Smile

Video records of every possible event are becoming a way of life.  Everywhere you look, someone has a phone with built in camera poised to record the moment.   A security camera on a porch, in a business, at the bank, at the gas station, in the park, walking down the street, driving on the highway or thru your own neighborhood,  have captured and recorded your actions. Like it or not.

A few years ago, I recall a report of a woman who was reported missing.  Within a few hours, reports were released showing her car at various locations during the day, thanks to video recordings.  I was amazed that activity could be tracked and accessed so quickly.

Cameras catch criminals in the act of committing crimes.  Cameras catch all sorts of activity, both good and bad.  Police cruisers are equipped with dash-cams, and some law enforcement officers even have body-cams.  A passerby may record a good deed, an amazing moment, a stunt or act of kindness, a child's birthday, a dance recital, a surprise birthday, a church service and chances are good the video is on social media, both recorded and live.  Reminds me of "Smile, you're on candid camera!"

We know we are being watched, right?  

The fact that we are being watched, should cause us to ponder our ways.  With or without a camera, our sins will surely find us out...the consequences alone will strangle us like a cord tightly wrapped.  Nothing is hidden.  Not from the camera and not from God.  Even if the camera fails to capture the whole scene, nothing escapes God.  From His perspective, every detail, every angle, every action is seen with perfect clarity...nothing escapes His view.  We may not care that our actions are captured on camera, but we should care that our Father in Heaven sees all and cause us to carefully consider our ways. 

On this Monday morning, take a few moments to consider your thoughts and actions...not for the sake of the perspective of the camera or the viral video...rather, consider that your actions will have an affect on someone else and on yourself...and are certainly seen.

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths.”

Proverbs 5:21 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/pro.5.21.nkjv

“Mark well that GOD doesn’t miss a move you make; he’s aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.”

Proverbs 5:21-23 MSG

http://bible.com/97/pro.5.21-23.msg

Whodunit?

If you have watched a movie or TV show that involves a murder or suspicious death of a character, you've heard the investigating officer ask the question "did he have any enemies"?  The answer to that question is often vague, especially if the victim was involved in a lifestlye or profession that might cause someone to take offense...or the person had a reputation of kindness or goodness that the thought of anyone having something against them is unthinkable.  Then there are those times when the victim had known issues with a person and that individual is named as a person of interest or a suspect.  It is just a TV show but we get caught up in the story line and are waiting to hear the answer to that question of "who is the enemy?" or "whodunit?"

There will be situations and circumstances in our lives that may cause us to think we have an enemy. As much as we would like to point a finger and name a person as an enemy, consider this...they aren't.  To clarify, there is an enemy...and he will sure use anyone he can to come against you, but it isn't that person...

You can fight this enemy.  But the key to victory is recognizing the true enemy.  If you understand who the enemy is, then you will know how to defend yourself. 

The enemy has a name and a plan to stop you from achieving God's plan in your life.  The enemy will use anyone and anything he can to get you focused on everything but using your most effective weapons.  Your enemy is crafty and deceptive...but the only power he has is in what you allow...he can't stand against your praise and prayer power.  

The drama is real, the attacks knock you off course, the focus can quickly shift if you will remember that God is your strength and begin to praise God and pray specifically against the real enemy...and the shift will be from victim to victor!  

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/eph.6.10-12.nkjv

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”

II Corinthians 10:4 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/2co.10.4.nkjv

Let your light shine

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...remember singing this song? Simple song, simple words, powerful message. 

Let your "light" shine and bring glory to God...an attitude adjustment is in order today...you have the light that is needed in this dark world...you have the message of hope that the world needs to hear...and your actions today could make a profound difference in someone's life so consider carefully your actions...let the light of Christ be reflected in every word, every action...let your light shine! 

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Matthew 5:15 NIV

http://bible.com/111/mat.5.15.niv

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:8-20 NIV

http://bible.com/111/eph.5.8-20.niv

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 NIV

http://bible.com/111/mat.5.16.niv

Lipservice

The dictionary offer this simple definition of lipservice:

"support for someone or something that is expressed by someone in words but that is not shown in that person's actions"

Ever been in a situation where a person is telling you all the "right" things but the test of time proved that the words were it, no action followed the promises...they didn't follow through.  You hope the intentions were good and the follow through was prevented by some good reason so the next time, with the benefit of doubt, you hear the words...and wait for the results...and nothing happens.  You soon realize this person isn't going to follow through...they talk a good talk but their actions don't match up.  Lipservice. 

We don't like it when someone pays us lipservice.  We can place no confidence in a person whose actions fall short of over and over again.  

We don't appreciate lipservice. Neither does God. 

“The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

Isaiah 29:13 NIV

http://bible.com/111/isa.29.13.niv

Enough said? 

Examine yourself...no lipservice...be sure your walk matches your talk! 

All

What do you give "your all" to? You know what I mean, is it your job, children, husband, hobby?  In other words, do you give your best effort to accomplishing your job responsibilities, without distraction?  Do your children or husband come first in your life, before your own needs?  Do you devote hours to a special interest, letting other things go so you can give it all your attention?  Do you  give your all to helping a friend or family member, setting aside your own tasks to do something for another?  We know what it looks like when we give all...usually giving all will require sacrifice, meeting the needs or demands of another means letting some of your own needs or demands be put on the back burner while you do what is needed.  

Giving our all isn't a negative trait.  In fact, devotion and diligence, commitment to a cause or person, perseverence and unselfish surrender of self are signs of a person you can depend on.  The question for us to consider is this, do we give our ALL to God?  Our ALL belongs to Him, first. 

Take a few minutes to consider where you give your ALL and hit the reset button...refocus your ALL on God...He deserves it!

“Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

Matthew 22:37-38 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/mat.22.37-38.nkjv

Treasure

Treasures are still found in sunken ships, buried under water and in the sand...some of these treasures have survived the conditions of time, but most do not...the rust, corrosion and erosion by the elements turns treasure to trash over time.  What was once a prized possession now is valueless.  As much as the things we desire on this earth may look shiny and bright, have great value to our lives or great buying power, they are of little value in the grand scheme of life, have no eternal value.  They won't last forever. And if theses things hold our heart, they have no exchange in heaven. Treasures are not the issue, it is our heart's value placed on treasure over truth.  What do you treasure? Where is your heart?

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/mat.6.19-21.nkjv

Happy New Year!!!

The new year is underway...day one is already gone.  While most things in life don't change at the stroke of midnight as a new year dawns, there is a feeling like the reset button has been pushed and the new year gives hope to a fresh start.

The reset button on most electronic devices is a built-in function to restore the factory settings and revive the correct functioning of a device that isn't working as expected or when it is acting "wonky." Sometimes, returning a device to the original settings will make the functions return to normal and all is well...however, there are times that a reset means starting over from scratch...you know,  restoring data from a backup or having to start over.  That was my experience when setting up a new wireless modem...all the work that I had done to complete the setup was wiped out when the technician said the dreaded words...let's try to reset...after all other troubleshooting attempts had failed.   This wasn't an easy task, either.  The reset button on this device is found in a tiny little hole that requires a tiny little something to stick in the tiny little hole to activate the reset function, which also meant getting the step ladder in place so I could climb up to reach the device placed in the highest possible location in the house.  Hitting the reset button worked to establish the necessary connection but all the previous settings were wiped out.  So, I had to start over.   A new start.  While I didn't really appreciate the opportunity to start over at that moment, the equipment was soon functioning as intended.

There are times that we need to push the reset button, especially when the wonkiness is getting out of control and nothing is working as it should.   While we may be ready to throw the device out the window, before taking that drastic action....back up and reset.   Jesus gave us excellent instructions on how to hit the reset button...He would get away from it all and pray.

[Luke 5:16 NKJV] 16 So He Himself [often] withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

The reset button that is part of our original equipment is designed to work best when we start each day spending time with HIM.   We don't have to wait for the fresh start of a new year, we can find this fresh start every new day...by simply getting away to a quiet place, spending time in the life-giving scriptures, talking to our Heavenly Father and listening to HIM.  This reset button, pushed on a regular basis, will keep the wonkiness in check!

My reset button for this year is found in this verse:

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."  Matthew 5:6

It is easy to fall victim to the pull of this world that will cause us to hunger and thirst for things that we really don't need and for things that have no eternal value. We become driven by the desires of the flesh and spend more time taking care of self than taking care of God's business.   Let's hit the reset button and check ourselves and resolve to focus our hunger and thirst for the things that God desires and to let love be the priority in all that we do.

[1Co 13:1-8 NKJV] 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails..."