IF

If is such a funny word. It can change anything just by existing. I am going for a walk…if. I will finally get my dream…..if. Or switch it around, if I get my wish. If I score that goal.
If changes things.
If. Jesus didn’t die.
If. It was all made up.
If. There is no world after this one.
The ifs suddenly look like a black hole don’t they?
If the ifs were true then there would be no point and the world would just burn. No Jesus means no salvation and IF we all just stop existing anyway then what’s the point?
Change the if to a why on the second one. Why would somone go to the trouble of making it all up, AND setting in place the evidence we have found? It would be ridiculous.
If there is no Heaven or hell and we all just stop existing then why do we exist at all? Because the world needed us? That is clearly not true, we are killing the world. Then why?
The truth is is that we could argue the ifs for years. Many have. But what it all comes down to is this. In our hearts we know the story is true. We have met Jesus and know Him. Then the ifs don’t matter.
One more if for everyone out there who still doesn’t believe.

                WHAT IF IT’S ALL TRUE?
Then where are you at the end?

Armor?

When we were kids in Sunday School, we would sing the armor of God song. Remember standing up and patting yourself down as you named the different parts of the armor. It sort of looked like a rendition of ‘head, shoulders, knees and toes.’ Today I was reading Stormie Omartain’s ‘prayer warrior’ and she was talking about the armor of God. She mentioned how we need to put it on every day and it gave me an idea. What if we start each day by doing the armor of God song? Bear with me. What if we got up and did the helmet of salvation, breastplate, of righteousness, belt of truth, shoes of readiness, shield of Faith and sword of the Spirit? A. we would be verbally and physically acknowledging God’s power over our day
B. We would be getting in some morning cardio.
It is just a thought. But don’t forget how mutch we need our armor if we are going to make it through the day.

Credit to owner for cover image

Grace and truth

I once heard a volleyball captain say that you can’t have a good relationship by only being nice. It is not untrue, especially of you are the leader. You always need to be able to deliver the hard truths that people need to hear but you need to be able to do it with grace.
If you are known for being a jerk and doing nothing but pointing out people’s faults then they won’t ever actually listen to you. If you are never giving them the criticism they need then they will never grow.
Hypothetical story.
You are the captain of the women’s (or men’s), college volleyball team. You have been doing this middle school and the game is all you eat, sleep, and drink. Basically you know your stuff. Last year your previous setter graduated so you are using the person who was training to take the position. Game after game, sloppy spike after sloppy spike, you realize something. It isn’t your spiker that is the problem, it’s the setter. This person is hot headed and ready to eat the ball in her hand from so many misses. More than that she has started to blame the spiker and tell them off. Your words of, “just shake it off girls!” And, “we will get the next one!” Have been silenced by you realizing that you have to tell the setter what she is doing wrong. What do you do?
You tap her on the shoulder and say?
A. Listen. You keep on hesitating before your set so the timing is off and you are throwing off the spiker.
B. Hey there…is everything okay? Your sets seem a little hesitant. Don’t worry, you can do it.
Or C. I have noticed that you are a little hesitant with your sets today and it seems that is throwing off the spikes. (Place hand on shoulder) don’t worry, you can do it!

Option C. Shows the mistake gently and then encourages.

People need help. But they need you to offer that help kindly. Not sugarcoated, but not full of salt either. Find the balance and you can be a great asset to people.