MOIRAJO
  • Weekly Devotionals
  • Weekly Message
  • Sermon Podcasts
  • Links
  • Contact

Conquering Envy

1/31/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture



"You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:2-3"



LISTEN TO:   Vashawn Mitchell, "Nobody Greater"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyRv-tbGJ1Y


Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.  
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "


As part of our 2018 resolution to become more Christ-like, we continue our walk through Paul's inspired passage on love from his first letter to the Corinthians.  Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts in the world.


Paul now tells us what love is NOT.  Love is not envious.


In envy you want what you never had. In jealousy, you are threatened with the loss of something you have (or thought you had). Envy is a two-person emotion; I want what you have. Jealousy is the three-person love triangle, I want who you have. Jealousy  can also mean "watchful, " "anxiously suspicious, " "zealous, " or "expecting complete devotion." The last is normally applied to God.


We all feel envious or jealous occasionally. That's normal. But holding on to the feeling of envy/jealousy is a serious problem.  If we don’t let go of envy it causes us to be bitter and resentful, potentially disrupting relationships.


Envy (and jealousy) is often associated with the color green and is portrayed as 'the green-eyed monster'.  Green is a color associated with sickness and the skin of people turns yellow or green tinge when they are seriously ill. Even the color of many unripe fruits are yellow or green. Have you ever tasted a green banana? Ugh!  In the ancient Greek theory of medicine, which long governed medical treatment, Envy (and jealousy) was considered to result in an excess of bile, which would give a pale-greenish cast to the skin. This idea remained popular for centuries.  It famously appears in Shakespeare’s "Othello," when Lago refers to jealousy (envy) as a "green-eyed" monster.  Shakespeare, in the “Merchant of Venice”, denoted how jealously could destroy life.


No wonder God wanted us to take envy seriously when he gave the Ten Commandments. Envy, unchecked, ruptures relationships and community.   
 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” (Ex. 20: 1-17; Deut. 5:4-21)


The nasty bile of envy (jealousy) also eats away at our spirits.  It destroys our peace of mind. Envy is a spiritual cancer: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30).


We can be envious of many things.  The beautiful house a neighbor has. The fine clothing and style of another.  The intelligence and wit of a friend.  Bank accounts. Travel exploits. Professional accomplishments.  That your friend’s kid got into a better preschool (or college) than yours. The list can go on. Once we give Envy a foothold, it will find more and more things to feel dissatisfied about.  Envy’s aim is to turn us into that nasty greenish bile, that people around us can “spiritually taste” and feel – and flee from.  This is not God’s will for us!!


What can we do to conquer envy (jealousy)?
 
1. Count your blessings: Everyday. Every hour, if you have to.  Health, The home you live in, the fact that you can afford three square meals a day. What you have overcome. Family. Friends. Be present to what you have rather than living in another "might have" world. (“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. .” Ephesians 5:3-4) 

2. Learn to be at peace with yourself:  If you live in the Western world, chances are that you are better off than everyone except royalty was even a hundred years ago. You've got access to exotic foods that even kings and queens would never have seen as recently as a century ago. You don't have to grow your own food or physically battle with others to keep your human rights. Be grateful about this!  So keep the focus on yourself, where you have come from, and not on comparing yourself to other’s journey (“Submit to God and be at peace with him, in this way prosperity will come to you” Job 22:21)



3. Turn the envy around: When your feeling envy, learn to give thanks for the people or circumstances you envy. Remember God promises to meet your needs: … (You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Phil 4:19-20):  So keep your focus always on God, and not on what others have.  In everything give thanks.


4. Do an envy inventory.  If you find yourself caught, seek help from a mature believer, a pastor, from scripture and in prayer: 
     Do you congratulate those who succeed?
·         Do you feel good, bad or neutral about such people?
·         Do you worry that you may look bad in comparison?
·         Do you find yourself obsessing about another person's success?
·         Do you feel good when the other person fails?
·         Do you get upset when you don't get your own way?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1435290


If envy or jealousy rears its head, Deal with it quickly.  Remember: we are created to love, and love isn't envious.   So let us confess our sins and struggles.  Let go. Let it pass. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and following his way of service, -- our way out of the madness of envy.
 

PRAY: "O God, cure me of envy."


"You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:2-3"



LISTEN TO:   Vashawn Mitchell, "Nobody Greater"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyRv-tbGJ1Y


Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.  
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "


As part of our 2013 resolution to become more Christ-like, we continue our walk through Paul's inspired passage on love from his first letter to the Corinthians.  Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts in the world.


Paul now tells us what love is NOT.  Love is not envious.


In envy you want what you never had. In jealousy, you are threatened with the loss of something you have (or thought you had). Envy is a two-person emotion; I want what you have. Jealousy is the three-person love triangle, I want who you have. Jealousy  can also mean "watchful, " "anxiously suspicious, " "zealous, " or "expecting complete devotion." The last is normally applied to God.


We all feel envious or jealous occasionally. That's normal. But holding on to the feeling of envy/jealousy is a serious problem.  If we don’t let go of envy it causes us to be bitter and resentful, potentially disrupting relationships.


Envy (and jealousy) is often associated with the color green and is portrayed as 'the green-eyed monster'.  Green is a color associated with sickness and the skin of people turns yellow or green tinge when they are seriously ill. Even the color of many unripe fruits are yellow or green. Have you ever tasted a green banana? Ugh!  In the ancient Greek theory of medicine, which long governed medical treatment, Envy (and jealousy) was considered to result in an excess of bile, which would give a pale-greenish cast to the skin. This idea remained popular for centuries.  It famously appears in Shakespeare’s "Othello," when Lago refers to jealousy (envy) as a "green-eyed" monster.  Shakespeare, in the “Merchant of Venice”, denoted how jealously could destroy life.


No wonder God wanted us to take envy seriously when he gave the Ten Commandments. Envy, unchecked, ruptures relationships and community.   
 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” (Ex. 20: 1-17; Deut. 5:4-21)


The nasty bile of envy (jealousy) also eats away at our spirits.  It destroys our peace of mind. Envy is a spiritual cancer: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30).


We can be envious of many things.  The beautiful house a neighbor has. The fine clothing and style of another.  The intelligence and wit of a friend.  Bank accounts. Travel exploits. Professional accomplishments.  That your friend’s kid got into a better preschool (or college) than yours. The list can go on. Once we give Envy a foothold, it will find more and more things to feel dissatisfied about.  Envy’s aim is to turn us into that nasty greenish bile, that people around us can “spiritually taste” and feel – and flee from.  This is not God’s will for us!!


What can we do to conquer envy (jealousy)?
 
1. Count your blessings: Everyday. Every hour, if you have to.  Health, The home you live in, the fact that you can afford three square meals a day. What you have overcome. Family. Friends. Be present to what you have rather than living in another "might have" world. (“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. .” Ephesians 5:3-4) 

2. Learn to be at peace with yourself:  If you live in the Western world, chances are that you are better off than everyone except royalty was even a hundred years ago. You've got access to exotic foods that even kings and queens would never have seen as recently as a century ago. You don't have to grow your own food or physically battle with others to keep your human rights. Be grateful about this!  So keep the focus on yourself, where you have come from, and not on comparing yourself to other’s journey (“Submit to God and be at peace with him, in this way prosperity will come to you” Job 22:21)



3. Turn the envy around: When your feeling envy, learn to give thanks for the people or circumstances you envy. Remember God promises to meet your needs: … (You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Phil 4:19-20):  So keep your focus always on God, and not on what others have.  In everything give thanks.


4. Do an envy inventory.  If you find yourself caught, seek help from a mature believer, a pastor, from scripture and in prayer: 
     Do you congratulate those who succeed?
·         Do you feel good, bad or neutral about such people?
·         Do you worry that you may look bad in comparison?
·         Do you find yourself obsessing about another person's success?
·         Do you feel good when the other person fails?
·         Do you get upset when you don't get your own way?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1435290


If envy or jealousy rears its head, Deal with it quickly.  Remember: we are created to love, and love isn't envious.   So let us confess our sins and struggles.  Let go. Let it pass. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and following his way of service, -- our way out of the madness of envy.
 

PRAY: "O God, cure me of envy."

0 Comments

Kindness Resolution for 2018

1/16/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture


​
"And be ye kind one to another...   Ephesians 4:32"





  LISTEN TO:  
​
Glen Campbell, "Try a Little Kindness"  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2H-GiiDfnE

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.  
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "


As part of our 2018 resolution to become more Christ-like, we walk through Paul's inspired passage on love.  Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts in the world.

Today Paul tells us that Love is Kind.  Kindness is also considered a fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22).   So kindness is a virtue that must be put into practice and deliberately tended to in order for it to mature in us.   

There is some folklore that kindness is the lost 11th of the 10 commandments: "Thou shall be merciful and kind to all creatures that roam the fruits of thy land."  To be kind is to treat others with care, consideration and compassion.  The root of the word suggests to "serve usefully."  "Loving -kindness" is a word used about 30 times in the Old Testament, exclusively for God. God takes the initiative to help his people, to save them, forgive them, lead them, care for them. Loving-kindness speaks of the fundamental nature of God, revealed to us in Jesus.  Jesus has compassion on the crowds, and feeds them.  Jesus reaches out to tax collectors and sinners.  He heals, calms the storms; Jesus teaches us in parables to be kind, like the "Good Samaritan, the Good Shepherd, or the Workers in the Vineyard, what kindness looks like.  Kindness is a key active ingredient in love.


The great thing about kindness is that we can start easy.  Kindness is within our reach.  As we act kindly, we not only make someone else feel good, our hearts are transformed as well; we become changed into the mindset of Christ.  A Jewish saying would suggest:: "The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G-d, and deeds of loving-kindness."

Practice kindness daily.   Here is a list of kind deeds.  Everyday pick one. Or let it inspire you to something similar.   The important thing is to go out of our way to be kind.  See what a difference it makes!! 

Buy or prepare a meal for a homeless person.* smile :. )* call someone to tell her/him  that you love her/him.* write a handwritten note. *knit a beanie or blanket for a homeless person.* put change in the washer/dryer for the next person.* fill an expired or about to expire parking meter.*  buy a little extra grocery for the local food pantry.* pay the toll for the person behind you.* instead of just thinking it, compliment someone. *ask someone “how are you?” mean it. and listen.* make some baked goods for your neighbor(s).* hug your loved ones for no particular reason. *make breakfast for your partner or housemate.* call someone you haven’t talked to in a while.* give someone a flower …or a dozen.* offer someone else your seat on the bus/train.*  visit a senior center or nursing home.* pick up trash.* donate one of your favorite possessions.* give someone a fruit basket.* volunteer for a charity.* build a home with Habitat for Humanity.* pay for the person behind you at the drive-thru.* pick up the tab for a random table at a restaurant.* put $10 on a random gas pump.* buy flowers for the cashier at the grocery store.* buy an extra umbrella on a rainy day.* give your waiter or waitress a huge tip.* don’t lose any opportunity to say: i love you. *leave a funny or kind note in an unexpected place.* read to a child. *rake (or shovel a path) someone’s yard.* be a courteous driver.* hold the elevator. *practice patience.* refrain from gossiping; speak well of others. *act as if the glass were half full.* let someone get ahead of you in line.* listen intently. *babysit for a single parent.*  be bold in your appreciation of life around you. *compliment a stranger sincerely.* run an errand for someone.* donate your professional services. *invite someone who is alone over for dinner.* write a letter of appreciation.* donate blood.* make time. *speak gently.* laugh heartily.* share your last bit.* one time, stop everything to help someone else...
 

PRAY: "God of Loving-kindness , nudge me throughout this day to be kind."










  

0 Comments

Loving in the New Year

1/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture




 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1"






LISTEN TO:  
​Mark Schultz, Love Has Come  
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZOMxPTXQuA



January is often a time of resolutions.  To make changes in how we live. Getting in shape, losing weight, stop smoking  -- all top the lists. Most studies show that most resolutions don't make it a week, let alone to February. Hard as we try (or don't try!) we fail. We can sympathize with the Apostle Paul when he bemoans: 

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:15)."

We need support and guidance to change, whether its a running buddy or a friend who holds us accountable to our goals.  While ultimately it depends on us, we need to remind ourselves we can't make major changes alone.  We need  support, information, and most of all, we need God.  

We realize that while becoming physically healthy is an important resolution, becoming spiritually mature is critical.  For this we truly need God's grace.


Our journey of faith begins with the truth: God is Love, and Jesus is Love Incarnate. God loves us, just as we are.  He  fashions us to be a Child of Love.  This means nothing unless open our hearts, take this in, and submit to God's love to go about transforming us.

 Prayer, studying the scriptures,  worshiping give us an important  foundation to understand God's love.  But Love must be practiced and put into action.  So daily we face the challenges and joys, and we have a choice: will I love through this situation or  respond negatively?  God helps us by giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us to chose love.

So let our 2018 Resolution  be to love more deeply and selflessly.  Let us help each other -- and let us being by meditating on Paul's inspired words:


" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "


I would challenge us to mediate on these words, every day for a month, as part of our 2018 resolution. See what develops. what actions we are led to perform, in the name of Love.









PRAY: "God, now is the time. Make us loving, as Jesus showed us. Show us how to help each other reach this goal."






0 Comments

    Author

    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    Bible,  Living life on life's terms, spirituality

    RSS Feed

© Moira Ahearne 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.