Manners Matter

Most of the calls to our house phone are from tele-marketers and other sales persons. People who know us have access to our private numbers, through our mobile devices. With few exceptions, those who call the house phone begin by asking for a family member by first name only, or last name only. I recently received a call for my daughter, from someone who gave only my adult daughter's first name. No name given by the caller.

When I responded with "_____who?" the person failed to identify himself or leave a message. He said he'd try again later, then hung up.While understanding that he's trying to control the conversation, whatever happened to manners? Why didn't the caller first identify himself, before asking for my daughter?

Why am I saying all of this? We're living in a time where manners matter; good manners are an endangered species. A course in (good) manners would do people of all ages much good-besides what it would help. You get the point.

As a Christian I represent the Living God and His Kingdom, here on Earth. Although certainly not perfect I strive to be polite towards people of all ages, whether on the phone or in person. It's good for both them and myself: them because I'm showing respect; myself because showing good manners is another opportunity to walk in love-even when my feeling don't, well, feel like it. People like being on the receiving end of good manners.

Showing good manners is a subtle way to demonstrate the life of God through me. It's subtle, because I'm using right words and actions without being preachy. How many times have Christians been rude, unmannerly-even vulgar, only to be (rightfully) embarrassed when the other person(s) found out that Mr Rude or Ms. Potty Mouth is a Christian? Ouch!

I don't believe that this type of behavior leaves a good impression, or pleases God, do you?

As a child I was taught to identify myself when calling someone. I work at doing this today. Why? Because manners matter, starting with me.

In what ways could good manners open opportunities for sharing the Gospel?

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2016-2024

You and God Make a Majority

Being in the majority is not always right, but it's a good thing when what's right is in the majority. When someone gains the majority of votes in a campaign, it means that one person received more votes than the other person (s). It doesn't necessarily mean that the winner is right. Can you say Benito Mussolini ? How about Joseph Stalin? God is All Powerful, Ever Present, and All Wise. Pretty good combination of attributes. As Christians, God has become our very own Heavenly Father. His is dwelling/living/abiding in us in the Person of the Holy Spirit.Think about this: Everything God is is in us.

All of us, no matter who we are or where we live, have encountered situations where we've needed help. That doesn't make us weak or sissies, that makes us human. Everyone, at some point, faces moments where the circumstances facing them seem overwhelming. It's especially in these moments that we need to be reminded of the fact that we're never alone. In fact, in any given situation-no matter the circumstances-you and God make a majority.

You need to know that for yourself. You need to know that, no matter what is going on in your life-no matter what the devil is trying to throw at you (or already has thrown) the fact that God is with you, for you, and in you-makes all the difference in the world. It doesn't matter how big, strong, rich, educated, or smart you are, you are no match for the devil, by yourself, naturally speaking. But having God on the inside of you changes everything. You go from being in the minority to having a majority, the Holy Spirit in you making this so.

The Bible tells us, in I John 4:4 (towards the end of the Bible, not the Gospel of John) that greater is He (God the Holy Spirit) Who is in us than he (the devil and all of his demonic helpers) who is in the world. Having God living in us teaching, helping, strengthening, and being for us puts life in a new light. It assures us that we're never alone, without, or helpless when those challenging moments rear their ugly heads against us. Thank God!

Life is not a political campaign. Majority doesn't always make right. But with God working in and with you, right is a majority. And that makes all the difference in the world.

What difference is it-or will it make-knowing that God and you make a majority ? What are some areas in your life where this truth can be applied? How reassuring is it to know that you and God make majority-no matter what the circumstances "say?"

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2016-2024

To Purge or Prune, That is the Question

Most Christians, at some point in their Christian walk, have heard someone say something about purging and/or pruning. For some it was part of a sermon; for others it was the whole message. For those who have never heard anyone ever say anything about either p word, keep living; your time is coming. Over the years I've heard more than one message about pruning; many involving purging. Both words can be seen as being negative words, but with different purposes, with vastly different outcomes. Let's take a brief look at both words, their purposes, and when to incorporate each or both in our lives. Let's start with purging.

The word purge means to remove, get rid of; to eliminate. Applied to our walk with God it means to examine our lives and remove, get rid of, and eliminate those thoughts, words, actions, and areas contrary to God's Word. These would include areas such as hatred, anger, lust, unforgiveness, and fear. Definite areas of purging here.

To prune means to cut back, cut off, to reduce (such as branches on a tree or plant) to improve shape or growth. One exception to this definition is the use of prune juice in the encouragement of,  shall we say,  elimination. I'll move on.

Purging is for total elimination, while pruning is cutting back to bring new growth. Example: television time. There's nothing wrong with watching some television, including an occasional sports program. But if you're watching hour upon hour of television-even Christian programs-it's time to prune. It's time to cut back/reduce-time spent in front of those square inches of (mostly) entertainment and invest it in doing something of more value, like spending time in improving your own life. Spend more time working to achieving your dreams than watching others live out theirs. 

How about consistently praying for others, including your pastor, or learning what those Sunday School lessons were really about? What about calling someone to give encouragement?  Cleaning your office-especially if it's in your home-could prove helpful in more ways than one. Improving life, starting with a clean room.

There are lots of ways to spend an additional hour or so a day that's been freed up by pruning back time with that one-eyed monster some call a television. Look around. Ask God to show you areas needing to be pruned. Him showing you is the easy part; doing what God says takes more effort-but it's worth it.

I can think of a few areas in my life needing purging; more needing pruning. What about you? What are some areas in your life needing some pruning? Maybe, just maybe, there's something that requires actual purging. Ask God to show areas needing adjustment, then trust Him to guide you in the process of either pruning or purging.

 © Hubert Gardner Ministries 2016-2024

What's In Your Budget?

A lot of people budget nowadays. Whether by a family, couple, or single person, budgets help to monitor how/where household income is spent. What's in your budget? If you're like most "budgeters" things like food, mortgage or rent (if applicable), utilities, vehicle fuel/maintenance, as well as cleaning supplies are on your budget list.

When something is outside your budget, at least for the moment, one has to decide whether that item is really needed. If yes, something else will need to be reduced or eliminated. Easier said than done, right?

But there's another kind of budget I want us to think about: it's our words budget. What about our words? What about those everyday words and phrases we've been saying for ever so long? Do they need changing, or even  elimination? Can our words be budgeted to speak positively, eliminating what's negative-even harmful?

Words are important to all of us. We either encourage or discourage with what we say. We either lift up or tear down with what comes out of our mouth. No one makes us say what we do; it's our choice. Every time.

You may or may not have a financial budget to monitor where your money goes-how it gets spent. But everyone can budget what comes out of their mouth. Perhaps it's time to think about prioritizing what you say, leaving off words which are unhealthy for you. I'm including myself in this as well, as I need to improve in this area.

What are some ways you know to reduce, change, eliminate, or improve your "word" budget. What would you recommend others do that, if you've already done this, worked for you? Remember, what helps/helped you can help someone else.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2016-2024

What's Wrong With Simple?

The word simple carries with it different connotations, both positive and negative. Calling a person simple may refer to that person being unsophisticated, even stupid. Definitely a negative connotation. On the other hand, simple can mean easily understood, easy to do, uncomplicated. Positive simple. Somehow, life isn't so simple anymore. There's so much going on, so many things to do, too little time for the, well, simple things of life-depending on what you call simple. Who remembers planting flowers, vegetables, or watching the sunset? When's the last time you actually read a book, without doing anything else? Who still rides a bike for the fun of it? How often do stars command your attention, even though they're billions of miles away?

Jesus used simple things to convey spiritual truths. Corn, wheat, grass, flowers, sparrows, barley, and mustard seeds were all used to teach lasting principles of life. People from all walks of life understood what Jesus was teaching from Him using something simple as a means to convey truth.

God's Word, the Bible is, for the most part, simple. Profound? Yes. Life changing? That's God's plan. But still simple. And God wants us to build our lives on truths which are simple but, oh, so lasting. Confessing Jesus as Lord with our mouths and believing in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead for us (Romans 10: 9,10) are simple truths to position our lives for eternity. God, through John, desires that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul (mind, will, emotions) prospers (3 John 2). Simple truths which children easily believe. Adults sometimes take longer.

I know that there are things in the Bible which take time to learn. For the most part, however, God puts things in His Word which we can easily accept and build into our lives. Things like forgiving, serving others, and tithing. These take effort (at least on my part), but they're pretty simple, don't you think?

God's smart. If God wanted to be complicated, who would ever understand what He's saying? I'm so glad God comes down to our level to make things simple enough for people like me to understand. People like you and those next door to all of us.

What are some simple truths you have learned from the Bible which guide your life, even today? Who have you been able to share these truths with?

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2016-2024

Advantage: You

Tennis is scored by a series of points: love (0), 15, 30, 40, and game point. Six games make a set. Whoever wins a majority of sets wins the match. When both players have 40, a tie breaker system is used to determine the winner. Players take turns serving to their opponent, in the hopes of breaking the tie. When one player wins a point, the referee calls out "advantage"-and adds the person's last name. This continues until one player gains a two-point advantage, thus winning the game. In life God always holds the advantage over the devil. Through Christ, God has made provision for us to be like Him on the earth (I John 4:17): always holding an advantage over the devil in our own lives. When we use our God-given authority to resist the devil's ploys, God's advantage becomes ours. In every situation, in every area of life. This is good news for every Christian.

Life isn't a mere tennis match; it's far more real. To paraphrase what the world says, "stuff happens." Things happen for which there's just no apparent reason. That's why it's always good to know that we're not paupers or invalids; we're not helpless in this life. We're not orphans without purpose, provision, or protection. What God did through Jesus Christ is to our advantage. In the eyes of God we've already won. He see us as always victorious.

The advantage is always ours.

Do you know that God has given you the advantage in life? Do you know that God has tilted the playing field of life, so to speak, in your favor? Do you know what God has already provide for you, in Christ, as His child, to cause you to win in life? He's given you a new nature, delivered you from the devil's hold on your life, made you His very own child, given you His Word to grow in your walk with God, and put His love in you so you could love others, as well as yourself. Whatever "stuff" you've been through, God has made it possible for you to rise above it and enjoy life as a child of God, your Father.

In tennis terms this means game, set, and match are yours. In life this means winning over poverty, sickness and disease. That's to your advantage.

Advantage you.

Elsewhere on our website (hubertgardner.org) you'll find our LifeChange videos. These are basis truths to help you build and live an overcoming life, based on what God's Word says about who you are and what you have, in Christ, and what you can do, through Christ. It's about learning about the advantages of being God's child and living victoriously for Him, on this earth. Advantage God is now advantage you.

What is it like, knowing God's given you an advantage in life? What are some of the advantages God has given you over that person without Christ? Who do you know who needs to experience what you know? What are some ways you know to go about helping this to happen?

It May Be Time To Change Mirrors

Mirrors provide a reflection of how we look on the outside. We all use mirrors to check hair, ties, and general appearance. Personally, I'm glad for mirrors. Without them I would have missed the spot on my shirt, the hairs needing spraying or, worse, the unnecessary object in my nose. God has a mirror, in a manner of speaking. It's called His Word. Looking into God's Word allows us to see ourselves on the inside as God does, to get a glimpse of how we look in Christ, in God's sight. And we all look a whole lot better in Christ, than out. I know I do.

It's alright to have a good appearance, naturally speaking. More people ought to pay attention to how they look on the outside. At the same time, let's not forget to see ourselves in God's mirror, in the light of God's Word-especially the books of Romans through Revelation. These are the books written directly to Christians. It's here that we can get a true picture of how we look to God, and how He wants us to look before the world, those who are without Christ.

After all, we're His representatives in the earth, to those without Christ. And what better time to show Christ to the world than at Christmas?

If your only focus is your outward appearance, it may be time to change mirrors. It may be time see yourself in God's mirror, to focus more on how you look to God-and others, in Christ.

Where's Jesus?

A lot of people are curious about Jesus as a person. More and more people are looking for Jesus, each for his/her own reason(s). How would you respond to someone asking you the following question: "Where's Jesus." Or, how about, "How do I find Him?" First of all, Jesus isn't lost.  It's just a matter of knowing where He is, so people searching for Him can know where to look. To find where Jesus is, let's start by eliminating where He is not. Let's start with the Cross, where Jesus died, becoming sin for us. Is He there? No, He's not. The old wooden Cross is nowhere to be found. Not to take away from the significance of the Cross, but Jesus isn't there.

Next, let's stop by the tomb where Jesus was buried and left, following His resurrection from hell. As much as I'm thankful for the Tomb, Jesus isn't there either. No, Jesus isn't at the Cross. He's not anywhere near the Tomb. So, where's Jesus? Just exactly where is Jesus?

According to Scriptures (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 10:12) Jesus is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God Himself. Yes, Jesus went to the Cross. He went to hell in our place, paid the penalty for sin, was raised from the dead by God, then left the Tomb.

But Jesus isn't on the Earth. To get people to Jesus we need to take them to where He is right now, on His Heavenly Throne, not where He used to be. People looking for Jesus ought to be brought to where He's been for nearly 2,000 years, offering Life to all who call upon His Name. Once someone comes into a saving knowledge of Jesus, just come into His Presence, before His Throne, anytime at all. He's there.

In Heaven, on His Throne-that's where Jesus is. That's where you'll find Him, even at Christmas and on Easter. That's worth knowing.

Never forget where Jesus was; what He did for you. Where Jesus is now, however, is where we are to bring others-and come ourselves.