Life in these challenging days of Covid can seem like watching one of those wacky competition shows on cable TV. A helmeted and padded competitor runs an obstacle course dodging spinning turnstiles, swinging dummies, and other implements of destruction that threaten to knock her off a slippery course. 

Our obstacles today have the names of Delta and Omicron and who knows what next Greek letter will come at us. We try to avoid being knocked off course by taking vaccines and boosters, masking, and distancing. Even so, these sly bludgeons hit too many of us while the rest of us wonder when we’ll be next. 

I read about all these goings on and wonder what is happening? Are we doing the right things? Do the aggravations of wearing masks and quarantining really help? And I wonder how God is at work in these challenging days.

Covid seems to have turned our world upside down. But we must admit the reality of what is happening and even accept the likelihood of the pandemic becoming endemic. So, while I may wish for life to go back to the way things were, I think the more important question is, “What does God want of us now?” What does He want us to learn – or maybe re-learn – in this Covid environment?

As to things getting back to normal, we read in Isaiah 43:18-19 God telling the exiled Israelites to “remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new!” He wants a new kind of relationship with us. For me, this boils down to embracing the truth that:

• God loves us. No matter what. He is with us in and through all the messiness of life. He relentlessly gives us His love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. He is offering us the opportunity to renew our relationship with Him. All we have to do is accept it. 
• In that acceptance and belief – in our faith in God – we have Hope. Our hope lies in all the good that Jesus does for us. Our hope rests on the foundation of the truth that Jesus has come into our world. He redeems us. He gives us His Spirit. He loves us. No matter what. 

So, let’s take these challenging days of Covid as an opportunity to pause, to “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:11), to draw closer to God. Do not fear or distrust, but rest easy in Jesus’ exhortation, “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Mk 6:50) Be grateful for all the blessings God gives to us, even in difficult circumstances. Turn our hearts to Him and repent of our sins. Let’s acknowledge that He gives us everything. He will provide. In humble gratitude, let’s give back to Him to help those most in need, those most vulnerable amongst us. 

When we respond this way, we put God first in our lives. We admit that the only Greek letters that really matter are Alpha and Omega, and this puts Covid and other world events and reactions into proper perspective. 

#Godfirst   #newlife #life #Covid

*Additional Post for January 2022

Put God first in every area of your life, including with your finances. When we resolve to live this way, we show our love for God. We deepen our relationship with Jesus. We become better disciples and better stewards. Stewardship is humbly acknowledging that every thing we have is a gift to us from God. In overwhelming gratefulness and all humility, we give back to God by sharing our resources with those most in need. By courageously putting God first in every aspect of our lives – including with money, we begin to realize a sense of peace and wellbeing, the peace of God that is beyond understanding (Phil 4:7). We know from Acts 20: 35 that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

Consider these seven spiritual benefits of giving: 

1. Giving and Blessing are gifts from God. God is a giver. As disciples, we should strive to be like Him. Whenever we give, we are being like Him. When our giving is sacrificial—a bit uncomfortable and for the benefit of others—then in our small-scale way we approach the sacrificial self-giving of Jesus on the cross. Our giving becomes our preaching of the Gospel.
2. When we give, we experience a unique closeness to God, our Father that only comes to us as we are generous. Like all parents, God wants to see His children being kind and generous and loving. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9: 7).
3. Obedience to God’s commands to give is our intentional acknowledgement of His authority in our life. He is entitled to honor and respect. His Divine Lordship over every facet of our life, including our money, is not a threat, but a place of safety and security.
4. Giving is the manifestation of our faith and trust in God to provide. “Let your lives be free from the love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never forsake you or abandon you.’” (Heb 13: 5)
5. Giving makes us active participants in the mission of the Church. It makes us a part of something larger, more majestic, and holier than ourselves.
6. Sacrificial giving is self-denial. It is laying our worldly desires at the foot of the cross, and there receiving God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.” (1 Pet 2: 11)
7. Giving is an act of praise and worship of our God. It is an expression of gratitude for all the blessings God gives to us. 

Take a moment to reflect on all the blessings and benefits God gives to you. How will you be a better steward of those gifts this new year and always?  How can you put God First in every area of your life?

“What shall I render to the Lord for all the great good done for me?” (Ps 116: 12)

#resolutions   #spirituality   #giving

Happy New Year 2022!

#resolutions   #spirituality   #giving

Eleazar, in 2 Maccabees 6, demonstrates for us a great example of obedience and trust in God’s word. Rather than acquiesce to the offer of living out the rest of his life in comfort and ease, he willingly accepted the pain he knew would come of his choice to hold true to what he believed God asked of him.

Living a stewardship life is like this. Living stewardship is purposefully choosing to be obedient to God and giving courageously of our time and treasure. It is acting in faith, trusting God to provide. Giving sacrificially is our intentional decision to choose God’s way over society’s way. We may suffer the loss of having more of the world’s creature comforts. But when we do so, like Eleazar, we reflect well on our nobility and leave others a noble example by dying to ourselves willingly for the revered and holy laws (6:27-28).

Be Courageous!

So, be courageous as Eleazar. Be intentional in choosing to live stewardship and give sacrificially. Choose God’s way and let your life be a model of nobility, because you can be sure people are watching. Let your example evangelize your family, friends, and neighbors, bringing them closer to Christ. You have heard it said, “Faith is caught more than taught.”

If we don’t model a joyful and generous Christian lifestyle, then from whom will our loved ones and neighbors find inspiration – celebrities, athletes, and other public figures?

We have the opportunity to offer our noble example of stewardship and change the world. Choose God first in every area of your life. Doing so will leave an unforgettable example of virtue for the young and for the whole nation (6:31). In that, you will find the peace you truly seek.

#Giving       #Stewardship       #GodFirst

Mt 22: 20-21  Jesus asked them, “Whose image is this, whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

Those crafty Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus when they asked him if it was okay to pay the census tax. Jesus knew better. What a tremendous answer he gave them.

I taught my kids about Caesar’s tax every Halloween. They’d come home from trick-or-treating with a sack full of candy. I’d have them dump it all out on the floor and then impose the Daddy Tax – especially on Milk Duds and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Thankfully, God does not impose a tax on us. Instead He provides lavishly. Everything is gift; everything is free. Take a moment to think about all the blessings all around us. Now in the Fall:

• Fresh apples in season
• Cool wisps of autumn breezes
• Leaves now in a kaleidoscope of color
• The scent of wood smoke from the hearth
• How many more can you think of? The enthusiastic greeting of a puppy. A good belly-laugh of a child. It can be overwhelming.

God provides these gifts and so much more. All because we are his beloved children. He asks only that we give back cheerfully and generously. And shouldn’t we do so gladly? Like my kids get all that Halloween candy for free, shouldn’t they be willing to share some of it with me? So should we be willing to give to God a return for all He has given us.

Give in return for all the benefits and blessings God gives to you.

Give because It’s Not Your Money.