Clearing up the confusion...

Someone sent me this brief scenario:

"During our lunch break one day in college, a friend of mine sneezed.

"In my culture, if you sneeze once, that means someone is missing you," my Chinese friend Lin told her. "If you sneeze twice, someone's saying nasty things about you behind your back. And if you sneeze three times, someone is speaking kindly about you."

"What if you sneeze four times?" asked our friend Jon.

"That," said Lin, "means you've caught a cold."

We have our own quirks too. In Bolivia, if it’s raining while the sun is still shining, it means an old lady is getting married. If by chance you end up with two forks on your plate, you’ll be getting married. If you give a knife set as a gift, for sure your relationship with that person will be severed. (Better to pay, at lease one centavo for the item. Then it’s not considered a gift and the relationship won’t suffer.)

Bizarre, isn’t it - how culture hands down crazy quirks that would confuse anyone else?

Speaking of confusion, I recently became aware of the correct use of the words "from" and "for."

Now before you roll your eyes, and wrinkle your nose, let me explain. There’s a point. Really.

I always prayed, sought God’s will using the word, "from." I diligently and earnestly sought what I could get from the Lord. What blessings I might receive from Him. What options I’d see come from Him. And even what unexpected surprise I’d enjoy from Him.

Gulp. A self-serving gal, wasn’t I?

I changed the "from" to "for." Here’s what I mean.

I resolved to look for ways that would bring pleasure to the Lord. Perhaps in an attitude of gratitude. Seek what I could accomplish for His purpose. How to find areas in my life that would be used for His glory and honor.

No more hunger for what I can get from Him to cater to my plans, my dreams or whims. But rather do all for Him…simply for Him.

So now, rather than dream about being a prolific author or great speaker, having my writing all over cyberspace and on publications all over creation, I’ve changed my tune.

I now hunger to use all God has given me for His glory and honor…phew! What a sense of freedom it is to change your motives from self-serving to seeking God’s pleasure.

Don’t you just love how bold, forthright, and direct James is when he speaks his mind? He says, "And when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

And he continues: "Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:2 and 6:2).

I pray you also find the freedom to lead your life seeking ways to serve God and please Him.

Janet