The ‘What If’ Game (with a twist)

It’s so easy to play the ‘What If’ Game these days.

• What if I lose my job?
• What if my child gets sent to war?
• What if I lose my home?
• What if I lose my health insurance?

Today, these are all valid concerns. I’m guilty of playing the ‘What-If’ Game.

It may sound simplistic, but adding God to this process changes the ‘What If’ Game to something completely different. God allows us, and encourages us, to replace fear with love.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” -Psalm 34:4

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ Hebrews 13:6

Instead of getting angry at the car that slows me down,  I play the ‘What If’ game – with a twist. “What If…the car in front of me is God’s way of keeping me from being in the accident that is 20 minutes ahead of me?”

When someone is obnoxious, “What If” they just got up this morning and found out someone they love has cancer?

When the clerk at Starbucks doesn’t even notice me for the umpteenth time, “What If” she’s so distracted by her school work  in college that she cannot focus on little ‘ole me? Or, “What If” she’s contemplating all the good she’s going to do with her medical degree once she completes 8 years of college?

I notice the yard down the block is overgrown. Normally, I would assume the person doesn’t have time or just doesn’t want to mow. “What If” that house down the block is unkempt and the yard is overgrown because the occupants are dealing with job-loss, long-term illness, or something worse?  So, why not go mow their yard for them while I have the mower out?

People (me included) tend to assume the worst, especially when we are primarily concerned with ourselves. Jesus tells us to “be not afraid” and that requires us to assume the best. Why not? It puts me in a better mood, I have more of a Christian attitude, and I’m finding that I do more of the Lord’s work when I assume the best by turning my ‘What If”s’ around and aiming them at someone besides me.

Mahatma Gandhi said it best:

“There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever”

Here’s to letting worry go, turning our ‘What Ifs’ around, assuming the best, and showing concern for others today.

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Have you ever prayed this way?

I have to admit, at one time, I was absolutely guilty of this. Thanks to God, and His awesome power, I realized that love is waaaay more powerful than hate.

When I truly listened to God, He showed me there is a better way to pray. Here’s how:

Here’s to having fun this weekend and letting love rule.

Lighthouses and Shipwrecks

Have you ever seen a lighthouse up close? I just love them. I’ve seen lighthouses on the west coast, the east coast, and the gulf coast. I seek them out.

Lighthouses serve as both beacons and warnings. In daylight, they serve as a warning to ship captains so they know where the rocks are and can avoid them as they pass. In rough seas, they  serve as beacons in the night and offer up hope.

The lighthouse keeper is charged with a heavy responsibility. No matter how bad the weather, in sickness or in health, the lighthouse keeper is charged with making sure the lighthouse is working. To do otherwise would spell tragedy and certain shipwreck. Traditionally, the lighthouse keeper is considered trustworthy and reliable.

As a Christian, are you trustworthy?

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

We, as Christians, are the lighthouse keepers of the mysteries of God.  Think about that for a moment. We are charged with the mysteries of GOD. No matter the weather,  no matter the size of the tragedy, no matter the seriousness of the situation – we are charged with the mysteries of God.

We are the keepers of the light of the Lord. Everything we do should reflect that light. That’s both heavy responsibility and a joyous charge.

My grandmother always told me, “Honey, you are either an example of light in this world, or a stern warning to others.”

A lighthouse is both.

Not to contradict my grandmother, but I think we are all a bit of both. We are both examples of how to live, and, at times, we are warnings to others. It’s part of being human.

We’re usually very quick to share testimony that’s positive, but we’re not usually quick to share testimony that is unpopular or highlights our mistakes.  I think both testimonies are equally important. It’s not whether we screw up or not. We all screw up. What matters is whether or not we’re willing to shine a light on our mistakes as well as our triumphs. To me, that’s being responsible enough to hold the light of the Lord.

Do you care enough to shine?

Do you care enough to share your testimony with the world? We need to live our lives as instructed by the Bible, but we don’t always do that. When we mess up, I don’t think we should let shame rule and keep it to ourselves. I think we should share it. I think that’s testimony too. Who knows, your testimony may help someone stay off the rocks you already steered into.

Here’s to letting love rule today, and to shining your light as bright as possible.