Month: January 2011

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Blessings and BeechNut

It’s been a fun last 24 hours for me with lots of my favorite things happening.  A great day of worship and time spent with family and friends yesterday that ended with hearing one of my all time favorites on the radio – Country Boy Can Survive.

And then a nice 7″ snow storm, and a snow day that has included a nice 3 mile run in the snow.  I love to listen to how quiet it is except for the crunching of the snow under your feet.  That’s good stuff.

So it seems that a day of praise is in store.  I hope you can praise with me.

4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name. Psalm 30:4 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Flying into the Ground

Hey, did you hear about the almost apocalypse that descended on a small Arkansas town on New Year’s Eve.  I guess to prepare Arkansas fans for all the dropped passes in the Sugar Bowl  on New Year’s Eve thousands on black birds fell from the sky – littering yards and hitting people and cars.

Bird people, called birdologists or more often ornithologists, are guessing that the fireworks startled the birds and had them flying around running into stuff and and may have sent them literally flying into the ground.

Stupid birds.

Well, wait a moment, when you think about it, how many times do we drop into chaos when things mess up our nights.  When the fireworks of life start exploding around us, at times we start thrashing and crashing as well.  But here is some help for that.

First remember that God knows you even more then the birds

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:29-30

and second he is our protection

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.Psalm 18:2

So remember if things are not going your way, don’t fly into the ground and crash, head towards the stronghold which is our Lord.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

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I Would Like to Congratulate…

… the other person.

How often has that happened to you.  You work, you give your effort, you make something successful and the accolades go to another maybe less deserving person.  It’s frustrating, anger provoking and demoralizing.  However, maybe, just maybe we can examine this in a different light and actually take joy when that happens.

For instance, remember Gideon.  When he was asked by God to save Israel, he responded like this

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:15

but the Creator of the Universe said in reply to him

“I will be with you.”

It seems God likes to use us when we think we are weak for his glory.  Notice 2 Corinthians:

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

In our weakness, we are strong.

So, how does this relate to other’s getting the accolades.  I think it’s like this – God uses us in our weakness to show his glory versus the alternative which is that we forsake God and claim that it was all us.

When others are given the praise, remember what you are working for.  Is it bring glory upon your head, or to bring glory to the Lord?  I think I will set out to bring glory to the Lord, becoming nothing in the eyes of men – just a servant of the Creator of the World.

So today, as you enter the battlefield of life, recall Gideon, least in the weakest clan, but made a great warrior when he let God lead him.

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Striving

Last night I was sitting around the house, watching the almost Ohio State meltdown, thinking about this whole new year thing, and the fact that the MegaMillions jackpot was 330 Million and I asked myself the question “If you could have anything what would it be?”.  You probably have played this game – the three wishes game.

Once I got past the fact that I don’t need a mansion with a complete wait staff and a built in movie theater, I realized quickly how little I in fact am in need.   I would not have to wish for essentials like  food, or a warm bed, or clothes, or great blessings like a family or a wonderful spouse.

The question quickly moved from ‘what would I want’ to ‘what am I really striving for’?  When I head out the door this morning, what am I working towards?  Is it really an 8GB eye-fi wireless HCSD card for my wife’s new camera, or is it the acceptance of the higher ups at the office, or is it the ability to pay for lunch?  This is when I was reminded gently from the back of my mind that the only thing that really matters is to serve god and to love his creation (i.e. other people).

You know, that takes a lot of stress out of the day.  What are you striving for?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:28-33 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Back to Work!

Today is my first day back to work since… well sometime last year, no sometime last decade? Anyway it’s time to get the body up and and going and get working on the new year. And I am ready for it!

Over the break, Amy pointed out a story to me about a suicidal heroin addict named Shane Niemeyer, who turned himself into an Iron-man Triathlete.   When Shane was asked about his change he said that the triathlons gave him what he needed – a purpose.  Man, isn’t that great!

But here is what is greater.  Check this out from Ephesians 2.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God has given us not only a purpose – to do good, but he also has provided us with forgiveness, and a reward.  If Shane can go from the depths of despair to becoming a triathlete, just think what you can do!

I can now leave behind what was in 2010 and start fresh and new as I approach the problems and situations at work with a new view and a renewed vigor that only comes from some time away and with a newly rediscovered purpose!

Let the year begin!