Dare to be Different!

Different! This is the word that stood out to me while having a conversation with my sister Simone. She and I were having a conversation about this guy she was talking to, and as she was talking to me about him, I asked what it was that she liked about him, and her response was, "He's different." Not only did she say that he was different, but she also told me how he was different. Surely, most of us has said this about someone we dated, and if you are married I'm sure one of the reasons you married the person is because they were different, unique, and distinct from all the others. But, just as they are different, we as Christians are to be different...and set apart from this world.

The purpose of this post is about being different, or to be different than the world.

In the book of Daniel, the first chapter, the prophet Daniel is a good example of being different because he was different from everyone else. Chapter 1 also gives us the example of Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah of how we are to be different like they were.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. 2 The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar, and placed in the temple treasury of his god.

3 The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility, 4 young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king's palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans; 5 after three years' training they were to enter the king's service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. 6 Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief chamberlain changed their names: Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.

8 But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement. 9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, 10 he nevertheless said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king." 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see." 14 He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days; 15 after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. 16 So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.

After reading this, you can see here that verse 8 tells us what we need to know. "But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement." Not only was Daniel different from the others who worked for the King, but his friends were also different. Every time Daniel and his friends sat at the table with all the other young men training to serve the king, they were different because they ate vegetables and drank water only....while the others were eating all the King's food and drank wine. They resolved not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine. Note: Though I only pasted Chapter 1 from the book of Daniel...chapter 3 also contrasts worldly men with men of God.

In sum, the application of this post is very simple. Be like Daniel! Remember, we can make a difference in the world, by being in the world, but not of the world...with the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," God commands His people to be separate from the world. We are in the world, but we are not of the world."

NOTE: You will not see perfection in a Christian, but you will see something different in that person!

It's not just God watching you!

Frustrated, irritable, and spaced out is what described me today at work, or shall I say this has been me at work several days before this day. And according to one of my co-workers, she said I was kind of out of myself at our unit meeting today. I admit that I have been frustrated and irritable with the demands of my job. However, it never crossed mind that my co-worker was watching me.

While most people know me as a bubbly, cheerful, joyful, and happy go lucky person, this was a good reminder to me that…you never know who’s watching you! Not only that, but from a Christian perspective, we as Christians must realize that God isn’t the only one watching us, but the world is watching us too. Most of us don't give it much thought, but people do watch us. They are watching to find out what a Christian is like, how we react under pressure, what we do when the going gets rough, and what we do when there seems to be no way out! That said, this post is about being an example.

Let's look at the book of 1 Timothy

In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul tells Timothy…“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity”.

In this case, we have Paul telling Timothy to demonstrate who God is through actions. And we can see here that Timothy has a duty. He is to set an example for Christians to follow. Not only that but Timothy is being watched and with that being said, you never know who is watching you from a far or even close for that matter. People watch you while you don’t think anybody is. The same is also true with parents and children. Even when you don't realize it, they are constantly watching and learning from you. Not only that, but they learn more from you by the eye, than they do by the ear...and that's why we as Christians should continually remember the influence of our own example. They see our ways, note our conduct, observe our behaviour, and what they see us do. As I stated earlier in this post, it never crossed my mind that my co-worker was watching me, but it did bring to my attention that I need to be cognizant of my reactions to situations as a Christian.
Always remember, someone, somewhere is watching you! That someone is watching you at home, church, work, school, and in your neighbourhood and that’s why Titus 2:7 tells us, "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. So, while it’s safe to say that we need to provide an example for others to see, it's important to keep in mind that there are two kinds of examples: by what you do and what you do not do.

Conclusion

Let this post be a good reminder to you that you never know who's watching you, or who may be basing their verdict about God on the way you handle your circumstances, your emotions, and your situations. Remember, many times we are the only example that people will have of God. So let us be an example to people in words, in temper, in diligence, in moderation, in faith, in love, in kindness, and in humility to our family, friends, spouse, co-workers, neighbour's, etc...After all, you never who's watching your example.

Note to self : Stay Focused!

Life is full of distractions! Most of us are distracted several times, if not dozens of times, every day. As for me, I work in a distracting work environment and where I work, I am constantly faced with a number of distractions, (i.e., co-workers, clients, e-mails, phone calls, etc.) and with that being said, staying focused can be tough. As we all know, distractions are just part of life, but from a biblical perspective, a distraction would be anything that draws your attention away from God, His Word, and His plan and purpose for your life. 

I myself, become distracted in so many other ways all too often. Even in opening my computer to write this, I found myself clicking on something else. But, if I really want to be distracted, all I have to do is turn on my phone. While God has been trying to help me recognize and understand the distractions in my life, my biggest distraction was Facebook... and after realizing how much of a distraction it had become to me and my focus on God, I decided to deactivate my account temporarily. Other things like the TV, internet, social media, cell phones, etc. can also be distractions. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with any of those things, but when they become a distraction from God, that's the point it is detrimental...and Satan’s desire, more than ever, is to distract us from God, His word, and His plan and purpose for our lives.

1 Corinthians 7:35 says,  “And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”

Let's look at Nehemiah 6:1-3...¹ Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) ² That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. ³ And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
 
As you can see, Satan tried to distract Nehemiah from the work of God, but he doesn't allow himself to be distracted by Satan's tactics. In the text, Nehemiah responded, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”... That said, Nehemiah refused to be distracted! Nehemiah understood his mission and was committed to keep focused on his mission. 

In closing, God has something for all us to do, but we must not get distracted. We must STAY FOCUSED ON GOD! Now while some people are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), a case could be made that we also have at least some form of spiritual attention deficit disorder too. However, it's important to note that life will distract you, but you don't have to stay distracted. Proverbs 4:25-27 says, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” As you see, this proverb is all about FOCUS. This encourages us to stay on the course, fix on what's important. 

STAY FOCUSED ON GOD!

Rejoice with those who Rejoice!

Today while at the office, my co-worker came to me and shared that she went with her friend's boyfriend today to pick up her friend's engagement ring. After her telling me this, I went on to ask how she felt, and her response was "I'm excited". Perhaps you're wondering why I asked her how she felt, but the reason I asked her is because she is single like myself, and we both have the desire to be married.

While it's a good thing to be happy for others, there are times that we find it hard to be genuinely happy for others when they've been given the very thing we've been praying for. But, the Bible instructs us to "rejoice with those who rejoice..." (Rom. 12:15). It’s not always easy to rejoice with those who rejoice, but this is a command that it is to be obeyed totally as any of the Ten Commandments are to be obeyed. However, there are those people who pretend to be happy, and are overwhelmed with feelings of anger, jealousy, and discontentment because good things happen to them instead of us. A friend may buy a new car, or a new house, or perhaps find a new job and makes more money...and all of a sudden human nature makes some think, "Why doesn't that happen to me?" A Christian might think, "Why doesn't God bless me like that?" Consider the story of Jacob and Laban in Genesis 31 where Jacob becomes wealthier than Laban, and Laban and his sons get jealous of Jacob's blessings. On one hand, this shouldn't be a surprise; people are inevitably jealous of those who have more than they have...but as believers, we are to run from jealousy for the reason that it is not a characteristic of a Christian. That said, when another person is blessed with something good, the spiritual response is to rejoice with them and be glad for God's blessings on their life. The carnal response is to wish you were in their place.

All I'm saying is, be happy with those who are happy! Whether it's the friend who aced their exams, the one who found out they are cancer-free, the family expecting a new baby, or the neighbour whose child received Christ. Rejoice! Not only that, but the scripture gives us a simple reason why we should rejoice and that is because everyday is a gift from God. Psalms 118:24 says "This is day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it".

Remember, when you're not happy when good things happen to others, you keep those good things from happening to you. "To be happy for others is not just a choice, it's a good choice...and more than that, it's a God choice." ....So, when was the last time you heard someone's good news and felt true joy for them? 

Yield not to temptation!

Today I received a phone call from a social worker to inform me that a client tested positive for illegal substances. Though this client recently tested negative in March, it was today that she tested positive for cocaine. So with that said, it's obvious that she relapsed. 'Relapse' is a word that is used in many different ways in a variety of contexts, but it is defined in the dictionary as "to fall or slip back into a former state, etc." And with that being said, the message God gave me to share with you is from 1 Peter 1:14, "Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires."

It's important to note that this isn't my client first time relapsing, but the last time she did, it was because she visited "friends" and places that were associated with using...or shall I say it was the friends and places she visited that tempted her to use again. Did you know that it is good to keep away from people and places that are filled with temptations and opportunities to fall back into our old ways? Don't get me wrong, we all are tempted, and many will be tempted fall back to their old ways because our flesh will tempt us in so many ways. But my question to you is, what will you do when you are tempted to go back to your old ways? Will you yield to temptation or will you endure the temptations and conquer it? While the Bible give us many examples of those who faced temptations, there were some that YIELDED to the temptation and did what was wrong, while others CONQUERED the temptation and did what was right.

For example, the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, and beleive it or not, He was tempted in the same manner as we are today. Lust of the flesh (4:1-4). a. Satan commands Jesus to turn the rocks into bread. b. Satan wanted Jesus to fill His stomach with food. c. Remember, Jesus had not eaten in 40 days; and this would fulfill His desire to eat. However, Jesus CONQUERED temptation by quoting the Bible back to the tempter with authority. Jesus had absolute confidence in the Word of God and knew it perfectly.

As you can see, temptation is something we all face as Christians, but I just want to say, do not graitfy the desires of the flesh!!! "Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." 1Corinthians 10:13

Further, Ephesians 4:22-24, tells us that we are told to lay aside or put off the conduct (behavior patterns) of the old man, and "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts." Romans 13:14 ...and remember, those who don't yield to temptation will be rewarded! "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him." James 1:12

The Waiting Room!

About two weeks ago, I found myself waiting to be seen by the doctor and as I was waiting, I will say that I waited for a long time that I started to wonder if the doctor forgot me. Have you ever felt that way about God? Maybe He forgot about you? ... It's probably fair to say none of us ever want to wait, but Psalm 27:14 tells us,

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

We can all agree that waiting can be time-consuming, annoying, and incredibly frustrating, but as I was waiting, the thought came to mind how God puts us in a situation where we have to learn to be still...to wait patiently for Him. Not for somebody else, but for Him. So, what are you waiting for in your life? Perhaps you’re waiting for a child, a job, a house, marriage, a healing, or for a loved one to be saved, or for Jesus’ return... but whatever you are waiting for, you need to wait patiently because there is always a purpose behind waiting, lessons to be learned in waiting, and there is always a blessing when He brings you through it.

Let’s look at some people Bible characters in the Bible who waited on God. Abraham had to wait twenty-five years before God fulfilled his promise to give him a son. David had to wait many years before God fulfilled His promise to make him a king, and Joseph had to wait fourteen years before God fulfilled His promise to rule over his brothers. The people of Israel also had to wait several hundred years before God fulfilled His promise to send them a Saviour. Consider God's promise Abraham and Sarah. Abraham waited nearly 25 years before the birth of his child of promise, and Sarah waited 90 years to have a baby. - Genesis 21:1-2

"Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.  Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him."

That being said, we may not have to wait as long for God's promises to be fulfilled as they did, but we do have to endure some periods of waiting. Gratefully, God makes things relatively easy for us by causing His promises to manifest in stages...some immediately, some after a little while, and some after a long time. But If God makes you wait for 20 years, wait. In closing, we're all in a waiting room of some sort but I just want to encourage you especially if you have waited for a long time that God has not forgotten neither forsaken you.

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7

Messed Up!

Today I had a talk with someone that I want to share here. We will call this woman Jane for the sake of her identity. Jane and I sat down, and she said "I'm pregnant". As we talked, she also told me that her boyfriend wasn’t the father. However, he is aware of this because she went to him and confessed. I also had a talk with her boyfriend about his feelings, and of course he was hurt, but during the conversation he said that he still loves her and forgives her. While most people who get involved in cheating end up apart, her boyfriend said he still wants to continue the relationship. 

This reminded me of God's love! Even though we mess up, make a mistake, or sin, God still loves us! He knows we are weak and sometimes give in to the temptations and deceptions of sin, and with this being said, we all need forgiveness because we've all had moments we messed up. It doesn't matter how long a person been saved, or how much of the Bible a person may know–– all of us at one time or another has messed up bad in our lives. In fact the Bible says: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) and 1 John 1:8 says “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”.

But...what do you do when you realize that you’ve messed up?

In the Bible, we find several people who messed up. Let’s look at the story of David. David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), yet David messed up! In 2 Samuel 11 and 12:7-15, David committed at least seven sins. He neglects his duty, entertains lustful thoughts, acts upon his lust and commits adultery, seeks to cover up his sin, conspires to commit murder, covers up the natures of Uriah’s death, and steals the wife of another. However, when God confronted David through Nathan, David repented of his sins and God forgave him for what he had done. Note: God didn’t take away the consequences, but he did forgive. In 2 Samuel 12:13, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shall not die.”

As we see from the story of David, no sin is too great to be forgiven! But keep in mind, it’s not a question of IF you sin, it is a question of WHEN you sin, how will you respond?  1 John 1:9 says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. This verse was written as an encouragement to deal with sin and a promise that when we do so, God will be faithful to forgive us... let me reassure you that just because we serve a forgiving God, this does not give us license to continue in sin. Also, not only has provision been made that we might be forgiven, but that we might be restored, made new. The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ… (1 Corinthians 5:17, 18). Our life will be made different in the “inward” parts as we allow God to cleanse our hearts, work in our lives, and enable us by His Holy Spirit. We should be vigilant every day not to sin and strive for perfection every day. However, when you do sin, let's follow David’s example of true repentance, i.e. sorrow for sin and turning away from it when you mess up. David’s example of true repentance is found in Psalms 51:1-14

In sum, we all mess up, but as Christians we should turn away from the sin that is messing us up! Not only that, but it's important to note that there will still be consequences even for forgiven sins. Just as Jane was forgiven, she had the same consequence as David...2 Samuel 11:5 says, "The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, "I am pregnant."