To Experience Joy, Transform Obligation To Offering

August 14, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you ever feel like you are just going through the motions of life, even a Christian life? You get up, do what you need to do, go to bed and then do it all over again? You go to church, you serve, but it all seems so empty? I have been through those seasons as well. There are times in our lives when we have been through a great loss - of a loved one or through trials - and just getting through each day is a miracle. That is not the kind of season we are talking about here. The question I want you to consider is this: Have you lost the joy of living for God?

Daily life can sometimes cloud the light of life in Christ. What I mean is, we get so focused on doing the tasks and checking the boxes that we miss why we do it. At least, I have.

At the heart of Christian life is not religion, what I define as “human attempts to reach God,” but a relationship. Not obligations to fulfill, but an offering to be presented. Are you following God from a place of obligation or are you making the choice to offer your life to Him on a daily basis? My dear friend, when you choose to make your life an offering, I can guarantee that you will be filled with joy. I want that for you!

Here are some things to remember that will help you transform your obligation to offering.

Your Race Matters

August 7, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As I write this I am sitting in my hotel room in Orlando, Florida where my husband and I have been attending a conference for ministers from our fellowship, the Assemblies of God. Every two years ministers gather to be encouraged and equipped and to vote on leadership and resolutions relative to how our fellowship operates in the world. There are thousands of ministers attending and even more students participating in the National Fine Arts festival that is taking place at the same time. A highlight of the event is to join with others in worship in a 9000 seat auditorium filled with families who serve Jesus with all their hearts. Those are moments that refresh and renew our commitment to run our race well.

When the apostle Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi he encouraged them to tenaciously tend to their faith so that on the day of Christ’s return he would know that his race was not in vain. What race was Paul running? The race of faith and the work of passing on that faith to others. The ministers present here are all called to the same race. And so are you, my friend! Our goal is to be faithful and to help others be faithful until the very end. So, how do you and I do that? It isn’t complicated, but it is challenging.

What Words Matter?

July 31, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My mother has mentioned that she would hear me practicing words in my crib before she heard me use them in public. Imagine! Baby Me practicing speech! I guess that even as a baby I wanted to use words well! I suppose that God put a love of words in me from the very beginning. Even in my crib, I had a sense that words have power and a desire to use them carefully.

This world is overwhelmed with words and not every person using them is aware of their power. Words can hurt, help, comfort, criticize, correct, encourage, berate, alienate, bring closer. Words, spoken or written, have tremendous power in people’s lives. How careful are you with this potent tool? What words matter to you?

In the swirl of words that pour past us on a daily basis, from the mouths of people or through the screens of our phones, what words are you listening to and how are they affecting you? What words matter to you?

Do You Shine?

July 24, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I make a point of not checking the news first thing in the morning. Doesn’t it seem like every headline screams, “This world is a mess!” The evil of this broken world and the propensity of broken people to intentionally hurt each other is present in almost every news story, written in bold, black letters. News headlines set a negative tone for my day right off the bat and I have decided to spend my waking minutes orienting myself toward God. It’s hard enough to wake up and focus on God. I don’t need the news to distract me. What about you?

Once my eyes begin to focus and the caffeine kicks in, I want my first thoughts to remind me of who God is, who I am because of Him and how I am supposed to live. In his letter to his friends in Philippi, the apostle Paul tells the Philippian believers to “live clean, innocent lives as children of God.”(Philippians 2:14) His challenge to his friends is the challenge for you and me as well: Live, clean innocent lives and shine in a dark world.

What does that look like anyway? What does it mean to live a “clean, innocent” life as a child of God? What makes the children of God so different from other people that they seem to “shine”?

The Other Pandemic: Are You Safe?

July 17, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You are standing in the break room at your office and you hear it. It’s a dull roar that never really departs. The boss is awful. That co-worker is a pain. The government is a mess. Her husband is an idiot. His wife is a fool. Their children are annoying. Almost every word that comes out of your co-workers’ mouths are complaints. No one seems to have anything good to say. Everyone is finding fault with someone. There is an epidemic of complaint.

It’s easy to get caught up in it, isn’t it? Why is that? Because the truth is that a Christ-less world is a mess and Christ-less people are selfish and hurtful. What’s worse is that sometimes the most Christ-less people are people who claim to know Him, but their words….Oh, their words swell with the venom of complaint.

I don’t think of myself as a complainer. I pride myself in being careful with words, but sometimes…ugh! The pandemic of complaint has touched me as well. Are you a complainer? If you are, are you willing to take a hard listen to yourself and determine to make a change? What’s wrong with complaining anyway? Why should you overcome it?

When You Can’t Find Your Want-To

July 10, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭NLT

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my struggle begins with just wanting to do the right thing. I can correctly assess the situation. I see what it is that I need to do, the person I need to speak with, the action that I need to take, but then I feel stuck and like failure is my future. I just can’t seem to make myself want to take the next step. Does that ever happen to you?

Years ago I discovered this verse and it was like an electric current of motivation. I realized that I don’t have to find the want-to when it comes to doing what is right. Just like every other important thing in life, all I need to do is rely on God. I hear you. “What are you talking about?”, you say. Let me show you.

Who Do You Want To Be In The Post-Pandemic Future?

July 3, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭NLT

I want he best for you. I really do. I want you to enjoy a fulfilling and satisfying life. I want you to know the joy of living whole-heartedly for Jesus and the deep sense of destiny and purpose that grows out of that commitment. That’s what I want for you, but I also know that there are a multitude of distractions. A cacophony of voices overwhelming you every morning, noon and night. Voices telling you that fulfillment and satisfaction come through a perfect life and offering you all kinds of ways to make your life perfect. Buy more stuff. Fix your looks. Find a new relationship because the current one will take too much effort to improve. Make more money. Etc. Etc.

Right now, when life is beginning to return to a somewhat normal pace and familiar activities are beginning to resume, it’s a good time to evaluate what you want your life to be like going forward. In many ways you get to start fresh. Sure, a lot of things continued during lockdown, but a lot of things didn’t. What do you want to bring forward with you post-COVID and what do you want to stay back in the days before 2020? Now is a good time to evaluate how you want to live for what matters and let go of what doesn’t. Who do you want to be in the post-pandemic future?

What’s In A Name?

June 26, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Dear Friend, your name is a gift. You may not love your name, but it was given to you for a reason. My mother liked the name of “Cathy” (spelled with a “C”!) in the book, Wuthering Heights, but didn’t want to name me “Catherine.” So, I was named “Cathleen” and called “Cathy” as a child. I didn’t always like my name, but I have learned to love the name, “Cathleen.” And though it is often mis-spelled and mis-spoken, I wouldn’t change it. There is a value in my name, just as there is a value in yours.

But there is one Name above all names, right? I want to take some time today to consider that Name. The name of Jesus.

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names….” Why is the name of Jesus above all names? Because He obeyed God and fulfilled the assignment God gave Him, God elevated Him above all.

Who Sees Me?

June 19, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When’s the last time you felt overlooked? When’s the last time you WERE overlooked? This week? Me, too! There are moments in everyone’s life when they feel unseen and insignificant. You know you are dong your best and no one takes a moment to speak a word of encouragement to you. They don’t notice your efforts to serve or to please. Every day just seems to be another exercise in perseverance. You keep trying to make the best possible choice, but no one seems to care. If that describes you, It can be easy to focus on all that and start to become frustrated, hurt, angry. If you don’t guard your attitude you might find a bitter, resentful bud beginning to blossom. Not very attractive!

Maybe you are even asking yourself if God sees you. Does God really care? YES!! Emphatically. YES!!!! When you feel like no one else sees you or appreciates you, take comfort in the truth that you have a Father who sees you, knows you, loves you and IS working on your behalf. Really!

How do you deal with unseen seasons? What do you do when you feel like you are living an invisible, unappreciated life?

How To Make It Through Your Mess

June 12, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s a mess! You and I live in a crazy, cacophonous world. We live with constant personal chaos because of choices or circumstances that wreak havoc in our personal worlds. We hear of continuous conflict in our own community, our nation and even to the remotest parts of the earth. Instant internet communication brings the troubles of distant corners into our own sphere. So much pain, so much anger, so much confusion, so much that tempts us to question, so much that distracts and detracts us.

There are times when our own cares and the cares of the world can be oppressive. Either you choose to shut off any feeling because it is so overwhelming or you can’t seem to shake the weight of it all. Whether you express it or not, the cry of your heart is most likely, “It isn’t supposed to be this way!” And it isn’t. The way things are is not the way God designed them to be. The way things are carries the mark of sin, the sin of our ancient parents and the sin of millions of people over the centruries in millions of choices. Simply, the world is broken. Your heart cries out for a perfection that doesn’t exist here because it was made to desire the perfection that only exists in heaven.

Okay, so maybe that isn’t comforting to you. You’re saying, “If heaven is the only place that my heart will truly be satisfied, what do I do in the meantime?! This life is hard! I want to know how to live now!” If that is what you want to know, I have good news for you. God gave you an example to follow of how to live in this messed up world with peace and purpose.

September 12, 2026

This is Not Forever

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

As I tearfully opened the sodden boxes of our stored belongings, wondering what was ruined, a verse came to mind,

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

We were temporarily living with my parents, and our stuff was stored in Tom’s parents' garage. They had a plumbing issue in their bathroom above the garage, causing a leak that soaked several of our boxes and other items, including our mattress. We weren’t sure what was salvageable.

That period of time was already difficult. We were waiting for a job to open up and unsure how long that would take, how long we would be living with my parents, how long our stuff would be stored. Both sets of parents had been patient, loving, and gracious. There was no one to blame for the water damage. Sometimes things just happen.

But when that verse popped into my brain, it completely changed my perspective on going through the damage. The tears didn’t stop. There was some mourning and disappointment. But at the same time, there was hope. This was temporary. These things were just things. What really mattered was how I responded. I could choose an eternal perspective. I could choose to treasure Christ more than an earthly possession.

As it turned out, very few of our things were unsalvageable, and insurance more than covered anything that was lost. But the eternal perspective I gained is a treasure that I still carry. That simple shift helped me through the three and a half years of living in the in-between.