Tag Archive | Christ

Who Defines Your Standards?

One of my favorite things to do is have coffee in the morning on the patio. This morning I decided to catch up on my reading. My most favorite thing to read other than the Bible is magazines…

While reading the November (oooh I am sooo behind) issue of “All You” I came across this little blurb.

WOW…THAT IS PROFOUND and confirms what I have always known to be true!

When we expect excellence and produce tangible and accurate results then it becomes the standard. When one performs at a level less than that standard and it is acceptable then the standard is lowered sending out a message that substandard is now the new standard.

Additional things I have learned that go hand in hand with this is…

Not everyone is capable of performing at the same level: Everyone possesses different skill sets and not everyone can produce the results defined by the standard.
Not everyone understands the goal: When the goal is not well-defined then it is virtually impossible for anyone to reach that goal. We must be clear, concise, and understood when defining a goal.
Not everyone wants the same results: If everyone has their own agenda and the focus is meeting each individuals goals or agenda then the primary focus of team work is lost.
Not everyone cares: There are times when you find some just don’t care. They are there because they are expected to be.

So to better be able to get all players on the same page one must…

Determine the skill set when making assignments: Assign those with similar skill sets to work together and set the standard based on that groups skill set. This prevents dragging down others or lowering the overall standard.
Define the goal: What does it look like, feel like, taste like, and sound like, and what smell like??? What is it we want to accomplish?
Set the standard:Without a clear vision of what the standard is then one can by no means measure up.
Weed out those that don’t care: Unfortunately there will be times when someone lacks the motivation, drive, passion, or connectivity to even care and those are the people who must go as they stifle the creativity of reaching the standard and ultimately the goal.

Now I ask you…Who sets the standard for you? Is it your family, friends, co-workers, pastor, church, or boss?

NO!!!

Jesus sets the standard, assigns our assignments based on our skill set, He has already defined the goal, and unfortunately those who do not care enough to reach the goal of eternal life will be weeded out!

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

The Skill Set: While we may not all be able to perform at the same level…God knows and makes our assignments accordingly
The Goal: Eternal Life with Christ
The Standard: The Bible…It clearly defines the standard which we must live by as Christians
Weeding: Judgement… The weeding out will be done on judgement day when non-Christians will be cast away for eternity. Pardon the pun but they will be “FIRED”

Who tells you how to act, what to say, what to believe, or makes excuses for those that don’t??? Think about it…

Who Does God Say You ARE? and…Who DefinesYour Standards?

Love Lee ♥

Are You Running With Me Jesus

Feb10

There are mornings I would just love to go back to bed and this is one of those mornings for me! However, I am on assignment for the Lord today! He has a plan for my day…someone out there needs to be loved and ministered to so, I just finished my quiet time and now…I am up and running!!!

Are you running with Me, Jesus?

by Malcolm Boyd

It’s morning, Jesus. It’s morning, and here’s that light and sound all over again.

I’ve got to move fast . . . get into the bathroom, wash up, grab a bite to eat and run some more.

I just don’t feel like it, Lord. What I really want to do is get back into bed, pull up the covers, and sleep. All I seem to want today is the big sleep, and here I’ve got to run all over again.

Where am I running? You know these things I can’t understand. It’s not that I need to have you tell me. What counts most is just that somebody knows, and it’s you. That helps a lot.

So I’ll follow along okay? But lead, Lord. Now I’ve got to run. Are you running with me, Jesus?

Have You Ask Jesus to Run With You Today?

Love Lee ♥

The Hair Brush

Feb9

Wednesdays With Beth on Life Today is such a blessing…

This is one of my most favorite videos of Beth…Enjoy!

Love Lee ♥

Encourage Them

Feb8

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

Everyone has the ability to provide positive encouragement, but to do so often requires us to step out of our world, take our minds off of ourselves and re-direct our thoughts towards others. Too little encouragement to others can lead one to believe you are self-centered and uncaring. Too much encouragement can be construed as pushy or obsessive.

To be a great encourager you should…

Keep an open mind and allow others to voice their opinions. Give them a chance to say what they think and feel.
Focus on the needs of others showing them you are on their side and have only the best intentions in mind.
Be spontaneous by giving encouragement for the things they do, their performance, or how they are in general and not just when they do something praiseworthy
Be honest when giving encouragement because chances are the other person can tell when you’re being fake.
Always find a way to flip a negative into encouragement. All encouragement is based on success…so, For example, instead of telling someone that what they did was completely wrong, tell them at least one or two things that they did right, then explain how it can be even better if they consider doing something else as well.
Offer to help. Suggest several ways that you might be of service, then ask if there is anything else that you can do. If the person turns down your request, let her know that you are there to help whenever possible. This lets the person know that she isn’t alone.

Encouragement should be…

1. Personal – Tell them personally how much you believe in them.
2. Pointed – Tell them specifically what you appreciate about them.
3. Public – Talk them up in front of others.
4. Purposeful – Have a goal that you are shooting for in their lives. Don’t make it meaningless.

How being an encourager effects you…

Your focus becomes positive rather than negative
Your thoughts are turned towards others rather than yourself
You become more aware of others efforts and hard work as well as their disappointments.
You are being obedient to God’s word

Lifting up others may not be second nature to you but with prayer and practice you can become an awesome source of encouragement to others…

Who do you know that needs a little encouraging today?

Encourage Them…

Love Lee ♥

Transformed

Feb6

Ok so now that you have learned How To Change Your Mind, you must also RENEW your mind!

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

So once you make the decision to “change your mind” you would think it is a one time decision and you will never have the same thoughts and behaviors again…right?

WRONG!!!

Do you actually think the world stops just because you have made the decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart? One would think it is that easy but unfortunately satan is alive and roaming around checking out who he can get to next…We are bombarded with unwholesome TV, commercials, movies, internet, games, and music.

But the good news is…

It’s a choice…Your choice!

Choose Wisely!!!

Love Lee ♥

How to Change Your Mind

Feb3

Everything that happens to you; everything from your past and everything in your future all relies on one simple thing: How do you choose to process that which happens to you? The way you choose to process everything that has or will happen to you makes up your entire experience of life. Most people are oblivious to this powerful fact, mostly because the majority of our thoughts are shaped automatically by our past conditioning.

I have always said the hardest thing to change is your mind; how you process information has been ingrained in you since the day you were born. You have spent years watching your mom and dad’s reactions to life circumstances. Watched others respond to both positive and negative occurences over the years and without even knowing it your prejudices, likes, dislikes, and opinions have been formed; both good and bad…

I have good news…All those negative concepts, thought processes, prejudices and opinions can be reprogrammed. It all began at birth right? Rather than go back to the beginning your natural birth…Just get born again!

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:3-7

To Change Your Mind and Your Mindset and Letting Your Past Be Your Past…

Be Born Again!!!

Love Lee ♥

Hey Goldilocks What’s Your Temperature?

Feb1

The big headlines this morning in the news is for a hard freeze. Temperatures in the 20’s is so atypical for South Texas. It is not uncommon to hear “I can’t stand cold weather” but then in the summer I frequently hear “it’s too hot”. We are sooo like Goldilocks we don’t want it too hot or too cold. Instead, we want it just right!

Hmmm….Not God!!!

Our Father is very clear on this matter. He finds it distasteful to be lukewarm. So much so He wants absolutely nothing to do with us…He will just spew us out!!!

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.Revelation 3:16

So what does lukewarm sound like, look like, or feel like for a Christian?

Here are some questions that might help you determine whether your Christian walk has become lukewarm…

Do you find yourself worrying?
Is there sin in your life?
Do you love the things of the world more than you love God?
Are you too busy for Jesus?
What are your priorities?
Do you use God’s name in vain?
When is the last time you prayed for someone or something other than yourself or your desires?
Do you share your faith no matter what others think or say about you?
Do you seek wealth and recognition over God?
When is the last time you followed God’s direction or obeyed His word?

Well there you have it…He didn’t call us to be perfect. He called us to be on fire for Him!!!

What’s Your Temperature?

Love Lee ♥

Why Am I Here?

Jan18

Have you ever wondered, Why am I here…Why am I here on this earth, in this place at this time?

Last Wednesday First Baptist Church Brazoria began learning the music for our annual Passion Play. While all of the music is awesome there was one song that has ministered to me and has answered the question “Why am I Here?”.

As I was driving to work one morning this week, a light bulb went off in my head and I became abundantly aware of why I am here.

I’m here to WORSHIP THE KING!!!

Worship:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:1-8

We are here in this moment for one reason only…It is to WORSHIP THE KING…

Worship The King

by BJ Davis

I bow in rev’rence in the courts of royal majesty. Honoring His presence, I’m here to worship the King. I’m here to worship the King. Blessing and honor and power be to Him alone. Holy, holy, holy, we join the angel’s song. Come, let us worship the Lord, and crown Him Lord of all. Come, let us worship the Lord, and crown Him Lord of all, Lord of all! We join the angel’s song. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. I’m here to worship the King. I’m here to worship the King.

Have You Worshiped the King Today?

Love Lee ♥

Out With the Old and In With the New

Jan8

Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17

Where have you come from? The person you were before Christ came into your life should be gone. The habits and attitudes that defined you then should be changed. You are a new creature a door has open in your heart that Christ walked through bringing love compassion, concern for others, honesty, justice and self-sacrifice with it. Every characteristic that defines Christ can now define you. The struggle is to keep that old person with all her old habits and attitude away old habits die-hard begin each day by asking the Lord to help the new person shine over the old person.

I have not arrived but I am definitely not what I use to be!!! God is soooo good!

Love Lee ♥

What’s In A Name?

Jan6

I will never forget when Cheyenne (my granddaughter) was almost 3 years old and we had been working in the flower beds (oh how that child loved to dig) when she decided it was time for a “Popsicle Break”. So, of course I stopped what I was doing and the popsicle break became the priority. As we were sitting on the glider near the back door having our popsicle and chatting, a HUGE clap of thunder came from out of nowhere. Immediately I yelled “JESUS”, grabbed her up, and ran into the house. As you can imagine it took me several minutes to calm her down and get her to stop crying.

About three months had passed and Cheyenne and I were hanging out. She was playing on the back patio and I was making us a cup of coffee (we took many types of breaks…LOL) when I heard thunder in the distance. Almost immediately Cheyenne walked thru the back door and announced, “Meme, Jesus is back”. What a Doll that girl is!!!

Ya know, I have endured some thunder in my life; some distant rumblings, and other outrageously loud shaking me to my core. I have had heartbreaking events in my life when I thought I would never recover, times when my heart hurt so bad I didn’t know if I would be able to breathe again. But I can say through those times when my world was rocked or I hurt to the core I always called out one name…

JESUS

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

I call out His name frequently and I say it out loud. I say His name in times of happiness and in times of devastation, in times of loneliness, celebration, and loss.

The song by Martha Munizzi says it all…

Say The Name of Jesus