paravanes:meditations

Why do we find (throughout the Scriptures) the command and the guidance to "fear not"? If you have listened to motivational speakers, you may know this phrase:  Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. That is an amusing, catchy phrase. Unfortunately,  it is not true. Many of the things we fear are quite real and are very capable of harming or permanently damaging our bodies, minds, and spirits. Fear can be a gift if we allow ourselves to be properly informed by that emotion. When God speaks to us in Scripture and tells us to "fear not", that command is always followed by words of encouragement and the assurance of God's presence in and with those who are obedient followers. God does not want us to hold or express the energy of fear. There are real things and situations to fear. God never denies this truth as He guides His loved ones. He doesn't want us to live in a constant state of fear. The mindset of fear neglects and rejects new opportunities,  ins...

Christian witnessing, or sharing a testimony, is not about simply speaking. Witnessing is always about telling what you've seen or experienced . Telling what you've heard is hearsay. Are you a witness or a hearsayer? What does witnessing sound like? "Yes, I read the Bible daily because reading it shows me God's character and God's love and plan for humanity. I need this input to live an authentic and honest Christian life." This testimony requires you to live an authentic and honest Christian life. The listener will pay more attention to what you do than to what you say. Why? Speaking is easier than doing. One of the proofs of Christianity is it allows regular people to display supernatural power (love, courage, forgiveness, fortitude,  kindness, etc.) on a consistent basis. The ability to live this way demonstrates the power of God within us. Match your witness-speaking to your witness-living. Don't tell others "God can make everything ok!...

Procrastination has been called the "thief of time." More than anything else, time is an irreplaceable gift from God. We can make more money. We can make more friends. We can even create new families. We cannot make, or add, more time beyond what God allots to us. Jesus tells his followers we cannot add any time to our lives by worrying. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus said "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Is there a connection between procrastination and worry? Why do we put things off, or delay beginning a valuable or important task? Do we fear a negative outcome?  Do we fear we are unable to successfully complete the task? Do we feel deeply stressed by starting to work on an unfamiliar task? Do we feel unable to face a possible failure? When you and I think deeply about what's behind the tendency some of us have to procrastinate, we'll probably uncover fear and worry, along with the unhelpful tendency to seek perfectionism. Perfecti...

Jesus Christ said this about his followers and the quality of their experience and of their love for him: 1. Why do you call me "Lord, Lord" and do not do what I say? (Luke 7:4) 2. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. ( Matthew 22:37-39) 3. He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. (John 8:47) 4. These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. (Mark 7:6-8) Do you believe you will be cursed, that bad things will happen to you, if you do not give ten percent of your income to a church organization? Is this belief consistent with the truth that Christians are kept by, for, and in Jes...

"Jesus wept". Around my childhood family dinner table, my sister and I were required to recite a Bible verse as part of the food blessing ritual. I often recited "Jesus wept ", one of the shortest verses in the Bible. I recited this verse hundreds of times without giving a thought to the powerful image of God shedding tears over the death of a loved one: Lazarus. Read the account in the eleventh chapter of the gospel of John in the New Testament. In our time, there are many reasons for God to weep with us and over us: mass shootings in the mainland United States, forgotten American citizens in Puerto Rico, ethnic cleansing in Myanmar,  refugees suffering on almost every continent, war, racism, hunger...on and on it goes. We cry because we don't know why these things keep happening and we don't know how to stop them. God cries because He does know. In the humanity-wide curse called sin, we have fallen far and furiously from the intent of our design and...