The ladies here have gone shopping for clothes today. Joel and I opted out of that experience. He and I hung out at the house here together today. I told Joel I would play a game with him that he and I have never played together as a "first." Well, that was a bit harder than we thought because we've played most games that we have here. Joel found the Mousetrap game and we decided to play it.
Without too many details, the object of the game was to knock a little marble off a perch and knock down pieces of "cheese" with it. When you get 10 pieces of cheese, you win. You roll a dice to see where you launch your little marble from and you can cause your opponent to lose a turn. As usual with these games, the youngest goes first. That means I'm usually last around here. Despite going last every time, I did pretty well.
We had a lot of fun playing Mousetrap. Most of the fun came from us goofing around with each other. The game is just a setting for us to have fun together. When two guys play a game where you get to knock stuff down, that's always fun. I asked Joel what the best part of the game was to him. He said, "I got to hit stuff."
Joel setting up the game
Joel found another use for the border; a picture frame
I thought about this idea of winning by knocking the cheese down. In life, the way you win is by building each other up and not knocking each other down. I think many people forget that in the busyness and business of life. We can easily turn life into a competition. I want my company (or church) to do better than someone else's. I want my bank account to be bigger than someone else's. I want to watch my show or do what I want instead of what someone else wants. True winning in life is found in loving people and that means building them up with love and encouragement.
A lot of people get beat down by life. Things come into their life like an illness, a cranky boss, misunderstandings in the family, financial problems, and the list could go on. Many put a smile on their face, but they feel beat down. As followers of Jesus, we want to build people up with love and encouragement. We want to point them to the One that they can lean on and find grace and help in their time of need. We may never know how much a smile, hug, kind text, or act of service can mean to someone. We don't have to; we are to do those things because we love Jesus. The way we can show our love for Jesus in practical ways here is by serving other people. 2 Corinthians 4:5 says, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake." If you don't read that verse carefully, you'll miss that Paul said that for Jesus' sake (for His glory) he was other people's servant. That's pretty strong.
This reminded me of a poem I heard years ago. This is not deep theology but it is a decent reminder, especially since tomorrow is church day.
Ten little Christians, standing in a line, one disliked the pastor, then there were nine.
Nine little Christians stayed up very late, one slept too late on Sunday, then there were eight.
Eight little Christians on their way to Heaven, one took the low road, then there were seven.
Seven little Christians chirping like some chicks, one disliked the music, then there were six.
Six little Christians seemed very much alive, but one lost his interest, then there were five.
Five little Christians pulling for heaven’s shore, but one stopped to rest then there were four.
Four little Christians each busy as a bee; one got her her feelings hurt, then there were three.
Three little Christians knew not what to do, one joined the sporting crowd, then there were two.
Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done; differed with each other, then there was one.
One little Christian, can’t do much ’tis true; brought his friend to Sunday School — then there were two.
Two earnest Christians, each won one more; that doubled the number, then there were four.
Four sincere Christians worked early and worked late; each one another, then there were eight.
Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before, in just a few short weeks, we’d have 1,024!
See if you can find someone to build up today and tomorrow.
Looking to build others up in the abundant life
Barry
3 things I thank God for today
1. Playing games with Joel
2. Jesus came to seek and save the lost
3. Ability to be able to call people in the phone
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