Stinking Things Up

I love walking early in the morning before the world wakes up. The problem is, that some critters are awake and enjoying this time of the day too. When humans and critters meet, things may not go so well.

I’ve learned to walk with an eye for what’s around me. Whether it's snakes or armadillos or skunks, I’m watching and noticing when Chara goes crazy. Usually, that’s a sign that something is amiss nearby.

Yesterday, it was a skunk. The skunk was running down the sidewalk like he owned it. I think he did! The problem was he was flying towards us! Chara and I immediately turned and took off in the opposite direction. We beat the skunk!

I always thought that skunks were slow and lazy critters. I found out that skunks can run up to 10 miles per hour. Skunks will chase an animal or human (or both in our case) away whenever they feel threatened, especially when they have babies nearby.

We will do whatever it takes to avoid a skunk. No one wants to get skunked! Chara and I’ve dealt with getting skunked one time and one time was enough.

We can run from skunks, but we must also run from the ways WE stink things up. 2 Corinthians 6:16 says “If we belong to Jesus, we are the temple of the living God and we are sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty.”  As Christians, do we realize who we are? Do we know that our calling is to be like Christ?

Do we treat people with grace and forgiveness?
Have we stunk things up with our negative talk?
Does your time on the internet pollute our thinking?
Has “sharing” about someone (gossiping) been something you've done?
Have your grudges about this or that made you stink it up?
Has your anger and attitude affected those around you?

Maybe it’s worth taking time to look at what stinks in us. Our actions and attitudes affect our relationship with God, our relationship with others, and how we feel about ourselves. Jesus cares and longs for us to deal with the stuff in us that stinks.

Now, more than ever, the world needs people who are committed to reflecting the aroma of Christ wherever we go. (2 Corinthians 2:15-17) Will you be that one?

“If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins- simply come clean about them- he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God-make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.” 1 John 1:9

Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbWQV3OiRqA

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Fix Your Eyes

Chara, our English Springer, loves going to visit the residents of a nearby memory care facility. As she got out today, she was prancing with joy and bounding down the hallway to meet up with her people. Her people are sitting around in a circle in the TV room and she can’t wait to greet each one with love. All the while, she’s looking at Ben and I, eager to please, hoping a treat will come her way.

Chara doesn’t always aim to please her master perfectly. Although my husband often says “She’s the perfect dog…” there’s a lot of room for improvement. Like last week, when he took her for a walk, and she rolled in a dead armadillo. Yikes. She came back smelling like one.

For Chara, her people are her priority. That is, for the most part, what she fixes her focus on. I sense we can learn some eternal lessons from a dog.

Do we keep our eager eyes focused on God, always desiring to please Him? Will we be faithful to Him, even to the end? Will we remain attuned to God’s presence or be drawn down paths that leave their stench?

Summer is almost here. Even with a “slowing” down in our lives, there are always enough distractions of many good things that often lead us to forget the best thing.

The writer of Hebrews instructs us in a way of life that is possible and beautiful! Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

What hinders you from keeping your focus on Jesus? How do you run with endurance? God has set out for each of us a race. God wants us to run our race and finish it well. Endurance

Is needed here. In Enduring Word Online Commentary, the writer speaks about endurance: “Endurance translates the ancient Greek word ‘hupomone”, which does not mean the patience which sits down and accepts things but the patience which masters them… it is a determination, unhurrying, and yet undelaying which goes steadily on and refuses to be deflected.”

I want that kind of tenacity and persistence. The secret of persistence is in the words “Fixing our eyes on Jesus.” He is the pioneer. He has gone before us. He empowers us moment by moment to learn to look to Him.

I want to fix my gaze continuously on the One who knows my name and loves me perfectly. Fixing our eyes on Jesus means we have our eyes locked on Him, not on the armadillos that stink things up.

May this be our prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hzVffdluFw

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

No Condemnation

Condemnation messes with us, doesn't it? Vocabulary.com defines condemnation as "expressing strong disapproval, pronouncing it as wrong or morally culpable."

Self-condemnation is those whispers of our minds telling ourselves various condemning thoughts: I’m not good enough. I’m a disappointment. Why did I say that? I’m so stupid. I’ll never be able to change. I always come up short. What’s wrong with me? I’m such a loser.

Self-condemnation can send our self-confidence down the drain. With self-condemnation, we forget what truths God says about us and start believing our negative mindset. How has self-condemnation affected you?

I’m not good with defending my self-condemnation. I’m thankful I don’t have to defend myself against myself. You don’t either! I’m thankful we have a God that will fight for us! (Exodus 14:13-14) God is our defender! As we spend time in God’s word and prayer, we gain confidence that gives life, while self-condemnation cuts down our spirit.

There is also another kind of condemnation. The condemnation that comes from others. Judging others is way too natural for us! Condemnation from others may sound like this: Did you hear about her? Did you hear what happened to him? I can’t believe she would do that! I want you to know about this situation so you can pray.

Condemnation from others not only hurts us deeply but affects the one who condemns us. The one who condemns thinks they are the authority on a person’s heart. They are not. Only God knows our hearts. Since we aren’t God, what right do we have to condemn? Those who condemn others try to ruin reputations by condemning others to show themselves better. When we condemn others, we have our own set of issues. Using our mouths to speak negativity can be natural. However, the words of life and encouragement breathe life into others.

Might we consider those times that WE have condemned others? I remember Amy Carmichael, a missionary from years ago, shared before we open our mouths, to consider these questions: Is what I’m about to say kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? It seems to me that the Holy Spirit could help us live and speak differently.

Would you like to be a person free from condemnation? You can be. Yes, there may be others who try to condemn you with their words, actions, or gossip. But the word of God tells us something profound: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) No condemnation! None! Do you believe it? What would it look like for you to be free from condemnation? Can you imagine living life from human opinions and enjoying how God feels about you?

Take a listen: Freedom by Jesus Culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKxeZsZvp7E

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.