Saint Patrick
St. Patrick was a remarkable man who chose to live among what society considered barbaric people, the Celts. The Celts were known for their violent tendencies, bold behavior, and engagement in ritualistic human sacrifices. In his earlier years, Patrick had been enslaved by the Celts. But eventually, he managed to escape captivity, and during his newfound freedom, he felt a profound calling to return to his captors and introduce them to Christianity. He was already well-known among the Celts, so they were fully aware of the risks he faced by coming back to them. The driving force behind Patrick's mission was his desire to introduce this community to a God who could inspire a man to willingly face imminent danger. This powerful revelation led the Celts to turn away from their false gods. Much like in 1st Kings, God again proved to be far more than the little gods humans have made for themselves.
Humble Yourself
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, once told a story about returning to her home soon after she’d found her fame in New York City. When her family began to do the household chores, her father asked her why she wasn’t participating. “I’m a star,” she protested. Her father brought her down to size, and sent her to mop the kitchen floor. That was a lesson in humility she carried with her and never forgot. The Bible teaches us to consider others better than ourselves. Philippians chapter 2 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” In a world where everyone seems to want to be number one, God asks us to go against the grain and serve others. Even Jesus, the Son of God, was a humble servant, according to Philippians 2. So, are you ready to mop the floor?
Adversity
The 1800’s philosopher, Fredrich Nietzsche (NEE-chuh) said, “What doesn’t destroy me, makes me stronger.” Researchers put that old saying to the test. They found that people who had experienced events of adversity reported better mental health and well-being than people with no history of misfortune. It seems that exposure to adversity promotes better resilience and higher life satisfaction. This is not surprising! The Bible tells us that adversity is how God makes us stronger and matures our faith. James chapter 1 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” So put your trust in God and let the tough times in life toughen you and your faith!
Treasures of Darkness
In her book “Learning to Walk in the Dark,” Barbara Brown Taylor writes about her exploration of Organ Cave. In the darkest part, a beautiful rock full of tiny crystals resembling glitter caught her eye. She put it in her backpack as a souvenir. Later, back in her room, Taylor pulled out the rock anticipating miniature fireworks; but instead, it looked more like an ordinary piece of gravel! The rock’s “light” was a treasure only in the dark. In the Bible, Isaiah 45:3 says, “I will give you the treasures of darkness- riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord” So, if you find yourself in a dark place today, just know that there are some treasures that can only be revealed to you there.
Worry
Mark Twain once said, “My life has been filled with calamities, some of which actually happened.” We laugh at his comment, because we can see ourselves in it. But “worry” is no joke. It causes serious problems: physiologically, emotionally, and spiritually. Most of our stress comes from worrying about things that might happen in the future; and yet, research shows that 85 percent of what we worry about never happens. This means that only 15 percent of all that you worry about is even worth it. What a waste! The Bible tells us not to worry. 1st Peter, chapter 5 says to cast all your anxieties onto God because He cares for you. God knows our needs. He cares and He will provide. So enjoy today and leave tomorrow in His hands!
Weigh Station
A weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway equipped with large scales to inspect the weight of trucks. This is to ensure it’s not overweight and is compliant with state laws and safety guidelines. God’s Word, the Bible, is a checkpoint along life’s highway to inspect the weight of your mind, body, spirit, and soul. Life is often metaphorically described as a long-distance race and Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “strip off every weight that slows us down.” So, what are you carrying around with you that’s heavy and cumbersome? What’s slowing you down? Allow the encouragement of scripture to show you what you need to let go of and leave behind.
The Mighty Oak Tree
Think about the difference between the mighty oak tree and a quickly growing plant like a tomato. The oak tree grows slowly, it sends roots deep into the soil that will enable it to withstand strong storms, hot summers and cold winters. It eventually provides shade and a habitat for wildlife. However, the tomato plant grows quickly but doesn’t even last through the winter. Our faith is much like the oak tree. It takes time. It takes life lived to grow a deeper understanding of who God is in your life and it takes time to learn His voice. As your roots grow deeper into the things of God, you too become stronger and more resilient to the storms in life.
Good Enough
A friend of mine’s grandmother passed away recently. And sadly, in one of the last conversations he had with her she stated that she just hoped she’d been good enough to get into heaven. What does “good enough” even look like? The comedian, Mike Atkinson once said, “If you can get through the day without coffee, if you can always be cheerful, if you can resist complaining, if you have never lied; well, my friend, then you’re almost as good as your dog.” In Mark, chapter seven, Jesus talks about what’s inside a person’s heart that makes them clean or unclean. Not outward performance. As a new creation in Christ, our behavior should transform because we are allowing the holy spirit to shape our minds to be more like Jesus. No one is simply “good enough” to not need His undeserved Grace.
Keep it Clean
One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing someone littering. When I see someone throwing trash out of a car window, it drives me crazy to see someone disrespecting the environment like that. God gave us this beautiful planet, and He wants us to be good stewards over it. We find ourselves asking God for things we desire, but if He can’t trust us with taking care of what He’s already given us, why should we expect more? God knows our needs, and it’s His good pleasure to meet our needs (and even some of our wants) according to His will. But let’s be gracious and thankful for what He’s already given us by taking care of this beautiful garden called planet earth.
No Place Like Home
Rather than focusing on scientific details of the origin of life, the book of Genesis focuses on sharing the world’s purpose and how it’s meant to function. The author, John Walton, says that the book of Genesis is telling us how God turned this house into a home. When you go to a friend’s house, you aren’t concerned with how the foundation was poured or the layout of the plumbing. You’re more interested in how this space is used to bring loved ones together. In other words, you’re less focused on the “how” and more focused on the “why” of the house. The book of Genesis is not a science textbook. It’s the first in a collection that share the story of God and His people.