Clean Your Lenses, Change Your Life

The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. – Luke 11:34

My eyeglasses are perpetually dirty. How they get dirty is still a mystery to me and most of the time I don’t realize how dirty they are until my husband tells me to clean them. They get smeared and speckled with whatever I come across in my day, I suppose. But no matter the culprit, I'm still seeing a slightly smudged view of the world. This is not a crisis for me. Its only a pair of glasses.

But what happens to our vision when our lives get smeared? It happens to all of us.

The way we live our lives determines how clearly we see the world and how easily we hear from God.

For instance, when we are:

• too busy or too cluttered, we lose sight of our long-term goals
• disobedient to God's commandments, we lose sight of what is right and wrong
• caught up in emotional pain, we lose sight of reality.

Each of these things causes us to see the world differently because each also blocks the Light of God from reaching our hearts and minds and we stumble around in the dark.

How dirty is your lens to the world and the lens to your soul? What can you do today to start allowing the light in to your darkness? Take one small step today to wipe them clean. Then, prepare to see a whole new world.

You Can't Handle the Truth

"Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement. -Luke 9:44-45

One of the most memorable scenes in cinematic history is in the movie "A Few Good Men" where Jack Nicholson's character exclaims in the court room "You can't handle the truth!". While this was merely a movie, the statement still rings true in real life. A lot of times, we can't handle the truth.

Jesus knew this. In Luke 9:44-45, while the disciples were marvelling over all the miracles Jesus recently performed, Jesus told them in plain language He would be captured, yet they didn't understand what He meant. They didn't understand because God kept the truth from them. They couldn't handle the truth.

I find it interesting that even though they didn't understand, they were afraid to ask for clarification. Instead, they quickly changed the subject and started arguing among themselves about who was the best disciple!

Sometimes its just not our time to understand. Often we pray and pray, asking for wisdom in a certain situation but the solution eludes us. Other times, we really don't want to gain understanding because we change the subject and worry over more trivial matters, just as the disciples did.

To gain understanding, we must be able to handle the truth. Spiritual maturity is key and timing is everything. So the next time you are at a loss regarding the answers to all of your "Why, God?" questions, ask yourself (and God) what He wants you to learn about yourself through your current circumstance. God will tell you the truth when you've matured enough to do something meaningful with it.

Connect learning with living:

• What situation are you questioning in your life?
• How would knowing the "why" of the situation change your future?
• How diligently are you seeking the truth of the situation about you?

Resurrection Day: What Do You Need to Believe?

"He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" (Luke 24:6-7 NKJV)

Today is Resurrection Sunday, the day Christians celebrate one of the most spectacular and debated events the world has ever known, the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus' return to life after a horrific death on the cross is the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus conquered death for all mankind and still lives today for us!

We can conquer death too. We can also conquer life.

However, we don't conquer death without belief in Him who overcame and without belief that it can be done. Only those who accept Jesus as Lord will overcome an eternal spiritual death and possess everlasting life! And in the here and now on this earth, we won't conquer our circumstances without trust and belief in God's power to work out His will.

In life, we are not much different than the disciples who first saw the risen Jesus, but didn't recognize Him for who He was because they were so caught up in their own sadness that they forgot Jesus said He would return.

Belief in the seemingly impossible is easier said than done because...

... our limited intellectual capacity blinds us to the unlimited capacity of God

... our emotions cause us to feel hopeless and forget the truth about our circumstances

... our pride refuses to acknowledge God's perfect plan is better than our plan.

What do you need to believe in today? What do you need renewed hope for? If its a first time belief in Jesus, click here. If you need to remember something God told you once before, remember God's power and promises. We can overcome anything through His love. Remember, He overcame the grave so we could live life to the fullest. (John 10:10)

Give God a chance. Remember His timing is perfect. And hang on for the most exciting ride of your life. Jesus is risen! How will you let this fact affect your life?

Be blessed,

Janna

Thinking Like Children

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." - Luke 18:17

If you can, think back to a time in your life before innocence was lost.  Before behavior patterns became cemented into your lifestyle.  Before you knew it all.  Before you were ever hurt or betrayed by someone.  Before you became judgmental.  When it was easy to forgive.  Times were easier then, weren't they? 

Innocence is underrated.  From a learning perspective, innocence brings ease into learning.  With innocence, old ways of thinking don't have to be unlearned and skeptical thoughts don't have to be wrestled asiide.  From a teaching perspective, there is nothing like teaching a pupil who is eager to learn, has no presuppositions the subject matter and is willing to accept instruction for what it is and nothing more.  Children are that way.  It is no wonder Jesus loved them so. 

Jesus used the children as examples for us.  He knew how difficult we make things for ourselves sometimes by thinking too much or rationalizing ways to live our own way and still be right with God.  He knew how much we need to be right and would resist being told to change our ways.   He also knew that with our own adult thinking we would fail.

How do you receive God's instruction for your life?  With adult resistance or childlike acceptance?  Oh, if only we could accept His teachings as llittle children.  Maybe we can with a little work on our part to put our pride aside.  If we ask God to receive His wisdom as eager to learn children, He will grant our request.  Only then can we enter the fullness of all God intends for us.  Maybe it won't be as hard as we think.  After all, as Christians we are children of God.

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Our Sure Inheritance

And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. -Luke 15:31 NKJV

Most of us have heard the parable of the Prodigal Son and how he was once lost but eventually came back home seeking a new start with his family.  I love how it pictures the second chance we get with God once we return to Him after we have gone astray.  However, I can't help but think about the Prodigal's brother (the good son) and the "What about me?" thoughts going through his mind as he hears of his father's plans for his brother's "Welcome Home" party.

The good son needed some help to see the bigger picture of his life.  His father aptly reminded him of his place in the world.  All that the father had was already the son's. 

Too often, we are like the Good Son, worried about how and when we are going to be rewarded for our obedience to God in things big and small.  We see how others succomb to worldly pleasures and fail to heed God's call on their lives, yet have lives seemingly more fulfilling than ours and wonder "What about me?".  God's answer to us is as simple as the father's answer to his good son.  All that God has is ours.  God is always with us.  Like the Good Son, we have the riches of God at our fingertips in the form of inner peace, joy and soulful rest, because we can be confident that God is in charge of our greater good. 

In addition to peace on earth as a reward, we also are guaranteed an inheritance in heaven with God.  We are joint heirs with Christ in our future home.  We just have to wait a little longer for it than those who are getting their only inheritance from the things on earth.  But it is worth the wait.  We just need to remember to see things as they really are. 

To think on:

1.  What good things am I missing because I'm so focused on what I don't have?

2.  How can I remind myself to overlook the "blemishes" on my wall of life, and see what I do have, no matter what is going on around me?

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Filled to Overflowing

One of these days I am going to be organized.  I will let you know when that happens, for now just know that today is not that day.  However, there is joy in the office cleaning sometimes.  As I go through papers listening to my praise music I sometimes come across some treasures.  I found an old journal entry I had written almost a year ago today and I hope that it encourages you that your personal quiet time with God is probably the most eternally rewarding thing that you can do. (Note:  This entry has been modified to protect the innocent.)

Today I read Luke 6.  Jesus is doing things on the sabbath in my opinion, just to test the Pharisees.  He and his disciples ate from the cornfields (v1) and on another sabbath He taught and healed the withered hand of a man (v7-11).  Then...He preached.

Two things I liked the most out of the chapter were what Jesus said in His preaching about the fruit and foundation of our lives. 

1.  The Fruit

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Our teaching, mentoring, counseling, etc. needs to come from an overflow of God's Word in our lives - from that "abundance of the heart".  When I think of the times when I have not been so positive or uplifting and I realize that in those times I have probably not been filled up to overflowing.

2.  The Foundation

If we don't have a firm foundation to stand on in our lives, when times get tough, we will not get going but instead fall down under the pressure.  When troubles come we need to seek God and hold on to the foundation of Jesus in our lives so that we will not be shaken.

Luke 6:46 And why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded up on a rock.

I thank God for Jesus, the Living Word, the rock and foundation in my life.  Lord, help me cast the vision to those in my life and in my ministry, that through Jesus and God's Word, they will be able to live victorious, fruitful lives.