Construct Hope

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
ROMANS 14:19

In the verse above, along with many other passages in the Bible, we Christians have been told to encourage each other. Encouragement means, according to the Word Web Dictionary program: the act of giving hope or support to someone. Fulfilling that definition would be very difficult, to give hope is hard in this world that is hopeless, and to support someone in the way meant is against human nature.

Encouragement is positive, but positivity is not encouragement. A positive person has a good attitude, but no way to pass it on. Encouragement is the hand by which we gift others with hope (positivity), and that hope can only be Jesus.

In this translation, the KJV, Romans 14:19 says to edify each other. I like this translation of that word. To edify means, literally, to build up and enlighten. That is exciting to me; we don't just encourage one another, but build each other up too! Block by block we can encourage everyone around us.

Not only constructing, but enlightening is also a part of our jobs. We can enlighten those in darkness, by offering them comfort, help, or even just presence. All of those things can encourage someone and brighten their day.

Go construct hope, even if you can only give a pebble.



P.S. I now have a new blog up. It is Warning: Man on Fire for Christ, and is for my more personal thoughts on things or whatever else I just feel like writing about.

Maturity. What do you Expect?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
PSALM 111:10

I, like everyone, face choices in maturity every day. From the time I get up in the morning, to the time I go to bed, I have to choose how I am going to live my life. Some choices are clearer, I don't get up soon enough on a weekday and I lose my job. Some aren't, I speed on the highway so I can get to work faster, and nobody knows it. And some don't seem to matter, should I have the turkey or the chicken on my sub sandwich?

So what can help in these decisions? Maturity. That sounds good, but what is it? Well, I thought about using the word responsibility, although that doesn't quite cover it for me. Maturity is responsible, and more. Maturity is also thoughtful; it is bold in the most quiet of ways. I have known several people that were responsible, but not really mature. They did what they had to, what was expected of them. Truly mature persons, however, do what isn't expected of them.

Maturity is hard to do, no, impossible to do for the right reasons without a strong, stable relationship with God. Maturity is for glorifying God. Maturity doesn't change decisions much when it comes to clearer and petty choices, but in the areas that aren't so clear, one's maturity is put to the test.

I see people, even good Christian people, that will sit at a red stoplight and rev their car’s engine, and as soon as the light turns green, the pedal is on the floor. Is this wrong? It depends on the circumstances, but generally, no. Why do they do it? They usually say, “Because it’s fun. Can’t I have a little fun now and then?” Sure. But is that the real reason? Maybe, but I know for me, it is usually because I want to impress someone, or because other people are doing it.

In the situation above, maturity comes in very handy. The immature person happily participates in such an activity regularly, if only to feed their fleshly desires. A mature person would practice God glorifying restraint, and thereby respect other drivers, their car, and the Government’s regulations concerning proper behavior in traffic.

So, from this, I reckon maturity is evidence of salvation, necessary for, yet stemming from, a healthy relationship with God. God is the beginning of wisdom, and wisdom is praise and glory to Him.

Things Change

Over a year ago I started blogging. Around December of that year, I also all but quit blogging. Now, on a new computer, I hope to restart consistent blogging, and hopefully regular commenting.

Other changes are also being made. I, as I am sure you have noticed, have changed my blog design a little, and plan on writing more personal posts. Soon, my profile will feature an actual pic of me, or that’s my plan anyway... It could change :)

More will be written later!

Help, Lord!

I need Your help, Lord.
I need Your help to be strong.
I need Your help to be pure.
I need Your help to be honest.
I need Your help, Lord.

I want Your help, Lord.
I want Your help to be courageous.
I want Your help to be courteous.
I want Your help to be honorable.
I want Your help, Lord.

I fear Your help, Lord.
I fear Your help will hurt.
I fear Your help will change what I like.
I fear Your help isn't for my best.
I fear Your help, Lord.

I know Your help, Lord.
I know Your help is always with me.
I know Your help is better than I could imagine.
I know Your help is enough for me.
I know Your help, Lord.

I trust Your help, Lord.
I trust Your help cleansing me.
I trust Your help is stronger than me.
I trust Your help is changing me to be like You.
I trust Your help, Lord.

I often feel like quitting, Lord,
and Your help is the only help I need, want, fear, know, and trust.

Sarcasm

Can sarcasm hurt? How much is too much? Is sarcasm really Christ-like?

I have been wondering about these type of things lately. I actually use sarcasm quite often, usually several times each day. And as my friend and I exchanged a round of this good-natured ribbing, I began to consider what we were saying to each other. We said things we would never say if it weren't in jest. Over and over again I really listened to what I said to others, and what was said to me, just for some good laughs.

So began my wondering.

By the end of this post you might think I'm against humor. Far from it! I believe God has a sense of humor and intends for his followers to also. After all, the Bible does say that the Lord laughs (Psalm 2:4; 37:13).

Anyway, back to my post. I decided to look up the word sarcasm in the dictionaries. What I found was very eye-opening.

The modern dictionary* defined sarcasm as:

cutting language: remarks that mean the opposite of what they seem to say and are intended to mock or deride.

That doesn't sound very good, and with synonyms like sardonic, satirical, and caustic, sarcasm is quickly falling out of favor as my preferred form of humor. Let us, however, move to the 1828 dictionary. Maybe it will be more encouraging.

Sarcasm: A keen reproachful expression; a satirical remark or expression, uttered with some degree of scorn or contempt; a taunt; a gibe. Of this we have an example in the remark of the Jews respecting Christ, on the cross, "He saved others, himself he cannot save."

Oh. Guess not.

So, we see from these definitions that not only can sarcasm hurt someone, but was originally intended to be hurtful. Sarcasm wasn't a joke, but a mocking taunt, a humiliating remark, a dash of insult to injury. Sarcasm isn't all bad though, and certainly not a sin when applied in a godly way, at a godly time.

Elijah used sarcasm in 1 Kings 18:27, saying, "Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." to show how ridiculous the worshippers of Baal were in their devotion to a fake god. In this way humiliation was used as a tool to bring others to the true God.

Sarcasm, I believe, is an attribute of the fall. We would not, nor would need to, mock anyone or anything if we were still perfect, but in in God’s ever amazing wisdom and power, He is able to turn all evil, into good. Even sarcasm.

*Encarta World English Dictionary