Categories
Daily Post

Kings and Control

Over the last few months, I have been exposed to the difficulties that surround that entire process of waiting and trusting.  I have had several incidents that have removed all control from me, and that is actually pretty unsettling.  It’s day’s like this that I could dream about guys like Kamehameha, after all it is his day.  Kamehameha was the monarch who first established the unified Kingdom of Hawaii way back in 1810.  He wielded so much control that he was able to keep the Hawaiian Islands from been colonized at a time when the rest of the Polynesian Islands where succumbing to Colonial powers.   He helped bring pineapples and coffee to Hawaii and said things like this:

“Endless is the good that I have given you to enjoy.”–Kamehameha I

Pretty impressive control, and evidently a pretty impressive ruler!

Despite Kamehameha dominance as a ruler, he can only teach me things today, he can’t really help me with waiting and trusting, especially since his control eventually gave way others.  Fortunately, I know another ruler that his followers said this about:

What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? – Disciples of Jesus

Now that’s control! And that guy is still around helping us today.  He’s the guy I will look toward during these days of lack of control (as if I ever had any), apparent uncertainty, and ‘confusion’.

The heart of man plans his way,  but the Lord establishes his steps.  Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

Think about that when you have concern about what is happening around you!

And have a great Kamehameha Day! Aloha Kakou

Categories
Daily Post

Attitude and Effort

I read an email this morning and noticed my immediate reaction contained more frustration about the content than was proper and I was quickly reminded of the quote yesterday about wasting 60 seconds of happiness.  I immediately reminded myself that really I can control my reaction to these sorts of things and they don’t have to steal my life from me.  As the soccer coach over at school says – “there are two things you can control your attitude and your effort”.

Anyway, I hope my moment of realization this morning will bring some lift to your day.

 Those who do not control themselves
       are like a city whose walls are broken down. Proverbs 25:28 NCV

Categories
Daily Post

Control and Command

It appears the James Durbin from American Idol must be a DB reader.  Yesterday I wrote about “Don’t Stop Believing” and then last night he goes out on Idol and sings it.  What influence this blog has!  What control!  What command!

Well, of course that’s not true, but it feels good to feel like you are in control.  Being in control and in command of things is something that I think all of us struggle with.  It is so hard to give it over and let others, or the Lord, take over and lead. It seems like it is so against our nature for that to happen, but never the less that is what we are asked to do.

18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:18, New International Version)

It sort of reminds me of the song “Pierce My Ear”, which is a song about willingly giving control over to the Lord, which comes from this story in the book of Exodus

 5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ 6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life. (Exodus 21:5-6, New International Version)

So today, spend some time thinking about who or what is in control of your life?