My Indicators Went Haywire

When something's just not right with my car, an indicator starts flashing on my dashboard. The same thing is true for checking and mastering our moods. When we’re dealing with an emotion that is causing our bright light to dim, then we need to fix it -- quickly! And, if we want to be the brightest light that reflects Jesus everywhere we are, then we should always be checking our indicators.

Case in point: Two weeks ago I reserved a large, private room in a restaurant for a group of 20 women on Monday night. This room would give us plenty of space to play some fun icebreaker games. I show up early and find they've placed us in a much smaller, tighter room with little space to move around. The larger room was now FULL of poker players. Did you notice I said “full”? They needed that room. We didn’t.

I should have taken notice of my “indicator lights” but didn’t. I proceed to fold my arms over my tummy. You know. That “look” that speaks without speaking. The co-manager is on the phone and I wait in that stance. He gets off the phone. I express my angst. He calls the manager who took my reservation. She says she had told me she would move us to a smaller room if our group was smaller. In my memory, (Lord, help me!) she never said that. And, if I could make it worse, I did. With little candor, I say: "I won't be selecting this place again in the future." I just HAD to make my point. Grrrr! My little light dimmed as I ate a slice of humble pie when only 14 of my women show up. Obviously, the smaller room was the right fit for us.

Some of our emotions can be so damaging, so hurtful, and so non-effective. We’ve (I've) got to change what we’re (I'm) feeling. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ”. Our attitude includes our emotions, so what we’re feeling should be the same as that of Jesus. We need to ask our self, “How would Jesus feel in this situation? Would Jesus get irritated with this manager? No. Would Jesus have a “tude”? No. Would Jesus be up all night, wringing His hands and worrying that something isn’t going to work out? No. Would Jesus be fearful? No.”

We should instantly dismiss any feeling that doesn’t make us more like Jesus. If Jesus wouldn’t respond to someone with negative emotion (i.e., a store clerk, a spouse, a co-worker), then we shouldn’t either. If Jesus would present Himself as kind and understanding, then we should, too. We quickly drop that attitude, and we figure out what Jesus would do instead.

It's time for us to take control of our emotions and allow God to use them for good. Then God will do His part. Romans 8:28 says "ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes." Those things, in my case, DID work out for good. Because this group of women had this smaller, intimate place to be, we were able to share miracle stories, encourage and support each other, and pray together. No need for games when God steps up and brightens up the room with His love. AND, gives me content for this blog!

Less of me and more of Him. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

I Want to be a Pointer

Okay. I’ll admit it. Some days I struggle with humility. I get so fixated on who commented or liked or loved my blog, that I fail to remember it is HE Who deserves all the honor and praise. Less of me, more of Him. That I might decrease and He increase.

We’ve been talking about John the Baptist a lot lately and, WOW, did he ever exude humility! Those two boys – Jesus and John – were cousins with intimately close mamas – so intimate that when Mary showed up at Elizabeth’s home, Elizabeth’s baby boy, John, leapt in her womb. They were quite a foursome. I suspect those boys had many play-times together. They were more than cousins – they were “soul and spirit” brothers.

Just think how John could have been jealous of Jesus, but He continued to say things like: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) And, I agree with John. I want that, too! I really do desire that when others see me, they see Jesus. I want any attention I get to deflect off me and land right to He Who is worthy of all praise. He must increase, but I must decrease.

I suppose this is a common struggle in the world we’re living in today. In this “survival of the fittest” to gain the most followers or take the best “touched-up” selfie, or profile our amazing “bestie” friends, it is easy to allow the self-praise desires to cloud the path to Christ. This is why I know I am inspired by the humility of St John the Baptist. When given the opportunity to claim personal fame, he deflects the attention to Christ.

I wonder how much of what we do proclaims to the world, “more of you, God"! In the midst of racking up those likes and loves, are our efforts leading others to Christ, or are they fattening up the number of followers in the popularity score we’re keeping for ourselves? Lord, please help us show You off and be a pointer to You as an example of true humility. And when the world seeks to capture our attention with promises of glory or fame or accolades of any kind, may we point to the One who deserves all our praise. Less of me, more of You, God!

Our Great Creator and Entertainer

My typical Sunday morning routine is to listen to an online church service or Christian video while I'm endeavoring to “beautify” myself -- hair, make-up, clothes selection, etc. Yesterday, my search left me wanting, so I stopped looking. I promptly apologized to God and said, “How could I be looking for something to entertain me when you are the “Great Entertainer” Who brings me so much amusement and enjoyment!

The Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards or Grammys is announced when a single or group wins the accolades of fans who vote them in because of their talents. I love it when I hear the performers give all the credit to God for their abilities and fame. They are giving credit where credit is due when they do that -- like when John the Baptist announced “I must decrease. He must increase!” (John 3:30).

God our Creator, deserves all the glory and praise because He created everything, including you and me. Maybe it sounds irreverent to call Him the Great Entertainer but how could I think otherwise when I realize He entertains me with the wonder and beauty of His creation. He entertains me through my friends and family. He entertains me when He nudges me in the direction I should go. And, here’s one I hadn’t thought about until Sunday morning -- He entertains me when I’m sleeping and gives me sweet rest and sometimes gives me dreams. In fact, He entertained me Saturday night when I dreamed that Jesus was dead and lying on a slab. People were with me and we were mourning His death when all of sudden His eyes opened up and we started cheering and shouting “Jesus is alive! Jesus is alive!”

I’m thinking the Jesus I saw in that dream was probably Jim Caviezel who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”. Jim’s parents attend my church here in Frisco and I remember hearing his testimony about how, during the filming of the movie, that he was hit with lightning at precisely the time of the crucifixion and on the cross. He had a near-death experience. It was captured on film and his realistic acting wasn’t acting at all. He lived through it to tell the story. Talk about God being the Great Entertainer!

He continues to entertain us as we watch the shenanigans of the enemy who is making such a fool of himself in the political and Hollywood arenas. That’s how we should look at the enemy – a weak, fearful, screwed up (as written by C.S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters”) and near-to-his-end. We will certainly be entertained by giving him the “last laugh” one day.

It’s time we put God on the pedestal and give Him the honor, the glory, and the praise that He is most worthy of because He is truly the incomparable, undeniable, indescribable GREAT Entertainer Who surprises us each day with His newest and greatest performances. He’ll make us laugh and we’ll cry with the thrills of His beneficent mercy and grace. He made all of this just for us! Perhaps it’s time to switch off the social media, TV, and the voices that endeavor to drown Him out. When we do that….we’ll most likely realize “There’s no business, like God’s show business…..because He shows out every day!”

But put your hope in God, Who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17).