We’re all sinners.

Though there are many people who do not serve God and who still do good, the difference is the standard or the measurement we use to determine good.

In Dwight Edwards devotional, Experiencing Christ With, he explains:

“We can easily slip into a ‘street level’ view of goodness. It’s like walking down a city street sidewalk and comparing the heights of those you pass by. A few people happen to be well over six feet tall and really stand out from the crowd. But if you were to look down on the scene from atop a hundred-story skyscraper, everybody on the sidewalk would appear equally tiny.”

That’s how God sees us. We’re all equally tiny. Sinners because of our sin nature, because it goes against the very nature of God.

According to Psalm 53:2-3, “God looks down from heaven on the children of men to see if they understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.”

So why is it okay to be bad, as the title of this post suggest?

Because as I see it, if we weren’t bad or sinful, we wouldn’t need Jesus. Once we recognize that though we may appear to be good by the world’s standards, in truth, no one is good.

But the good news is, through Christ, we are forgiven and made new.

New.

Through Christ,

not through works or deeds,

we are made good.

GOD’s angel said to him (Balaam): “Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you’re getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn’t, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off.” Numbers 22:32-33 The Message

Reading through the Bible the other day, I had to pause at this scripture. Why would God block Balaam’s way when it appeared he did what God asked? And why would God make a donkey talk to get his message across to Balaam?

Sometimes the Bible is not clear. That’s when we need to dig deeper, go to commentaries, and rely on those more educated who have studied the scriptures, the people, and the times.

After doing so, it became clear that though Balaam’s outward actions appeared to be honoring God’s requests, his inside motivations were not. He was a Gentile prophet, a soothsayer who loved worldly things and would pronounce a curse on someone for money. He knew the right path and was often used by God, but chose to follow the lusts of this world more often.

I’ll back up and summarize the story. Balak, the King of Moab, had asked Balaam to curse the people of Israel because they were encroaching on his territory. The king was willing to pay big bucks, but Balaam said he must ask God first. God’s answer to Balaam. “Do not go with them (the men sent by the king.) And don’t curse the other—they are a blessed people.”

So Balaam obeys God, tells the men to go back home, and he won’t be going with them.

The king wasn’t satisfied, so he sent a more prestigious group of nobles to Balaam, I assume hoping to impress and sway Balaam’s decision. They were willing to pay a lavish price and do anything Balaam wished. Imagine the temptation!

Balaam’s response. “Even if Balak (the king) gave me his house stuffed with silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to defy the orders of my God to do anything, whether big or little.” Then he offers them shelter and promises to ask God one more time in the morning. Hmm…could this be where he started to stray? Could the temptation have been too great?

God came to Balaam that night and told Balaam to go with these men, but made it clear that Balaam was to do and say “absolutely nothing” other than what God told him to. So Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and somewhere along the journey “God’s anger flared.”

Seems an unjust response from God, doesn’t it? After all, Balaam did what God said and God still was angry, enough so that he sent an angel to block his path, but Balaam didn’t see it. The donkey he rode did and refused to continue on.

This scripture disturbed me on a couple of levels. What did Balaam do that was so wrong? Apparently he did something for God’s anger to flare, but it’s not spelled out in scripture, so I did a little digging.

Knowing that Balaam was a man who lusted after riches, I questioned his motivation for asking the second set of nobility to stay the night. Did he hope God would change his mind so he could accept the gold? Was he tempting faith by asking God again when the answer was clearly a NO, the first time? Was he dismissing God’s perfect will trying to negotiate a compromise?

Oh, how that reminds me of my own childrens’ attempts to get what they want through cajoling and wearing me down. And sadly, it reminds me of my own bargaining, begging, and whining to God when I do not get my way.

When I try to get ahead of his plan.

Unfortunately, it’s not hard to see the parallels between me and Balaam, sometimes preferring the things of this world to the divine plan of God. I’m guilty of getting ahead of God, of inviting things in my life to spend the night with the intentions of asking God about it one more time in the morning. I’m guilty of outwardly obeying God’s will while on the inside my heart was in rebellion and longing for something else.

I wonder how many times God’s anger burned when I strayed too far from the path? How many angels has he sent to block my way? How many more will come, and will I see them or will my journey be delayed by a stubborn donkey?

I don’t know all the answers, but it sure gives me a lot to think about.

How about you? Hear any talking donkey’s lately?

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 NIV

I confess. I’ve never read through the entire Bible. Of course, for years when January finally arrives I commit to read through the Bible, but midway through February, I fizzle out.

I’m sure no one can relate!

Well, this time it’s different. I’ve been working through The Message Bible//Remix for a while now. It’s a daily Bible reading program that can be accomplished in a year or longer. I’m going for the longer plan.

There are several things I LOVE about this Bible:

*It’s the Bible in novel form. No scripture references or chapters, it just reads like a story.

*It’s in modern English. Nothing gives a new and fresh perspective to an old story like the Message translation. Think you know the scriptures? Try reading it in this version.

*It alternates Old Testament reading from New Testament reading AND it shows the parallels in each story.

*The readings are numbered by days, BUT there are little breaks and pauses clearly marked in case you’re on the four year plan like me! No pressure to make my required daily reading. I just stick in my bookmark and pick up where I left off.

*There are little pause breaks to reflect on the reading and many other features to help reading through the Bible more bite size and fun! This helps especially throughout Numbers and Chronicles!

So if you’ve been meaning to read through the Bible and never quite made it past the Old Testament, I highly recommend The Message//Remix.

Need proof? I’m about 1/4th of the way through. The farthest I’ve ever gotten and I’m enjoying my readings without the guilt of a reading plan!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalms 119:105 NIV

One writing weekend away from home, I woke up at 8:30 am and switched on the TV to see what I was missing at home not having cable. I settled on a political news program about the anniversary of Katrina. After heating up my breakfast sandwich in the microwave, I turned on my computer anticipating a peaceful writing morning.

I started by reaching for the Gideon’s Bible in the hotel drawer.

I assumed it would be there, and it was.

I read a couple of Psalms, but my mind was distracted. Nothing really sunk it. As I sat there, I thought about the fact that I was reading a Bible in my hotel room placed there by the Gideons. I wasn’t reading any other religious book. I thought of all the rooms in the hotel and all the hotels in my town and all the hotels in other towns. All with Gideon Bibles…

I thanked God for the Gideons, grateful for their work in placing Bibles all over the world. I had purposefully left my Bible at home assuming there would be one for me to read in the hotel. And there was.

But what about next time? Years from now? Would there still be a Gideon Bible in my hotel room?

Since that day, I’ve found that most hotel rooms have the Gideon Bible tucked away in a drawer, mostly unused. But I did encounter one modern hotel without a Bible. It makes me sad to know years from now that could be the norm.

Now when I stay in a hotel and find a Bible, used or not, I thank God for His Word and for those who have given to the Gideons to make it possibly for people to have Bibles to read when they are away from home.

Lord, I pray that the work of the Gideons continues and that those who do not know God will catch a little glimpse of Him one night in their hotel room.

Sometimes I wonder what He’s asking of me…

Because there is a time for everything under heaven.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God.

So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him… So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?”

–Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

As I read this verse, I’m starting to hear something, Lord.

Find satisfaction in toil. Enjoy my work.

I read on…

Meaningless, meaningless, meaningless. Riches are meaningless. Advancement is meaningless.

[Sigh of relief] I learned that lesson a year or so ago when I finally handed over my writing career to the Lord. But, wait. Maybe there’s other areas of my life that I need to examine in this area. [Deep breath as I dive back in...]

Stand in awe of God.

[Pause]

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few…

How many times have I sat before the Lord, growing impatient when I couldn’t hear His voice in the first five minutes? Too many times to count. Or how many times have I come with my problems and concerns, quick with my mouth, hasty in my heart, with too many words? Often.

“As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, ‘My vow was a mistake.’ Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

Stand in awe of God and let my words be few.

Maybe that’s the next step God is calling me to.

Maybe that’s all He’s asking of me…

How about you? What is God asking of you? Do you feel like you are pleasing Him? What have you learned in your journey?

My goal is to be firm, but it comes out harsh. Not the best way to change their hearts and get them to do things my way, but it’s so easy to resort to old habits.

Thankfully, God sends little reminders to help me in this area. This came in my inbox the other morning.

Be Firm Without Being Harsh
“Some parents believe that the only way to be firm is to be harsh. Firmness says that a boundary is secure and won’t be crossed without a consequence. Harshness uses angry words and increased volume to make children believe that parents mean what they say. Some parents have assumed that firmness and harshness must go together. One mom said, ‘The thought of separating the two is like listening to a foreign language ”it sounds nice but doesn’t make any sense.’”*

Unfortunately, I am a product of my upbringing, and I’m afraid I’m creating little MEs in the process. Kids who are loud and yell to be heard. I don’t want to be harsh. I want to be firm, but loving. Yet, three of my four kids are strong-willed and like to challenge authority. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to teach them to honor and respect each other. It probably begins by modeling that behavior myself.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4

I want to change my harsh ways, but I know I can’t do it on my own strength. I need to remember more to call on God when I feel the harshness coming on me.

*This parenting tip is taken from the book, “Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids.”

Gina Conroy
Writer In Progress (my way of playing with the code word WIP (Work in Progress) that all aspiring and published authors know so well)

But couldn’t every Christian sign their email with a WIP?

We’re all WIPS – Works in Progress.

Nothing gives imperfect, stumbling Christians more hope than the book of Philippians. Maybe that’s why I love it so much. It gives me a perfect picture, a road map of how I should “carry on until the day of completion.” Until Jesus comes.

2 vs. 3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.”

2 vs. 14 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

3 vs. 7 “…I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”

4 vs. 8. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

And who can read chapter 3 vs. 12-14 without clinging to Paul’s hope:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

That could be the theme scripture for many Christians, including myself! But it’s also comforting to know Paul was a WIP.

A Work in Progress.

And if the Apostle Paul was still growing and maturing, how encouraging is that to all us other WIPs!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Sometimes it’s hard to know which way to turn, which area of your life has gotten out of balance and which needs to be steered back on course. Every since I’ve become a mom, I’ve struggled with balance. Yet, I’ve been able to encourage others along the way even though I don’t have it all figured out myself…

I wrote the following to a friend who was starting on a similar journey of balance in her own life:

“Listen to that gentle whisper God is speaking to your heart and see where He wants you to let go. Writing and the critique group was one of the hardest things I had to let go of, but I believe the relationships we built will remain in tack. I’ve also given up on publication, after being driven for two years because no matter how fast I drive, He’s the one that steers me down the road. I can take it slow and listen to His directions or put the pedal to the metal and take many wrong turns.”

How true that last statement is:

“No matter how fast I drive, He’s the one that steers me down the road. I can take it slow and listen to his directions or put the pedal to the metal and take many wrong turns.”

I guess the problem for me and others comes in when we start to look elsewhere for answers and direction. Sometimes it’s hard to hear God’s voice when your kids’ and everyone else’s voice is screaming in your ears. I still second and third guess myself all the time, but I’m learning to tune out the background noise, the static on the radio, and let Jesus take the wheel.

I’m in the taking it slow, still-not-sure-of-where-I’m-going stage, trying to soak in the scenery on the way to my unknown destination.

And I’m learning to enjoy the ride.

“If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 16:25

One morning, when my youngest two were three and five years old, I sat down with them for a quick devotion. I usually didn’t get around to devotions with my little ones, but on this morning I had managed some quiet time myself before they got up. When they came to sit besides me, I set aside my Bible and seized the moment, never knowing that their children’s devotion would be just what I needed.

Giving Up Things for Jesus

That was the title of the lesson taken from Luke 5:10-11 and the story about when Jesus called Simon to follow Him.

Simon loved to fish. It was all he knew to do, and he was good at it. But Jesus wanted Simon to tell others about the Kingdom of God. Jesus wanted Simon to follow Him.

Wow! That totally hit me where I was. Loving something so much, something I was good at and felt called to, and then being asked to give it up.

Jesus didn’t promise Simon would always have a roof over his head, or the road would be easy. He simply said, “be a fisher of men.” And that’s what Simon did.

Simon could have stayed behind and continued fishing, and he probably would have been happy and content. But Simon gave up what he loved. He traded in his fishing gear for something better.

Jesus.

Is God asking you to give up something?

Remember what Christ gave up for us and ask Him if something has come between your relationship. If you’re obedient to what He asks of you, He’ll bless you with something more than you could ever imagine. I’m clinging to that as I walk in obedience to what He has spoken to my heart.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

Okaaay… Not the answer I was expecting so I read on.

“What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever…All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new?’ It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.”

Wisdom is meaningless. Pleasure is meaningless. Toil is meaningless. So then what? If everything is meaningless, why do? Why strive? Why be? I kept reading.

“What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

To the man who pleases God, he gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness!

Happiness…

Hmmm, I think I’m starting to see the big picture. I’m not sure why, but sometimes I tend to have a negative bent toward life. I’m the-glass-is-half-empty kind of girl. Maybe it’s because of past life circumstances, maybe I was born this way, but it’s hard for me to see the good until I’ve over-analyzed the bad, dealt with my emotions, and then left Jesus to do the healing.

I also struggle with what I call The Green Eyed Monster.

So I think what God is trying to tell me is that everything I’m striving for or wishing for or envious of is meaningless. Everything outside of Him is meaningless. And that I should keep my eye on Him, on pleasing Him. That’s where I find meaning. (Sure, I knew that, but maybe I just needed a reminder.)

Which leads me to another question?…

How can I please God?

How do you please God?

Definitely worth digging into another day!