Today after a few weeks of vacation I get to start over. I thought this thought from Andy Stanley was a good one to share today. It applies well for me today, but also has strong application for many phases of life!
By the way, this come from his talks about starting over that are worth the listen.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)
I mentioned last week that I had several half thoughts that I just could not make time to get down into some coherent complete thought. Here’s one of those!!
Yesterday I was glancing through my phone for a picture and rediscovered this great thought: 
Run the mile you are in! That is great running advice and it is great advice for life! I suppose it’s the runners version of the old adage bloom where you are planted. It both encourages us to be present and to pay attention to the part of the race we are in!
Last night I came across two different verses that seemed to emphasize this same concept. First is from the Christ as he encourages his audience;
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:34 KJV)
The second is from the letter to the Ephesians:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV)
My friend Sam told me this winter he loved that I frequently said ‘it is what it is’ when discussing situations and life stuff that was beyond our control. I think it to be a wise outlook. Besides what can you do about it , but to be wise, make the most of it and run the mile you are in.
I’ve been ask to share my favorite scripture at the mid week gathering of my church this evening. This seems like a simple assignment, but there are so many things to choose from. Immediately, I was trying to decide between John 11:35 and Genesis 2:25. But I quickly decided I should move on to something more appropriate. Surprisingly, I didn’t even consider the Song of Solomon.
I have toyed with the final words of the Christ – “It is finished“, as I think that statement sums up the whole of Christianity in a neat little package. I even thought about my one word 365 verse from Psalm 92. In the end, I decided to go with one of my favorites for a long time, 1 Corinthians 9.
25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. ASV
If you come tonight, I will tell you why.
Two weeks ago I was talking with some co workers about the benefits of eating peanut butter for recovery. This started because one of the guys is a cross fitter and he was talking about eating like a whole jar of peanut butter the night before.
During the conversation I mentioned that they had George Washington Carver to thank for that yumminess. They both looked at me confused, as if they didn’t even know that some dude named George Washington Carver ever walked on this earth. I explained to him about of all his inventions and did a little Google search to show them. It was there I saw this quote from Carver that has stayed with me.
When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.
It sort of reminds me of this from Luke 16:10
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. NLT
Let people notice you by taking care of the common simple things!
Yesterday I left the teenagers for a Sunday and attended an actual adult Bible study class. It was so… unusual!
So the get this class started the leader asked what people thought Jesus would say to them if he walked up to them today. Many if not most of the answers circled around peoples perceived thoughts about themselves and their inabilities to be perfect. Which is not actually unusual. I, however, being unusual, immediately thought “Well done, good and faithful servant!” That’s not because I feel like I am so good. It’s because I know I am forgiven and that the Christ has made up all the difference already. However, I didn’t feel that was an appropriate statement to make, and so I moved on in search of a second answer.
“How about some fish?”.
Yeah, I figure that if Christ walked up to any of us today, he would not immediately seek to condemn or rebuke us. That is of unless we approached him in the way of the Pharisees. I would expect that his first inclination would be more like the way he approached individuals multiple times in the scripture, with an invitation for conversation and relationship.
Just think quickly. There’s Zacchaeus, the guys on the road to Emmaus, the apostles after a day of fishing. How, many more times do we see the Christ, invite others to sit down and talk and create a relationship?
He doesn’t seek to condemn, he seeks for us to know Him. And through that time with him, we will be changed.
Yes, I think he would say it. I think if the Christ walked up to me today he would say. “Hey, you want some fish?” followed quickly by a “You want to hang out with me today?”