Who Loves Ya, Baby?

Back in the 70's and 80's one of my favorite TV shows was "Kojak," starring Telly Savalas who played the role of detective Theo Kojak. Kojak was a tootsie roll pop eating, bald headed, tough New York City detective. One of his favorite lines was, "Who loves ya' baby." Kojak usually used that line after the person he was questioning told him what he needed to know to solve the case.

I was reminded of that line the other evening as Dianne and I rode in the car with our 10 year old granddaughter, Mackynzie. Mackynzie was relating how much she was enjoying the new school year and her new teacher. When I questioned her further about the difference between this year and last, she said the difference was that last year her teacher would say things to her like, "Mackynzie, you have a brain, why don't you use it?" in a very cutting tone. Her teacher this year has already convinced her she can learn math and anything else presented to her. This years teacher is a positive and uplifting person to all her students and we could tell from Mackynzie's tone and comments she would work very hard to please this teacher because her teacher believed in her and built her up at every turn. She had even told of how selfcontrolled she had been in not talking when others had blurted things out. That was a big accomplishment for her, one made easier because she wanted to please a teacher that believed in her!

When you think about people you like to be around, don't you always choose the ones who believe in you, believe the best about you, respect you, and only want the best for you? Come to think of it isn't that a form of loving?

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not rude. Love is not irritable, love never gives up, is always hopeful, it will last forever. There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:4,5,7,8,13(NLT)

Prosperity

3 John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."(NKJV)

What does prosperity look like to you? Are you prosperous? How do you measure prosperity? Is it how much money you have in the bank, what you own, the size of your house, or the type car you drive? It seems to me it is a rare person who, regardless of how much money they make, think they are prosperous. Our standard of prosperity is way out of touch with Biblical reality, much less very foreign to 90% of the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about being blessed with possessions if our attitude is one of contentment and seeing our prosperity as a way to bless others.

I hope as you contemplate 3rd John 2 you realize the relationship between prosperity and the health of your soul. Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions. How properous or sound are your thoughts, your resolve, and your feelings? Do the things you feed your mind, will, and emotions cause you to prosper? Could it be time for a check-up of your soul? Maybe this week you should evaluate whether your thoughts, feelings and actions build you up or tear you down. If they tear you down decide what mental, emotional, and spiritual changes you need to make so that you will prosper.

If life has you down right now, talk to the most spiritual person you know and share your struggle with them. Even if they don't have all the answers there is great value in sharing your burden and asking them to pray for and with you about your desire to prosper.