These Three Remain...

"To whom much has been given, much will be required."

That verse has been in my thoughts the past few days. Of course, the above is not exactly how it goes, but that's how I remembered it at the time. It wasn't even a verse that I had happened to come upon in my Bible reading, but simply one that popped into my head and refused to leave. Almost as soon as it manifested itself in my mind, it created what you might call an "Ah-ha!" experience in my heart. Suddenly, I felt that I began to grasp, understand, and realize the verse--in a way that I had not done before. It was amazing--like God just spoke to my heart. Such a simple verse, but so important.

Anyway, almost immediately after my initial reaction (which was, in essence, "Wow!") a slightly more unsettling reaction followed--in comparison to the first, this one would have sounded like "Oh...". Upon pondering the verse, I realized something--Jesus isn't simply referring to material possessions; He's not only implying that we should use the monetary and material blessings we have been given to further Christ's kingdom (which might be one common interpretation of the parable in which it is contained). No, more is being required than that.

Perhaps this thought came to me because I happened to be preparing for a piano lesson around the same time; I'm not sure. But have you ever considered that your gifts, your talents (in addition to the aforementioned blessings) might also be the subject of the verse? That the blessing of having many Godly influences (whether it be parents, pastors, or friends) might be included? What about your opportunities? Your resources? Even your very mind? Your desires, passions, skills?

"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

Ouch. When I think of all that I have been given--the immensity of my blessings, and the amount that has been "committed" to me, compared with how much I have given back to Him...How much shall be required of me, with what I have been given! How shall I ever account for it all? What am I doing to prepare for Him who has committed all these things to me? What will the balance be? Am I making the best use of all these blessings He has given me, as the first servant in that parable (I encourage you to read it over again), or am I simply holding them to return to Him exactly as they were when I first received them?

At the same time, I in no way am saying that I think we are required to work for our salvation. It is a free gift, given by Christ to all who will reach out and take it. But there is a level of accountability that I think perhaps we too often miss--for those of us to whom much has been given, much will be required. Yes, I believe absolutely and completely that God loves me no matter what I do or do not do; but should I not attempt to at least use that which He has given me in His love and grace in a way that blesses Him and His kingdom? Why else would He have given them to me? No, that doesn't mean that every single one of us is meant to be sent out into the world to do "great and glorious things" that all the world will see. Maybe what's required of some of us is much simpler. Maybe a particular gift you have been given isn't one to bring in hundreds of new believers, but is to be used for your own family--to develop, train, and bless your own children someday--or maybe it has one of a million other purposes, seemingly small and relatively unimportant to the world, but a necessary tool in God's hand. Maybe? Isn't that still giving back to Him? Developing and furthering what He has given us?

So that's what was on my heart this weekend, and I just wanted to share it with you--though I'm not quite sure that I worded it in a way that properly explains what I was trying to say...Please let me know what you think of it; does any of it ring true for you?

There is a popular book/movie of which I have heard (but not read/watched) called Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy; apparently, at some point in the story line, the answer to "life, the universe, and everything"--to life's biggest question-- is found. The answer? 42--yes, the number 42.
Well, much more about the story than that I don't know, but I believe I have found a different answer. It's very simple, like the number 42...nothing complex or hard to understand about it; in fact, we use it most every day without thinking anything of it. A common word in the English language, short, small, yet its implications can be eternal. My answer? His.
If we could grasp the deep significance of that small word every moment of every day, we would have the true answer to "life, the universe, and everything." It's all His--it all belongs to Christ. I am His, you are His, the person who cuts you off in traffic is His, the very house in which you live is His. Why should we worry, complain, or fret? Yesterday was His, today is His, and every moment of your future is His...is He not capable of taking care of His own? Shouldn't we leave it to Him, then?
If every human being on Earth is His, I should treat them with respect--they're the possessions of the King of kings; the way I react to them is, in essence, the way I am reacting to God, isn't it?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40 KJV

I have discovered something about Christmas that had never really dawned on me before. Christmas is really not about Jesus. Hold on, before you accuse me of being blasphemous—let me explain. Christmas is most certainly about Jesus to a certain extent; the baby in the manger, God in flesh appearing, Jesus humbling Himself to come into the world to save us from our sins. But, if you think about it, is Christmas not also about our Father? The focus of the season has always been on the baby born in Bethlehem; but what about His Father? The one of whom the Bible says “…the Father himself loves you”? (John 16:27) When do we celebrate what He has done for us? He sent his one and only Son to Earth—His Special One. He understands what pain is all about; He experienced the ultimate form of it. But He so loved us that He sent His Son to die for us. In the age of the New Testament, have we perhaps lost sight of The Father? Many people seem to think that, with the ending of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, that the Father has stepped back to make room for the Son. No! The Father is all the more prevalent; Jesus said that if we have a request, go to the Father. He didn’t say, “Go to me and I will ask the Father for you.” He said go to the Father.

Please don’t get me wrong—I don’t want to minimize what Christ did for us by coming to Earth, nor do I wish to take the emphasis off of the Gift—such a wonderful, extreme physical manifestation of Love itself; but rather, I’d like to place more emphasis than has been in the past on the Giver Himself. Perhaps we should view Christmas as the day of God the Father’s gift, and Easter as the day of God the Son’s gift? Would there be the latter without the former? Would the former be as important without the latter? Again, please don’t misunderstand me—I believe with all of my heart that Jesus loves me with a love greater than I can even begin to comprehend or fathom; but does the Father not love us just as much? He longs to hear from us; He wants so badly for you to speak with Him, ask Him, thank Him….Is it not just as hard for the one who is sacrificing as it is for the one who is to be sacrificed (think of Abraham and Isaac)?

So, while please remember the beautiful, priceless Gift of the baby in the manger and what He represented, remember also the Giver and His overwhelming, enveloping, surpassing, self-sacrificial Love for mankind manifested on that night in Bethlehem.

I don't believe that anyone who is right handed realizes how prejudiced the world is towards them. There are so many areas where we left handers are simply ignored or not considered! Let me give you just a few examples:

You know those mugs with the picture on one side? Go take a look at which side the picture is on; it's to the left of the handle. "So?" you say. Well, hold that mug in your left hand; what do you see? Nothing! The picture shows if you hold it in your right hand, but when you hold it in your left, you get to look at a nice blank mug.
You also (most likely) have no idea how frustrating scissors can be for left-handers! I don't know how many times I have had to give up in despair and ask a nearby right-hander to finish cutting something for me. Scissors, unless they say otherwise, are created with right-handers in mind; the blades must be cut in a special way. When I hold scissors in my left hand, not only are the handles themselves uncomfortable at times, but the silly things just won't cut! It's ridiculous!
Ah, and another biased item; measuring cups. Believe it or not, measuring cups can be rather annoying to left-handers as well. As I am an American, I generally use the "English" measurement system. Well, take a look at measuring cups--any measuring cup. On the majority of these, which side is the "cups" measurement on, hmmm? To the left of the handle. That means that when I am measuring something out while cooking, I have to turn the handle to the other side, and turn it back again when I want to pick it up (or use my right hand to pick it up).
Pens are another thing! Pens with words written along the side look just fine when you are holding them in your right hand; trying switching it to your left! Now what do you see? A bunch of upside-down nonsense, no? (I am very good at reading things that are upside down; I've had a bit of practice! ;) :P )
One thing that I have simply gotten used to in this backwards world is the mouse on the computer. The way that the mouse is shaped prevents left-handers from simply switching hands, and the mouse is always on the right side of the keyboard, anyway. So I am quite used to using my right hand in that arena.
Something that I have realized now that I am going to college is that desks pose another inequality for left-handed students. Many desks in school (at least at my college) have a little extended area of the writing surface to the right of the seat, allowing right handers to rest their arm on it as they write. Unfortunately, the desk is not symmetrical, so we left-handers are not given that nicety.

Now, with all that said, I have a shocker for you; I couldn't be prouder of being a left-hander. :D I absolutely love being left-handed...and a red-headed left hander, at that! And I'm in good company: Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Charlemagne, Alexander the Great, Ronald Reagan, Lewis Carroll, Albert Einstein and many more famous figures of antiquity and the recent past have laid claim to this prized characteristic.
Finally, it is a scientific fact that we left-handers are the ones who are most in our right minds. That explains a lot, now doesn't it?

Hello all!
I just wanted to share this quote with you all (from my devotional book) that stood out to me:

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."
- Jim Elliot, Christian missionary and martyr

Isn't that a great thought? What a good reminder to stay focused on God's will in every situation...to make sure that we're not so self-focused that we are blinded to what we know God would will in the situation. I especially like the phrase "live to the hilt". Doesn't that put the image of a Christian warrior fighting the spiritual battle into your mind? Living to the hilt; using the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6), God's Word, for every situation. Doesn't that just challenge you? Challenge you to "live to the hilt every situation" instead of just trying to simply "make it through"? It also reminds me of a song I heard on the radio...I don't know who it was by. It went something like...I think of all the years I spent just passing through. I'd like to take that time and give it all to You! Something to that effect, anyway. That kind of adds on to Kallie's post "Is God your all?". Do you give God all your time? I don't mean that you should stay at your bed praying every second of the day, but have you thought about how much of you is given to Him? I guess what I'm trying to say is, yes, God wants us to have leisure time, I'm not trying to discourage that in the least, but are we always seeking our own pursuits in every second of extra time, or do we take the time to look around us and be aware of others and their needs and desires as Jesus did?
Anyway, I know I got a bit off topic there, but I really enjoy being able to share my thoughts with you! Let me know what you think!

Well, I looked out of our backyard window this afternoon, and realized that our gardenia tree is now blooming it's beautiful, big, white flowers! Do any of you have gardenias? I think they must be one of the absolute best smelling flowers God ever created! If I could post a smell, I would surely post the scent of gardenias for you! :P Unfortunately, technology hasn't come that far yet. :) I wanted to post a picture of a gardenia for you, but I'm having internet problems :(....maybe later. Anyway, have a great night!