If We

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed . . . in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. . . keep a clear conscience 1 Peter 3:13-16

We are all human, we are sinners and we make mistakes.  But if we strive to do good, if we suffer for what is right, if we keep a clear conscience, if we ask for forgiveness, we are blessed.  It’s these “if we” statements that can help us get through life focused on Him. 

When you are faced with a difficult situation, if we pray God will listen. When life happens and we want to give up, if we turn to God He will comfort us.  When words are thrown at us and we don’t know how to respond, if we seek God’s counsel and keep a clear conscience God will give us the words to say or the self control to not say anything at all. 

When we make a mistake, if we seek forgiveness, we will be forgiven.  If we look at life through the eyes of Jesus, peace will come.  And if you spend time with God at Starbucks or wherever, He will come and you will be blessed.

He will lift you up

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I just love the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  The first sentence in the first chapter says, “It’s not about you”.  This phrase sent my mind on a journey of learning to trust in my Lord more than I ever had before.  For months that phrase was stuck in my thoughts teaching me in every area of my life how it can be about God and not about me. 

Life is more enjoyable when you live it being about God and not about yourself.  Being consumed with troubles and trying to figure it out for yourself is far more complicated then giving it to God and seeing it through His perspective.  When words and actions hurt, praying through it and staying humble outweighs sinking into depression or making hasty emotional decisions. 

It’s cloudy on this day at Starbucks, but it reminds me that God is good, all the time.  He is good when the grey cloud is hovering over our head and He is good when the sun is shining brightly.  Cast your anxiety on Him, He is worth it.

Harmony

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Each week at Starbucks, ice water is part of my order.  Recently, a cashier remembers that I want water even when I forget to order it.  Most of them now know that I like my scone warmed up on a plate with a fork. . . . 

1 Peter 3:8 says "live in harmony" thinking of that on global terms is overwhelming.  I’m sure we would agree that it would be next to impossible.   But, living in harmony in our world, with the people around us, that is possible.  You may be thinking, but you don’t know my sister-in-law! But God does, He knows everyone we know and He still asks us to live in harmony, be sympathetic and love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Sometimes we just don’t know where they are coming  from, we haven’t walked in their shoes.  And, sometimes they are just wired differently and can be hard to connect with.  We can’t change anyone, but we are responsible for our own actions and responses to difficult people.   

. . . this group of employees work more in harmony than I have seen in the past at this particular Starbucks and that leads to treating the customers better too.  Harmony, it’s a good thing.