One of the goals of the Pathways to Organization blog is to help women become better women, wives and mothers. That’s why this blog has sections to help us in many different areas: emotionally, physically and spiritually.
So I started thinking this last week: do we study the Bible and go to church to become stronger Christians or do we do these activities just because it’s the right thing to do or because we want to be seen?
I know that last paragraph is somewhat strong. But I want all of us to be REAL. Real Christians, real women of God. As you study the Bible you will see that Jesus never quarreled at the sinners of that day. He quarreled at the religious leaders! Why? Because they were more concerned about how they “appeared” than the condition of their hearts.
They were more concerned about keeping the rules and the law than helping a fellow man on the Sabbath. Their hearts were hard and shallow and because Christ showed them who they really were, and they wanted Him dead.
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Action Plan
Search your heart and ask yourself what your motives are as you go about your day to day activities. Do you want to do for others out of love for them or because of how people will see you? Do you buy a new dress so that you will out shine the other ladies at church or because you want to dress up for the Lord and your husband? Do you want to sing the solo part or play the lead in the drama so that others will see you or because you want to glorify the Lord with the gifts He has given you? Do you try to get in with the gossip so that you can add you “2-cent’s” or do you step away from hearing the slander of another? Do you help out with the latest charity so that you can get in with the right group of women or do you give your time and energy to really help others?
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Manna from Heaven
The only way we can walk as real Christians is to have Christ and His Word in our hearts and actions.
“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. But now, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.
And so…put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” Colossians 3:1-13
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Emotional Check-Up
When we are not real with others (or ourselves) we may begin to pull away from others. This can result in loneliness which is becoming almost epidemic in our society today. The most important way to keep from being lonely is to form social connections, real friendships and to do for others.
One interesting study found that respondents who had been diagnosed with cancer had the lowest rate of loneliness! “Cancer is the great equalizer,” says Bob Riter, director of the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes in Ithaca, New York.
When you find out you have a life and death situation, you are thrown into a place where you have to finally face yourself, the good, bad and ugly. But what a blessing when you do! You will, hopefully, begin putting aside false impressions and begin to be real.
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Healthy Fit-Fact
As we become more real, one way to show it is by touch. Our sense of touch, says researchers at Yale and the University of Colorado, impacts our relationships. “We form impressions based not just on what people say and wear, but on tactile messages,” says Josh Ackerman, Ph.D., of the Mass. Institute of Technology. Handing someone a hot cup of coffee, talking with them in comfortable chairs as well as a slight touch on their arm is as important as sight and hearing. And, look people in the eye when you talk to them. We should do everything we can to let others know we have the time for them.