How Does Striving for Excellence Come into Being?

Accountability is an enduring summons that is met either with acceptance and enthusiasm or is pushed aside and rejected. Yes, it is possible to avoid responsibility for life’s choices and decisions whether  they’re positive or negative.

In truth, most people take advantage of opportunities that come their way. Pursuing excellence potentially promises an elevated meaning and purpose for life. Accountability strives to achieve the highest good that’s determined by your intelligence and other innate abilities.

For the Christian, this includes viewing life as an opportunity to be used by God to further his plan and purpose for your life. Pursuing excellence derives from believing you consistently do your best to achieve what’s possible. God is at work to give you an attitude of being worthy of the time you’re given in this life. When you are completely committed to Jesus Christ, striving for excellence is joyful.

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If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care, then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 

~Philippians 2:1-2 The Message

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Faith's Priority ~ 2020 Vision of God's Plan and Purpose

As the new year approaches, you may begin to assess what could possibly be different for the days ahead. Some people promise themselves and others they will strive to make significant changes concerning their health, finances and relationships. They set goals with every good intention of seeing them through to completion.

Stated another way that interjects Christ Jesus into the process, what could be your faith’s priority for the coming year? On many levels, faith’s priority is anchored to God’s plan and purpose for your life. If you are uncertain about your future, why not ask God to reveal to you, in ways you can understand, what that purpose is?

Faith’s priorities are more about God’s purpose and plan than about selfish motives and personal achievements that can never be completely satisfied. When faith’s priority enters the equation, God’s insight and wisdom are infused into every aspect of the process. Imagine the very presence of Jesus Christ giving you guidance and purpose for every new day of the year.  

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For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

~Jeremiah 29:11 The Living Bible

Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

~2 Corinthians 8:21 Good News Bible

May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

~Hebrews 13:21 Good News Bible

Make Me a Blessing to God and Others

Living life so you can be a blessing to others is a treasure of great value. Listen to the prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:9 as he asks God for such a blessing. "Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me to keep me from evil, so that I might not cause pain to others."

 

Jacob had been a source of pain to his family of origin. Following his forced exodus from his home, he had spent twenty years working for his father-in-law. Perhaps he had matured by facing the responsibilities of work, two wives, two surrogate wives, eleven sons and one daughter.

Jacob would prove to be a blessing to his father-in-law, yet the time came when he was ready to face his past so he could move forward with his life.  Perhaps God communicated to him, "I have plans for you, so get your mind focused on what lies ahead." Jacob's future included being a blessing to God. Is God nudging you onward so you can be a blessing to Him and others?

I Demand to Win!

Jealousy's demands are powerful enough to be destructive. The news media features distraught individuals who in a state of rage kill someone because they want what they cannot have. Objectivity is lost when the jealous person believes the heart, soul, mind and body of another person belong to them. 

          Jealousy demands satisfaction no matter how absurd the demand may be. The goal is to win by causing hurt and pain to others. Rachel was barren but determined to have children by whatever means possible. She felt overshadowed by her sister Leah, so she gave Bilhah her maid-servant to Jacob to have children in her place.

          When Bilhah gave birth to two baby boys, Rachel clearly identified her jealousy. Listen as she justifies her actions and feelings: "God has vindicated me. He has listened to my plea. I had a great struggle with my sister and I have won.” Jealousy does not care about other people’s rights, making it contrary to God's plan and purpose. 

A Green-Eyed Monster Called Jealousy

Jealousy is a common emotion experienced by everyone at some level. It's an emotion few people would endorse or boast about. Those who experience it often feel shame especially when it gets out of hand.  If a relationship is believed to be in danger, exaggerated jealousy may surface with rage and a fiery vengeance.

          Rachel felt jealous when her sister Leah could have children for Jacob while she remained barren.  Fostered by a lack of trust that she would ever conceive, Rachel persuaded Jacob to have children with her maid- servant.  Sound familiar?  Now jealousy has become the equalizer in a situation rather than trust in God’s plan and purpose. 

          As jealousy gains a foothold, it leaves little room for faith and trust. Jealousy is obsessed with thinking and feeling just one way.  To escape, force yourself to focus on Romans 12:2.  God’s word instructs you to be transformed by renewing your mind by the power of Christ Jesus in you.  Ask Jesus to transform you now.

Craving Godly Blessing

When Isaac sent Esau, his eldest son, into the country to hunt game for a special meal to celebrate Isaac’s giving Esau his blessing, guess who was secretly listening to the conversation? Esau’s mother Rebekah was concerned that Jacob, her favorite son, would miss out on God’s promise to her.

Just think about it. God had promised Rebekah that Jacob would become patriarch of the family, but God’s plan was to supersede Rebekah’s. Guess what? She couldn’t wait for God, so she devised her own plan. She didn’t realize that taking matters into her own hands was an invitation to disaster, especially when it negated God’s purpose.

God wants us to wait for his plan even when it appears impossible to acknowledge delays of any kind. God’s purpose is for us to develop endurance, the capacity to hold onto faith, especially where fear abounds. Endurance includes trusting God even as the impulse to run forward is overwhelming. God is the Lord of all hope so stay fixated on that hope.  

A Bridge to Identity

God creatively designs individuals to relate to others in ways that personally give them an identity. Jacob and Esau were not identical twins. Esau was born first, not a pink baby but red and hairy. Jacob came next, holding on to Esau’s heel. Jacob’s name means grabber, which would characterize him for life.

Esau grew up burly, strong and tall, an outdoors-man who loved to hunt and was his father’s favorite. Jacob stayed close to the tent. He was the quiet, reflective type and was his mother’s favorite. It’s obvious how favoritism laid the foundation for building the bridge that led to struggle and strife over power and control.

God’s plan and purpose are always good and solid because they build a bridge that withstands the troubles and strife that all will encounter. Jesus said his will and God his Father’s will were the same. He waited for God’s will even when it meant dying on the Cross. God gives patience and the will to endure when you ask him to do so.

Greasing the Wheels of Change - Part 3

An impasse may be defined as a collision of ideas, where individuals are unwilling to accept a contrasting point of view. This is not uncommon in relationships where arguments evolve into conflicts. Reluctance to permit the existence of differing ideas produces derailment of communication that often points to immaturity and stubbornness.

To break out of an impasse, clearly define what created the impasse. Someone said: “I never give up, give in, or change my position.” What fashioned this attitude? Probably an intense compulsion to compete, a lack of compassion, immaturity or perhaps a resolve to win regardless of negative consequences to others.

God’s purpose for the Apostle Paul and Paul’s vision for himself collided. It took an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and temporary blindness for Paul to realize change was imminent. As Jesus spoke to Paul, he chose to listen and willingly changed his attitude to include God’s plan and purpose. God’s purpose and plan are always right and good.    

Christ's Coming: A Time of Transition - Part 1

Change is a reality each person confronts as the United States inaugurates a different philosophy for managing our wonderful system of government. The Lord God Almighty intends for there to be change, and as we are willing to accept change, we experience the peace God gives. God is in charge of his world and will establish his good purpose and perfect plan for his people.

Can you imagine the world Jesus came to save two thousand years ago, or the transitions that God’s people have endured since that time? What secures a nation in the midst of transitions are the prayers of faith and gratitude that God’s people faithfully practice. May God give you peace as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, his Son. Merry Christmas and God bless you!    

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To coordinate with KHCB’s “Five Days of Christmas” programming, I will post special Christmas thoughts on my blog Wednesday-Sunday, December 21-25. On those days, KHCB will air only Christmas music and short thoughts from the programmers.

On Monday, December 26, my blog posts again will coordinate with the radio broadcast schedule of Attitudes/Answers that airs at 5:45 PM on KHCB radio at 105.7FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, and FL, you may click on the KHCB link in the "About Me" section of this page.

False Assumptions vs. Reality - Part 3

It's fair to say most people want to enjoy good relationships, find gainful employment, and feel secure. Achieving these goals rarely happens without some unexpected detours along the way. Can you imagine the worst possible situation you could experience? Perhaps you've been there, done that, but what helped you survive and face reality?

Jesus' parable of the prodigal son teaches us how to deal constructively with reality. The young man in the story left home with hopes and dreams for a wonderful life. Unfortunately, he lacked the maturity to make healthy, wise decisions. Consequently, he found himself in a desolate place feeding hogs to survive, which for him was the epitome of shame and humiliation.

What got him into trouble? He was arrogant and naive, which distorted his ability to deal effectively with reality. Most of us have been there or are presently on the way. The good news is, God permits us to make directional changes when we're mature enough to choose his plan and purpose for our lives.