Tag Archives: faith

November 4, 2013 · 6:00 am

The Secret to Defeating That Too-Long “To Do” List

God has given each one of us extraordinary gifts. Each one of us is blessed with talent. While our talents differ, we all have at least one. But more than talent, we are blessed with ability.

Our levels of ability differ, too, but all of us have the ability to exist, the ability to give, and the ability to accomplish.

Take a look at your to-do list. How long is it?

If it’s anything like mine, it’s beginning to rival the length of Webster’s dictionary. The number of items on my to-do list multiplies daily, yet most days only a select few things get marked off.

But I have the ability to accomplish the things on my list. Ability that is God-given.

He has given me a body. He has given me a brain. He has given me today. With those three things, I can accomplish so much.

The way to glorify God in my daily life is to accomplish the tasks on my to-do list to the very best of my ability.

I’m constantly telling my children, “A job worth doing is worth doing well, and doing a job well makes God happy.”

That’s the kid way of saying “put away laziness and work to the best of your ability, for this pleases the Lord.”

Hard work is just that—often difficult and grueling. But when we set our mind to a task and use the talents and abilities that God has given us to complete these tasks, we glorify him by appreciating his creation and putting to use that which He created.

Why should I bother caring whether or not I’ve done my very best job mopping my kitchen floor? Or finessing the details on that project at work? Or not letting my child get away with talking back to me? Or replying to that email I’ve been ignoring?

Because God cares about me.

God cares whether or not I’m exhausting the talents and abilities He’s given. He cares whether or not I appreciate the gift.

Appreciating His gift in our abilities to accomplish tasks, no matter how menial, glorifies him. And our very purpose on this earth is to glorify God in all things.

So many of us are weary from chasing after that to-do list, desperate to mark off the tasks and feel as though we’ve accomplished something each day. But if we shift our focus from mere completion to glorification of our Heavenly Father, our accomplishments mean so much more.

Work as hard as you can today. Give each task 100% of your attention and your effort, no matter what you are doing.

Even if you feel like your task doesn’t matter to God, remember that your ability to glorify Him does.

The secret to defeating that ever-growing “to do” list is to do everything to the best of your ability, with your focus on glorifying the one who gave you those abilities. Pretty soon you’ll realize that tasks on your list aren’t the important thing—it’s how you complete them.

Now, I’ve got a floor that needs cleaning. Praise Him!

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

Share with me: What task on your to-do list is getting most of your time and attention today?

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Filed under The Christian Walk

Tagged as ability, faith, glorifying God, Jesus, moms, motherhood, talent, to do list, work

August 11, 2013 · 6:00 am

My Cross Isn’t Made of Gold

Why is it that we believe that we deserve blessings?

For some reason, as followers of Christ, we’re terrible about assuming that because we have Christ in our hearts, God will bless us.

Some people rely on it– the idea that prosperity and happiness come because of faith.

The movement is called the Prosperity Gospel, or the Word of Faith Movement.

Yes, it’s a real thing.

It’s not just a mental thing– believing that we deserve riches and happiness because we love Jesus.

No, there’s a real movement– an official one within Christianity, that preaches this message from the pulpit:

Jesus = prosperity and happiness.

Sadly, as the evangelists within this movement travel the world preaching this message, people who suffer from the worst conditions of poverty on the planet are buying into it.

They see these “wealthy, white” preachers telling them, “Hey! Jesus loves you! He wants to give you everything you want and make you happy! Jesus is wealth!”

Preachers dressed in alligator skinned boots. Preachers with cash in their pockets. Preachers with healthy families and big homes in America.

Think about it. You’re in impoverished Africa. Wouldn’t you want that Jesus, too?

And so you jump on this “Prosperity Gospel” bandwagon and decide that Jesus is your guy.

And you wait. You wait for money to rain down on you, because of course when that happens, you will be happy.

But it doesn’t happen.

There’s no money.

There’s no happiness.

There’s only the same disease-ridden water hole 5 miles from your hut, little food to eat, and too many children, sick children, to support.

So you give up on Jesus and you won’t try him again. He did nothing for you.

This, my friends, is happening more than you know. Thousands upon thousands of people in the poorest parts of the world are being evangelized by those of the “prosperity movement”, only to become disillusioned with Jesus when “he” doesn’t come through and make it rain cash.

It’s happening right here, too. Third-world nations aren’t the only ones susceptible to the tantalizing idea that Jesus = prosperity. First-worlders are clinging to this promise in droves, too.

What these people are not being told is that nowhere in the Bible does God promise that we’ll be financially blessed for following Christ. Nowhere are we promised the things these people are offering the impoverished world, both overseas and here at home.

“But Jen,” you might say. “What about Psalm 37:4?”

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Well, it just so happens, lovely reader, that that verse is my favorite and has always been.

But the correct understanding of that verse is not that loving God and his Son will bring us the fleshly desires of this earth, but that true discipleship brings our heart’s desire of God himself and His will before our own.

Both Matthew and Luke documented the moment when Christ commanded, “take up your cross and follow me.”

Crosses are heavy.

Jesus suffered under the weight of his. Even if he hadn’t already been beaten and bruised prior to dragging his cross to the place of his execution, he would have been intensely burdened under the weight of it.

And as his followers, we are commanded to take up our own “burden” of the cross in order to follow him.

That cross represents the persecution we will face.

It represents the hardships and trials that do not vanish when we accept Christ as our Savior.

It represents the health problems and strenuous labor, the toil of humanity.

It represents the financial burdens of this earthly life.

It represents the pain, hardships, and sorrow that we all face at some point or another.

It represents the death we deserve, but Christ took in our stead.

But the GOOD NEWS is that the cross isn’t a burden– it also represents the joy and redemption Christ’s death and resurrection provide.

It represents the wealth and joy of an eternity with HIM.

Prosperity is earthly.

Our treasures are being laid up in heaven (Matthew 6:19).

Happiness is a fleeting human emotion.

Happiness dies in the face of hardship. We are not strong enough to keep it alive through difficulties, trials, sickness or poverty.

But joy lives in us at all times. It’s not something we create, so we can’t kill it.

…the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Joy comes from deep in our core, from the place where the Holy Spirit dwells. It originates with the presence of Christ in us; from the moment we decide to take up that cross.

My cross is heavy. I struggle with the fleshly idea that because I’m a follower of Christ I deserve more than I’ve gotten.

But the only thing I deserve is the death of a sinful criminal.

Thank God I’ve decided to follow the One who took that punishment for me.

So I take up my cross, no longer straining under it’s weight, for there’s One with me who is stronger than I will ever be. In Him I will find joy eternal.

Share with me: Has your cross been feeling exceptionally heavy lately? How can I pray for you?

If you are interested in sharing the true Gospel of Jesus with the world by being a blessing of joy, consider supporting a faith-based organization like WorldHelp. Click on the link to the right of this blog.

*** After I wrote this post I came across this article— a fellow blogger and preacher who just so happened to post about this exact topic this week. I hope you’ll take the time to read his thoughts, too. Good stuff.

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Filed under The Christian Walk

Tagged as cross, faith, happiness, Jesus, joy, prosperity, prosperity gospel, Word of Faith Movement

April 29, 2013 · 6:00 am

Leviticus is Like Calculus– A Guest Post from Melissa Tagg

I’m just going to say it: I’m not all that keen on reading Leviticus in the Bible.

I mean, really. Leviticus computes about as well with me as calculus. Which isn’t well.

In fact, true story: I took pre-calc my junior year of high school. At the end of the year, my teacher—frankly, one of the best teachers I ever had even if I never latched on to the subject—pulled me aside and said, “Melissa, I’d suggest not taking calculus next year.”

Also true: I didn’t.

But Leviticus. I’ve been reading it lately—more out of stubbornness than anything else, I guess. So I’m trucking along in Leviticus 9 the other day and the priests, Aaron and his sons, are beginning their ministry. God gives them some very specific instructions for burnt offerings. We’re talking, “Do this with that organ and wave these pieces in the air” etc.

And all I can think is, “How many more chapters in this book?” and “I think I’ll skip meat today.”

But then…then I get to the end of chapter 9 and read this:

“…and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and fat portions on the altar. And when the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.” (vs.23b-24)

I stopped. Reread the verses. And it struck me:

God showed up.

I mean, he really showed up. Enough that people were whooping and falling over.

And I started thinking about times God has shown up—sometimes in big and surprising ways—in my own life. He’s always there, always working, yes. But how easy is it to hit “going through the motions” mode and just not see Him?

Sorta like reading through Leviticus and missing those moments when God reaches down and makes Himself known.

Recently I considered buying a house. I was pretty excited about it—found a sweet townhouse in a great location for a great price. All the pieces started falling into place in pretty spectacular ways, and I was convinced I should go for it. I made an offer. And after just a few hours of counter-offering, settled on the price I’d hoped for all along.

But all through the process, I kept praying that if there was some reason I shouldn’t move forward, that God would send me a red flag. Like…a blaring, can’t-miss-this flag.

Well, the red flag came. It was an issue on the seller’s end. They had to back out.

I was disappointed, yes.

And yet…even today, weeks later, I’m still sorta excited about the way God showed up in that process. So clearly, so specifically, so undeniably. He’s good and faithful like that.

And it’s an experience I want to remember in different seasons—in the times when I may not be hearing so clearly or am caught up in the busyness of every day life. Perhaps similar to how the Israelites may have gotten in Leviticus, consumed with rules and instructions and surviving.

I want to remember that eventually, one way or another, God IS going to show up. I may not see what He’s doing now and I’m certainly not always going to understand why He has me on this or that path.

But He’s there. And He’s never inactive. And if I keep my eyes open, just like the Israelites did, I’ll see His presence at work…and experience the joy that comes along with it.

When has God shown up in your life in a surprising and undeniable way? And tell me, am I the only one who has to grit her teeth to get through Leviticus? 🙂

Melissa Tagg is a former reporter turned romantic comedy author. Her debut novel, Made to Last, releases from Bethany House in September 2013. In addition to her nonprofit day job, she’s also the marketing/events coordinator for My Book Therapy. Connect with Melissa at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Twitter(@Melissa_Tagg).