Happy Birthday Andrew!

Did you know that Andrew was Jesus’ first disciple? One of the twelve chosen men around your age to follow Jesus and be part of his ministry. He and his younger brother Peter were fishing in the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called upon him. Andrew was the first called by Jesus and the first to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

You are blessed, Andrew, not only because of your name, but because you are a child of God—just like Jesus. You are precious and loved beyond all comprehension.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38-39

Art: The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew by Duccio di Buoninsegna. Hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

The Bible

Some say that there’s no instruction book for living your life, but I disagree. The Bible not only explains life for us, but it explains God to us. It tells us about God’s design for marriage, friendship, and parenting—plus shows us how to live our lives with purpose and compassion.

The Bible was written over 1500 years and by 40 different writers. The newest part of the Bible – the New Testament – was written between 50 and 100 A.D. While many question the reliability of the Bible because it was written so long ago and translated into over 1,500 languages, it is amazingly accurate. Archaeological finds have repeatedly confirmed dates, places, kings and events written in the Bible. And, in 1947 when the Archaeologists found The Dead Sea Scrolls along Israel’s West Bank that was 1,000 years older than any version of the Old Testament we had at the time, comparing the versions unveiled 99.5% accuracy. The differences were minor spellings and sentence structure that didn’t change the meaning. (Side note: On my trip to Israel, I traveled several days with an Israeli man who accompanied the Dead Sea Scrolls to England to be translated.)

I remember a conversation I had with your Grandpa Ray about doubts that troubled him over the reliability of the Bible. Although I had not discovered the facts I just shared and I am certainly no theologian (bible expert), I shared with him and wholeheartedly believe this:

There is plenty to debate about the meaning of scripture. That’s why prayer and the Bible go hand in hand. There’s a reason why the Bible is described as God’s Word. It is because when we pray we are speaking to God; when we read the Bible, God is speaking to us. It’s critical that we pause, connect with God through prayer while reading the Bible. This is the only way to be assured that the message we are receiving is from God.

“For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37

Gratitude is good for you

Turns out that being grateful is like medicine. Gratitude decreases stress, improves sleep and reduces the risk of depression. Consciously noticing the good things in your life not only chases away the blues and generates a more positive outlook, but can make you more proactive in addressing issues and solving problems. Research actually shows that grateful people are even more physically active and engage in healthier activities.

Three ways to practice gratitude daily or weekly:

Count your blessings. You’ve heard the term. Okay, maybe not in a while, but it’s a practice that has stood the test of time because it works wonders. Before you go to sleep at night, while driving or waiting in line, think of three things or people that you’re grateful for. Breathe deep and experience a sense of peace.

Express gratitude. Tell a friend or family member something that you appreciate about them. Even a sincere thank you to a stranger has the power to improve their mood and yours.

Look on the bright side. More challenging is finding good in a not-so-good situation. For example, I had an unexpected expense that literally drained by savings account. Rather than dwell in the stress and worry I felt, I decided to be grateful that I had the money in the first place. It totally changed my outlook.

Take one step further and thank God for the things you are grateful for.

One of my favorite passages in the bible applies here:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Photo: Matt & Paxton at Grandma & Grandpa’s house

Making big decisions

We make hundreds of decisions everyday – most of the time without thinking too much about it. But every now and then those BIG decisions come along and stare us in the face. The ones that can influence the rest of our lives. It’s these types of decisions that come with stress, anxiety – even heartbreak – and often major procrastination or avoidance altogether.

Here are three questions to ask yourself when making those BIG ones:

What does the bible say?
- The bible is life’s best instruction book on thousands of topics and with the internet, can be accessed and researched more conveniently than ever before (hi, Google). What’s better than God’s guidance according to His purpose for your life?
Is it good for me?
- I know it sounds simple, but asking yourself if a decision is ultimately what’s best for you is very telling. Does it have the potential to hurt you? By your decision, are you taking the easy path or one that’s more work and takes longer, but ultimately better for you in the long run?
Would I want people to know?
- It’s a red flag if you wouldn’t want anyone to know about your decision because you’d feel ashamed or embarrassed. That’s a sign you’re uncomfortable and it’s probably not the best decision to make.

Talk it out with someone you trust; preferably someone who won’t rush to give advice, but a good listener who will allow you to walk through pros and cons thoughtfully and thoroughly. It’s amazing how just thinking out loud can shed light on your decision.

Inspired by a sermon by Rick Warren; photo of mountains in Israel near the Dead Sea