Tag: WriterPonderings

Counting the Cost – Independence Day!

July 4, 2024 / Chiara

Have you ever heard the phrase, “What’s it going to cost me?” Usually, it’s associated with something like a big repair on a car. A car that may not be worth sinking another $1,000. In another case, it could be paying more for VIP seats at a concert or sports game. In these scenarios and others alike, you need to count the cost of what’s it going to take to have it, lose it, or sacrifice it.

I found this reading the other day in Luke 14:25-33. This example reflects upon someone building a tower and whether they have enough money and workers to finish the job. Well, I don’t think any of us are going to be building a tower anytime soon, but maybe this will help. When planning an international trip, doesn’t one research and figure out the cost of airfare, the hotel, the tours, food, etc., before actually booking that particular vacation? I sure hope so or else they’re in for a surprise.

The same principle could apply here. What is the cost of being in a certain circle of friends? Joining a team? Political party? Well, we know where the last one takes us. DIVIDED. Some people go with the flow and others live by a rigid schedule. Neither is correct as we know, “everything in moderation and not in extreme”. Here’s a good one. How about following Jesus? What is that cost? A preacher once said that following Jesus will not only cost you something; it will cost you everything! Your family, friends, maybe your job, and of course, your life, if it ever came to that. You can see in the last verse, verse 33, what Jesus says… “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Hmmm… ponder on that for a moment.

In another example of “Counting the Cost”, I found this scripture.

Reading through 2 Samuel 24, we see King David sin against God by taking a census of the people. He didn’t pray about it before but rather took it upon himself to go against God and follow his thoughts. We see that God’s anger is aroused against Israel and allows a plague to consume the people and 70,000 people perish. It was a judgment against David. In his remorse for forgiveness, he wishes to build an altar to sacrifice and offer burnt offerings to the Lord. He is given it freely by a man named, Araunah, but the King refuses and says he will not accept it freely, but rather buy it for a price because his disobedience to God had cost him the lives of the people of Israel and Judah. It is also why he didn’t want to have something that would cost him nothing.

Are we willing to live a life boldly for Jesus? Are we willing to stand up for what is right?

July 4^th, 2024 is upon us. Independence Day. As we celebrate this American holiday, never forget freedom has a cost. Just as being a Christian. I thank our Founding Fathers and all who have served this country.

When it’s my time to go, I want to make sure I’ve been a good and faithful servant for the One True King!

What’s this life gonna cost you?

The Parable of the Skinned Knee and the Band Aid

February 9, 2022 / Chiara

There was once a little girl named Patty. She was playing in her driveway when she fell and skinned her knee. Running inside with tears as big as grapes, she wailed as blood oozed down her left leg. Her mother, Annie, took her and held her until the rivulets turned to streaks on her rosy cheeks.

The mother looked at the bruised-up knee. There was a deep gash about an inch long. It was on the kneecap, and the blood was dark and thick. Patty studied her mom looking for any signs of concern. Annie aware of fearful big brown eyes watching her every move, remained calm.

“Okay,” she said, settling her daughter on the kitchen chair. “I’m going to get some cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide, ointment, and band-aids.”

Patty was scared and began to fidget. “Will it hurt?”

“A little, with some burning,” Annie consoled. “But, all of these things will help heal your cut.”

The mom cleaned the wound and placed a band-aid on it. “Now,” she said, “we don’t remove the band-aid, okay? It has to be covered to prevent infection.”

Patty’s eyes bulged. “What do you mean? We’re never going to remove the band-aid?”

Her mother smiled. “No, honey, I didn’t say that. We’re going to have to change it often, especially when we take baths, and we will clean it and put a brand new band-aid each time.”

The child bent her knee to inspect the bandage. “How long will that take, Mommy?”

Annie patted her daughter’s head, “Until your cut skin is attached together and no more blood is seeping out. We want to keep your blood inside your body, not outside on your skin!”

Patty giggled.

A couple of days passed and both mom and daughter kept with the cleaning and band-aid regime. Annie even bought colorful band-aids with cartoon characters on them to help little Patty understand not to remove the bandage.

A few more days passed and as the mom inspected the wound, she found that the skin was indeed joined together. No more gash! Happily, she explained to Patty, “Okay, we can now take off the band-aid.”

Patty, taken aback by this new change folded her arms. “I like the band-aids. I want to keep putting it on.”

Annie shook her head. “You don’t need it anymore. See,” she pointed at her daughter’s kneecap. “The cut is closed up. There is no blood anymore. There is no more need for a band-aid.”

Little Patty was alarmed. “What if it breaks open?”

Her mom grinned. “Your skin won’t ‘break open’. You’ll be okay.”

But, Patty wouldn’t have it. “No, I want it on!” The truth was she’d grown fond of the band-aids—liked the security of having one on, just in case. Frankly, she was frightened of having to remove the bandage altogether because it was a comfort to see it on her knee every day.

Annie sensing the rebellion and uncertainty in her daughter’s voice took a deep breath and said, “Honey, you’re going to have it let it breathe. It’s part of the healing process for any cuts and bruises. You can do it, I know you’re brave. Look how good you were to help yourself in healing your knee.”

Patty gazed at her mother. What would she do?

The moral of the story:

Where does your security lie?

Humans are creatures of habit. We cling to things: clothes, books, jewelry, and material items that give the illusion of protection, even holding onto hurtful memories of long ago. And, there’s nothing wrong with that, but there comes a time when those possessions and experiences need to be let go. The shedding of the old needs to begin and we need to breathe!

1 Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child I spoke like a child. I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways.

2 Timothy 1: 7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.

Love is Love versus Love is Loving in Truth

June 25, 2021 / Chiara

Love is love, but love is better when you love in truth.

I’ve made some observations lately on Love is Love. It’s made me think about things in a new perspective and I’d like to share those insights because it’s all I’ve seen on social media, T-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, temporary Facebook profiles, etc.

Love is…

But…

Dictionary.com defines Love as:

Noun

A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
Sexual passion or desire.

In my humble opinion, love is baggage.

You know why? Because humans love in different ways…and sometimes to get our way. Just look at the dictionary’s description: passionate affection, personal attachment, sexual passion, etc. These are biased reactions.

“If you loved me, than you would (fill in the blank)…”
“Please, please…do it for me.” You show them your puppy eyes. “I love you…”
“Do you know how much I love you?”
“Do you know the sacrifices I’ve had to make because of you?”

And the list can go on, can’t it?

We love the addicts because we think we can change them,
We love abusers because we’re afraid and believe what they’re doing is really okay,
We love to please people because we want to fit in even if don’t agree,
We love things more than people,
We love our phones more than people,
We love our pets more than our family members,
We love food,
We love the wrong things because we were never taught about real love,
Some don’t even know love because of their culture/religion,
Some have never experienced love and what it feels like, and live their life in an apathetic state.

The word “Love” is overused. Love has been overrated. The use of love has lost its luster. Love should be… Loving one another in truth because love is loving in truth.

Loving in “truth” to:

Love our best friend to tell her/him that what they are doing is wrong,
Love our spouse to tell him/her that they are hurting themselves, you, or others,
Love ourselves and accepting who we are because that is how God made you,
Love each other regardless of the color of one’s skin, gender, or political affiliation.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 puts it all in perspective for me. It is one of the most famous scriptures in the Bible for wedding ceremonies, but in reality, this is our greatest gift to one another.

I’ve attempted to break it down using my mortal mind, that is, how I’m interpreting this scripture passage. (I invite you to meditate on this on your own.)

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

(You can be the most successful person, but if it’s all fake and you don’t mean what you say, you’re really dead inside. )

²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

(You can be the best scientist, doctor, police officer and know how to solve problems and crimes, and come up with remedies for diseases, but go about your life without passion, care, or regard for humanity, then you’re just going through the motions.)

³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

(These are the church-goers, religious types, and elites who only show up for presence and posterity, and not worship. Then when Monday comes around, they’re back to sinning.)

⁴Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

(A true Jesus follower will be persecuted and mocked all their life because they refuse to confirm to worldly things. They are not jealous and pompous, and will rejoice in another’s blessings, and put others first.)

⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

(A believer of the Lord will be humble. Will not boast upon themselves, and is not easily angered. He/she will always believe in the goodness of others. )

⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(A believer cannot rejoice in the evils of the world, even if they’ve become isolated or ostracized from society, they are willing to make that sacrifice, and not deter from living righteously in the eyes of the Lord. They are also hopeful that bad circumstances can change for the better, giving all the glory to God.)

⁸Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

(All these things of this world will pass. Love can change a heart. Love endures forever.)

⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

(We can plan all things on our own, but God’s plans are better and sometimes He will put us in situations to bear our cross and lean on Him for help.)

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

(Reading the Bible is a growing process. What you learned when you were a child can change when you become an adult. At some point, we have to grow up and take responsibility for our learning. And one of the main learnings that has remained constant in understanding God, is that He loves us. We need to believe that with all our heart. We learn about ourselves by loving others.)

¹³And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(It’s a simple act of faith and hope to learn to love one another. We must love in the truth of loving others.)