Choosing to Follow

Scott needed to have work done on one of his cars and called to see if I would pick him up at the automotive shop.  Since I was not familiar with the part of town where he was going, I needed to print out directions, get directions over the phone, or go to Scott’s house and follow him as he drove to the shop.  Since Scott had been to the location before and knew where he was going, I chose to follow him.  Once we left Scott’s house, I made sure I kept my eyes directed on Scott’s car, made every turn he made, and stayed as close to his car as possible until we arrived at the destination.  After we left the automotive shop, Scott gave verbal directions as we completed a few more errands.  Because of his closeness, I could listen, hear, and follow his instructions.

Some lessons I thought about while driving:

* I get to choose whom I will follow.

* It’s good to follow someone who knows where they are going and what they are doing.

* The one I choose to lead me should be worthy of my trust.

* It’s important to keep my eyes and attention on the one being followed.

* It’s good for the leader to know you are following so they can make sure you are staying close and made it through the light change.

* When I concentrate on following, the easier it is to not be distracted.

* Turn indicators help point the way and direction.

* There is satisfaction in a successful mission.

* Every day I must make the choice to follow God, listen closely to His instruction, keep my eyes and heart focused on him, and obey His teachings.

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Deuteronomy 13:4

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Psalm 111:10

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:38

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Mark 8:34

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

The Color of Friendship

What color is friendship?

Lydia Rosebush recently told her 5 year old son that he was in need of a haircut.  Jax decided that he wanted to get his hair cut really short like his friend Reddy.  He thought it would be fun to look like Reddy so that their teacher would be confused since she couldn’t tell them apart.  Jax and Reddy are about the same size, have engaging smiles, and twinkles in their eyes.  Because of their friendship, Jax didn’t even consider the different colors of their skin to be a noticeable factor in what his teacher saw.

Muaharrem is a young deaf man from Istanbul, Turkey.  His sister teamed up with some of his neighbors and a production crew to give him a special day.  While Muaharrem’s neighbors were learning sign language, the Leo Burnett ad firm and Samsung spent a month strategically setting up cameras around his neighborhood.  The day of the shooting, Muaharrem is first greeted with sign language from the man behind the counter in a local shop.  When he steps outside, another man speaks to him using sign language.  When he accidentally bumps into a woman she signs an apology.  Next, as Muaharrem gets into a cab, the driver signs “Hello” to him.  The taxi driver takes him to a public square where he is greeted by his neighbors signing to him.  He is overcome with emotion at the efforts his neighbors have exerted to learn a way to communicate with him.

Cleansheet Communications produced an ad for Canadian Tire Corporation as part of its sponsorship for the Rio Olympics 2016.  The commercial begins with a group of young boys playing basketball.  A loose ball rolls onto a neighbor’s sidewalk.  As one of the boys retrieves the ball, he notices a boy in a wheelchair on the porch.  The two boys exchange greetings and then he returns to play.  Later, as the boy in the wheelchair looks outside, he sees a basketball on his porch.  He takes the ball next door and notices the boys riding on tricycles, scooters, and one on a chair in a wagon so that he will feel comfortable playing with them.  The ad ends with “When the best of us steps up, our nation stands a little taller.”

I’m thinking that if friendship has a color, it must be love.  May we all color well this week.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12:3

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

I John 4:11

Intentional Learning

Recently a friend shared two questions to ask at the beginning of each new day:

     1 What do you need me to learn today?

     2 Whom can I help today?

It seems that when I am intentional about wanting to learn, my chances to make progress are better.  Making the commitment, being accountable, and applying what I am learning can make a difference.

Last week, I had to make preparations for one of those tests that I do every five years.  I caught myself already dreading the process before it even occurred.  When I realized what I was doing, I asked God to help me to intentionally learn something in the midst of the preparation and procedure.

Things I learned:

* I get to choose my attitude.

* It’s better to concentrate on what I can do rather than on what I can’t do for 24 hours.

* What I dwell on consumes my time and thoughts.

* It’s good to keep things in perspective.

* Complaining doesn’t benefit me or those around me.

* Help and encouraging words are appreciated.

* Having things to do, notes to write, and a book to read help pass the time.

* When you look for lessons to learn, you tend to find them.

* Lessons are taught, but I must decide if I embrace and/or apply them.

No matter what the circumstance, every day I have the opportunity to seek God’s wisdom, intentionally learn what I need to know, and choose to help others.  It’s a new day and time for action.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Psalm 89:15

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

Psalm 119:7

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Psalm 119:71

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.

Psalm 119:73

let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—

Proverbs 1:5

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 9:9

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

Titus 3:14

Expressions of Love

Tuesday was Valentine’s Day.  There was an abundance of flowers, cards, food, sweets, and gifts to acknowledge the day.  Our grandkids had parties at school.  People seemed to go out of their way to be nice and kind.  It was a day to stop, remember, and express love and appreciation to the people who are near and dear to us. 

Larry prepares my breakfast every morning.  On Valentine’s Day he somehow managed to cook the turkey bacon and curl it into the shape of a heart.  It was a thoughtful and sweet expression of love.

Today family and friends will gather at First Methodist Church to witness the marriage ceremony of my nephew and his beautiful bride.  Erich and Kelley will express their love and commitment to each other as they begin their journey of a lifetime as husband and wife.

During these days of war, uncertainty, and unrest the chorus of the song, “What the World Needs Now is Love” by Hal David reminds us:

What the world needs now is love sweet love,

It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,

No not just for some but for everyone.

Every day could be Valentine’s Day if people knew and had a relationship with the Source of Love.  I John 4:8b states that “God is love.”  May we be willing to express and act on that message of love all year long.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

I John 4:9, 10

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

We love because he first loved us.

I John 4:19

Do everything in love.

I Corinthians 16:14