My Favorite Marriage Books

My husband and I have reached 12 years of marriage. Yay!! We have learned from each other, seen each other at our best and worst, and made mistakes. We have also learned from those who came before us through marriage books and resources. As our anniversary date approached (I'm writing this 2 months early!!), I started reflecting on the formative books that shaped my perspective and actions in our marriage. Below is a list (in no particular order) of the books that have shaped me the most!

Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud, John Townsend

Romancing Your Husband by Debra White Smith

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Red-Hot Monogamy by Bill and Pam Farrel

Making Marriage Simple by Harvill Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt

The Good Fight Dr. Les and Leslie Parrott

Everybody Fights by Kim and Penn Holderness

25 Ways to Communicate Respect for Your Husband by Jennifer Flanders

What's It Like to Be Married to Me? And Other Dangerous Questions by Linda Dillow

Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot

The 4 Seasons of Marriage by Gary Chapman

What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage by Amy Sutherland

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Self-Care Sunday: Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is one way to practice self-care.

Our bodies work better when they are fully hydrated and many people are not drinking enough water.

Take some time to read an article or two on the benefits of drinking enough water...as you drink some water. 

Self-Centered or Others-Centered

If you ask a person if they are self-centered or others-centered, I'm betting most people want to be perceived as others-centered. However, if we take time to look at their words, actions, and online presence, we will discover that most people are in fact self-centered.

Unfortunately, we in the Church are not immune to this tendency.

It shows up when we are most concerned about OUR rights and laws protecting OUR interests. 

It shows up when we are ready to be offended at the drop of a hat (aka walk around with a chip on our shoulder). "They wished me "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"!!"

It shows up when so many of our services and meetings end in complaining, griping, and other negative talk. 

It shows up when we stop showing concern for the very people that God commands us to defend and serve (the fatherless, the widow, the poor, the oppressed, the foreigner, and so on). 

Instead of amplifying the voices of those on the margins of society, whom we are commanded by God to care for, we are shouting about how WE need more power so WE won't be oppressed because so many people want to treat US poorly and take away OUR rights.

Our focus is skewed and we are poorly representing God when we use His name and twist His Scripture to justify our thirst for power. We are willing to overlook injustices and oppression, as long as WE aren't inconvenienced and WE aren't being mistreated. 

When we act this way, we aren't loving our neighbor as ourselves.

We aren't defending the marginalized.

We aren't seeking the interests of others.

We are being self-centered and that does not glorify God. 

Sit with this. It is uncomfortable.

Sit and repent.

Sit and turn from self-centered to others-centered.

Self-Care Sunday: Treat Yourself

I am a huge proponent in occasionally treating yourself to small pleasures.

If I'm having a rough day at work, I stop by a dollar store for a couple of items or swing by a bakery for a treat.

It doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming to constitute a treat. 

Make a list of healthy (and a few unhealthy) treats that you enjoy and then get one of them the next time you need a little self-care.

What's your favorite way to treat yourself? 

30 Days of Gratitude

Thanksgiving, while it has become an overly-commercialized event of gluttony and excess, has its roots in worship and praise. This is meant to be a holiday of Giving Thanks to God and those around us.

So let us take 30 days to be grateful and to give thanks for what we notice around us. Below are several themes, each with 10 prompts. There are 6 overarching categories, each with 10 prompts, so hopefully it won't be difficult to find 30 things you are wanting to give thanks for. There can be more than one answer for each prompt, so you could end up with well over 30 things to be thankful for. 

Sit and think of God as you note what you want to thank Him for. 

1. His mercy (which we can never earn)
2. His grace (which we never deserve)
3. His other characteristics
4. His actions towards you
5. His actions towards others
6. God
7. Jesus
8. Holy Spirit
9. Name of God
10. How He is working NOW in your life

Go around room by room and brainstorm what things you have to be grateful for. 

For example, I am grateful for a cape in my closet that was crocheted for me by a friend.

1. Kitchen
2. Dining Room
3. Living Room
4. Family Room
5. Porch
6. Bedroom
7. Bathroom
8. Yard
9. Garage
10. Closet

Go around person by person in your life and send them a text, email, or card to thank them for something they have said, done, or taught you. 

For example, I am grateful for my spouse who loves me where I am at, but who also spurs me on to mature and grow. 

1. Spouse
2. Parent
3. Sibling
4. Grandparent
5. Extended Relative (Aunt/Uncle/Cousin/Niece/Nephew/In-Laws)
6. Friends
7. Boss
8. Co-Workers
9. Pastor
10. Worker at a Store

Go around outdoors and look for things you are grateful for.

For example, I am thankful for the roses which keep on blooming all season long. 

1. In your yard
2. At the farmer's market
3. At a city park
4. At a state park
5. Around the block near your house
6. In the early morning
7. In the evening hours
8. In the sunshine
9. In the rain
10. In the animals

Go and look at your body that God has crafted together and think of what you are grateful for.

For example, I am grateful for the ability to go on hikes in the woods. 

1. Sight
2. Hearing
3. Touching
4. Smell
5. Taste
6. Mind
7. Arms
8. Legs
9. Ability to do...
10. Talents

Sit and think how the Spirit has shaped, grown, and matured you. Think of what you are thankful for in the midst of your pain.

For example, I am thankful that I have loved people enough to feel grief at their passing. 

1. Trials
2. Struggles
3. Suffering
4. Grieving
5. Childish ways set aside
6. Signs of being shaped and molded into a more Christ-like individual
7. Signs of growth
8. Signs of maturity
9. Anger at injustice
10. Sadness at the brokenness of our world 

Self-Care Sunday: Practice Niksen

The Dutch art of Niksen may not be as well known as the Danish art of Hygge, but it is equally important. 

Niksen (pronounced Neek-sah) is the art of doing nothing. Not using the phone, doing the dishes, listening to music, but actually doing nothing.

As life picks up pace and schedules are getting fuller again, niksen needs to be protected from busyness and overcommitting. 

One way I keep niksen is to actually schedule it on my calendar. It is one of my day's priorities and it counts as a valid plan. When someone invites me to something, I can legitimately say that I have plans and won't be able to attend. 

How can you practice niksen this week? 

A Necessary Role in the Church: The Questioner

The Church is guilty of creating an in-group (us) versus out-group (them). 

Furthermore, the Church is guilty of mocking, belittling, and tearing down the outgroup. 

That is why it is necessary for the Church to have people in its Sunday School classes, dinners, services, and other events, whose role is to question the Christ-likeness of our jokes, descriptions, and words in general.

So when someone makes a disparaging comment connecting atheists and the first of April, the Questioner can ask "If an atheist was here and heard your comment, would they be drawn to find out more about the Christ you profess?" 

When someone makes a mockery of the name of the opposing political party, the Questioner can ask "Is that how we should love our enemies?" 

When someone belittles the clothes/attitudes/behavior of the youth, the Question can ask "Is that how you want to be treated?" 

The Questioner is not to question the morality (or lack thereof) of the world, but they are to challenge those in the Church to choose words that are godly, edifying, and encouraging. 

Because people who feel mocked, judged, belittled, or otherwise put-down will want nothing to do with the Church or the Jesus we claim to follow. 

Self-Care Sunday: Observe the Sabbath

One way that we can practice self-care is to take one day each week as a Sabbath.

Pick a day that works for your schedule (and prepare to adjust it if necessary from time to time).

Start your Sabbath after supper the day BEFORE your Sabbath. (So if I am Sabbathing on Sunday, I will go from sundown Saturday until an hour after sundown on Sunday.)

We don't have to work on our Sabbath. If it's a delight to bake a pie or a loaf of bread, do it, but this isn't a day to cross a lot off of our to-do lists. 

It is a day to rest, worship, and rejuvenate. 

How can observing the Sabbath be a form of self-care? 

The Spiritual Discipline of Piano-Playing

I recently buckled down on my piano-playing skills. I took lessons through middle & high schools, but had only dabbled in piano-playing for over a decade.

As I focused on this set-aside talent, I began to notice how playing the piano could teach me more about how to be a better Christ-follower. So I decided to collect those thoughts and share them here:

1. Playing the piano requires practice time. I won't  get good at a song by having it nearby. Similarly, growing in my faith requires intentional effort & time with God.

2. While I am learning a new song, I listen to it ALL the time. While driving. While washing dishes. While walking. Similarly, growing in my faith is easier when I'm listening to sermons, worship songs, and the audio Bible as I go about my day.

3. I can't just play the parts that I'm good at and expect to somehow improve with the hard sections. Similarly, I can't expect to grow in an area I struggle with if I just focus on the areas that come easier to me. I have to work on the difficult parts of Christian obedience.

4. Sometimes I need to make an adjustment to the song based on what I am physical capable of playing. Similarly, sometimes I need to adjust what I'm learning to my specific circumstances. 

5. This song won't be mastered in a day or even a month. Similarly, my faith won't be mastered in a brief time.

6. I can't just play one day a week and expect to improve. It's only by faithfully playing day in and day out that improvement happens. Similarly, I can't expect to grow if my faith if I limit working on it to once a week for an hour.

7. While I am aware of the mistakes I make in playing, to the outside observer, it's not so obvious. Similarly, my struggles & sins aren't obvious to someone else, but they may notice ways I have grown over the years 

8. I must remember that this song brings me joy to hear it played, especially on the hard days when things aren't in sync. Similarly, there will be days that faith is hard and I need to remember the joy that got me started in my faith.

9. Learning a new song requires research. I'm looking up high & low notes. I'm googling musical instructions & symbols. Similarly, learning about Christianity requires research and digging deeper

10. I write on my practice music a LOT and that's okay. Similarly, writing in my Bible and journals can help me remember what I have learned

What mundane task do you do that you can draw connections to your faith? 

Self-Care Sunday: Practice Hygge

 Hygge has become a buzzword in our culture, as businesses try to cash in on the latest craze of seeking comfort and coziness with friends and family.

One way we can practice self-care is to take time each week for hygge. 

Get comfortable. Wear the comfy sweatpants and a baggy sweater.

Get cozy. Grab a blanket, a cup of tea, and a book to nestle in for the afternoon. Bonus points if it's raining.

Get together. Spend time with friends or family. Play a game or just sit together and enjoy each other's company. 

How can you practice hygge today? 

How Many Clothes Are Necessary?

 Recently, I've been reading books about minimalism, living simply, and decluttering. 

It got me thinking, "How many outfits are necessary?" and also, "How many outfits do I have?" 

I started wrestling with this question at a state park, where I did not have access to my wardrobe, but I did have access to a journal, where I could list my ideals for each clothing category.

I asked myself, "How many blue jeans do I need?" (Now I have a need for nice jeans for my job and work jeans for when I volunteer at a farm, so this category had a higher number.)

How many t-shirts do I need? 

How many pajama pants do I need? 

How many sweaters do I need? 

How many skirts & tops or dresses do I need? 

How many costumes do I need? 

Once I got back, I took time to start looking at my wardrobe and counting what I had. 

Most of the time, I had more than I deemed necessary, but sometimes, I had less. 

Doing this activity helped me to see which areas of my wardrobe did not need any new additions when I go thrifting and which areas I legitimately need to find items to round out my wardrobe. 

Our materialistic society tries to constantly push new sales of cheaply made clothes, but the "fast fashion" clothes are not ethically produced (people aren't paid fair or living wages for their work) and aren't environmentally friendly (washing synthetic fibers causes microplastics to be released into the water). We are a nation of "retail therapy" participants; we shop without a need, but to get a thrill, escape facing our emotional baggage, and go after something novel. Yet, an overstuffed closet won't bring us peace. A new top or skirt won't bring lasting joy. 

We are trained to ask, in our consumeristic culture, "How many can I afford?" and "How many can I stash someplace in my house or storage unit?", but maybe the question we should be asking is "How many are actually necessary?" 

Alternative Gifts to Give

It may seem odd to have a post on Christmas gifts in July, but posting it during an Advent season seems a bit late, since some people buy gifts throughout the year for Christmas and birthday presents. 

We sometimes buy gifts out of obligation and buy trinkets to cross a name off our list. But what gifts have been meaningful and memorable? Why are we giving things that don't matter and we can't recall a year later? So let's hit the brakes on the gift-giving train. We don't have to keep up with the pace our culture is setting. We don't have to give the way our culture pressures us to give. 

The world tries to conform us to its image. It wants as many people as possible on the consumerism train, even if it is driving people to debt and stripping the earth we are supposed to be stewarding. I considered bringing up fair trade gifts again, but since I've already discussed it here, here, here, here, here, and here, we'll skip the fair trade talk this year. Instead of rushing to the mall to blitz through our shopping list, let us consider ways we can give differently. 

We can give of our time. Instead of just giving a coffee lover a gift card to a coffee shop, we can make appointments to go with them (or invite them over) for coffee. We aren't just giving them a gift of coffee, but time together as they drink it. We can give a gift of experience, and preferably join in the experience too. Instead of buying them solo tickets for the movie theater, we can again make an appointment to see their favorite movie together.

We can give things we made. We might have to spend time throughout the year making the gifts we want to give at Christmas. We might have smaller piles of presents, that were made with love and prayers, but they have meaning and value beyond the cost of materials, because they were made by someone we love. Let us stop considering how expensive a gift is and instead value a gift because someone made it for us. 

Finally, we can give from our treasures. Instead of buying a new book for someone, we can give them our well-loved copy of it. We have a tradition in our culture of waiting until after a funeral to share our material possessions with friends and family members, but we could let go of things sooner than that. We could thoughtfully match things we own to people who would appreciate them now. 

Self-Care Sunday: Make Plans with Friends

One way of taking care of ourselves is to spend time with friends. Take some time to call, text, or email a friend and schedule something fun to do together. It could be walking at a park or grabbing a coffee at the local coffee shop or even watching a movie at home. 

Figure out the things that the two of you like to do and then do that thing together. 

Self-Care Sunday: Tech-Free Day

 Sometimes, we need to unplug and take a break from technology.

Turn off the computer.

Leave the phone in another room.

Turn off the radio and TV.

We can use a tech-free day to enjoy some time out in nature or curl up with a good book. 

How does taking a break from technology serve as a form of self-care? 

Self-Care Sunday: Clock-Out

 Today's self-care tip is to leave work at work. When we clock out at the end of our day and come back home, let us focus on our relationships, home, and hobbies. 

We are a part of a hyper-connected world. We can check our work emails at home, and co-workers and bosses can call or text us.

But we can have good boundaries between work and home. For example, we can let our co-workers and bosses know that we only check our e-mails during work hours. If there's a quick text or call about where we left something, it's easy enough to answer, but if we are being asked to troubleshoot a problem over the phone, we could let them know we'll tackle that the next day we work or if we are paid overtime, we can come in now to handle it immediately. (This won't work for every work situation, but we can adapt boundaries to the particulars of our circumstances)

What are ways that you can "clock out" and leave work at work? 

What boundaries between work and home do you need? 

Self-Care Sunday: Get Outdoors

 Outdoors is good for the soul.

There we can find sunshine, growing things, and living creatures.

While I do enjoy city parks, I also recommend state parks, where you can get away from all sounds of civilization. 

Take time this week to get out into nature. 

Sit by a stream.

Sit in sunshine.

Sit under a tree.

And breathe. 

Lay It Down

Our world is scary and a mess. When we are faced with the fear, confusion, and chaos, our temptation is to cling to the systems of the world that have served us in the past. But we must lay down all things that are not of God's Kingdom, so we can follow Christ without the baggage and burden of earthly identities and hinderances. 

Lay down our national identity. To follow the Lamb of God, we must turn from our national agenda. The paths of Christ and the United States have diverged a long time ago. We cannot follow both. Who will we follow and serve? 

We choose to place our identity in the Kingdom of Heaven, not the country we were born in. 

Lay down our political identity. The Lamb of God is not aligned with the Donkey or the Elephant. 

We choose to place our identity in God's Kingdom, where the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, those hungering & thirsting after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted are blessed.

Lay down our familial ties. The Family of God supersedes the ties of the families we were born into. 

We choose to view all Christians as mother, brother, and sister, instead of the family we were born into.

Lay down our desire for power and control. God is King, not us. We were not commanded to legislate our morality and punish those who break our religious laws.

We choose to speak for the powerless without seeking power ourselves.

Lay down our desire for comfort and convenience. To follow Christ is to go where we are uncomfortable, to learn uncomfortable truths, and face the dark side of our history.

We choose to learn about the history (and modern story) of racism, white supremacy, nationalism in the church, and other uncomfortable truths. 

Lay down our desire for convenience. When we follow Christ, we are often inconvenienced, as we are called to serve others, love those who hate us, and follow Him instead of our plan. 

We choose to be inconvenienced as Christ asks us to feed His sheep, care for those on the margins of society, and follow where His Spirit guides us. 

Lay down our desire for safety. Christ commanded us to put away our swords, turn the other cheek, and live in peace with others. 

We choose to lay down our weapons and defenses. We choose to respond peaceably in the face of violence.

Lay down our compulsion to defend God. Listen to the pain of those hurt by the church without rationalizing the actions of those who hurt them. Listen to their anger without getting defensive or hurt yourself. God is big enough to take all of the pain, anger, frustration, and confusion a person brings. God does not need us to defend HIM. 

We choose to offer compassion instead of judgment to those who are hurting.

Lay down our need to save face and refuse to admit when we're wrong. Seek forgiveness and reconciliation when we have hurt others instead of doubling down on our position or explaining how we are not to blame.

We choose to forgive and seek forgiveness. We choose to reconcile and seek reconciliation.

Lay down our pride. In our national identity, political identity, and righteousness. We remember that pride is a sin and God opposes the proud. When we are prideful, we aren't teachable.

We choose to humble ourselves and walk in humility.

Lay down our persecution complex. We have a mindset that we are so persecuted in the United States, when really people are pushing back against our unloving and judgmental words and actions. Learn about the persecution that the persecuted church is facing: the destruction of homes & businesses, the physical beatings and executions, and so on. 

We choose to pray for the persecuted and their persecutors. We choose to remember those in prison for their faith.

Lay down our judgments. We were not called to judge the world, but we find ourselves judging those with different political affiliations, lifestyles, and religions.

We choose to humble ourselves before the seat of judgment instead of sitting in judgment of others.

Once we have laid all of these things down, we find that our hands are free to take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Christ. 

Self-Care Sunday: Brainstorm Reviving Activities

 We are not all the same. Some of these ideas for self-care, which work well for me, aren't as beneficial for you.

Today's challenge is to brainstorm a list of "reviving activities". 

What activities recharge your batteries or refill your bucket? 

What brings you peace, joy, and gratitude? 

Make a list of these things.

Then plan to do one of them at least every week, if not something small every day. 

The Right to Pray

 I read an article from an online news site. 

I encourage you to take a moment to read the article and then read the following passages from the Bible: Matthew 6:5-14, Mark 12:38-40, and Luke 20:45-47. 

Now grab a paper and pen to answer these questions: 

*How did Jesus describe how hypocrites pray? (Matthew 6:5) 

*What did Jesus instruct us to NOT do when we pray? (Matthew 6:5) 

*What did Jesus instruct us TO do when we pray (Matthew 6:6) 

*What did Jesus instruct us to NOT do when we pray? (Matthew 6:7) 

*What condemnation did Jesus have for the teachers of the law in Mark 12:38-40 and Luke 20:45-47? 

*What else does the Bible say about prayer? 

*Is there a biblical teaching on a specific location, position, or ritual when we pray? 

*How are Christians commanded to treat non-believers? 

*How are Christians supposed to respond to commands from the governing authorities? 

It's important to take time for perspective checks before we choose our response to this situation. 

1. The case may have just reached the Supreme Court and is currently making headlines, but these events happened in 2015. So take a moment to choose a response instead of giving a knee-jerk reaction that is most likely angry, bitter, or critical. 

2. Christians aren't commanded to pray at a certain location, but we ARE commanded to live at peace with everyone, as far as we are able (see Romans 12:18). 

3. NO ONE can stop Christians from praying. We can pray in workplaces, in stores, in schools, and at sporting events. However, those in charge can request that we don't make a spectacle of our prayers. When we are told that by the authorities, we are still commanded to obey them (see Romans 13:1-7). They can request that we don't kneel at the 50-yard line, but they can't stop us from praying in our seats and offices, in secret. Frankly, this request lines up with Jesus' teachings on prayer. 

4. Take time to reflect. Grab a piece of paper and pen to journal through your feelings. Turn your emotions into prayers. Examine why you are hurt, upset, angry, etc. at this news. Ask God to show you HIS perspective on these matters. Journal and pray until you are in a place of surrender instead of rebellion. Pray until your jaw unclenches and your hands relax. Pray until you get an eternal perspective on these events. 

5. Consider how these matters reflect Christianity to non-Christians. Christians tout obeying the law, until told they can't pray on a football field at the end of a game. Then they will overcome the lawful security and knock children to the ground to do it anyway. Is this the Christianity we want to represent? If they study the Bible's teachings on prayer, are they going to recognize that we are following Jesus' teachings or will they be confused that we insist on making prayer a visible spectacle? 

6. Consider how you'd feel if this was about a Jewish coach or a Muslim coach or a Hindu coach, or a Buddhist coach or a pagan coach. Are we in favor of ALL religions getting to pray on the field after a game, or are we just in favor of OUR religion having these rights and privileges? 

7. God is big enough to defend Himself. We don't need to sue to get God the right to show up at a football game; He's already there. When we jump in to defend God, our actions make Him look weak and unable to defend Himself. So let us take a step back and let God defend Himself. 

8. Are we praying for the "enemies" in this story (i.e. the people who are opposing the response we view as "correct")? 

9. Are we praying for God's will to be done (instead of praying for God to do our will?)

Special Feature: Eat Your Way Through the Alphabet Date Idea Jar

The thirteenth featured jar is the Eat Your Way Through the Alphabet jar. 

It has 26 Food Challenges to Expand Your Palate. Each stick has two food suggestions that start with that letter, except for X, which comes with three ideas.

Colors are randomized. Suggested foods include a mixture of fruits, vegetables, desserts, main dishes, sides, fish, meats, and vegetarian.

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Continuing to Live in Pandemic-Tide

In the Church Year, we have seasons such as Christmas-tide, Eastertide, and so on. 2020-2022 in my mind is "pandemic-tide," as it has shaped the rhythm of our lives.

As the pandemic hasn't officially ended, per WHO and CDC classifications, I wanted to take some time to reflect on pandemic-tide. We will look back at how it has shaped us, but also look forward as we weigh what comes next. 

What are ways we can show ourselves (and others) grace? 

Grace is giving someone something (good) that they don't deserve and could never earn. We can read about the biblical definition of grace here. Grace can be things that delight and charm us, or it can be God's merciful kindness that draws us to Him and strengthens us in living out our faith. 

What are ways we can be kind to ourselves (and others)?  

Are you someone comfortable going unmasked? How can you be kind to someone who is still wearing a mask? 

Are you still wearing a mask? How can you be kind to someone nearby who isn't wearing a mask? 

What are ways we can allow God to stretch and grow us? 

What spiritual virtues have you been convicted to practice? 

What spiritual vices have you struggled with during pandemic-tide? 

With clearer schedules, what do we want to learn, do, or be? 

How did you use your time during lockdowns and social distancing? 

What do you want to keep (or avoid) from that season? 

What did you learn about yourself and God during the first part of the pandemic? 

With schedules filling up again, what do we want to include and what should we refrain from adding back in? 

How are you using your time now? 

What do you want to keep (or cut) in this season? 

What are you learning about yourself and God in this part of the pandemic? 

How will we look back on this time? 

I will certainly look back with lament for the lives lost and divisiveness of our nation, but I will also remember this time as the season where I read new books, learned to play the violin, and invested my time & energy in crafts and cooking. Even though I had fewer visits with family and friends, this has been a season where I made more calls and video calls. 

How will we use the time given to use moving forward? 

What lessons from the pandemic will you carry with you into the future? 

What things have been cut that have been beneficial? What things have been cut that should be brought back? 

Special Feature: Seasonal Dates Date Idea Jar

The twelfth featured jar is the Seasonal Dates Idea Jar. 

It has 32 Dates Over the Four Seasons 

The Green Sticks have Spring Dates.

The Red Sticks have Summer Dates.

The Orange Sticks have Fall Dates.

The Blue Sticks have Winter Dates.

 

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Special Feature: Conversation Starters: Introspective Questions

The eleventh featured jar is the Conversation Starters: Introspective Questions. 

It has 31 Questions to Promote Introspection and Reflection. 

The Purple Sticks have Comforting Questions.

The Orange Sticks have Challenging Questions.

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Self-Care Sundays: Make a Self-Care Kit

Now that we can recognize when we are stressed and what we can handle, we might want to create a self-care kit.

Ask yourself what brings you comfort when you are down or stressed.

What clothing is comfy and cozy?

What activities lower your stress level? (Movie, book, craft, etc.)

What creates a cozy atmosphere? (Candle, scent diffuser, etc.)

What foods and drinks are comforting and yet healthy enough that you won't regret eating them when you're stressed? 

How can you pamper yourself? (Face, hands, feet, etc.)

Now collect these items in one place for the next time you need some extra self-love!!

Special Feature: The Stir-Crazies Date Idea Jar

The tenth featured jar is the The Stir-Crazies. 

It has 26 Driving Challenges to Get You Out of the House 

Green Sticks have Nature Ideas.

Yellow Sticks have Driving Directives. 

Red Sticks have you Keep a Lookout.

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Fasting and Feasting: Week 6

Fast from hatred.

Feast with peace.

What does our fasting vice mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this vice? 

Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of exhibiting this vice? 

What are the circumstances when you display this vice? 

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to fast from this vice? 

How might you continue to fast from it after Lent is over? 

What does our feasting virtue mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this virtue? 

How has the Holy Spirit cultivated this virtue in you? 

Special Feature: Cooking or Eating Around the World Date Idea Jar

The ninth featured jar is the Cooking or Eating Around the World. 

There are 26 foods recommendations from 26 countries in this jar. 

You can make each dish that the stick recommends, finding a recipe online that is doable.

OR 

You can find a store or restaurant that sells that dish and just buy it already made.

OR 

You can use these sticks as a prompt and figure out what food from around the world YOU want to try and write your own ideas on the backs of the sticks.

Blue Sticks have ideas for countries in the Americas 

Green Sticks have ideas for countries in Eastern Europe 

Yellow Sticks have ideas for countries in Western Europe 

Red Sticks have ideas for countries in Asia 

Orange Sticks have ideas for countries in Africa/Middle East

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Self-Care Sunday: Savor a Hot Beverage

One of my favorite methods of self-care involves savoring a hot beverage.

It may be tea, hot chocolate, coffee (decaf or caffeinated). or something else, but the important part is taking time to drink it slowly and enjoy the experience.

Use all of your senses to savor the beverage.

Touch: Hold the cup in your hands and feel the warmth.

Sight: Look at the steam rising or the patterns on the surface of the beverage.

Sound: If you make your own beverage, listen to the sound of the tea kettle boiling water. Hear the slurp as you slowly drink your beverage.

Smell: Consider what smells from the beverage reach your nose. Which smell is strongest? 

Taste: What does your drink taste like? Roll in around your mouth before swallowing. 

Fasting and Feasting: Week 5

Fast from fits of rage.

Feast with gentleness.

What does our fasting vice mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this vice? 

Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of exhibiting this vice? 

What are the circumstances when you display this vice? 

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to fast from this vice? 

How might you continue to fast from it after Lent is over? 

What does our feasting virtue mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this virtue? 

How has the Holy Spirit cultivated this virtue in you? 

Special Feature: Competition Date Idea Jar

The eighth featured jar is the Competition Dates. You can decide if you're competing against your partner OR if you & your partner are competing against another couple. 

There are 26 competition date ideas.
 

The blue sticks have contest challenges.

The green sticks have game challenges.

The yellow sticks have endurance challenges.

The red sticks have food challenges.

The orange sticks have sport challenges.

The purple stick has an annual game challenge.

. 

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Fasting and Feasting: Week 4

Fast from idolatry.

Feast with faithfulness.

What does our fasting vice mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this vice? 

Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of exhibiting this vice? 

What are the circumstances when you display this vice? 

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to fast from this vice? 

How might you continue to fast from it after Lent is over? 

What does our feasting virtue mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this virtue? 

How has the Holy Spirit cultivated this virtue in you? 

Special Feature: Conversation Starters: Favorite Things Edition

The seventh featured jar is the Conversation Starters: Favorite Things Edition jar. 

This jar comes with 31 sticks asking questions about your favorite things. 

The colors are randomized in this jar. Pull a stick at random and answer that question!

Each stick has a question on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one question isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This conversation starter jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Self-Care Sunday: Take Time to Rest

There's always plenty to do. Many tasks on our to do lists are only temporarily done (i.e. laundry, dishes, etc.) So it is incredibly dangerous to say that "I'll rest when _______ is done." If we need to rest, we need to rest. 

We can rest at home, but for many of us the temptation to do a bit more work is too tempting.

We may be better able to rest if we leave the house, maybe even leave the property, and go somewhere peaceful. It may be a local park, with a woods or stream. It may be a local river walk or bench.

Take time to rest, to be still, to recharge. 

Listen to your body, your emotions, and the still small voice of the Spirit guiding you to find your rest in Christ.

Fasting and Feasting: Week 3

Fast from selfish ambition. 

Feast with self-control.

What does our fasting vice mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this vice? 

Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of exhibiting this vice? 

What are the circumstances when you display this vice? 

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to fast from this vice? 

How might you continue to fast from it after Lent is over? 

What does our feasting virtue mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this virtue? 

How has the Holy Spirit cultivated this virtue in you? 

Special Feature: Gratitude Jars

The sixth featured jar is the Gratitude Jar. 

This jar comes with 50+ index card pieces, to write one thing you are grateful for each week. 

On hard days or at the end of the year, you can pull out what you have written and read over them.

This is a great way to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. 

The Gratitude Jar is $7. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Fasting and Feasting: Week 2

Fast from jealousy and envy. 

Feast with joy. 

What do our fasting vices mean? 

Look them up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about these vices? 

Search for each word individually.

Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of exhibiting these vices? 

What are the circumstances when you display these vices? 

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to fast from these vices? 

How might you continue to fast from them after Lent is over? 

What does our feasting virtue mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this virtue? 

How has the Holy Spirit cultivated this virtue in you? 

Special DOUBLE Feature: A Year of Dates Idea Jar AND Date Nights Ideas at Home and Around Town

The fourth featured jar is the Year of Dates Idea Jar. It has 26 date ideas, perfect for a date every other weekend for a year. 

The fifth featured jar is the Date Nights Ideas at Home and Around Town. It also has 26 date ideas.

Both jars have blue sticks for at home date activities and yellow sticks have around town date activities.

Each stick has a date idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Self-Care Sunday: Decide What You Can Handle Today

We are humans, not machines, so we don't perform the exact same way every day. Our moods, energy levels, and so many other factors play into what we can handle and tolerate on any given day.

Some days, we might be up for cleaning and organizing.

Other days, we might need to bundle up on the couch with a blanket and a familiar book. 

And both situations are alright. 

Sometimes, we are up for trying something new, whether that's a show, food, music, or a book. 

At other times, we might need something familiar and predictable. 

Being able to identify whether we need the familiar or the new is a crucial skill. 

Weighing whether we have the energy or the capacity to tackle things today or saving them for tomorrow can help us be kind to ourselves when we need rest instead of productivity or when we need comfort instead of excitement. 

So what can you handle today? 

Fasting and Feasting: Week 1

For those who need a refresher on Galatians 5:19-23, please read it over it. There are 15 vices and 9 virtues packed into these 5 verses. 

Fast from discord, dissensions, and factions. 

Feast with kindness.

What do our fasting vices mean? 

Look them up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about these vices? 

Search for each word individually.

Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of exhibiting these vices? 

What are the circumstances when you display these vices? 

How is the Holy Spirit guiding you to fast from these vices? 

How might you continue to fast from them after Lent is over? 

What does our feasting virtue mean? 

Look it up in the dictionary. 

What does the Bible say about this virtue? 

How has the Holy Spirit cultivated this virtue in you? 

Fasting and Feasting during Lent

Welcome to Lent. Lent is a period of fasting that runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (before Resurrection Sunday aka Easter). While Lent involves 40 days of fasting, there are actually 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday. That is because the 6 Sundays of Lent are not meant to be fasting days; Sundays are for feasting. 

The purpose of fasting is to grow closer to God. We give up something, so we can focus on Him more. Lent isn't about denying ourselves to make ourselves miserable. We deny ourselves food, non-essentials, or actions so that we can give more of our time, energy, and money to God. 

In the Bible, fasting was almost exclusively about giving up food, but in our culture that shies away from depriving ourselves of anything, fasting from social media and other non-food habits is common. 

For more information on fasting, you can read these posts: 2021, 2021 (series), 2018, and 2013. 

For this Lent, I am recommending a two-pronged approached.

1. Fasting

      A. Fast from non-essential foods. (Essential foods include fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy).

      B. Fast from vices. We will be looking at vices mentioned in Galatians 5:19-23

2. Feasting

      A. Feast with a special treat on Sundays. Share your treat with those around you. 

      B. Feast with virtues. We will be looking at virtues mentioned in Galatians 5:19-23

How will you fast during Lent? 

How will you feast on Sundays? 

Special Feature: Fasting and Feasting A Lenten Adventure Jar

The third featured jar is the Fasting and Feasting: A Lenten Adventure Jar. 

This jar comes with 14 sticks and a book that explains each fasting and feasting idea in more detail. 

The 7 red sticks are for fasting. 

The 6 purple sticks are for Sunday feasting. 

The 1 yellow stick is for feasting on Easter. 

Each stick has an idea on one side and a blank idea tag on the other side. So if one idea isn't your "cup of tea", you can write your own idea on the back.

This date idea jar is $7. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Whom Do We Serve?

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus warns us that not one of us can serve two masters. We will either A) hate one and love the other, or B) be devoted to one and despise the other. He finishes with a statement that we can't serve both God and money. 

There is a temptation for us to read this passage and pat ourselves on the back because "we don't serve money". Yet, just because we don't fit the example Jesus provided doesn't mean that we don't have a second master. 

Some of us serve the master of a Political Party. We rationalize this by saying that the Party we serve IS in line with God, so it's still just one master. However, there isn't a political party in existence that is fully aligned with God's kingdom. When we act like our preferred party is closer to God's will, we are attaching the sin and deceitfulness of man's political actions to the message we are telling the world about Christ, dragging Jesus's name through the mud in the process.

Some of us serve the master of Family. We idolize our parents or our kids or grandkids. We hold them too tightly and pray more for their safety instead of their obedience to God. We pray against a call to missions so they can stay nearby. 

Some of us serve the master of Work. We are a nation of workaholics. We are constantly checking our e-mails and practically always on call. We give our jobs our best time and energy, the firstfruits of our day. 

Some of us serve the master of Independence. We will do things ourselves and we hide our struggles from the very people who could help us if they knew we could use help. Is pride preventing us from asking for help or is shame the silencer? We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and stand on our own two feet. Ignoring the "one another" commands of the Bible and the interdependence we are supposed to have. 

Some of us serve the master of Convenience and Comfort. We buy what we want, when we want it, for the sake of our comfort, so we won't be inconvenienced. We have stored up treasures on earth by spending money and investing time in things that won't matter when the world ends. We spend money on our wants when others are dying from a deficiency of their needs. 

What competes with God for the role of master in your life? 

(If you're having trouble figuring that out, did any of these claims offend you? Start there)

How has the second master claimed your time, energy, and allegiance? 

Self-Care Sunday: Recognize Your Stress

This will be a semi-regular series (I hope) that looks at ways we can take care of ourselves as the pandemic is in its third year.

Take a moment to check-in with yourself physically.

Are you tense? 

Is any part of you in pain? 

What physical needs do you have? Hunger? Thirst? The urge to use the restroom?

Now consider: which of your physical responses are tied to stress? 

Are you tense because of stress? 

Is your pain (headache, stomachache) because of stress? 

Are you solving your physical needs with healthy or unhealthy choices? 

It is perfectly natural to be stressed during a global pandemic. 

We have been carrying this stress for over two years. 

Yet, if we don't acknowledge that we are stressed, we are hindered in our ability to process and handle our stress in healthy ways. 

What are your signs that you are stressed? 

How often are you aware that you are stressed? 

How do you respond to stress?

How do you treat yourself when you are stressed? 

How do you treat others when you are stressed? 

*Disclaimer* I am not a doctor or a psychologist. The opinions expressed in this series are my own and should not replace professional advice. 

Forgiving to be Forgiven

In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus tells us that if we forgive others who sin against us, God will forgive us, but if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. Similarly, Luke 6:37 warns us A) don't judge and we won't be judged, B) don't condemn and we won't be condemned, and C) forgive and we will be forgiven. 

I don't feel that this passage gets a lot of the limelight in sermons. It's much more comfortable to preach that God forgives us when we repent, but this passage makes us uncomfortable. Suddenly, our own forgiveness from God is linked to if we forgive others who wrong us. 

But this isn't an isolated text. Jesus also told the parable of the Unmerciful Servant (NIV heading) or the Unforgiving Debtor (NLT heading). In that parable, we see that when someone has had their debts forgiven by the King, but go on to lack compassion, mercy, and forgiveness for a fellow person, then that unforgiving person will be punished. 

Who do you need to forgive? 

How have you withheld forgiveness from someone? 

In what ways has God shown you mercy, but you failed to show mercy to others? 

Special Feature: What's So Special about these Date Idea Jars

You might be asking yourself, why are these date idea jars so special?

There are 4 main reasons these date idea jars are great!!

Customizable: If a suggested activity isn't your cup of tea, you can write in your own! 

Reusable: Either replace a stick right after your date OR wait until you go through them all before allowing repeats! 

Inclusive: Gender-neutral language and suitable for married or unmarried couples! 

Blushless: Nothing off-color or risqué. Nothing to make Grandma blush!

You might be asking yourself, why get a date idea jar instead of a date night kit? 

Yes, date night kits come pre-assembled...for one date night, but then you are left with a shell of a kit without the components. 

Do you restock and use it again? 

Do you throw it away after it has served its purpose? 

The date idea jars allow you to choose the foods and activities that YOU prefer. While it gives suggestions, you can make each idea your own by how you approach each idea. 

Instead of paying for ingredients that you don't need, you can use the prompt to create your own unique date.

Instead of receiving processed, shelf-stable foods, you can buy fresh foods that you enjoy. 

Where's Your Treasure?

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us not to store up treasures for ourselves on earth. He reminds us that moths and vermin destroy precious things and thieves break in and steal treasure. INSTEAD, we should be storing up treasures in heaven (where moths and vermin can't destroy and thieves can't break in and steal). He concludes with a final warning that our hearts are where our treasure is. 

So...we haven't been "living out" this command. We have treasures on earth. We stuff our houses full of treasures, at least in our eyes. We spend money on things that we want, but don't really need. We have "retail therapy" to comfort ourselves when we are upset or bored. 

Yet, we are supposed to be storing treasure for ourselves in heaven. Jesus is vague as to what the treasure in heaven is. 
Is our treasure the souls that we told the Good News to? 
Is our treasure any and all virtues that we have practiced and applied to our lives? 
Is our treasure the vices that we have overcome? 
Is our treasure simply the future promise of spending eternity in God's presence worshiping and praising Him? 

We can theorize, but this text does not spell out exactly what our heavenly treasure is. Many times, we are uncomfortable with uncertainty. We want to know exactly what we are dealing with. But we should be very wary of teachers who claim to be able to turn gray areas in the Bible to black and white directives. We should be reading the passages, like the Bereans in Acts 17, to make sure that the speaker isn't shoe-horning the passage to fit their own worldview. The Bible should be what shapes our worldview, instead of what we cut, carve, and hack to support our position, biases, and prejudices.

Stop making purchases this week. Only buy what is necessary for survival (healthy food, water, gas to get to work, etc.) Take a hard look at the purchases that you have in your house. How much have you spent on clothes, décor, or non-essential items? How could that money have been used to glorify God and further His kingdom goals? 

Consider what is needed for your survival. If a house fire destroyed everything in your house, what would be the minimum you would need (clothes, dishes, space) to rebuild?  

How is your treasure on earth holding your heart captive? 
What would it look like to live each day with a heavenly treasure? 

Interacting with Others

In Matthew 5:38-42,  Jesus contrasts what we have heard ("eye for eye, and tooth for tooth"), with what He is telling us ("do not resist an evil person"). He gives 5 examples of what He means. 
1) If someone slaps us on one cheek, turn the other cheek to them too.
2) If someone wants to sue us and take our shirt, give them our coat as well.
3) If someone makes us go one mile, go a second mile with them.
4) We are to give to the one who asks us for help.
5) We are not to turn away from someone who wants to borrow from us. 

Similarly, the parallel passage in Luke 6:29-31, outlines 
1) turning the other cheek to the one who slaps us, 
2) giving our shirt to the one who takes our coat, 
(point 3 above is not repeated in this passage)
4) giving to those who ask us, and 
5) not demanding people return our stuff to us.  

He finishes this section by commanding us to "do to others as you would have them do to you."
This teaching is HARD. It goes against our natural inclinations as humans to get revenge, defend our stuff, and judge if those asking for help are WORTHY. 

Christians, in the United States in particular, have struggled with these commands. We idolize the patriot, the underdog, and the hero. We defend our possessions with deadly force. We seek revenge when we feel wronged. If someone slaps us, we punch back. If someone sues us, we counter sue. We resist being asked to do things and try to get out of unwanted commitments as soon as possible. We refuse to help those asking us to help them. 

May we REPENT of our attitudes and behaviors that run counter to Jesus' commands. May we APPLY these teachings, not as intangible "goodwill" that doesn't require action of us, but as commands that should shape our lives. 

How do we want to be treated? That is how we should be treating other people, including our political opponents, people of other religions and nationalities, and those on the margins of society. 

Special Feature: The Endless Date Idea Jar

The second featured jar is An Endless Date Idea Jar. 

Who knows you and your partner better than yourselves? 

Use the prompts on the front side to fill out your own date ideas on the back. 

Then take turns pulling an idea, doing the activity, and writing down a new activity for the future.

The blue sticks give suggestions for At Home Activities.

The green sticks give suggestions for Game Time.

The yellow sticks give suggestions for Visiting a Town.

The red sticks give suggestions for Restaurants.

The brown sticks give suggestions for Double Dates.

The purple sticks give suggestions for Recreating a Past Date.

This date idea jar is $10. 

You can use either link below to contact me about purchasing this jar. 
https://sites.google.com/view/lizscreationsdateideas/home
https://www.facebook.com/LizCreationsDateIdeas

Stop Judging

In Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus tells us not to judge and warns that if we do, we also will be judged. He points out that we will be judged just like we judge others. We will receive a measure as we measure for others. 

Nearly identically, Luke 6:37 starts with the same warning "do not judge" and assures us that if we don't judge others, we won't be judged. Jesus goes on here to tell us not to condemn others, so we will not be condemned. He finishes with a directive to forgive and a reassurance that we will be forgiven. 

We should not be judging other people. We do not know their life, their struggles, or their successes. If we are judgmental towards others, we will be judged with the same measurement that we use against them. If we use a stingy measure of grace and mercy, we will receive a stingy measure of grace and mercy. If we use a heavy measure of condemnation, we will receive a heavy measure of condemnation. BUT if we do not condemn others, we won't be condemned. 

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to make us aware of our tendency to judge others. Let us grieve over the judgmental thoughts and words that we use to condemn others. Then let us seek forgiveness as we repent of our judgmental attitudes and hearts. 

Love Your Enemies

In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus starts off by reminding people what they have been taught and heard about Scripture (i.e. "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy"). Leviticus 19:18 tells us to love our neighbor. (In its entirety, it tells us "‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.") The second half of that saying was added on to the actual Scripture. Nowhere in the Old Testament are we told to hate our enemies. The only instance where "hate your enemy" appears in Scripture is Jesus quoting that saying. 

Jesus goes on to command us to A) "love [our] enemies" and B) "pray for those who persecuted [us]" SO THAT we "may be children of [our] Father in heaven". Many times, I have heard that we should love our enemies and pray for our persecutors, but we end the sentence there and do not continue into verse 45 to finish the sentence in the NIV translation. Our love for our enemies and our prayers for our persecutors is a key part of our identity as children of God. Jesus notes that both the good and the bad get sunshine from God. Both saints and sinners receive the blessing of rain. 

Jesus questions what reward will we get if we just love those who love us. He notes that even tax collections do that. He questions what extra behavior are we displaying if we only greet our own people, since even pagans do that. Our love for our enemies is a key distinguishing feature of our faith lived out in our deeds. This passage ends with a call, a command really, to be perfect as God is perfect. 

While this passage in Luke 6:27-36 is similar to the Matthew 5 passage, it was different enough that I wanted us to look at it as well. Jesus starts by telling us to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (The next 3 verses will be covered in a future post in this series.) 

Jesus questions what credit is it to us, if we just love those who love us. He points out that even sinners  love those who love them. He again asks what credit is it to us if we just do good to those who are good to us. Once again, even sinners do that. Furthermore, what credit is it to us, if we lend to people we expect to repay us. Jesus points out that even sinners lend to other sinners and expect to be fully repaid.

After telling us how we should NOT be acting, Jesus gets into His commands: A) love our enemies, B) do good to our enemies, C) lend to our enemies without expecting to be repaid, even in part.  

When we do this, our reward will be great and we will be children of the Most High God. Why does this identify us as God's children? God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked and we are called to follow His lead. This passage ends with a call, a command really, to be merciful as God is merciful. 

This is a lot to unpack in these passages. As Christians, we are called to live differently than non-believers. Most people in the world will love those who love them, be kind to those who are kind to them, and lend to people they expect to repay them. Yet, as Christians, we are called to love those who dislike and even hate us. We are called to do good to those who wish us ill. We are called to lend and give to those who can't repay us. Our obedience in love our enemies identifies us as Christians. 

It's easy to love those who agree with us, who treat us well, who we like, etc.

It's obedience to love those who disagree with us, who treat us poorly, who we dislike, etc. 

Based on how you treat enemies, opponents, and those who mistreat you, can you be identified as a child of God?