How to Be Better

November 16, 2024 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 NLT

Better. Most of us desire to be better or do better, but sometimes we compare ourselves to others and, whether we admit it or not, we think we are better.

The Dicionary.com definition of better is this:

of superior quality or excellence
morally superior; more virtuous
of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable:

Am I really better than someone else? Am I of superior quality or morally superior? Am I preferable? Let me put it this way: Does God prefer me over someone else? You and I are well aware that the true answer is no, but there are times when we may painfully feel like God prefers someone else or pridefully feel He prefers us. Ouch either way!

When I think of myself or my ideas or my convictions as better than someone else, I am not thinking like Jesus. Jesus showed us the way of love, a better way (1 Corinthians 12:31 CEB)

The better way is the way of humility, kindness, gentleness and patience (Col 3:12-14). The better way is love which elevates the needs of others above my own. Better is serving. In a cultural climate of division, we can do better. We can be better. Division comes from thinking that my way is better and because my way is better, I am better.

Called BY God FOR God

June 10, 2023 Cathleen Zahradnik

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2: 10

It is an overwhelmingly profound thought to realize that I have been called by God Himself and that His first calling is that I should be His. Even as I begin to absorb that truth and structure my thinking around it, I am still aware that in that calling God has a purpose for me to fulfill. A purpose, a calling that is not the definition of my significance, but an outflowing of the significance I possess because of Who has called me. He has called me to be His and to accomplish His purposes through me. I am not only called BY God, I am called FOR God.

This whole calling business isn't really as complicated as we make it out to be. We spend so much time trying to figure out what we are supposed to do. We ask the questions:

What did God make me to do?

What do I like?

What am I good at?

What can I make money at?

Will I be successful?

What will make me happy?

Will what God wants me to do make me happy?

What if I make the wrong choice?

We get so focused on our own self-fulfillment—our own success or failure—that we kind of miss the point. You and I haven't received a calling so that we can be fulfilled or happy, although those things are likely to follow as we answer the call.

What Defines Me?

May 27, 2023 Cathleen Zahradnik

It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Ephesians 1:11 MSG

What criteria do you use to define your own existence? That’s a big question! Do you know the answer?

How do you find out who you are? What criteria do you use? Is it what other people say or have said about you? Is it public acclamation or your accomplishments? Is it the opportunities that you may have received or not received? Perhaps you define yourself by your good behavior or religious activity. I can say that was my story. Yet, none of those things are what God uses to define us.

In this grand adventure of life with God, we often think of our life with God as what we do FOR Him— our devotional activity, our acts of service. But what God really wants from us is to understand that our life WITH Him isn't really about those things. What it IS about is knowing and living in our identity in Christ.

Ephesians 1: 11 in The Message translation of the Bible says that "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for." God wants you and me to be defined by our relationship with Him rather than all the other things that we seek out to tell us who we are.

As you consider what defines you, ask yourself, “Am I finding out who I am in Christ?” What criteria are you using to define yourself?

Who Am I?

December 17, 2022 Cathleen Zahradnik

'Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ' Colossians 3:12

You stand in front of the mirror. The face looking back at you is familiar, but how do you describe the person that you see? What defines you? Who are you? How do you answer that question, my friend?

That may be an easy question, but then again it may not be. My younger self was defined by the expectations of other people. My greatest fear was making the wrong decision or disappointing someone else. My identity was based on avoiding conflict. I didn’t really know who I was. I let what other people thought define me. I was afraid to voice my opinion. Afraid to express my own needs and wants. Afraid of failing. Afraid of rejection. Afraid to be me and unsure of who that person was.

Do you know who you are? A strong sense of identity will settle you. You won’t be as heavily influenced by others or by the media. Knowing who you are brings peace and confidence. You are who God says you are. Do you know who God says you are?

What’s The Great Exchange?

May 15, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.“ ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you tried to go clothes shopping since the 2020 pandemic turned our world upside down? Like many other practices we took for granted, clothes shopping has become a more complicated adventure. I have been in need of some replacement items and have been frustrated to find that many fitting rooms are closed, which will cause me to turn around and leave the store. The first time I realized this I had an armful of things to try on!

I decided to try to purchase my replacements at a store near my home. They were handling the pandemic fitting room closure by loosening their exchange policy. Buy the items, take the clothes home to try on, return or exchange items that don’t fit or you don’t want. I tried it once, but the items looked better on the store hangers, so I got my money back. Sorry. That kind of continuous exchange won’t work for me! I don’t have time to keep running back and forth to the store! I’ll go somewhere that does have fitting rooms open or wait until I can try things on!

The goal of an exchange is to come home with something better than you went in with, right? What’s going on in your life right now that you would like to exchange for something better? Worries? Uncertainty about the future? Strained relationships? Physical challenges?

Exchanges. Have you ever thought about the exchange Jesus made for you and for me? The goal of His exchange was not so that He could get something better, but so that you and I could gain something infinitely better: A restored relationship with God right now and eternity with Him in heaven! That’s a great exchange for us, but not for Jesus. He gave up His place and position so that He could give humanity a new place and position. Christ gave up everything that was His so that you and I could have everything that is now ours. Think for a moment about the exchanges that He made for your benefit.

What’s The Fruit?

February 6, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever received one of those flower-arrangement style fruit baskets? If you like fruit they are really cool! Already peeled, cut and arranged for easy snacking. Sweet and juicy! Colorful and appealing. Yum! I don’t know about you, but cutting a pineapple or melon sometimes delays my desire to enjoy those lovely, luscious gifts. The outside puts me off, but the inside is worth it. I am grateful when someone else does the hard work for me, aren’t you?

I’ll bet you have heard it said that, “Fruit is natures candy”, right? God has made our palates to be drawn to sweet tastes. Eating something sweet, natural or otherwise, seems to lift us up. Do you ever crave chocolate or cookies or ice cream on a hard day? It’s possible that the food isn’t really what you are looking for. We often look for sweet tastes to make us feel better. Do you have a favorite sweet taste?

The Significance of Simplicity

October 10, 2020 Cathleen Zahradnik

“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am one of those people who likes to take time at the beginning of every year to review the year that has past and to set some goals for the year ahead. What about you? Did you write down some goals for 2020? Even if you didn’t write anything down, I bet that you had a few things that you wanted to accomplish this year. I know I did. How’s it going for you?

2020 is probably the most unusual year that any of us have ever experienced. Noting has played out according to plan for any of us. We are all in unfamiliar territory and any plans we had are out the window. Am I right?

When life is interrupted it can be unsettling. All our plans are thrown into disarray. It causes us to have to reevaluate what is really important. So, in the middle of all this confusion and instability, how can you find focus? What is it that you really need to accomplish in 2020? What do I need to accomplish? What should our goals look like?

Don't Minimize Your Significance

March 21, 2020 Cathleen Zahradnik

The question I have been asking with all that is going on in our world right now is why you might even want to read what I write. What do I have to offer in this time of unprecedented concern? Before 2020 began I prayed for one word as the theme message to focus on giving you throughout the year. The one word I felt led to choose is “Significance.” This week, as I prayed and considered what I should write, or even IF I should write, I realized that now, more than ever, I can still encourage you in your significance. As I have questioned whether I have something to offer I have realized that I do, and so do you.

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You may feel helpless right now. We all do! However, you are still an important influence in your circle. Don’t minimize your significance. God has given you spiritual gifts, abilities that are uniquely yours. God has given you and I gifts so that we can help each other. Ask Him what you can be doing with your gifts RIGHT NOW. You are needed.