As a child when I would try to mitigate my wrong by comparing it against the bigger wrong of someone else, my Mom would say “Janice, two wrongs don’t make a right.”  For the past couple of days I have found myself saying, “My Mom always said two wrongs don’t make a right.”

It is easy and convenient to compare ourselves and our actions against someone else, especially when their actions appear to be worse than our own.  We do this to minimize our wrong, and to justify our actions.

The beauty of the Word of God is that it provides answers to all of life’s questions – and has done so throughout the generations.

*   Moses can be our first example (Exodus 2:11-12):   When Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave; he struck out in anger and killed the Egyptian.  Murder was not the answer to the Egyptian’s acts of cruelty.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.

*    James and John will be our second example (Luke 9:51-56):   The Samaritans turned from Jesus because He had His face set toward Jerusalem.  James and John suggested to Jesus that they should pray for fire to fall from Heaven upon the Samaritans.  Jesus rebuked them.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.

*    Peter will be our third example (Luke 22:50-51): When Jesus was arrested; Peter was upset and cut off the ear of a slave of the high priest.  Jesus rebuked Peter for his action.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Christians are called not to conform to this world, but to be transformed, and provide what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). 

In the future, we should resist comparing and minimizing our actions, and simply use the Word of God as our measuring stick.  The Word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).

While it can be uncomfortable to compare our actions against the Word, it will promote our growth and maturity. 


Blessings To You – Janice Caldwell

​*Examples taken from Angelfire.com – “Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right.”

Testimony as defined by Merriam-Webster.com, is (1) proof or evidence that something exists or is true; (2) an open acknowledgment; and/or (3) a public profession of a religious experience.

I was recently speaking with a friend that was talking about how his family’s relationship had been splintered for several years, but how the family is now together, laughing, hugging, and sharing love.  The individual was thanking God and acknowledging the prayers of others.  I left the conversation smiling, happy, joyful, hopeful, and most importantly encouraged.  It hit me that he had just shared his testimony.

What is your testimony?  You have one!  Remember the time when you were unsure how you were going to make it?  How you were going to get a bill paid?  How you were going to live through the loss of a loved one?  How in the world your business was going to succeed?  How were you ever going to be able to forgive someone?  Remember when the doctor gave up, but you or your family member is still here – alive and kicking?

You have at least one mountain in your past – and the way you got over, with God, is your testimony.  Have you shared that testimony with someone lately?  Pull it out, dust it off, and share the greatness of what God has done for you!  Give someone else the joy, hope, and encouragement that comes with you sharing your testimony.  The beauty of a testimony is that while it serves as an encouragement to someone else, it serves as a reminder to you!

​“…and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:11).


Blessings To You – Janice Caldwell

Have you ever been unsure of what you should do next?

You’ve heard God’s voice and you want to be obedient.  You hesitant because you can only see the next step and not the full path.

It is a human desire to know where we are going before we begin to move.  How often do we utilize our GPS or MapQuest before we begin a journey? We do this for many reasons, not the least of which is our desire not to become lost.  Anxious, confused, and angry are a few of the emotions that we may experience when we are lost – and an overall lack of control.

It is when we overlay these human emotions on our spiritual walk that we struggle. When I would find myself in this situation, my Dad would often say “…just take the next step Janice, and God will direct you to the step after that…”  It is truly a faith walk!

​Will you be a little nervous and anxious as you step forward? Possibly – likely, but the point is that in spite of those feelings you still take the next first step!

Blessings To You – Janice Caldwell

Do you feel as if there is something more that you should be doing?

Has there been a call to your heart that you have been ignoring?

Has the Holy Spirit been speaking to you and you have not heeded?

I was recently thinking about what it means to Trust and the blessings that come with demonstrating faith and trusting the Lord.  As I was thinking about my first post for “Fantastic Friday,” I was flipping through some papers and came across a letter I wrote to a friend on March 21, 2005.  I was encouraged when I read it, and am praying that it will do the same for you.  The words below are taken directly from the letter.

Fear will make you do things that you generally would not do, and things you don’t want to do.  I   have learned in all things to trust Him – to lean not on my own understanding – but always to         acknowledge Him and allow Him to direct me… (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I had a Bible Study Class once entitled “Women Living in Absolute Freedom” and the premise       was that we – women, but I would say men too – have allowed Satan to have a hold of our lives    because we have allowed fear to reign.  It was a powerful class about how fear will cause you     not to be all you can be – or all that you want to be…  God has not given use the spirit of fear (II Timothy 1;7) – so if we have it – it is not His – but rather Satan’s.  

I constantly make up my mind not to live in fear – not to let it stop me from moving forward, but then I fall backwards into the fear trap – then I make up my mind again not to live in fear. What I have determined is that it is a daily decision.  It is not a decision that I can make at one time, and believe it will carry through the rest of my life, but rather I have to wake up and make a decision for that day “I will not live in fear today – I will live in the freedom that was granted to me when my Lord and Savior died upon the cross for me.”  Making this decision is accepting that hurt, humiliation, shame, disappointment, pain, etc. may come, but that I know I will make it through to the other side because God is there (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Fear steals your dreams and your time!  If you have been giving fear a place in your life, remove it.  Make up your mind to move forward with purpose and passion, accepting that it may indeed be difficult, but most assuredly possible with God.  The book “Visioneering” by Andy Stanley encourages individuals to “…dream so big you don’t know how it will be accomplished.”


​Blessings To You - Janice

As I was returning movies to a Redbox machine yesterday, I thought about how quickly the world has changed in my lifetime.  How many things that we thought would not change – have changed.  I remember when:

• VCRs entered the scene, and then when Blockbuster rental stores were popular. Now we can go to a free-standing machine and rent a video for under $2 a day.

• All that was available was the rotary dial phone. Now we have wireless phones that contain GPS, allow you to connect to the internet, and a host of other things that I don’t understand.

• Only major network channels (CBS, ABC, and NBC) were available on television, and when broadcasting ended at midnight. Now there are hundreds of channels available 24 hours a day.

• There were 8 track and cassette tapes, and albums. Now you are able to download songs onto a tiny device.

• You had a book that you kept phone number and addresses, now they can be kept in a “cloud” somewhere in space.

​If we spend too much time thinking about these things, it can make our heads spin and make us dizzy.  We wonder what the future holds, and might find it difficult to gain our bearings in this fast moving world.

The only sure foundation that we have in this ever changing world is God and His word.
When the world seems to be whizzing by you, know that you can stand solidly on God’s word, and hold tightly to His promises.
Blessings To You – Janice

I was listening to a song this morning that has a verse “All to Jesus I surrender, all to thee I freely give…”   I love this verse and was singing it with intent and much feeling.  Those that know me – know that I love to sing – although I certainly don’t have a singing voice.

As I was singing the song, in particular that verse, I thought of what it means to surrender.  You might be surprised to know that the word “surrender” cannot be found in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. 

I was surprised, since it is a word so often used when speaking about a Christian’s life (i.e., a surrendered life).
Merriam-Webster defines surrender as (1) agreeing to stop fighting, hiding, resisting, etc. because you know that you will not win or succeed; (2) giving control or use of something to someone else; (3) allowing something to influence or control you. 

When I trade the word surrender in the song verse, with some of the definitions above, I get the following:

• All to Jesus I “…agree to stop fighting, hiding, resisting, because I know that I will not win or succeed…”
• All to Jesus I “…agree to give control of myself…”
• All to Jesus I “…allow to influence me…”

What powerful statements!  While the word itself is not in the Bible (KJV), the concept certainly rings true. 

To surrender to God means to set aside our own plans, and actively seek His plans for our lives.  The beauty is that His plans for us are so much better than our own.  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God seeks our surrender, simply to allow His blessings to rain upon us.  What a gracious and loving Father.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord I give myself to thee;
Fill me with thy love and power
Let thy blessing fall on me

​​Blessings To You – Janice

When I think of the word “celebrate,” I think of joy, fun, happiness, and excitement.  There are so many things that we celebrate in life:  wedding, promotion, birth of child, new home, graduation, new job, retirement, and on, and on, and on. How often do we celebrate who we are in God?

During my coursework to become a Christian Life Coach, I had to take several assessments.  There was one particular assessment known as the DISC Assessment.  I took the assessment and found the results to be quite accurate.  As I began to report out my results to the class and discuss my plan to make some changes, my instructor halted me.  She said the goal of the assessment was to highlight our uniqueness and to celebrate the “giftedness” that God had given us.

I was taken aback.  I had clearly misunderstood, and had identified ways to make, what I thought, were needed changes.  It took me a couple of weeks of prayer, and thinking it through to come into agreement with what she had said.  Ultimately, I decided that it was about self-acceptance.  Most of the traits that I was trying to change, are the ones that make me who I am.  They are integral to me and are what makes me – me.  They are God given, and given for a purpose.  While I should not try to change these traits, I should seek to mature in them.

What are your God given characteristics?  Do you know?  If not, pray and ask God to reveal them to you; ask your family and friends to identify your strengths.  Once they have been identified, accept them, own them, and celebrate them.  It is at the moment that you celebrate how God has made you, that He is able to use you for His purpose.

​
Blessings to You – Janice Caldwell