Month: February 2024

What Do Some Do to Get What They Want?

DrJayCook Manipulation , ,

What do you do?

The Bible tells us in Romans 12:10, “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.  Take the lead in honoring one another.”

I rarely see that.  Many people do whatever they can to get their own way.  Even when they know it is not welcome, they keep trying.  Part of us wants what we want, and we want others to help us get it.

So much has changed lately.  We feel out of control, but we want control.  There have always been some who hunger for power at all costs.  However, most of us do not realize how hungry we are (at least not at first).  Either way, we turn to manipulation.

Manipulation is a skill that we tend to master.  As children, we pout and throw tantrums.  As we grow, our methods grow – often to deceit and cruelty.  We are willing to humiliate to get our way – or sound spiritual – or cause guilt – or play on emotions – or stir up fear – or build a posse to help us – or gaslight.

Is this wrong?  Well, Philippians 2:3-4 clearly states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.  Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

Our main problem is that we do not have the right view of God and others.  God is the only One who can meet our needs, so we either trust Him or not.  Others are just as valuable to God as you are, and they were created for His glory and will – not ours.

We need to be reminded of what Jesus said was the greatest command of all.  In Matthew 22:37-40, He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and most important command.  The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

I can only imagine how wonderful the world would be if we all followed what Jesus said.  I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to not face the manipulation of others.  I can only imagine how much peace there would be if I was not tempted to get my own way.

Let’s do something about it.

Henry Cloud wrote a classic book on the boundaries we need in life. Everyone would benefit from the insight…

Will the Coal Die Out?

DrJayCook Fellowship , , , , , ,

Have you noticed (as I have) something that happens when you grill?  I am specifically talking about the coals.

You stack the coals and light them.  After a few minutes you check to see if they are ready, and you see it.  One of those little rascals rolled off the mound and is just sitting there – cold – no fire.  On its own, the coal could not keep its fire.

I know a lot of people like that.

When you look at the first Christians, they were genuine, open, and honest with one another in their lives and their hearts.  They were there for each other.  In fact, Acts 2:46 describes them like this: “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house.  They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts.”

They spent time with one another.  They helped one another.  They watched out for one another.  And that is something that we all need.

Unfortunately, lots of people do not see a great need to be plugged into a church to build deep connections.  Perhaps it is pride that keeps us from wanting to accept help from others.  Perhaps it is ego that keeps us from being transparent with others (even though we know that everyone has their own problems).

Even though Mississippi is considered to be religious, far more people are not engaging weekly in a church than those who do.

Some see no need in their church family.  Some think their spiritual life is fine without it.  However, how can we dismiss what the Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25: “Do not neglect to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

We need to encourage one another, comfort one another, and bear one another’s burdens.  We need the same from others.  But it will not happen if we are not part of the family.

Like the coal on its own without fire within, we risk the danger of growing cold when we neglect fellowship.  In an ever-changing world, we need all the help we can get.  We need God’s help.  We need our church.  And the church needs you.

Take a look at the following resource to see how important this really is (just click the picture).

Is Worship That Important?

DrJayCook Worship , , ,

Did you watch the Super Bowl over the weekend?  Many people were hyped up and excited.  They talked about it and cheered on.  It is a natural thing to do when you are excited.

When your team does something good, you want to revel in it.  When you find a great sale, you want to tell your friends.  When your kids accomplish something, you want to post about it.

But often – when it comes to God – crickets.  We do little.  We say little.  We let it go.

Here in Mississippi, worship is not a foreign concept.  However, it is not always what it should be.  Many of us see it as an event you attend.  Many of us see it as an obligation to check off the to-do list.  Many of us see it as irrelevant and a timewaster.

Psalm 92 is a great passage on worship.  It points out how good it is to praise and make music to God (verse 1).  It encourages us to proclaim His love and faithfulness which is proven by what He has done (verses 2-5).  It warns us that a wicked person who does not truly worship God is foolish and will face severe consequences (verse 6).  But a righteous person who truly worships God will grow strong and flourish (verses 12-13).

Where do you fit in this?

Worship is crucial, yet many who go to church never draw near to God.

Psalm 132:7 states, “Let’s go to His dwelling place; let’s worship at His footstool.”  Worship brings you in direct contact with the all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful Creator of the Universe.  He wants us to draw near.  He wants to fill us with His love until it overflows.  He is why we can love others.

Worship can lead to great change.  Consider Paul and Silas in Acts 16.  Because of their faith, they were beaten and thrown in prison.  Around midnight (despite their circumstances) they began to worship God, and God moved.  God opened the doors – literally.

We are not talking about positive thinking.  We are talking about being in the presence of God and seeing Him move.

Worship.

That is my challenge to you.  Worship Him for who He is.  Worship Him because He deserves nothing less.  Worship Him because He can change your life.

I found the following book insightful. You may as well. Click the picture to find out more…

I Love…

DrJayCook Love , , , , ,

I realize that this is coming out several days before Valentine’s Day, but I wanted to talk about love.  No, not necessarily the love on display on February 14, but real love.

Most people get a little mixed up on what love is because we use that word for many reasons.

We think of love as an emotion or having butterflies or infatuation.  Love can include that emotion, but it is bigger.

We say that we love something that is not alive – like loving pizza.  We definitely can like inanimate things, but love is bigger.

We say that we love friends.  Again, love is bigger.

Love is caring about another person and doing whatever you can to express it.  That includes loving God, your spouse, family, friends, and the world.  Love is huge.

Jesus made it clear that true love is what He expects and demands from us.  He said in John 13:34-35: “‘I give you a new command: Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’”

That is not easy to do, and it is not natural for us.  I guess that is why Jesus said it is a new command because they had not understood it before.  Jesus spent His life and ministry showing us

Real love isn’t easy or natural for us – I guess that is why Jesus said it was a new command

And He spent His life and ministry showing us what love means.

We must love because love comes from God.  If you love others, you are proving that you are His.  1 John 4:7 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

We must love because God is love.  So, if you know Him, you will know His love.  1 John 4:8 says, “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

We must love because God loves you more than you can imagine.  Knowing what we would do and who we have been, Jesus still took on the punishment that we deserve.  1 John 4:9-10 says, “God’s love was revealed among us in this way.  God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Sono to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

There is only one option here.  We must love – really love – truly love.  And enjoy Valentine’s Day, too.

Francis Chan wrote a convicting book on this kind of love that you may want to check out. Just click the picture to find out more…

Are the Instructions Important?

DrJayCook Bible , , ,

Have you ever assembled something without looking at the instructions?  Typically, it ends in leftover items and a spouse not happy with the results.

We do not always want to do things in the way we are told they should be done, but we often follow instructions when we know we should.  There are lots of things we do that we may not want to do because we want the outcome.  Some do not like to cook and clean dishes, but they do it to eat.  Some do not like working out, but they do it to stay fit.  Some do not like going to work, but they do it to earn an income.  Some do not like to cut the grass, but they do it to keep snakes and bugs away and to help their reputation.

Many people see the Bible as something that is important but not fun because they see it as a book of instructions.  The reality is that it is a gift.

God gave us the Bible, so we can know Him.  God gave it, so we can know who we are on our own.  God gave it, s we can see how others faced life.  God gave it, so we can know what honors Him and help us live.

How do you view the Bible?  Do you view it like Psalm 119:97 describes: “How I love your instruction!  It is my meditation all day long.”?

Do you recognize that knowing the Bible can help you live above sin – like we read in Psalm 119:11: “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.”?

Do you love to share the joy and truths found in it – like we read in Psalm 119:13:

“With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from Your mouth.”?

The Bible includes instructions, but those instructions are to help you know how to live a life that is truly worth living.  The Bible shows us who God is.  The Bible shows us how God provided salvation to all who would accept it.  The Bible shows us so much.

Most of the time, instructions are important.  All of the time, the Bible is important.

I challenge you to spend time reading it every day.  I challenge you to be involved in a church that relies on and teaches it.  I challenge you to cherish the gift God has given us.

Consider the following resource to dig deeper into this…