Dodger: Hi! How's school been? I think everyone we know has started by now. Are you enjoying it? I'm glad you're hanging out with us today. It's neat when you come. Right, Lilly?
Lilly: Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.
Dodger: Lilly!
Lilly: What?
Dodger: You just made it sound like you don't care that our friend is here!
Lilly: I did? Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I was just thinking about some stuff and Dodger was talking and I wasn't really listening and then you came by and I was still worried and--
Dodger: Whoa! Hold on! What's going on, Lilly? You're racing around your thoughts randomly and not making any sense.
Lilly: I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to be illogical. It was just me trying to get my thoughts out and I wasn't sure how to say it and I suppose now I've made a horrible mess and--
Dodger: Stop! Lilly! Breathe! You're stressing out for no reason!
Lilly: I...am?
Dodger: Yes. What's eating at you? You're not usually this tense.
Lilly: To be honest, I've been stressing out about a bunch of different things.
Dodger: Really? I couldn't tell until just now, actually.
Lilly: Well, I only really stress when I have time to just sit and think.
Dodger: Well, what's the matter?
Lilly: To be honest- I'm not sure. It's kind of a weird feeling that I'm not getting enough stuff done, combined with a more pressing feeling that I'm not representing God well, combined with an even more pressing feeling that I'm somehow failing Him and there's nothing I can do to fix it and even though I'm praying, I still feel stressed. It's kind of exhausting.
Dodger: Well, the first thing to do is realize that God has got you in His hands and He's not disappointed in you. The second thing is to pray even if you have done that so far. So let's do it together. You first.
Lilly: Um, okay. ... ... ... I... that is... OH, I CAN'T DO IT!
Dodger: Yes you can. Just tell God what is on your mind.
Lilly: Okay. God, I'm panicking right now without knowing why. I need Your help and peace right now, because I feel sad and stressed. I know You love me, but I feel like I'm not very close to You. Moreover, my emotions change so much. Sometimes I feel really close and other times I feel a million miles away. I need to know, God, that I'm doing better than I think, and I'd really like to feel like You're proud of me. Please help Me, God. I want to stop stressing. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dodger: Yes, God. Lilly is precious to You and You love her very much. She's not perfect. No one is, but You're working in her in ways she can't see yet. Right now she may not be feeling great, but that doesn't mean You've given up on her. You are amazing, and loving, and You will never fail. Just because she feels bad doesn't mean she is. She's Yours, God. Please remind her of that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Lilly: Thanks. I do feel a little better now
Dodger: You're welcome. You know, you're not the only person I've seen this happen to.
Lilly: I'm not?
Dodger: No way. It happens to all of us. Sometimes it makes us pretty panicky. It's the result of trying to do everything perfectly, even when we do it for God. I have two names for it. One is "Spiritual Anxiety Attack" and the other is "Putting Your Focus on You".
Lilly: The first one makes sense, but I don't get the second one. What's wrong with focusing on trying to get better?
Dodger: I didn't say there was anything wrong with getting better. It's the "trying" part and the missed focus that bother me.
Lilly: What?
Dodger: Trying to get better is not how we're supposed to serve God. He is working in us to make us better. Sometimes, though, we forget that, and try to get better and do everything right on our own. I've tried it, but Lilly, serving God is more than a "do-this" and "do-that" procedure. God's alive in us, a Father Who sees us as way more than just tools! Sometimes, though, in our effort to be more like Him, we make so much noise that it's hard to hear Him. Even if we try to listen hard, sometimes we don't know if we're doing a good job. In other words, we get so obsessed with getting better that we forget about all that God has done in our lives and all that He's doing. Lilly, I'm just going to look at three verses from Scripture today. They should help out.
Lilly: Sounds great.
Dodger: Psalm 46 begins and almost ends on these two awesome notes:
"God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;...
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:1-2, 10, NKJV)
The other one is Hebrews 12:2. I know we mention that all the time around here, but it's still true. Here it is:
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (NIV1984)
Lilly: Why those verses in particular?
Dodger: Because, Lilly, they remind us that God is someone we can turn to in the midst of trouble, and that Jesus is in charge of our faith, not us. They also remind us to be still and remember Who God is. Jesus died and rose to make us free. We are supposed to be in relationship with God, and that does not mean trying to make ourselves better. It means letting God train us to be better. By putting our improvement in His hands, we know that He will get us where He wants us. We don't have to do that alone.
Lilly: So I don't need to worry about trying to be better? That's somewhat difficult to believe.
Dodger: It does seem a bit strange at first, but I don't want to sound like I'm saying we shouldn't want to get better. What I'm saying is that God will make us better. We can't make ourselves better, and that's okay.
Lilly: So...God works in us and through us, but that doesn't mean that we measure our progress by how we're doing or feeling?
Dodger: Right. God sees the big picture of your life. Let Him handle it.
Lilly: Okay. Thanks, Dodger.
Dodger: We all need encouragement sometimes. That's part of life, and it's not bad. That makes sense considering we can see so much of it in the Bible.
Lilly: I'm just glad God is in charge.
Dodger: Me too. It looks like we have to get going again. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Until next time!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
(NIV1984 Refers to the 1984 copyright of the New International Version)
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
United Front.
Dodger: I am so excited to see you again! Has life treated you well? Things are beginning to slow down now that I'm reengaged in school so I'm really happy you're hanging with us again this week!
Lilly: Yeah, the transition from vacation to school always throws me off a bit, but now we're ready to go. So...what do we have this week, Dodger? Is there anything in the mail?
Dodger: Well, it looks like an email has arrived. I haven't read it yet, so we'll all get to see it for the first time. Here it is:
Lilly: Hmmm. This one's a bit difficult.
Dodger: It almost seems like Argu wants us to pick sides.
Lilly: Yeah. I don't think that that would be a good idea though. First of all, we don't know what they disagree about, so it's hard to make any kind of informed decision. Second of all, it looks like what's really at stake here is unity. This argument is driving these people apart.
Dodger: It's kind of a tough spot to be in, huh?
Lilly: Yeah. Fighting with friends is never pleasant. However, the good news is that this is not a problem we need to solve.
Dodger: Wait, what? We're just going to leave this question unanswered?
Lilly: No, but the Bible has far more intelligent things to say about this than we do. According to the message both Argu and his friend are Christians. So the question is, does the Bible say anything about how Christians can or should agree with each other?
Dodger: Beg pardon?
Lilly: In other words, is there a certain mindset that we ought to adopt with those who also follow Jesus?
Dodger: Oh. I'm...not quite sure, actually.
Lilly: The answer, which is yes, can be found in Philippians, chapter 2. I'll read right from the beginning:
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (v. 1-4, boldface added)
Dodger: That's a lot to try and understand.
Lilly: It is, and there's actually more to it in the following verses, but this time we're just going to focus on a particular part.
Dodger: The one that looks bold?
Lilly: Yep.
Dodger: Okay. It says we should be like-minded, have the same love, and be of one accord and one mind. Does that mean we all need to think exactly the same or something?
Lilly: No. That's not what Paul was writing. You see, people argue and get divided over all sorts of things. The Bible isn't saying we need to agree on all those things all the time. However, we should never let our opinions keep us from doing our very best together to represent Christ to the world. True, some things need boundaries and are worth drawing a line in the sand over. If a Christian friend tells you to do something wrong and is a really bad influence, it might be a good idea not to hang out with them. However, some people get really worked up over things that shouldn't be cause for dividing. In other words, if you're arguing with a Christian friend over, say, whether the New King James Version or the English Standard Version of the Bible is best, well, that disagreement is certainly no reason for you not to be friends and work together.
Dodger: I think I'm beginning to see what you mean.
Lilly: As Christians it's part of our job to show the world who Jesus Christ is. We can't do that though, if we spend all our time arguing with each other and fighting each other because we disagree on things. It's better to try and work those things out with prayer and discussion instead of throwing our hands up in the air and giving up on people who don't think exactly the same way we do. God doesn't expect us all to be exactly alike, in fact, He doesn't want that. He does, however, want us to be united in following Him so that the world can see Him through us. When Jesus prays for His people, in other words, us, in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, He asks that we would be united. Speaking first about His immediate followers, He says:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20-21 NKJV)
Dodger: So, Jesus wanted us to be unified so that the world would see that God is really working through us?
Lilly: You've hit it on the head. It can be really hard to get people to do things together, but when we do, we show the world that God is really doing something through us! It's a great way to let the world know He's here!
Dodger: That's pretty cool. So, how do we go about it?
Lilly: Well, I think the best thing to do is pray together and work together to do what the Bible says. It can be really nice to see what God has to say to us, and if there's a disagreement, we can work it out with respect and kindness. That's one way we can reflect God better. So, Argu, the best thing to do is respect what your friend thinks and move on, with both of you seeking God instead of seeking to win all arguments. It's more rewarding and more glorifying to God that way.
Dodger: The Bible really impresses me. It was written years ago, but has all sorts of things to say that work really well today!
Lilly: Yep. It's awesome.
Dodger: I guess we'd better get going. It is a school night, after all. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: 01100111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100010 01111001 01100101 !
Dodger: What?
Lilly: It's binary code for goodbye.
Dodger: Oh. Okay.
Lilly: Bye!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
Lilly: Yeah, the transition from vacation to school always throws me off a bit, but now we're ready to go. So...what do we have this week, Dodger? Is there anything in the mail?
Dodger: Well, it looks like an email has arrived. I haven't read it yet, so we'll all get to see it for the first time. Here it is:
Lilly: Hmmm. This one's a bit difficult.
Dodger: It almost seems like Argu wants us to pick sides.
Lilly: Yeah. I don't think that that would be a good idea though. First of all, we don't know what they disagree about, so it's hard to make any kind of informed decision. Second of all, it looks like what's really at stake here is unity. This argument is driving these people apart.
Dodger: It's kind of a tough spot to be in, huh?
Lilly: Yeah. Fighting with friends is never pleasant. However, the good news is that this is not a problem we need to solve.
Dodger: Wait, what? We're just going to leave this question unanswered?
Lilly: No, but the Bible has far more intelligent things to say about this than we do. According to the message both Argu and his friend are Christians. So the question is, does the Bible say anything about how Christians can or should agree with each other?
Dodger: Beg pardon?
Lilly: In other words, is there a certain mindset that we ought to adopt with those who also follow Jesus?
Dodger: Oh. I'm...not quite sure, actually.
Lilly: The answer, which is yes, can be found in Philippians, chapter 2. I'll read right from the beginning:
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (v. 1-4, boldface added)
Dodger: That's a lot to try and understand.
Lilly: It is, and there's actually more to it in the following verses, but this time we're just going to focus on a particular part.
Dodger: The one that looks bold?
Lilly: Yep.
Dodger: Okay. It says we should be like-minded, have the same love, and be of one accord and one mind. Does that mean we all need to think exactly the same or something?
Lilly: No. That's not what Paul was writing. You see, people argue and get divided over all sorts of things. The Bible isn't saying we need to agree on all those things all the time. However, we should never let our opinions keep us from doing our very best together to represent Christ to the world. True, some things need boundaries and are worth drawing a line in the sand over. If a Christian friend tells you to do something wrong and is a really bad influence, it might be a good idea not to hang out with them. However, some people get really worked up over things that shouldn't be cause for dividing. In other words, if you're arguing with a Christian friend over, say, whether the New King James Version or the English Standard Version of the Bible is best, well, that disagreement is certainly no reason for you not to be friends and work together.
Dodger: I think I'm beginning to see what you mean.
Lilly: As Christians it's part of our job to show the world who Jesus Christ is. We can't do that though, if we spend all our time arguing with each other and fighting each other because we disagree on things. It's better to try and work those things out with prayer and discussion instead of throwing our hands up in the air and giving up on people who don't think exactly the same way we do. God doesn't expect us all to be exactly alike, in fact, He doesn't want that. He does, however, want us to be united in following Him so that the world can see Him through us. When Jesus prays for His people, in other words, us, in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, He asks that we would be united. Speaking first about His immediate followers, He says:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20-21 NKJV)
Dodger: So, Jesus wanted us to be unified so that the world would see that God is really working through us?
Lilly: You've hit it on the head. It can be really hard to get people to do things together, but when we do, we show the world that God is really doing something through us! It's a great way to let the world know He's here!
Dodger: That's pretty cool. So, how do we go about it?
Lilly: Well, I think the best thing to do is pray together and work together to do what the Bible says. It can be really nice to see what God has to say to us, and if there's a disagreement, we can work it out with respect and kindness. That's one way we can reflect God better. So, Argu, the best thing to do is respect what your friend thinks and move on, with both of you seeking God instead of seeking to win all arguments. It's more rewarding and more glorifying to God that way.
Dodger: The Bible really impresses me. It was written years ago, but has all sorts of things to say that work really well today!
Lilly: Yep. It's awesome.
Dodger: I guess we'd better get going. It is a school night, after all. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today! Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: 01100111 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100010 01111001 01100101 !
Dodger: What?
Lilly: It's binary code for goodbye.
Dodger: Oh. Okay.
Lilly: Bye!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Cheerfully and Wonderfully Played.
Lilly: Greetings! How hath the events in your life transpired? Are thine duckies all lined up in a straighteth fashion? Hast thy ride been smooth these yon few days?
Dodger: You'll have to excuse her, she's preparing to audition for a school play, and this year we're doing As You Like It, by William Shakespeare.
Lilly: Indeed, but fear not! For I shall not seek to retain mine style of speaking for much longer hence.
Dodger: Does that mean you're going to stop talking like that?
Lilly: Aye, verily.
Dodger: Does that mean "yes"?
Lilly: Aye, verily.
Dodger: Um...great.
Lilly: Hath thine feelings been true to thine condition? Is the window of your life filled with sunshine?
Dodger: What?
Lilly: How have you been? Good?
Dodger: Oh. Um, okay, I guess.
Lilly: What do you mean? Have things been going wrong?
Dodger: Actually, I'm bummed out about just stuff in general. Normally I'm excited about going back to school, but this year, not so much. I expected a package in the mail yesterday, but it didn't come. My cat, normally so affectionate, has been shunning me. I tripped on a sidewalk crack yesterday and flung an ice cream cone I'd spent fifteen minutes preparing and used it to accidentally decorate the neighbor's front door. In other words, everything's being well, not awesome.
Lilly: Hmmm. So you're just kind of feeling low?
Dodger: Yeah. I'm sure that it's for no real reason, but I'm still feeling weighed down.
Lilly: I see. Well, it doth appear that thine heart is in dire need of a dosage of Scripture!
Dodger: You mean it'd be a good idea for me to look at the Bible?
Lilly: Aye, verily. I'm referring to a certain verse in the book of Nehemiah. We've mentioned it before, but I want to talk a little about the story, which is in chapter 8. The children of Israel are in Jerusalem, and are gathered together to listen to the reading of the law. They and their ancestors wandered far from God's Word, and are gathered to try and get back on track. A man named Ezra and some others read them the law, and we pick up the story in verse 8:
"So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law." (v. 8-9, NKJV)
Dodger: Wait. Why were they weeping?
Lilly: Well, they hadn't been doing God's Word.
Dodger: Are you saying I'm sad because I'm ignoring God's Word?
Lilly: No indeed! That's not my point at all! My point is what happens in the next verse:
"Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10, NKJV)
My point, Dodger, is that to these people who had previously ruined everything, God was giving a call to be glad, even with feasting! He was telling them to rejoice not in what they had done or even would do, but in the strength they derived from God's joy. You know, joy isn't always about being happy. The two are often confused, but they're not the same thing. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy is an attitude that chooses to be confident and content in God. We all have doldrum days, even weeks or months, like yours, Dodger, but the fact is that our God is still there for us. He loves us in every situation, whether we're glorifying Him or missing the mark entirely. Either way, He still gives us the strength to keep our eyes on Him. Sometimes that won't come with warm feelings, other times it will. Whichever the case, we have much to be thankful for, even when we don't realize it. God is good, whether we see it or not, and our lives are blessed by Him, whether we feel it or not. That's part of why the Bible says:
Dodger: You'll have to excuse her, she's preparing to audition for a school play, and this year we're doing As You Like It, by William Shakespeare.
Lilly: Indeed, but fear not! For I shall not seek to retain mine style of speaking for much longer hence.
Dodger: Does that mean you're going to stop talking like that?
Lilly: Aye, verily.
Dodger: Does that mean "yes"?
Lilly: Aye, verily.
Dodger: Um...great.
Lilly: Hath thine feelings been true to thine condition? Is the window of your life filled with sunshine?
Dodger: What?
Lilly: How have you been? Good?
Dodger: Oh. Um, okay, I guess.
Lilly: What do you mean? Have things been going wrong?
Dodger: Actually, I'm bummed out about just stuff in general. Normally I'm excited about going back to school, but this year, not so much. I expected a package in the mail yesterday, but it didn't come. My cat, normally so affectionate, has been shunning me. I tripped on a sidewalk crack yesterday and flung an ice cream cone I'd spent fifteen minutes preparing and used it to accidentally decorate the neighbor's front door. In other words, everything's being well, not awesome.
Lilly: Hmmm. So you're just kind of feeling low?
Dodger: Yeah. I'm sure that it's for no real reason, but I'm still feeling weighed down.
Lilly: I see. Well, it doth appear that thine heart is in dire need of a dosage of Scripture!
Dodger: You mean it'd be a good idea for me to look at the Bible?
Lilly: Aye, verily. I'm referring to a certain verse in the book of Nehemiah. We've mentioned it before, but I want to talk a little about the story, which is in chapter 8. The children of Israel are in Jerusalem, and are gathered together to listen to the reading of the law. They and their ancestors wandered far from God's Word, and are gathered to try and get back on track. A man named Ezra and some others read them the law, and we pick up the story in verse 8:
"So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law." (v. 8-9, NKJV)
Dodger: Wait. Why were they weeping?
Lilly: Well, they hadn't been doing God's Word.
Dodger: Are you saying I'm sad because I'm ignoring God's Word?
Lilly: No indeed! That's not my point at all! My point is what happens in the next verse:
"Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10, NKJV)
My point, Dodger, is that to these people who had previously ruined everything, God was giving a call to be glad, even with feasting! He was telling them to rejoice not in what they had done or even would do, but in the strength they derived from God's joy. You know, joy isn't always about being happy. The two are often confused, but they're not the same thing. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy is an attitude that chooses to be confident and content in God. We all have doldrum days, even weeks or months, like yours, Dodger, but the fact is that our God is still there for us. He loves us in every situation, whether we're glorifying Him or missing the mark entirely. Either way, He still gives us the strength to keep our eyes on Him. Sometimes that won't come with warm feelings, other times it will. Whichever the case, we have much to be thankful for, even when we don't realize it. God is good, whether we see it or not, and our lives are blessed by Him, whether we feel it or not. That's part of why the Bible says:
Dodger: So, even at my low, God is still on high.
Lilly: You got it. He's looking out for you. You may not always feel super-happy, but you can be sure that God is never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, going to let you down. Life isn't always lived at the top of the hill, but God remains with us at the bottom of the hill, too.
Dodger: I actually do feel kind of better.
Lilly: Sometime the simplest reminder of a promise well kept lifteth up the heart and wipes away tears that hath been wept.
Dodger: You mean that being reminded of God's Word can cheer us up?
Lilly: Yeah, that.
Dodger: Cool. Well, you're right. God is good. As for me, I will rejoice in His love, making a decision to rejoice even when I don't feel super glad. We need to head out, it looks like. Thank you for coming and hanging out with us today! We're always glad to see you. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Aye, verily.
Lilly: Aye, verily.
Obviously the author is goofing off with Shakespeare, he doesn't sound like that.
NKJV Refers to the New King James Version of the Bible
Credit for Psalm poster to Pinterest via http://www.mastomamablog.com/2012/09/friday-favorite-things-homeschool-decor.html, a site not owned or operated by I-BulldogStudios
Monday, September 1, 2014
Treasure Measure.
Dodger: Yikes! Looks like we're a day late. I'd really hoped to be here yesterday, but at least we didn't miss Labor Day weekend!
Lilly: Yeah. I was cut off from much of the outside world for a day, so it was kind of hard to connect with my friends.
Dodger: Whoa! What happened to you?
Lilly: My family's rental car broke down in the middle of a road in Nevada. We were doing a weekend trip, but it went badly when the radiator went dry.
Dodger: That's awful. Well, I'm glad you made it back. How did you get back?
Lilly: Well, we had no phone coverage and appeared to be about 60 miles away from everything. The situation looked pretty bleak. Our first course of action, therefore, was prayer. We asked God basically for a way out of the mess we were in. A half-hour went by and during that time we dug out our emergency supplies, including flares and water and so on, when all of a sudden a vehicle came driving down our road. Even more amazing was the fact that that vehicle was nothing less than a tow truck!
Dodger: No way. Seriously?
Lilly: No joke. He pulled over and asked if we needed help, then offered to tow us back to Gardnerville, a pretty small town, but nice to visit.
Dodger: Didn't you have coverage in town?
Lilly: Yes, but our phones had been left in the sun by accident when we were driving in the tow truck, so they were overheated, making them useless.
Dodger: Oh. Yeah, that would get you out of the loop.
Lilly: I did find access to a computer and email you, but we had to stay in Gardnerville overnight and I didn't actually arrive here until about 12 pm today, so I'm glad to be back with you guys.
Dodger: I'm just happy God got you out of there.
Lilly: Me too. So...what's up?
Dodger: Well, I wanted to ask you what makes you proud.
Lilly: Come again?
Dodger: You know, what are you proud of?
Lilly: Actually I don't often think about that, but I'm pretty proud of my family and friends.
Dodger: Why?
Lilly: Well, they're important to me, and I think they're pretty special.
Dodger: Are you proud of them when they mess up?
Lilly: Well, yes and no. I'm not proud of their mistake...but that doesn't lower my opinion of them. I'm still proud of them overall, just not proud of their action.
Dodger: So, in reality, you say you're proud of them, but that actually means you think highly of them and value them, right?
Lilly: That makes sense. Boy, that leads to an interesting conclusion. If everyone was only "proud" of others because of what they did, we would have a pretty hard time getting anyone to be proud of us for very long.
Dodger: You've hit on it, then.
Lilly: What have I hit on?
Dodger: When we call ourselves proud of someone, oftentimes we're just saying we treasure them highly and think they're pretty special. We're proud of others because we love them!
Lilly: Okay. So, what does that mean for us?
Dodger: It means we have something special to consider when we realize that God is proud of us.
Lilly: That sounds familiar. Haven't we talked about that before?
Dodger: We've touched on it, but I really wanted to discuss it today because it can be difficult to understand sometimes.
Lilly: How so?
Dodger: Well, in spite of what we said earlier, most people don't feel like anyone will be proud of them unless they do well. We often apply that way of thinking to God. If we don't do things as we think we should, or if we disobey Him, or even just do badly in our schoolwork, we may think He's not proud of us anymore or something like that.
Lilly: You mean that we have to feel like we're doing well to think God is proud of us?
Dodger: Sometimes, yes. Yet that's how we've got it all wrong. The Bible doesn't say God is proud of us for our deeds.
Lilly: Does it say He's proud of us for something else?
Dodger: Well, I don't know if the Bible ever actually says God is "proud" per se, but I do know that He says a number of things to us that should convince us He thinks of us as amazing, valuable, and treasurable. For example, we can look at Psalm 139.
Lilly: Yeah. I was cut off from much of the outside world for a day, so it was kind of hard to connect with my friends.
Dodger: Whoa! What happened to you?
Lilly: My family's rental car broke down in the middle of a road in Nevada. We were doing a weekend trip, but it went badly when the radiator went dry.
Dodger: That's awful. Well, I'm glad you made it back. How did you get back?
Lilly: Well, we had no phone coverage and appeared to be about 60 miles away from everything. The situation looked pretty bleak. Our first course of action, therefore, was prayer. We asked God basically for a way out of the mess we were in. A half-hour went by and during that time we dug out our emergency supplies, including flares and water and so on, when all of a sudden a vehicle came driving down our road. Even more amazing was the fact that that vehicle was nothing less than a tow truck!
Dodger: No way. Seriously?
Lilly: No joke. He pulled over and asked if we needed help, then offered to tow us back to Gardnerville, a pretty small town, but nice to visit.
Dodger: Didn't you have coverage in town?
Lilly: Yes, but our phones had been left in the sun by accident when we were driving in the tow truck, so they were overheated, making them useless.
Dodger: Oh. Yeah, that would get you out of the loop.
Lilly: I did find access to a computer and email you, but we had to stay in Gardnerville overnight and I didn't actually arrive here until about 12 pm today, so I'm glad to be back with you guys.
Dodger: I'm just happy God got you out of there.
Lilly: Me too. So...what's up?
Dodger: Well, I wanted to ask you what makes you proud.
Lilly: Come again?
Dodger: You know, what are you proud of?
Lilly: Actually I don't often think about that, but I'm pretty proud of my family and friends.
Dodger: Why?
Lilly: Well, they're important to me, and I think they're pretty special.
Dodger: Are you proud of them when they mess up?
Lilly: Well, yes and no. I'm not proud of their mistake...but that doesn't lower my opinion of them. I'm still proud of them overall, just not proud of their action.
Dodger: So, in reality, you say you're proud of them, but that actually means you think highly of them and value them, right?
Lilly: That makes sense. Boy, that leads to an interesting conclusion. If everyone was only "proud" of others because of what they did, we would have a pretty hard time getting anyone to be proud of us for very long.
Dodger: You've hit on it, then.
Lilly: What have I hit on?
Dodger: When we call ourselves proud of someone, oftentimes we're just saying we treasure them highly and think they're pretty special. We're proud of others because we love them!
Lilly: Okay. So, what does that mean for us?
Dodger: It means we have something special to consider when we realize that God is proud of us.
Lilly: That sounds familiar. Haven't we talked about that before?
Dodger: We've touched on it, but I really wanted to discuss it today because it can be difficult to understand sometimes.
Lilly: How so?
Dodger: Well, in spite of what we said earlier, most people don't feel like anyone will be proud of them unless they do well. We often apply that way of thinking to God. If we don't do things as we think we should, or if we disobey Him, or even just do badly in our schoolwork, we may think He's not proud of us anymore or something like that.
Lilly: You mean that we have to feel like we're doing well to think God is proud of us?
Dodger: Sometimes, yes. Yet that's how we've got it all wrong. The Bible doesn't say God is proud of us for our deeds.
Lilly: Does it say He's proud of us for something else?
Dodger: Well, I don't know if the Bible ever actually says God is "proud" per se, but I do know that He says a number of things to us that should convince us He thinks of us as amazing, valuable, and treasurable. For example, we can look at Psalm 139.
"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You." (v 17-18, NKJV)
When I awake, I am still with You." (v 17-18, NKJV)
Lilly: How about this one from Jesus' words in the Gospel of John?
"In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:26-27, NKJV)
Dodger: That's a good example too. You see, God doesn't define us by our actions. His perspective on us is simple. We're His, and He loves us more than anything we do, think, say, or whatever. So when I say God's proud of you, I don't mean what you do, although He may be proud of those things too. I mean He's proud of who you are...His.
Lilly: God's proud of us for being us?
Dodger: Yes, because He made us to be us, and to be His. We're made in His image, so even when we fail, He still sees us as His. That doesn't change, ever. He hates sin, but never hates the person sinning, and when we make lousy decisions, He doesn't give up on us. He loves us and stands ready to forgive us.
Dodger: Yes, because He made us to be us, and to be His. We're made in His image, so even when we fail, He still sees us as His. That doesn't change, ever. He hates sin, but never hates the person sinning, and when we make lousy decisions, He doesn't give up on us. He loves us and stands ready to forgive us.
Lilly: Wow. That's pretty awesome.
Dodger: To put it lightly, yes.
Lilly: I'm happy that God's proud of me.
Dodger: Yeah, me too, especially since it means that He thinks highly of me even though He knows about all my mistakes.
Lilly: God never ceases to amaze me.
Dodger: He never will. Well, looks like we have to get going. Thank you so much for coming by even though we were late! We really look forward to seeing you again. Remember, Jesus loves you, in fact, treasures you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Mor hir!
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