I just came in from letting the dog out before going to bed. It is 10:30pm here in the mountains and it is 44 degrees outside. It is apparent that fall is on its way. There is change in the air.
Change is part of life. We cannot keep things from changing. Our children change; they grow up. We change; we grow older. Time continues to march on and we cannot stop it. We cannot even slow it down.
With change an inevitable part of life, we must ask one question: What are we doing about it? Life continues and we cannot stop it. However, our decisions can impact our lives and the lives of those around us. That is the only thing we can permanently accomplish in this life. We must live each day with the idea of impacting lives for eternity. We must impact lives around us for the Kingdom.
Choose to live your life with impact. Choose to make a difference in the lives of those around you. Choose to make your life count.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Passing of Time
It is a funny thing....no matter how much planning, no matter how much anticipation, events pass as quickly as they got started. We spend weeks, and sometime months, planning and preparing for an event. The day arrives and all the weeks and months of planning are over. And in just a few hours the event is over as well.
That is a fact of life. We plan for events; we anticipate their arrival. And, when the day finally arrives, the event is over. All the planning sometimes seems to have been in vain.
The only thing for sure in life is that time never stops. It does not matter your economic status, your racial heritage, your income, the size of your bank account; time does not stop for anyone. We are all given the same amount of time: 24 hours in a day; 7 days in a week. What we do with that time is the only question that really matters.
What are you doing with the 24 hours given to you today? Once the minute is gone, we cannot get it back. You can spend the day sitting in front of the television watching the ball game or you can spend time playing ball with your family and friends. You can complain that your Congressman does not listen or you can pick up the phone and call them. The question becomes what are you doing to change your world. What are you doing to impact your world.
As a follower of Christ, I have an example of someone Who impacted the world around them. He was not just a bystander. He did not live His life in a vacuum. Jesus lived out His beliefs. And He calls us to do the same.
Live your life intentionally today. Impact your family. Impact your world. Do something to make a difference.
That is a fact of life. We plan for events; we anticipate their arrival. And, when the day finally arrives, the event is over. All the planning sometimes seems to have been in vain.
The only thing for sure in life is that time never stops. It does not matter your economic status, your racial heritage, your income, the size of your bank account; time does not stop for anyone. We are all given the same amount of time: 24 hours in a day; 7 days in a week. What we do with that time is the only question that really matters.
What are you doing with the 24 hours given to you today? Once the minute is gone, we cannot get it back. You can spend the day sitting in front of the television watching the ball game or you can spend time playing ball with your family and friends. You can complain that your Congressman does not listen or you can pick up the phone and call them. The question becomes what are you doing to change your world. What are you doing to impact your world.
As a follower of Christ, I have an example of someone Who impacted the world around them. He was not just a bystander. He did not live His life in a vacuum. Jesus lived out His beliefs. And He calls us to do the same.
Live your life intentionally today. Impact your family. Impact your world. Do something to make a difference.
Monday, May 18, 2009
God in a Cup of Coffee
The mind is truly an amazing thing. It is funny how memories are triggered. It can be a simple as a song or a smell. This morning as I enjoyed a cup of freshly ground coffee, the aroma took me back to a time I was drinking that same kind of coffee and enjoying the presence of a friend. I thought about the time we had shared and longed to be with them again.
This reminds me of our relationship with God. Our relationship with Him should be the same way. Things in our life should remind us of times we were in His presence and cause us to desire that presence again. Our life should remind us daily of our relationship with God--the times we have shared and the times we long to share.
I have taken many jabs for my love of coffee. However, this morning it has helped me understand the powerful position memories have in our lives. How those memories remind us of past experiences. And how those memories should remind us of our relationship to the Creator of the Universe.
This reminds me of our relationship with God. Our relationship with Him should be the same way. Things in our life should remind us of times we were in His presence and cause us to desire that presence again. Our life should remind us daily of our relationship with God--the times we have shared and the times we long to share.
I have taken many jabs for my love of coffee. However, this morning it has helped me understand the powerful position memories have in our lives. How those memories remind us of past experiences. And how those memories should remind us of our relationship to the Creator of the Universe.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Today it is cloudy and rainy. Yesterday, it was sunny and clear. Funny how 24 hours can make a difference. Things can change quickly; that is just the way life is. However, there is always one Constant upon which we can trust.
No matter our circumstances, God is there. No matter our instabilities, God is unmovable. We can trust completely in Him. Life, by definition, changes. Life is not constant. We grow older by the minute. We should be used to change. But having experienced changes our entire life, we still are taken aback at the vicissitudes of life. Out of this life-experience of change, we seek stability. And only in God can we find true stability.
The weather changes. Our circumstances change. Our friends change. Hairstyles and clothing styles change. However, God never changes. We can always count on faith to sustain us.
No matter our circumstances, God is there. No matter our instabilities, God is unmovable. We can trust completely in Him. Life, by definition, changes. Life is not constant. We grow older by the minute. We should be used to change. But having experienced changes our entire life, we still are taken aback at the vicissitudes of life. Out of this life-experience of change, we seek stability. And only in God can we find true stability.
The weather changes. Our circumstances change. Our friends change. Hairstyles and clothing styles change. However, God never changes. We can always count on faith to sustain us.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
This is a reprint of a comment I posted to at Steve Strang's blog. With the concern and confusion rampant in our society presently, we need to refocus our priorities. To see the original post, view it here: http://strangreport.com/index.php/2008/11/how-to-survive-current-economic-crisis.html
I ask a simple question: If Presedent-elect Obama were a conservative with the same 'questions' regarding his birthplace, would the Church be so concerned? Sometimes, it seems as if the Church looks the other way when 'conservative' leaders are in office. We abdicate our place of watching over our leaders as citizens of this Republic. We must be ever vigilant in our prayers and scrutiny regardless of the political position of our President.
Further, we must realize that many of us spent great amounts of time in prayer for this election. Many churches across this nation had all-night prayer meetings. At my pastorate, we had a community prayer service on Monday before the election. If we as believers prayed that God's will would be accomplished, then we must believe that God's will was accopmlished. If we believe the Bible, then we must believe what it says concerning God appointing leaders: "He removes kings and raises up kings" Daniel 2:21b NKJV.
Now, regarding Mr. Strang's original purpose in this post. In premilllenialism, much labor has been given to America's role in the Last Days. Most 'scholars' see no mention of America in the final events. These are the same writers that most Charismatic, Pentecostal Premillenialists follow. So, if they are writing it, and we, as a movement, are reading it, why are we surprised at the turn of events? If we truly believe that we are living in the Last Days, and if we truly believe what our prophecy writers and teachers are saying, then should we not expect to see the Unitd States become less powerful on the world stage?
Finally, the American Church needs to re-focus. Our focus should not be on who is in the White House, because has placed them there "for such a time as this." Our focus should not be on the economy because God's plan is unfolding around us. He will sustain us if we focus on Him.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:32
Our focus should be on Him. No matter who is President, our Commission remains:
Go therefore and make disciples. Matthew 28:19a NKJV
I ask a simple question: If Presedent-elect Obama were a conservative with the same 'questions' regarding his birthplace, would the Church be so concerned? Sometimes, it seems as if the Church looks the other way when 'conservative' leaders are in office. We abdicate our place of watching over our leaders as citizens of this Republic. We must be ever vigilant in our prayers and scrutiny regardless of the political position of our President.
Further, we must realize that many of us spent great amounts of time in prayer for this election. Many churches across this nation had all-night prayer meetings. At my pastorate, we had a community prayer service on Monday before the election. If we as believers prayed that God's will would be accomplished, then we must believe that God's will was accopmlished. If we believe the Bible, then we must believe what it says concerning God appointing leaders: "He removes kings and raises up kings" Daniel 2:21b NKJV.
Now, regarding Mr. Strang's original purpose in this post. In premilllenialism, much labor has been given to America's role in the Last Days. Most 'scholars' see no mention of America in the final events. These are the same writers that most Charismatic, Pentecostal Premillenialists follow. So, if they are writing it, and we, as a movement, are reading it, why are we surprised at the turn of events? If we truly believe that we are living in the Last Days, and if we truly believe what our prophecy writers and teachers are saying, then should we not expect to see the Unitd States become less powerful on the world stage?
Finally, the American Church needs to re-focus. Our focus should not be on who is in the White House, because has placed them there "for such a time as this." Our focus should not be on the economy because God's plan is unfolding around us. He will sustain us if we focus on Him.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:32
Our focus should be on Him. No matter who is President, our Commission remains:
Go therefore and make disciples. Matthew 28:19a NKJV
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