Lines

The title is very odd. ‘Lines’. What do I mean by lines? What does that have to do with a

Christian?

By lines, I mean rules you make for yourself and people under you on things to do. This could

be from how you talk to how you dress to how often you go to church.

These self-placed rules can be very good. You may say you won’t wear shorts because you

don’t want to be immodest and displeasing to God, or that you won’t listen to certain types of

music because you don’t think it is pleasing to him.

These are ‘lines’ you can draw to help you be a better Christian, but that doesn’t necessarily

mean that it’s wrong if another Christian wears shorts or listens to that type of music you don’t

think is good.

This is where problems can come in. When you start holding other Christians accountable to

your own rules, it can cause strife and unnecessary divisions amongst Christians. It’s good to try

and live a good life that’s pleasing to God, but other Christians might disagree with you.

You shouldn’t judge a Christian because they listen to a certain type of music, or because they

wear certain types of clothes. There are some things the Bible is very clear about. ‘Thou shalt

not kill’ (speaking of murder). If a Christian murders someone, they have committed a sin. End

of story. But if they listen to a certain type of music you think is wrong, but the Bible does not

explicitly state it’s wrong, that doesn’t mean they’re a bad Christian.

I, personally, think it is wrong to dress certain ways and to speak certain ways. If I do one of

these things and have a guilty conscience about it, I have committed a sin.

To conclude: Don’t judge people on how ‘good of a Christian’ they are because they don’t match

up to all of your rules. Remember that what is truly important is Jesus Christ.

Pink Shorts, Rabid Turkeys, and a Lesson Learned

Have you ever done something that in the moment you thought was right, but then

looked back on it later and cringed? I have done that many, MANY times, but for your sake I will

only relate one incident, which I can still remember well, probably because I told people about it

so many times. It happened a few months ago at the end of summer (oh, so long heat! Guys,

the summers are brutal where I live). My mom and I had just finished grocery shopping, and

were going to refuel our big white van at a big gas station. We were about to pull up to a pump,

when a fancy little truck darted in front of us. My mom slammed on the brakes, because if she

hadn’t there would have been a slight collision. We waited for the person to get out, and, just as

I suspected, a teenager emerged from the small truck. Did I care? No... but it was quite hard to

not cry out in anguish as my eyes were burned by the bright pink swim trunks that this half

dressed kid was wearing.

About fifteen minutes later I found myself staring straight ahead, annoyed with myself for

being such a quack. What had gone on in those previous minutes was a bunch of nonsense. My

mom and I had found another gas pump, and I sat perched in my front seat waiting. Why? For

whom? You know who. I was waiting for that kid to drive by, so I could bring justice. And he did.

I attempted to glare, but unfortunately my glare is just a pathetic squint. So, as he drove by, the

boy saw me squinting at him. We locked eyes. He slowly cruised by, still in a staring

competition. Then all of a sudden his face twisted up, and a noise out a noise that I can only

describe as a dying goat mixed with a rabid turkey rang out through the gas station. It made me

jump. “Last time I ever make a face at a teenage boy” I thought.

The moral of this story is that we need to always be aware of our thoughts and

behaviors, because as Christians we are called to be a light in this world for God’s glory. Every

time my mind wanders back to the contorted face of that boy that is forever branded in my brain,

I am reminded that if I had just had self control, that weird little incident would not have

happened. Even though it was insignificant, I think it was a good reminder for us to be good

representations of Christianity. If I had just looked the other way, and kept my passions at bay,

everything would have been okay, but instead I gave way to my sinful feelings of anger and

annoyance. John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one and

other; as I have loved you, that ye also love one and other. By this shall all men know that ye

are my disciples, if ye have love to one and other.” The way I treated that boy was not right. We

want to act like what we are, Christians. This verse also means that we are to treat fellow

Christians with love, because what would you think if you saw two people arguing in public, and

then you found out that they were Christians? So, in conclusion, let’s be diligent about watching

our behavior. God is always watching, listening, and he knows our every thought. Go out today

and be a light in the world for His glory!

-Dale

Don't Worry

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:4-8

We all worry from time to time. We all can rejoice, though, too! I am going to break down this passage so it is easier to understand.

Verses 4-5 says to rejoice! Rejoice in every circumstance! Whether you are happy, angry, sad- just whatever it is, rejoice. You can be in a trial but still rejoice because you are learning through this trial. Yes. You read that right. You are learning through the trial. You may not see it yet, but one day when you look back and reflect on it you will rejoice and see how you have grown, and that you have learned. So why not just rejoice now? 

There are so many reasons to rejoice. Other reasons to rejoice is because you are breathing, you are alive, and probably so many other small reasons! Most importantly God has shown you mercy, love, and compassion. Yeah, there are those times where you think “God doesn't love me… I'm a horrible person,” or “I am abandoned. I have no hope.” Let me be straight forward with you- that is not true. God is with you, even when you don't see it. He is preparing you for something greater. If God never loved you He wouldn’t have made you. He wouldn't have died for you. God loves this world. John 3:16 says “for God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son. So whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” That’s some pretty good news, isn’t it?

          James 1:2-3 says “count it all for joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”  So, rejoice! 

Paul was ship wrecked, persecuted, kidnapped, beaten, threatened, arrested many times, had PTSD from this, and well… been through most trials you can think of. He asked God three times to remove his thorns from his flesh and God said “no.” Do not act like God is not loving, just, and merciful- because He is- but He said “no” to keep Paul to keep him from being proud. God's grace is all he needed and all we need. God’s power works best in weakness. So our thorns can be a good thing. So rejoice! You are learning! One day you may be able to help someone in their “thorn” because you have walked through it yourself. 

            “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”

            When we show reasonableness we show how much we love God! We can have a gentle and considerate spirit showing how much we love God! 

           When we show this we can also show how much we can trust each other through different circumstances, thorns, and trials. Galatians 6:2, says to bear one another’s burdens. Do not hide them. In my personal testimony I would say that I have learned this, and am still learning how to do this. 

            We should never feel ashamed of our burdens. We need to bear another’s burdens with our brothers and sisters in Christ. So whether it is stress, personal trials, etc. don’t be scared to share! 

            Especially don’t be scared to share your joys! Share 'em just as much as you share your burdens! Show to other people what God has done in your life!

         So if we show reasonableness it can foster empathy and show that we are caring for another’s thorn. It is a way of gently getting someone through these thorns, trials, and anxieties. 

          “The Lord is at hand: do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God”

Let me just say, this verse changed my perspective. After worrying about different things I did more complaining than praying. And when I did pray I felt hopeless. I felt that if I prayed it could just grant me a wish and get rid of the trial. And we can NOT base things off of feelings, of course. Feelings lead us astray and that’s what it did for me. I didn’t pray for growth at first. My heart, soul, and mind wasn't focusing on the Lord during my thorn, at the time. I thought I was focusing on the Lord, but I wasn’t! Instead I was focusing on my flesh. I could've prayed instead of worried. Psalm 46:10 says “be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted among the earth.” Brothers and sisters! It takes more energy to stress then to rest, trust God, know he is God, and pray.

Do not be anxious about anything! This could be worrying about a test, to worrying about finances, to stressing about divorce or broken relationships. It could be small things. It could be extreme things. It could be constant anxiety. But in EVERY LITTLE THING don't be anxious at all. You hear me? Nothing! You don't need to worry about anything because God is already in control and knows what is going to happen. He has you and the entire world in His hands. God's grace is sufficient.

So if you ever stumble upon the question of “what can I do instead of being anxious?” Pray! If I am feeling worried about my test then just talk to Jesus! Just chat with Him! He knows it all! He is omniscient! If I am feeling worried about my grandpa's doctor appointment then I just need to talk to God. If I’m worried about a relationship breakup, then I just need to pray and talk to God. If I’m stressed about my child’s ongoing illness, then I just need to talk to God. Trust me. Talking to God can be hard when big things happen, but God is bigger.

         I’m not saying to pray and whatever the issue is will be taken away. As I said in a post a while back ago, God is not a vending machine! You don’t get what you want by just praying. (But don’t worry. Something else good will come out of it.) I am saying that instead of spending your time and energy on having worries and being anxious, then talk to Jesus. He is worth spending the energy on. 

         The passage also says “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.” According to Oxford Languages Dictionary supplication means ‘the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.’

So, you can be on your knees, in tears, in supplication, praying for help, but you can also during this time be in thanksgiving. And no… not “thanksgiving” with turkeys. And another no… not being super happy about the situation you’re in supplication for, because yes... I get it. It is hard to be grateful for a trial. I have been there. But I’ve also been in that place. It’s hard to be thankful for your pain. It’s easy to worry about it. To stress over it. It tears you apart. But again… you WILL learn through it, and it is going to make you stronger. So you have two options. Cry and give up, or rejoice for the good, believe what the Bible says will happen, and follow Jesus. After choosing option one for a bit I gave up, because it was sickening, and I chose two. I know you can too. It isn’t an overnight thing that happens. It’s a process of naturally maturing. 

       I keep saying that good will come out of this, which is true, if you follow what Jesus is saying, but please don’t fantasize over it. You may not become famous or such over your thorn, but you will have something.

     Your trial may be a test from God. God tests us to examine our hearts. Look how he tested Abraham when he told Abraham to kill his only son. He was testing Abraham’s heart. Will he follow God, or will he follow his desires? And Abraham ended up following God! And it was just a test! He didn’t kill his son! 

      “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬

     See! Steadfastness! The testing of faith produces steadfastness!  ‭

     In conclusion, pray about everything. Rejoice in the hard and in the good. Look at the good. Have a tender spirit toward others. Pray instead of stress. Don’t worry, and know that God is bigger than the boogie man! Stop thinking why me? Instead think what is God teaching me? 

Don’t Worry by Bryar Sue is on YouTube Music now! 

~Bryar S Engelhardt