Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them. They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive. You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.                                                                                Proverbs 3:21-26 (The Message)

Funny, or maybe not so funny, how others can see things in us that we cannot see in ourselves. I have had occasion several times this week to reflect to clients some positive traits that are almost invisible to the client themselves.

For one client I gave the visual analogy of my hand directly in front of my face so that all I could see was my hand. That, I said, (my hand) were the failures and missed objectives that he could see. His range of vision was blocked by the things he had missed on. As I drew my hand out further, I had a larger field of view, and I told him that if he can look beyond the things that he might have missed, there were a larger number of things that he had successfully accomplished.

As we get perspective, we can better see the whole field of behaviors that had been blocked by a narrow and blocked analysis. In fact, this client had been working almost heroically to care for an aging mother with cognitive decline. In his view, it was never enough. In my view, it was selfless caring.

I suggested that my view was a bit clearer since I had an objective picture, untainted by negative self-talk. Gradually, the client began to understand that perhaps his view was incomplete. Not totally in error or wrong, just incomplete. Sometimes, we just need a fresh look at things so that our picture becomes more complete.

What say you?

Prayer: Lord, help us to hear the input of others when our view might be inadequate, Amen

 For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it.                                                                                                                                                            I Corinthians 6:20

Funny thing, pride. It is the original, and I would suggest, the only sin. All other sins, problems, errors, failures- whatever you might want to call them- come from pride. Pride is about making sure that I am the center of my universe. The needs, rights, and well-being of others follow after my place being secured. I can take care of myself, and I do not need anyone else to tell me what to do. To its extreme, it says that the rules don’t exactly apply to me like they do other people.

This description does not sound very flattering, does it? Yet, to some degree, we all fall into that mindset somewhere. Certainly not all the time, and not in all situations to be sure. Indeed, we humans are capable of some incredible altruistic thinking and behaviors. Yet at our core, we need the intervention of the Creator to redeem us to health.

Essentially, when it comes to our relationship with God, we need to recognize our inability to save ourselves by virtue of our good behavior. Recognition of God and his son, Jesus, as the remedy for our sins is the key to health and salvation.

Much like the addict who comes to realize in his 1^st step that his/her best efforts got them to a place of powerlessness, we all need to take the humility step in order to be fully free. That means that we accept that we alone do not have the answer to all life’s problems, and that we need help to navigate our life.

Self-forgiveness (or lack of it, more properly) is an example of how insidious pride is. People sometimes take offense when I point out the pride in failing to forgive one’s self for sins and errors that have sidetracked us. I point out that they would forgive others for offenses, but they do not forgive themselves for some reason. “Are the rules different for you than for other people?” I ask.

Yeah, pride is a funny thing…

Prayer: Lord, you have given us the remedies for pride. Help us to see our need for your plans, not ours, Amen

The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.                                           John 15:13

As we in the United States enter into the Memorial Day weekend, my thoughts turn to the character and courage of those who have defended their country in the military services. Most countries have some kind of way to recognize those who have given their lives in service to their country.

I was reminded of the service given to the United States by President Harry S. Truman as we visited his library and museum in Independence, Missouri recently. He served with distinction in World War I as an artillery commander. Later, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and assumed the Presidency upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945.

He was a man of honor and candor. He had courage and convictions, and was willing to do the very hardest things in the service of his country. While he did not die on the battlefield, he devoted his life in the service of his country.

Many people have served this country with courage and honor. Many also have died doing that very thing.

I salute them all on this Memorial Day weekend.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.    Galatians 5:22-23 (Living Bible)

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

As I was looking at the verse of the day on my Bible app, I saw that it was the verse above (Galatians 5:22-23). I have read that the fruit of the Spirit is really just one thing- love. The words that follow- joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control can be read as attributes that are the natural outgrowth of a person led by love.

Jesus came to give that very simple message. Indeed, he lived it out. He also said that he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. So, the intent of the Law was to try to point people to an overwhelming love. That was later explained fully by the presence of Jesus, and then the enduring indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The end of the verse in Galatians (5:23) states that the fruits of the Spirit are consistent with Jewish laws. God’s plan all along has been to have people transformed into loving people- those who care for and nurture others. The Law is fulfilled in that way.

So, the Law is summed up in these words- Love One Another

Prayer: Lord, thank you for simple plans- plans that are simple, but not easy, Amen

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest, they don’t have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than birds                                       Luke 12:24

I had a discussion recently with a client where we discussed her sense of how she loves herself and how she sees herself. This client is very insightful, and she could see the difference between self-worth and self-esteem.

We concluded that self-esteem is often based upon how others see us, while a sense of self- worth is more an internal self-evaluation. Valuing ourselves is about how much we can trust ourselves to keep promises to ourselves. It is more about character than performance. If we keep promises to ourselves- to do the right things, maintain disciplines, adhere to our values- our sense of self-worth improves.

Being esteemed by others is important and valuable, but it does not dictate our worth. Indeed, we have worth simply by being created in the image of God. But our own sense of worth is determined by how well we keep those promises to ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, you have made us in your image. What a marvelous and boggling concept that is! Amen

A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger,
    but an unkind answer will cause more anger.                                                      Proverbs 15:1

I recently spoke with a couple about their style of communication and we discussed some ideas of how to improve it. I suggested to them that it is often better to ask questions than make comments. Rather than speculating on the mood or intentions of a partner by saying something like “You look angry”, it might be more helpful to say “You look upset, are you OK?”

Often in the course of a conversation that seems to be getting a bit heated, there is a need to slow things down. Emotions can easily overtake cognitive reasoning in the course of defending oneself from a perceived attack. “Slowing the train down” at that point is important. Sometimes use of a fun code word can signal the need for a pause to regain composure. I have had clients come up with some great nonsense words to interject to make a pause in the growing heat of hurtful words. Use your imagination on this one!

All this to say, just one of the partners in the discussion can invoke the word, and a pause needs to take place to give time for a break. This made me think of the Proverb and the wisdom it contains – A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger.      

Prayer: Lord, help us to pause when we are moved to anger, Amen                                                                                                           

“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.                                                              John 3:16-17 (New Century Version)

As I write this blog, it is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is a celebration that commemorates the actual start of the Church. That is, on that day, 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was sent in a visible way to the followers of Jesus, giving them the power of God through the indwelling of the Spirit. This was the start of the worldwide mandate to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

This power was manifested immediately by the disciples who began to speak in the languages of those people assembled in Jerusalem for the Hebrew feast of Pentecost (Shavuot). That feast was celebrated 50 days after the Passover holy days. Jews from all around the known world came to the festival, and they were amazed that these rugged fishermen and untrained Galileans were able to speak foreign languages so that all present understood the Good News.

The message here is that ordinary people were empowered to spread the Good News that Jesus brought to earth. These new believers now were the only means to convey the greatest message in the world – that God so loved the world that He sent his only son to redeem it.

Prayer: Lord, you have entrusted us with a powerful message that all need to hear. Strengthen us to do it well, Amen

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light…                                                                                         Genesis 1:1-3

How about that catchy title today? You might have thought that you had stumbled onto a children’s story blog. Actually, maybe you have!

On my walk this morning, I was caught by the gorgeous blue colors of the sky. There was a deep blue, then gradients of color to almost pale blue. I kept looking up, ignoring my steps in front of me. Thankfully, I didn’t stumble.

The sky appears to be blue, I understand, because of the way light is scattered in the atmosphere. The blue, shorter waves of light remain visible while the longer rays of the reds, yellows and oranges pass through.

I think we can take for granted something as simple as the glory of our blue sky. We lose our child-like sense of awe and wonder as we grow older, and perhaps we become more cynical. So, the word today for good mental health is- appreciate the simple things all around us that we might take for granted.

Isn’t it great that the sky is blue?

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the simple things that give color to our world and reflect your glory, Amen.

I thank my God every time I remember you,always praying with joy for all of you.                         Philippians 1:3-4

I have two big brothers and a big sister. I am the youngest of four children, and now I am the only one in my seventies. Yeah, I am such a youngster they keep reminding me. I am so blessed to have these siblings in my life. We are a close-knit family, and that is a legacy to my parents and grandparents and beyond.

We do not have the luxury of picking our ancestors, obviously, but we do have the responsibility for carrying on family legacy and values. We try to pass those things down to our own children and grandchildren, and from what I see, we are in good shape on that front.

We are all getting older, and we never know how much time we have to tell those we love how important they are to us. So, to my dear siblings, I love you and I have been blessed to be your little brother.

To my brother Ed, whose birthday we celebrate today, you are my mentor, and the guy I always followed. Thanks for being a great big brother, and happy birthday!!

Love you, big brother!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of family, Amen

“The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens.”     Jimmy Carter

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and with his own people and in his own home.”                                                                                                                                               Mark 6:4 (NCV)

James Earl Carter Jr., better known as “Jimmy” Carter, was the 39^th President of the United States. He was elected in November, 1976, following Gerald R. Ford. His presidency was widely seen as ineffective, largely due to the Iran hostage crisis, and his failure to effect a plan to rescue the hostages. The military rescue operation he enacted ended in a disaster in the desert, and he was never able to overcome the negative blowback resulting from that.

He was able to engineer the Camp David Accords which was a major international accomplishment. Despite some successes in his presidency, his one term was not considered to be particularly remarkable. It was only after his presidency that he gained acclaim and honor as perhaps the most impactful ex-president in U.S history.

His work for Habitat for Humanity, the Carter Center, and his stature internationally as a trusted impartial mediator of elections attest to the trust and respect given to him throughout the world. His 2002 Nobel Peace Prize is just one validation of his legacy after he was president.  

He is now in Hospice care at age 99, and he has little time left on earth. By all measures, his life has been well lived and impactful. His Christian faith has been his beacon and standard, and in a time when Christians are seen as hypocritical and judgmental, he stands as a real follower of Jesus and a true model of character.

The quote of Carter, cited above may well sum up his view of life and his Christian faith. So as his time winds down, I salute the life of this man who served his God, his country, and the world.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the life and work of Jimmy Carter. Bless him on his journey home, Amen