The Gimme's

Our society makes it so easy to abandon responsibility.

Tired of your job - then walk away ! Up to your neck in bills - then declare bankruptcy! Tired of your family - then leave - abandon them - walk away the world says - you are the master/mistress of your own destiny - your responsibility ends with you and you alone.

Christmas is upon us once again - time to spend what we haven't earned and buy what we can't afford - all as long as "we are OK" - the world can keep on spinning -
I can do what I like as long as I am happy, after all I can do what I want when I want and how I want I don't have to answer to anyone because I am the centre of my universe I, I, I, I....  ad nauseam

Consumerism and the "ME FIRST" attitude  declare loud and clear their own "Christmas message"  - Spend and you will be happy!!

The acquisition of 'things' all designed to stir up in our hearts and minds just what will make us/me/I  'happy' - and pleased with myself - the accolades of others in the family when they see just how much "I" spent on them how much food "I" was able to provide and just how  big "MY" Christmas tree is PHEW!!

The "Gimme Gimme Gimme - ME FIRST" attitude only fuels a selfishness which can lead to the abandonment of family, jobs and security.

The Bible is full of stories that help us recognise the damage a "ME FIRST" attitude can do - to others and to ourselves.

Taking responsibility for others in our care, for those we love, putting them and others ahead of us in everything we do and everywhere we go is how God originally programmed us to be - That is the very reason He sent His Son to die for us on Calvary - to show His love to a hostile and "ME CENTRED" earth.

Paul refers to selfishness or "ME FIRST" as "empty conceit" - a term that I reckon could be translated as "Vanity" or "arrogance". However you see it, the term obviously refers to an overly high opinion of oneself. "ME FIRST", then is akin to narcissism, and there is no room for that in the Christian's life.

Selfishness or "ME FIRST" is really only empty conceit. The "ME FIRST" attitude or selfishness caused the children of Israel to "willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved". They wanted that food more than anything - where they happy when they got it? NO! They wanted more - the more they got the more they wanted.

It's the same with us today, we are so focused on "US" that we can so easily forget what it cost Jesus to save us from this very problem of "ME FIRST".

The very opposite of "ME FIRST" is found in Philippians 2:2 "Being united with Christ, having tenderness and compassion, being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."

So this Christmas - let's see if we can whack the old 'ME FIRST' - smack it right out of the door.
Let's be sure we know where our treasure is.

As Christians we should hold the things of this world loosely because we are, when all is said and done, laying up our "Treasures in Heaven"

Making the possible impossible!

"Red tape" - don't you just love it - I love this quote from R.A J. Philips

"To get the attention of a large animal, be it an elephant or a bureaucracy, it helps to know what part of it feels pain. Be very sure, though, that you want its full attention."

Must say I had to have a laugh at that one - because quite frankly dealing with a bureaucracy, no matter what that bureaucracy may be, is like trying to grab a whirlwind by the tail!

Never ceases to amaze me but like Philips intimates a bureaucracy knows where your 'pain' may be and that's where inevitably the pressure lands.

Being tied up in 'red tape' is just SO frustrating - even in the little things - there are hoops to jump through and unimaginable hurdles to cross to get what seemingly is such a simple exercise - I guess we have all been there and done that.

When was the last time you had to deal with a bureaucracy? Mine was yesterday, but that is another story!

Whether it is with your insurance company, your work, your mobile service Company or some government agency, their rules and seemingly endless regulations and paperwork are ceaseless!! Real head-spinning stuff!!!

Few things are more frustrating to try to work with someone who doesn't have the right authority or even the motivation to help you with your problem whatever that problem is.

There is an endless army of bureaucrats all churning out paperwork and ideas that dazzle and confuse. The red tape flows redder and more and more consistent as the ideas keep coming from endless, often clueless middle managers all outdoing each other to reach that important goal.

Sometimes bureaucrats can go that 'extra' mile - in Phoenix a Pastor called Michael Salmon violated a zoning and building code, would you believe, when he invited friends and family into his home to talk about Jesus and Christianity.

It seems an over-zealous bureaucrat quoting rules and  throwing around red tape shuffled him off to court where he ended up doing time for his "crime"

Yes, so bureaucracy has its up side I guess but it seems we all have felt the down side.

Fortunately bureaucracy isn't an issue when it comes to God. 

We can take a problem to Him without having to deal with red-tape, rules, books, legal jargon, committees or voicemail - YAY!!!

You won't get the "Press button 1" to leave a message - He is there all the time; on time all the time.

You won't have to deal with middle managers who really don't know a thing about what you are talking about. You have direct 24-7 access to the one who has ALL the authority. The one who can and will get things done.

So don't let bureaucracy, no matter where it seems to be, get you down - we as Christians have a one-stop shop when it comes to problems.

You may have to deal with bureaucracies of all sorts here and to be honest you have my deepest sympathies and very best wishes when you have to, BUT we have a much higher court we can appeal to.

God is with us constantly, no matter where we go, what we do or whatever we are facing. 

.....and we used to be so close!

"We used to be so close"  I wonder how many times we have used that phrase?

Even now I still use the old age adage - " I wonder how we drifted apart".

Usually when we use that "and we used to be so close" phrase - it is usually followed by a long and rambling excuse as to what actually happened in your view to make the relationship collapse even disappear.

sometimes the problem is simply two people friends/relatives just drifting apart - my friend and I are like that - just didn't keep up the conversation and before you know it - years have passed and the tie between you slowly disintegrates and becomes untenable. Sad but OH so true.

More often though the problem goes deeper much deeper. The problem between two people often can be traced back to a specific incident. Something that drove a wedge between their relationship and so often very sadly the wedge is driven between family members.

Once the wedge is driven, pride can set in, unforgiveness and anger take up residence. Feelings once offended can become a festering sore; never healing and never being forgiven.

Often both parties sit back and "wait for the other one" to apologise and move toward a reconciliation.

Sadly one party may never want to forgive and that is when the rot sets in - one of them may try and try again for reconciliation but to no avail.

The unforgiving party may not realise that are trapped - trapped by their own hard and unyielding heart - they can be actually oblivious to their plight because they are totally 100% focused on their hurt either real or perceived.

It's through these horrible and testing times that Jesus has the answer. The Bible clearly States that being hurt and being offended is pretty well impossible to avoid (Luke 1:17) it is how we, through the Holy Spirit, handle the 'impossible' that will set us right not only with others but with God Himself.

Jesus didn't die so that our relationships would be tron apart by pride, hardness of heart and an unforgiving spirit.

Satan on the other hand hopes we will take the 'hurt' feelings and make them our own - that way he has this great foothold to rule in our lives and make us his. Being unforgiving and hard hearted will only play right into his hands and we stop looking to Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith not just some ideology that makes us feel 'good' when the chips are down.

If by any chance Satan had the ability to destroy us he would have done so long before this - his power is broken - he has lost the war. The only thing he can do now is try to get as many people as possible to follow him before Christ comes again and finally puts the finishing nail into his coffin and send him and his followers to that awful/special place designed for them.

So what do we do? - It is so easy to love those who do you no wrong - that's sort of like a fluffy "you are so sweet " sort of love - flitting along on the surface. To love someone who really hates you and you have been the victim of their unforgiveness, that's when the rubber hits the road.

How do you cope? Jesus was the epitome of being a victim of unforgiveness - He didn't flinch - He gave His all to God - what a great example!

If we ask Him, He will give us the strength, wisdom and patience to share his love as much as possible even with those who openly and often refuse to have anything to do with us.

Back in October I wrote a blog   http://itsbygracealone.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/what-did-you-do-princess-atta-quote.html   - which describes how I personally had to deal with a similar situation and how God has worked in my life since.

How are you at forgiving? Have you been hurt and feel you can't possibly forgive? Do you feel some sort of invisible line has been crossed making forgiveness impossible? Are you waiting for the other person to come around first? Are you waiting for them to 'make the first move'?

Jesus says clearly through His word that we "MUST forgive others" not 'if we feel like it to make us feel better". Forgiveness is essential if we walk with Christ.

So if you are affected by the "We used to be so close" syndrome - God is telling you to do something about it before it is too late. Even if you are not to blame - you MUST try to put things right.

You never know - your act of forgiving could change the whole scenario and restore broken lives and set prisoners free.