The When, What and Why of Behavior by Tedd Tripp The heart is the seat of motivation. Think about it in this way. Behavior has a when, a what, and a why. The when of behavior is the circumstance for the behavior. The what of behavior are things that one does or says. The why of behavior is the motive. Imagine that I arrive home and find a bike in the driveway. I have to get out of the car and move the bike. Irritated, I go inside to find the child who belongs to the bike. Imagine at this moment that you, the reader, come along and ask, “Tedd, why are you so angry?” I will probably say, “I […]
Yearly Archives: 2014
347 posts
“Why did I say that? I love my kids.” “I so sorry I said that, I didn’t mean it” “He makes so angry, I can’t stop thinking about it.” Sound familiar? These statements indicate a control problem, but maybe not in the way you are thinking. You see, it is not about you being in control. Rather, it is about whom you choose to be in control of your life. In Galatians 5 Paul tells you to walk by the Spirit, so that you will not gratify the desires of your flesh. If you desire the control of the Holy Spirit then you will eagerly pursue his fruit. (See Galatians 5:22-23) But if you listen to your flesh, God will […]
Clear the way for the Lord. The Lord has come and he will come again. Christmas marks the beginning of the end. The end of: Greed, Selfishness, Bigotry, Racism, Oppression, Immorality, Secularism, Corrupt leaders, Abuse, Anger, Hatred, Suffering, Heartbreak. Someone is saying, “Wait a minute! Haven’t you seen the news.” Yes, I have. But there is news that is better than what is on the cable, network or internet. It was announced in the heavens 2,000 years ago. The items on this list have been defeated by Jesus Christ. The good news is that the Lord will make his way through the spiritual wasteland of our planet. He makes a certain promise that one day there will be no more […]
Happy Holidays is the sensitive, politically correct, caring greeting to offer from Thanksgiving Day until Happy Holiday Day. After Happy Holliday Day then it is fine form to actually say Happy New Year. No one seems to be offended at the prospect of celebrating parties, drunkenness and the fleeting hope that next year will be better than this year. Of course saying Happy Thanksgiving is becoming problematic because someone might think you are thankful to the God of the Bible. Thus, to avoid to avoid confusion, giving offense and a possible lawsuit it is just easier to say Happy Holidays. Therefore, to offer a truly happy, non-offensive greeting all you have to do is to avoid the mention of anything […]
This is the season of gifts. From Thanksgiving to Christmas giving gifts dominates much of our lives. If no gifts were given many businesses would fail, many hearts would be broken, many faces would be sad. God made us to be gift givers. We are made in his image and he is the greatest gift giver of all. Last night, as I was driving home around 10:30, the sky was clear. I turned south onto a road that cuts across a large open field. Low in the southeastern sky was a magnificent moon rise. The Moon and Venus hung in space in a stunning display shouting the wonders of God’s glory. This is but one example of the gifts God […]
Things were falling apart in Israel, the northern kingdom that followed the ways of Jeroboam. The worship of God had been exchanged for the worship of convenience. The truth of God was exchanged for the pleasures of the flesh. The prophets of the Lord were exchanged for the prophets of Baal. The practice of purity was exchanged for debauchery and lewdness. The word of God was exchanged for human desires. Sound familiar? God’s message to Israel 2,800 years ago is the same for you today. As Psalm 2 says, The Lord laughs at those who think they are in control. The corrupt rule of man has been replaced with the Prince of Peace. In a world falling apart, Christ is […]
Being a parent is a consuming vocation. The unexpected and unplanned for circumstances just seem to keep on coming. In this mess, Christ can become distant, your life experience resembles being drawn into a swirling vortex. In Psalm 73, the psalmist had become overwhelmed with the seeming futility of following God. Survival mode had become his norm. He, too, was caught in the vortex. He, too, was thinking, I just can’t do this anymore. But here is the reality that the crush of daily life can obscure—Jesus is right there with you in the middle of the clutter of your life! Trusting Christ in the mess of life is what gives stability to your soul. He has brought together all […]
Seventy three years ago yesterday God changed everything, everywhere. The day after is not remembered with the same clarity as the day it all happened. December 7th, September 11th are dates burned into our minds and hearts. December 8th and September 12th, not so much. On these days after reality set in. Lives were altered all over the planet. Life was now different, it would never be the same. However, the most important day after, from a human perspective, is the day after the birth of Christ. After December 7th and September 11th everything was uncertain. But unlike these two dates the day after the advent meant that everything was now certain and sure. God had fulfilled his promise to […]
Jesus is the only constant in your life. What is only one thing in your life that you can count on? The faithfulness of Jesus Christ to carry out his Father’s will. Everything else is up for grabs. You and I may live as if there are other things that we can rely on, but to do so is foolish. Only God is faithful. It is what God does that matters. Like the disciples, we are often clueless about what matters in life. We forget that the only reliable relationship we have is the one we have with Christ. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, […]
Humility and power are seldom connected. Humility is associated with peace, passivity and keeping a low profile. A humble person is not considered a person to be feared. When your kids are out of control, humility is probably not the first thing you pray for. In our culture humility does not inspire awe. All of these thoughts about humility might be widely held. But they all are wrong. The most courageous, loved, feared and hated man ever to walk the face of the earth described himself as humble. This man began his life on earth in a stable because there was no room for him anywhere else. But while his birth was ignored by people the heavens above erupted with […]