The After-Oakdale Chronicles

Today is…

a good day to think about the effects of gossip.

“The words of a whisperer are like tiny morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.”  Proverbs 18:8 NASB

Many of us love to be in possession of a “juicy piece of gossip.” We like to pass along information that we didn’t get first hand but even if we did, is it right? Are we helping anyone when we gossip about others, whether repeating what we have heard or passing along firsthand knowledge?

Yes, helping, for that is what God expects of us. He expects us to help one another and when we spend time talking about other people, or digging for information about other people, we are wasting valuable time that could be spent in constructive ways.

Often, we feel entitled to information, particularly in regard to new neighbors. We feel that we have a right to know all about people who are going to be in close proximity to us. Sometimes, our investigation leads us to a revelation of something in the person’s past that we consider a threat to ourselves and to those we love. When we make a discovery, we feel the need to share it, and in the process of sharing information, decisions are made and judgment is passed, and in many, many unfortunate instances, a bad choice someone has made in the past – an error in personal judgment, or lapse in morality – turns a neighborhood against a newcomer.

Before the individual has an opportunity to prove themselves, or demonstrate what is in their heart, we have taken it upon ourselves to do something that Jesus Himself said we should not do.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1 NIV).

We can offer up all of the justification we want for demanding information but it will not change what Jesus said. People make bad choices in their lives. Some of them, in the eyes of the law, are worse than others. But when an individual has dealt with a legal problem to the satisfaction of proper authorities, it is not our right, our duty, or our responsibility to pass further judgment.

Only God knows a person’s heart. We should, instead, ask God to reveal this person’s heart to us.

No matter what it may be we discover about another person, we must always remember to look within ourselves before we begin to speak ill of another. It is always easy to call another person’s morality into question; to criticize another person’s behavior; or to even ‘simply’ make fun of a person’s accent, clothing or hairstyle.

Jesus did not say, “Judge not unless it is something serious.”

He simply said, “Judge not.”

How can we do some of the things we do and claim our right as followers of Christ? We must all consider the effect our gossip has not only on the individual in question, but we must also consider the effect it has on our relationship with the Lord.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

an excellent day to think about heaven.

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2 KJV

The goal is a lofty one, indeed. The prize is one of indescribable peace, joy, love, and beauty. We are talking about the place that awaits us all when we have finished serving God on earth.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 KJV).

Heaven.

Our home for all of eternity if we have repented of our sins and accepted Christ as our savior.

How often do we think about it?

Most of us probably don’t think about it often enough, seriously enough, or honestly enough. This is something that we all need to change.

If we are spending more time wondering how we are going to get enough money for a new car than we spend thinking about heaven, we need to change.

If we spend more time thinking about who is going to be on our fantasy football team than we do about being on God’s team in heaven, we need to change.

If we spend more time thinking about what we are going to wear to go out to dinner than we do thinking about the road that will lead us to eternal life with God, we need to change.

We need to change the things we do, and the way we live our lives.

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” (Colossians 3:5 NLT).

Replace those things with kindness, love, patience, mercy, gentleness, humility. If we are to spend an eternity without all of those other things, why “on earth” would we want them to be a part of our lives now, during our short time here?

We cannot seek an eternal life in the light of the Lord while living in darkness and while pursuing things that are shallow, sinful, and meaningless.

If we like the darkness, we will not love Heaven.

“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelations 22:5 NIV).

Many of us take great care when planning a trip. We give it a lot of thought and we prepare carefully.

Perhaps it’s time we all gave a little more thought to the Kingdom of God and how we are going to get there, and today is an excellent day to start.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

the day to turn away from worthless things.

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word.” Psalm 119:37 NIV

How much of what we do each day is worthless in God’s eyes?

None of us likes to think in those terms, but it is important that we constantly be evaluating the things we do, how we spend our money, and how we spend our time. Let’s take a look at how we spend our time since the things we do take time and the money we spend is usually spent on things that occupy our time.

Time is one of the biggest barriers between many of us and God.

We think we don’t have more time to give to Him, to the Bible, or to other people in service to humanity. Our days are booked up from the moment our feet hit the floor till the instant they are placed back between the sheets.

But how are we using our time?

Suppose we all kept a daily log of all our activities. Not forever; a week should be sufficient. Nothing fancy, just a little pocket notebook. Every time we commence a new activity, we jot the start time, the activity, and the time we are finished, regardless of what it is or how insignificant it seems.

What would our daily log reveal to us about our relationship with God? How much time would be shown spent on pursuits that are worthless – and in some cases, sinful?

How much time do we spend playing games on the computer or some other device?

How much time do we spend keeping up with the things celebrities we will never meet are doing, how they are living, or how often they go to jail?

How much time do we spend looking at pornography or engaging in inappropriate ‘conversations’ on the internet?

How much time do we spend watching ‘reality’ shows that reflect the reality of only those individuals who are paid to let us see how shallow they are or how they live their lives without any degree of decency, self-respect, or morality?

Getting the idea? Care to speculate how much more time we could find for worship, prayer, fellowship and service to God?

We may think that the time spent on this earth is our own, to do with as we like.

“But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.” (1 Corinthians 3:13 NLT).

Get rid of the things that are worthless and find the time for things that are worthwhile. Important things, like building a stronger relationship with the Lord, and helping those around you.

Many of us will discover there is a lot of time in the day for things that are meaningful in God’s eyes, and today is the day to make that discovery.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a fine day to think about giving and receiving advice.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” Proverbs 12:15 NASB

The president of the United States surrounds himself with trusted advisors, as most world leaders do. No matter how learned we are, no matter how educated, no matter how confident we may be in our ability to make decisions, it is always wise to consider the advice of those around us.

It is as important to consider carefully whom we choose to advise us as it is to seek the counsel of others in the first place. King Rehoboam had an opportunity to listen to advice from older, wiser men on the subject of relaxing some of the harsh labor and tax demands of his father, but he didn’t care for that advice, so he asked people he grew up with.

“What is your advice?’ he asked them. ‘How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?’” (1 Kings 12:9 NLT).

Their response was to suggest even harsher treatment. His friends told him to say, “Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.” (1 Kings 12:11 NLT).

Rehoboam took the advice of others and it turned out poorly. He sought counsel but it was provided by individuals who obviously were not very wise.

So, perhaps it is best to not seek out advice in the first place, right?

Wrong.

First, it is important to have some idea of the heart of those from whom we seek counsel. It is important that God figure highly into the equation.

“The plans of the godly are best; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.” (Proverbs 12:5 NLT).

When confronted with situations that require advice, do these things: Pray for God to guide you; search the Bible for answers; talk with someone you feel has your best interests in mind and is guided by God in their hearts. Also, make sure they have some knowledge or experience in the matter at hand before considering what they have to say regarding it.

When it comes time for someone to seek counsel from you, always ask God to guide you, and if you know nothing about what you are being asked, offer this advice: “Find someone who knows more about the situation than me.”

Because no advice is better than bad advice, whether it is advice we are giving or advice we are receiving.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a super day to let God work within you.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT

Paul was in prison in Rome and had no way of knowing if he would ever leave there alive.

Here was a man who once enjoyed great freedom when he was persecuting Christians, who was now uncertain if he would leave prison alive because of his decision to follow Christ’s teachings and spread the Good News of salvation. Prisons in those days could not have been very pleasant places. The food was probably not very good, sanitation was more than likely nonexistent, and the aura of sickness, and the possibility of death most assuredly constantly hung over him.

And yet, in spite of these things, Paul’s letter to the people of Philippi was joyful, upbeat and encouraging.

What power could have such a profound effect on a person? What power could possibly give Paul the courage to stand by his convictions even at the risk of death? What power could enable someone to express love, hope, trust and optimism when faced with what Paul was facing?

Hopefully, we all know that the answer is the power of God.

God gave Paul the strength to face the worst that life at that time had to offer and still encourage others with a positive attitude because he invited God to work within him and he submitted all of his problems and fears to God, along with his own will, and said, “Here, take all of this. I don’t want it. I can’t live with it. I need You, Lord to guide me, to keep me safe, and to show me how I can make my life significant for You.”

There are many people whose “perfect” lives are simply comfortable prisons that lack any real joy and have no real purpose. Do not let this happen to you. Invite God into your life and let Him work within you.

Today is a super day to do it.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a good day to be hospitable.

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13 NIV

When we invite people into our home for a party or a celebration of some kind, we want everything to be perfect. We want the house to be clean, the food to be tasty and served in an attractive and appetizing manner, and we generally want our guests to feel welcome and have a good time.

For social gatherings, this type of hospitality is fine. That is why we call it entertaining, since that is exactly what we are doing.

The hospitality of which Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans is of a spiritual nature and, as such, its requirements are a little different. There are no theatrics and there is no show. We can be hospitable to fellow Christians and not worry that all of the children’s toys are picked up and put away. When we open our doors and extend our Christian hospitality to our friends, fellow members of our church, or even neighbors, hospitality is about being ready to focus on another person’s needs, problems and issues.

Showing spiritual hospitality to another human being, is the same as being hospitable to Jesus Christ, and our genuine warmth and welcoming nature will stand out and be remembered when we stand before Him in final judgment.

Jesus Himself said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV).

And Isaiah tells us that God wants us to “Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” (Isaiah 58:7 NLT).

Remember that Christian hospitality is not just about opening our homes to those in need.

It is also about opening our hearts as well.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a great day to realize our importance to the team.

“The body is not one member, but many.”  1 Corinthians 12:14 NASB

Paul wrote at length about spiritual gifts and how they are to be put to use.

He stressed a point that is important to us all: no gift; no talent; no individual ability, is more important to God than any other. Each person’s contribution to the church, to the family, or to the brotherhood of man, is as important and necessary as any other.

All followers of Christ must work together to achieve our common goals. On the surface there may be those who display more talent than others. These areas of expertise or enhanced ability do not make the one who possesses the expertise or ability a better person. If we are the ones who possess this talent, care must be taken that we do not boast, become proud, or display arrogance. What we should do is thank God for giving us our abilities and pray for Him to show us how He wants them used to help others.

No matter how great, or seemingly insignificant, our talent or ability to contribute may be, each one of us must constantly seek God’s guidance in working with everyone around us, as a team, to accomplish God’s will.

Because of a perceived lack of any great skill or talents, many individuals hang back and withhold their involvement in the church. “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’ it would not, for that reason, cease to be a part of the body.” (1 Corinthians 12:15 NIV). Every single one of us has a place on Christ’s team and a role to play. We dare not refuse a big part – nor do we dare to refuse a small one!

In a restaurant, who is more important: the one who cooks the food or the one who cleans the dishes? The one who takes your order, or the one who cleans the floors?

The simple truth is, a restaurant does not meet all of its customers’ needs unless there are capable individuals performing all of the tasks required. While some tasks may appear to be more glamorous, no task is more important than another. All parts of the team are crucial to the attaining of the goals, and we need to realize that.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a wonderful day to give back the donkey.

“If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him.”  Exodus 23:4 NIV

Doing something nice for someone who doesn’t like us is a particularly challenging concept for many of us.

When considering how to deal with our enemies, revenge and getting even jumps to the forefront of our thoughts. Hopefully these thoughts are fleeting. More than likely, we just ignore such people. We don’t take the bait and let our tempers rise which lowers us to their level, but we don’t hold out an ice cream cone on a hot day either. While this type of behavior doesn’t make the situation worse, it doesn’t contribute to making it better.

Isn’t it our responsibility to do our best to let others see how wonderful being a servant of God can be?

For instance, maybe we have a particularly unreasonable neighbor who has called animal control on us because our dog got loose and got in his yard. With grim faces, we go get the dog, pay whatever fees there are and go home, angry at the neighbor, but controlled enough to not say anything. Sometime later, we see the neighbor’s dog down the street. We have a choice: we can get even, or we can take a small step towards demonstrating a better way to live to those who wrong us. We return the dog, make no reference to what transpired when the shoe was on the other foot, cheerfully say, “Have a blessed day,” and leave. Do not wait for a “thank you,” but don’t be surprised if you are stopped and given one.

Will every situation result in a changed person?

Of course not. Many people in this world who have not found the peace that comes from having a good relationship with the Lord will be difficult to change. But consistent pleasantness on our part in the face of anger, hate, dislike, and hostility can have more of an impact then we know.

Returning a donkey can be a thankless task, but we cannot do it for the thanks. We must do it because God wants us to, and because it is the right thing, not the easy thing. We must do all we can to change the hearts of those who need it.

After all, Jesus said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those that are sick.” (Matthew 9:12 NASB).

Look for opportunities to “give back the donkey” today, and every day.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a terrific day to decide how we will earn our White Stone.

“I will also give him a white stone with a new name on it, known only to him who receives it.”  Revelation 2:17c NIV

When John was exiled to the Island of Patmos, he had a vision of the glorified Christ. In that vision, Jesus said that we are to listen to what is being foretold to the Seven Churches. Jesus said the faithful will receive the rewards they have been promised. Each person who is victorious will receive a “white stone.”

In ancient times, athletes who were victorious were given a white stone which was their admission to the winner’s circle for the celebrations after the last race was run.

When the end comes, we want to be able to say, like Paul said to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).

How will we run our race? How will we earn our admission to God’s “winner’s circle”? How will we live our lives that will justify the placing of a White Stone in our hands?

It is not enough to sit and observe as life passes by. God provides us with ample opportunities on a daily basis to become engaged in the art of living on earth as a child of God.

Perhaps we think that we have no talent or gifts that can significantly change another person or help them to find their way through the “mine fields” of sin. Maybe we have very little money to offer as a way of contributing to the betterment of another human being’s existence on earth. Money is not the most important way to serve.

We must all, somehow, become willing, active participants in the lives that surround us.  If we have nothing at all, we still have ourselves, and if we have ourselves, we have all we need to do our part to change the world around us. If we all do one good thing every day of our lives, think of the impact we can have.

To run a good race, and to earn your “White Stone,” God wants to see you engaged in improving the lives around you.

So decide today what you will do, focus on the prize, finish the race, and receive your “White Stone.”

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a fine day to see things in a good light.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.”  Matthew 6:22 NIV

We must see with the eyes God gave us, not the ones we have grown accustomed to. The eyes that God gave us see the way He wants us to see in ways that will light us from within.

It is easy to cloud our vision and dim the light by seeing temptation as something to welcome rather then something to resist. We can block ourselves from seeing things the correct way by allowing ourselves to become excited or aroused by the immorality that pervades our lives on a daily basis.

God wants us to see things that are broken and work to fix them. He wants us to see pain and work to ease it. The eyes God gave us should also see all of the beauty that abounds and point that beauty out to others so they may enjoy it and become closer to God as a result.

God knows better than any of us that there are many things to see in this world that can weaken our resolve to do the right things. It is for that reason we can pray directly to Him for strength to fight the evil things we see before us.

The miracles of life, the beauty of the sky and the earth, the wonders of the ocean – all of these things are gifts from God to be enjoyed with the eyes that He gave us.

He wants us to see the right path when the landscape before us is littered with sin, temptation, sexual immorality and other forms of wrong doing.

God gave us eyes to see the things that are wrong so that we can work to fix them. He gave us Jesus Christ to help us see the way to do the right things and to help us avoid temptation.

Let the eyes God gave us light up our entire being by seeing things the way He wants us to.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson