have some specific giving projects on my bucket list that I'm really looking forward to.

Are we excited about giving? Are we working on ways to give more. Are we looking for opportunities?

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

I like what he says about having an abundance for every good deed. We should think up some good deeds and pray expecting God to provide. Maybe He already has and we just can't let go.

(Please post your favorite giving verses in the comments section on my blog so future readers can enjoy them and be encouraged and inspired).