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  • Justin Brownlee
    • Apr 24, 2020
    • 2 min read

Being Present > Being Perfect


Has your life slowed down at all? Our current situation is causing me to realize that we seem to always be on the go. Our generation and our country seems to follow that way of life as well. But it's not just our generation. Past generations lived the same struggle. Simon and Garfunkel's 1966 hit "Feelin' Groovy" begins, "Slow down, you move too fast; you got to make the morning last."

Smart phones, kitchen appliances, and the latest technology help us complete tasks quicker. But instead of investing the time we get back into each other, we simply squeeze more into every day.

Israel's King Solomon wrote, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he [God] grants sleep to those he loves" (Psalm 127:2).

This isn't an attack on the hustle, it's a warning against addiction to work. It's a warning against constantly chasing the next project, the next assignment, the next bonus, the next promotion.


Solomon had a kingdom to rule, yet he affirmed the need for balance. Jesus likewise told people, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Rest provides balance.

Granted, it's hard to disengage from work when we manage our schedules and email on our cell phones. We have massive amounts of information available at our fingertips, so why wait? We want what we want, when we want it, and it's now.

However, we need to ask ourselves, "What am I not doing so I can get on my phone right now?" Often, we're temporarily disengaging with those in our home or with those across the lunch table. We sacrifice being fully present with someone so we can complete a task for ourselves or for someone else.

When we give ourselves space throughout the day, we're able to be present to the Holy Spirit and to the people around us: family, roommates, coworkers, and neighbors. We're able to enjoy where we are rather than rushing to the next big thing.

Today's Reflection:

  • What would the people who know you best say about your pace of life? Are you brave enough to ask them?

  • What intentional step can you take over the next few days to be fully present in your most significant relationships?

 

At Anchor Church, we exist to love and lead one another with the hope of Jesus. We hope this devotional is an encouragement and an inspiration.



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  • Justin Brownlee
    • Apr 22, 2020
    • 2 min read

Reconciliation Requires Repentance


Yesterday we talked about winning when we forgive and the power of reconciliation. Today we take a look at why reconciliation is necessary.

Nothing ever really feels right the morning after a big fight. It doesn't matter who you blew up at... your roommate, your spouse, or your kid, the tension in the air is unmistakable. Repairing a relationship often takes more than simply saying "I'm sorry" and moving on. Real reconciliation requires repentance. Repentance requires some sort of change. Proverbs 28:13 says, "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

Nothing gets resolved by pretending everything is fine, but expressing genuine remorse and taking those steps to make it right. That is how reconciliation begins. It takes one person to repent, but two people to reconcile. The person who has been hurt has a choice to make as well: Will you choose to forgive? Bitterness is empowering for a moment. After all, who doesn't like the feeling of being right? But bitterness will destroy a relationship if we give it a home within our homes. Holding onto bitterness and refusing to forgive is one common way we repay evil for evil (Romans 12:17). The Bible challenges us to be peacemakers. "... as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). We can't make someone else repent, but we can choose to forgive. That part of peacemaking is entirely up to us. Reconciliation is focused on restoring broken relationships, not approving of someone's sin. It's acknowledging the sin and choosing to repent... to change. It,s seeing someone's vulnerability and choosing to forgive. And when both sides participate willingly, it's a perfect picture of what Jesus did for us.

Today's Reflection:

  • How does conflict get resolved in your home? Or, does it?

  • Where trust is deeply broken, restoration is a process - sometimes, a lengthy one. Is there anyone you need to take a step toward today?

 

At Anchor Church, we exist to love and lead one another with the hope of Jesus. We hope this devotional is an encouragement and an inspiration.



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  • Justin Brownlee
    • Apr 21, 2020
    • 2 min read

Winning is Forgiving


What makes a good marriage? One where everyone agrees? There is an assumption that a good marriage is one where you always agree.


A happy family is one where no one loses their temper or gets on anyone else's nerves. But this is not reality.

Reality is that if put a bunch of broken people under one roof, someone's going to get hurt. It’s not a matter of if you'll disagree, but when and for how long.

When we give our lives to Jesus, He gives us so much in return - forgiveness from sin, freedom from our past, access to God, a full life on earth, and eternal life in the age to come.

Jesus also entrusts us with specific responsibilities. Reconciliation is one of them.

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations. As believers, we get to share the good news that through Jesus we can be reconciled to God. The world around us won't believe in that Good News of reconciliation unless they see it in us first.

This is one reason we're to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with each other and forgiving one another as the Lord forgave us (Colossians 3:12-14).

When we get this right at home, we show the world what's possible, and we discover a level of intimacy in our relationships that we didn't know was possible.


Today's Reflection:

  • Do you find it easy or difficult to forgive others? Why is that?

  • Is there anyone in your house that you're at odds with right now? How can you pursue reconciliation today?

 

At Anchor Church, we exist to love and lead one another with the hope of Jesus. We hope this devotional is an encouragement and an inspiration.



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