A Pleasant Thing To Do

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. - Psalm 135:3

Singing changes one's whole attitude. It is a pleasant thing we can do at any time and circumstance. It makes joyful times more joyful and difficult times easier to bear.

Old Testament battles were won because God's people started singing! Martyrs like John Hus stood firm in unbelievable trials by singing in the midst of the flames. Songs like "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" were sung by slaves as they work under miserable conditions. They learned by experience what we should not forget.

Sing praises to God with the voice he gave you even if you can't carry a tune.

It will be good and pleasing to God and you.

- fritz

Clueless (in a good way)

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?"- Matthew 25:37-39

The "righteous" in Jesus' parable were clueless, in a good way.

They didn't think their actions were particularly noteworthy or good, they weren't keeping score of deeds done and to whom, they weren't even self aware; they were simply acting from a heart of Love, being who they were made to be.

The Apostle Paul put it this way,

"yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; ... he that judgeth me is the Lord." - 1st Corinthians 4:3b, 4a, 4c

It is time to put down the score card and just live for Christ.

- fritz

Hearing Before Answering

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." - Proverbs 18:13

There is something perverse about human nature, more often than not we begin with a solution before we really understand the problem.

At work a team forms and decides the best way forward, then hires a consultant.

A ministry team forms and the leader, someone truly gifted in personal one-on-one ministry, does the teaching while the teachers are assigned one-on-one ministry.

A church group decides to build a prayer garden for God, but does not visit prayer gardens or consult those that use them before construction begins.

Wise leadership starts with hearing and understanding BEFORE answering, even when hearing takes longer than desired. God doesn't need our solutions, he wants our listening.

- fritz

Who the Bible was written for

For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written - 1st Corinthians 9:9-10a

The Bible, even the Old Testament, was written for us, not just for the people of that day.

It finds its fulfillment in the followers of Christ and should always be read that way.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. - Hebrews 11:39-40

-fritz

The right course of action

God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me - Isaiah 30:15-17 (Message)

Sometimes, especially in a crisis, just being still and waiting on God to reveal the right course of action IS the right course of action.

- fritz

Actually Give Thanks

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - 1st Thessalonians 5:18

It's easy to think we are thankful, until we try to nail down specifics.

Here is a revealing exercise - Write down ten (10) things you are, specifically, thankful for, and don't get "churchy" (we all know you are thankful for God, Jesus, etc.). Try it, you may be surprised.

Put that list where you normally stop to pray, it will be a blessing.

Here is my list, in no particular order after the first item:
1. My wife, children, and family
2. A good job
3. A good vehicle
4. Lack of pain
5. A CPAP machine and the ability to sleep
6. Air conditioning
7. A good home
8. My orange tree
9. Our friends (remember, I said in no particular order)
10. Freedom to Worship.

- fritz

Our Work - A Gift From God

"Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening." - Psalm 104:23

“Though we may not always understand the circumstances or hardships that we will face, our attitude should be one that says: 'No matter what I am going through today, this work that I am in is a gift from God'" - Don Meyer¹

"If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

- fritz

^{1 - Elim Bible Institute's Bell Tower, Spring 2009, Finding Satisfaction in Your Work, pg 10}