Blog Article – Page 111

October 19, 2008

Life On The Fast Train

In recent weeks there is so much going on around me and in my own life it’s difficult to focus upon anything other than a passing glance before moving onto the next thing. After chatting with more than a few people I understand this is not my own personal phenomenon.

What do we do with high octane brainwaves? I am unwilling to give my obvious resource of thinking over to stress about work, bills, chores, errands, family commitments and we won’t even talk about the unexpected pitfalls. Learning about truth is just that, truth. I have spent years wasting my time on useless endeavors but I am no more lingering on myself. I have to fight for this place of peace but oh my, such battles won make the ongoing war bearable.

What war? Well, it’s the same war for all of us; salvation, peace, love and redemption. I am in this for the long haul and no longer do I fight for myself. I am fighting for those I love and cherish but also for those who don’t even know me yet. No other cause is worth my time more than this.

I have to take real care knowing where to put on brakes for the systemic life I am a part of in this century. I cannot derail myself by slamming to a complete halt in all functionality; however it’s important not to live my life as though I am sitting, merely observing from a coach car window; seeing opportunities passing me by. If I make excuses not to get off my “fast train life”, I will never be able to serve. I want to win the war so engagement is my only option.

It’s imperative for us to not live our lives with passing glances. We must focus on our purpose. That being said, what is our purpose? Time is a rush and where are we all rushing to?

1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

October 18, 2008

Flu Shot Day

I had an appointment today to visit one of those sprawling hospital complexes and of course I was armed with only the minimal information provided by my doctor’s office, a time and a place. This complex was undergoing construction so signs were not well placed and as it turns out, today was “flu shot” day! I could see before me a forked road. The one path would lead me to irritation and shortness of temper. The other would take me in patience and gratitude for living in a country where we can receive health care.

My experience was not very pleasant and it felt as though I had to walk a mile of hallways in large crowds to get where I needed to be. Through it all however I had chosen to remain pleasant and friendly. Now I don’t know if my attitude touched anyone today but I found something wonderful. This attitude touched me. I stayed relaxed and calm while some monstrosity of an x-ray machine spun around my brain.

I wonder what my doctor will see on the x-rays but inwardly I am hoping he will see the outline of the happy face symbol.

October 16, 2008

Need For Balance

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Wow, the news is really pounding away at us these days. If I wasn’t afraid before, just listening to it for even 20 minutes would make me a truly paranoid person. I am not by nature one who likes to live in the realm of fear but when you are being bombarded by such dooming words, it becomes real apparent how important is the need for balance. Be informed but don’t be defeated. I remember always….”there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear”…..1 John 4:18

October 15, 2008

All Or None

In the book of Acts when Paul was a prisoner on the ship that ran into a storm and the ship was in danger of sinking, the Lord gave instructions that no one was to bail out. It was all to be saved or none! I have often given much thought to what that represents and I see a parallel in how we are expected to respond in this time of uncertainty.

During economic hardship for friends and family who are clearly struggling for financial balance and sometimes even survival, we have to rethink who we are. Do we react in fear and hold onto what we have or do we see with real vision? Isn’t it time to realize all of us are in the same boat? It shouldn’t be about the “haves and the have nots” but it should be about meeting someone else’s need if you have it. I know that doesn’t agree with the world’s point of view but how does one change the world but one act of kindness at a time? For all the greed, corruption, selfishness and unrighteousness seen, if you look close enough you will also see those breaking through to an eternal plan. The one that says to love others as yourself.

I keep remembering the sinking ship and have determined I must give my all to help others, without such thinking none of my life matters.

Matt 22:39b …”You shall love your neighbor as yourself”

October 14, 2008

Do Not Grow Weary In Doing Good

I keep photographs and names pinned to a corkboard in my office. When I am wondering where to take my thoughts, these serve as a reminder to me to be ever vigilant for prayers. I don’t always know what someone is going through but I know my Father does. For myself, on any given day I can have a multitude of blessings so it lifts my heart to share what I have been given with those I love and care about. Even in those moments I feel void of blessings, this is the time I give even more.

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

October 12, 2008

Live Eternal or well….die.

My heavenly Father teaches me something which goes completely against society thinking. He teaches me that in my weakness I will be made strong. He teaches me not to rely on myself or my abilities.

Can we be blunt here? I live in a world where even the slightest weakness is like a fresh wound bleeding in the wilderness, every carnivore within miles can smell a kill. Now picture yourself pouring out your life source and still you keep steady on your path rather than bolt to the nearest shelter for safety and bandaging. Only the most suicidal mindset can stay the course wouldn’t you say?

Yep, welcome to the kingdom’s truth. It’s all about a death isn’t it? Either you die to self or you plain die to hope and the promise of eternity. Sounds kind of scary in our own English but when we really take the time to understand it’s rather simple. Believe in Christ enough to accept Him as savior and live a life eternal or well,…..die.

Rom 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raiseed him from the dead, you will be saved

October 9, 2008

Will You Come To The Banquet?

I ask questions only each of you can answer for yourself. Are you panicking? What is your daily food? Are you picking up the newspapers and stuffing yourselves on fear and frenzy? Are you clicking back and forth between channels of news searching for the most “devastating” report to be found?

My next question to you, “have you found your fear?” If so, what have you accomplished? The world is always going to feed to you what is best for demoralization of our hope. So when is it time to read further? And where do you turn for such hope? Never live in ignorance for what’s going on in the world but let these be markers to you for what is coming. Without being doomsayers, let’s speak of truth. The countdown is at hand and your time for choosing is before you.

Search deep in your heart and if there is even an inkling of curiosity that Jesus is for real, than recognize this call home and answer the knock. There will come a day when the door to this wedding banquet will be closed and those who declined the invitation will remain outside. Imagine missing out on the party of all parties to be everlasting? Why would you gamble your life betting in the opposite direction? What is the alternative….death eternal?

The Story of the Dinner Party (Luke 14:15-24) The Message Bible

That triggered a response from one of the guests: “How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!” Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’

“Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’

“Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’

“And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’

“The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’

“The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded- and there’s still room.’

“The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.'”

October 9, 2008

Responsible For Our Words

Rudyard Kipling’s famous quote, “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”

What we speak matters. We can either use our words for good or evil. Understanding the power in words is to understand our need to be responsible with them. I myself am drawn to the ultimate word and what it truly means.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

October 7, 2008

Bring Down The Walls

My oh my, do you feel the battle? Yeah baby it’s on for sure! Got your gear on and your feet steadied? Time to bring down the walls! Every wall we have ever constructed for our sense of false security in money, houses, jobs, ourselves and independence needs to come down.

We need to rebuild upon the foundation meant to last forever.

1 Cor 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

October 7, 2008

Put My Arms Around You

A song caught my ear yesterday because of its sound. I have always been drawn to the minor keys since they seem to cry out to something deeper in me than I can understand or even express. I had played it several times in a row while driving home and this morning when I left for work, again I was drawn to play it a few more times. It wasn’t until I was miles from home before a single sentence of what words were being sung hit me. “I can’t change the way you feel, but I can put my arms around you.”
These words hit my heart deeply. I think about the sea of people that surround us daily and how some of them are suffering such anguish. I may not have the instant answers to a problem but I certainly have compassion to understand what causes us great pain. In those moments I desire great wisdom to just hug someone when words just won’t do.