Tag: Matthew

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Take Me Out To The Corporate Jet

Yesterday afternoon I returned to my desk around 4:20 to find that I was late to a 4pm call.  After frantically getting on the call, and settling into the conversation, I was interrupted by an instant message from a co worker.  The proceeding 2 minute conversation had me scheduled on a plane at 5:20AM this morning heading off to a meeting to discuss some items for a project we are working on.  So, I attempted to keep my focus on the meeting at hand, and provide the best insight I could, while confirming my seat and hotel for this sudden change in agenda.  I am so thankful for corporate jets.  What stinks is I had no meetings in the morning, so I was actually going to be able to get work done. And then even better, the schedule called for a team outing at the Lookouts game in the afternoon! Boy, was I looking forward to spending some LouieBucks for a big juicy hotdog.  The best laid plans….

So as I pondered this sudden change in plans, my mind was drawn to Matthew 4

18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him. (NIV)

Not that I am comparing my sudden trip to the calling of Jesus’ followers, the Apostles, but I am making a quick and somewhat hurried (read poor!) analogy to how sometimes we have to change our plans, and give up our wants and desires in order to follow the Christ.  He calls you, sometimes when you don’t expect it.  Will you drop you plans and follow Him – there are great things in store if you do.

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Anxious for Something

I am anxious today.  No it’s not because its No Pants Day.   It’s not the fear that my reoccurring dream will come true. I mean when its no pants day it’s OK to end up in the office in your underwear!

No, I am anxious, and stressed, and I am not sure really why.  It’s funny how life will to that do you.  Sometimes like today, the worries of life, the pressure of work, the amount of things that have to “get down” are choking me.  I am so anxious and I can’t really even tell you why.

And so I turn back to the pages of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew, where I have found myself drawn this week.  Right there in chapter 6 it screams this at you:  ( I don’t think Jesus actually screamed this, but I bet it was emphatic).

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Yep, this anxiety, it has no value.  It’s a trap.  I still find it amazing what reading these words can do to change you viewpoint on the day.  So that’s it, for today.  Look at the birds, don’t worry and seek him first, and enjoy no pants day, after all it will be over 90 today.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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Salt and Light

Yesterday I was blessed to be able to spend 5 hours driving back home from Columbia, SC alone – just me and my truck!  It would stand to reason then that I would have conjured up some great revelation or antidote after all that great thinking time.  Well, that’s just it. I am really stuck this week on the whole idea of being salt – of being all in.  My thoughts actually moved a little bit to Luke 14:33 – the cost of being all in, but I am not really sure that I am ready to write anything about that!

So, today, I continue to think about being salt and being light.  I wish I could write today and say – here is what this means, here is the practical application of this lesson, of this encouragement.  However, the best I can come up with is to impact for good those who are directly in your path.   Don’t hide it, don’t put it under a basket, but shine and do good to each person you come in contact with.  Remember earlier in the week, I mentioned my sister-in-law and the job she does with the chorus.  Here is a practical application of someone doing all they can to make those around her better.  I am sure that on some days her students may not agree with this, but she gives everything she can to bring out the best is those students.  That’s one way to be salty.

So I apologize if today seems a little redundant, however, I think it’s worth repeating – remember “Are you really listening, really listening”.  So, study your life today and look for ideas and ways you can be salt and light!  If you don’t mind share it in the comment section on the blog.

Matthew 5:13-16
13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.New International Version (NIV)

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.The Message (MSG)

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Corner Sermon

Last night as I was coming home from the boy’s soccer practice, I exited the interstate and crested the hill to shock.  There in front of me at the intersection ahead where no cars, a red light and a beggar standing on the left hand side of the road.  This is a one way street and I was about to turn left, so I quickly understood that I would be the only one at the intersection and I would be waiting at the light right next to him.

“Oh No, I can’t believe this!”, I said out loud as I slowed my vehicle waiting anxiously for the light to change to green so I could zoom past without a care.  However, that was not my destiny for this day.  As I came to a stop, I was ear to ear with this man.  He was not four feet from me.  I am sure I could have reached out and touched his shoulder from my driving position.

So, there I sat, for what seemed like minutes, but what was really only 20-30 seconds.  I stared awkwardly straight ahead while he stood holding his sign, staring nervously the other direction.   What was his situation?  What where his needs?  I don’t know.  I looked at the empty bags on the floorboard that contained the remnants of my dinner, and thought about the items I had just purchased in my truck bed, but I took no action. I will add here, not to excuse myself but to set up the situation, this corner seems to be a professional corner.  Its one that is usually occupied by the sign holders.  However, this guy was not in the worn patch that is there, he was almost of the road.  But either way, this man has stuck with me all night.  Could I have helped him?  I don’t know.  Would a few loose coins, or a few dollars helped him?  I don’t know.  However, the part that has stuck with me is that whether I could have met his needs or not, he still is a person – made in God’s image, and I ignored him.  Its bothered me more that I judged him and didn’t even acknowledge that a person was standing right outside my car.  Had this been the Chick-fil-a cow and those idiotic Liberty Tax Dancers, or a dude holding a furniture store going out of business sign, I would have waved and watched their antics.  But since I felt this guy needed something from me, or was an inconvenience to me or something like that, I screened him and acted like he was not there.  EPIC FAIL!

42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42 NIV

So, my encouragement to you today, is to remember that all of us are made in God’s image and all of us are important and just people with problems.   I am not suggesting that I would have unloaded my wallet on this guy if I was back there again, but I may have at least made eye contact and treated him with respect.  The only way I could imagine that I might be better then him is the blood of Jesus and I did nothing to earn that gift.

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27 (New International Version)

Think about how you are looking at the people around you today!

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One of Those Days

As the alarm sounded this morning my mind immediately begin to run the list of the events of the day.  This at 7:30, that at 8, this at 10, that at 11, this at 11:30, that at 1, and that at 1, this at 2 and 3 and then this and then that… oh man….  I really just wanted to unplug the alarm clock and sleep.. until tomorrow.

There as to be more reason for the day then what lies ahead of me today.   Even as I write this this morning, I am anxious for the 3 little numbers in the bottom left corner of my monitor.  Its just doesn’t seem right, the sun has not peeked its head over Big Frog Mountain, and I am wound as tight as a … well something that is wound too tight…

So I turned my attention to two familiar passages this morning and I hope they stick with me today.

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life……O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-17

Also I have prayed this morning/am praying all day for God to use me in this business.  My prayer today is that I will focus on him and what he is bringing in front on me instead of the hectic schedule. It seems to be calming a little, so far.  But seriously, maybe your days are like this too.  I am going to try all day to focus on God and his desires in the midst of insanity and see how it goes.

I think maybe this is part of what he is getting at? Give it over to God today and see where it leads you!

Oh BTW, the Caleb Factor number is now 182 ( down 2) and the goal is still 174.  That’s a good start!