Things

Most of my life was lived with a sense of what is the next great thing that I can accomplish.  What is that next great thing to own?

A year or two ago I moved across the country and in doing so knew that I would be facing a different culture.  This culture had the rap of property theft.  As I thought about this, the Holy Spirit laid upon me that nothing in my truck or the moving van was really mine.

I am nothing but a steward of ALL things that are given to me.

My thoughts of loss turned to thoughts of blessings.  These things are only temporary in all ways.  God granted me access to them so that I may serve Him and to delight in the things of this world that HE provides.

What a great process to see all things as gifts, to see the blessing of God in all things.

Today my challenge is to remind others of the temporariness of all things.  See things in life as blessings.

After all, if you are saved, a child of the one true God, then no one on this earth can take the one thing that you have, sealed with the Holy Spirit in you.  That one thing is your salvation in Christ Jesus.

Amen,  Today see the blessings in all things.

Thomas

Growing for Christ

Growing for Christ http://tomkulp.blogspot.com/2008/10/growing-for-christ.html

Reason for the Season

Sometimes in our weakest moments we can find a reminder that God is with us.

At the top of our tallest mountains in life, God is there.  He was there all along, yet many times it would seem the teacher is quietest during the test.  God is with us.  As we mature as Christians and study His Word, allowing it to transform us, we will learn deeper and deeper the grace that He extended to us.

Today focus on the real gift of Christmas, our Saviour's celebrated birth.  We can be like the wiseman and give gifts to others to glorify the giving that came first from our Lord.

Bless you and keep the reason for the season, foremost in all that you do.

Jesus Lives.

Roadblocks

Obstacles and other roadblocks are sometimes in our life to protect us from going down a path that is not safe for us. Sometimes those roadblocks lead us to roads we would have never taken otherwise. Give yourself some quiet time, pray to God to give you wisdom and then trust your inner voice.

I am reminded of a time many years ago that I was traveling out west and decided to take a trip across Wyoming. Let me be straight it was a one day drive from Rapid City, South Dakota to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The next morning we left Jackson Hole to travel thru Yellowstone National Park and out the East Gate to go straight to Cody, WY. The day was sunny and cold, as we got into Yellowstone and viewed the Teton Range, I was in awe.

After watching Ole Faithful spout in full glory we had lunch and right about then it started to snow. The East gate was closed and knowing the park at night is not the best place to be especially in a Chrysler car, we hit the roadblock, turned around and made plans to exit the Northeast Gate. This was hours out of our way in the snowstorm. We finally made it to a small town outside of the park that evening and slept an exhausted sleep. The next morning we re mapped our route and traveled on a road named the Chief Joseph Highway. One of the most beautiful roads in the world. Had the roadblock not been there I would have missed this experience.

Trust that there are times that God allows a roadblock to let us experience greater joy than we could imagine. So trust in God. He knows the pathway we are to travel.

Time

If I could save time in a bottle.....

Would we?

Wonder if the bottle would overflow. Or would we keep getting new bottles. Where do we store these bottles. Do we have time to revisit the bottles? Pour them out and relive them.

I chose to remember the past. Live the present. Have faith in the future.

The Bible says we are fools to plan our days fir our own dreams. If it is Gods will it will be

Just heard a story about a seven foot seven inch college basketball player that will lose part if his foot due to infection. This man was probably assured of millions in the NBA. Today the reality has changed. Will he trust in God that this is for a purpose. Would I trust?



Posted with LifeCast

Living A Life

How sad that he died at forty, with most of his living undone. But sadder still that he hung around to be buried at eighty one.

Live your life while you can.

Find the balance to live, give and feel.

Life is not about aquiring money, but aquiring experiences to share, to grow, and therefore to give back.

Live your life to serve. Be noble in all you do.

Growing for Christ

 

Sat with God today.

 

God I am struggling to understand your will for me, my salvation, and your Grace.

 

God seems to allow a story to appear to me:

 

This is the story.

 

My child, you have done well, to surrender to me, to accept my Son Jesus Christ, as your personal savior.  There is nothing you can do to earn this right, nothing you can do to lose my love and acceptance of you.   My child I am giving you a piece of my earth, the responsibility to take care of this land is what I ask.  My dearest youngster, this piece of ground that I gave to you is large enough to produce much fruit, the seeds of which you will give away to others so that they may experience the journey that you are about to take.  Dear child, it is I who has given you the Book to succeed in this journey, this Book is all that you will need to grow this land that I give to you; into a mature orchard.  You will need to plant 9 trees, it is important to nurture these trees that they do not fail to produce; this is my mission for you.  You will honor me by doing what you are told.  Learn my child from the others that have come before you, trust the wisdom in your older more mature brothers and sisters, learn from the teachers that I have provided for you, join in fellowship and worship with them.  My child these trees are named for my fruits, the very food that you will need to grow my kingdom with; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  My dear one, it is not an easy task that I require of you, your enemy, satan, will try to bring struggle and hardship, and in these times, know that I am with you, know that I will allow them, these trials, to your point of strength that you may grow strong and be a warrior for my kingdom.  My son, know that no one comes to full maturity without struggle, know that in every trial you will become strengthened by fire, to endure the pathway.  Stay steadfast in my journey; keep my Word in your heart and soul.  My Son I have placed the Holy Spirit in your soul so that you may communicate with me and gain a deep understanding of my Word, my instructions, and the depth of my love.  Son, this land will need you to work hard, and put my mission first in all that you do.  I will understand that it will take time to grow this orchard; you will need to prepare the ground, remove the weeds, and dig up and burn the roots of old.  You are called to be born again, a fisherman, a farmer, a voice in darkness, a light to the lost.  You will need to toil in the sun and endure the rains.  As you see success in this growth do not take leisure, for as you start to show accomplishment you will need to be humble , so that you do not become self serving, proud, selfish or earthly in your thoughts, for these things do not please me.  My son you will need to stay the course, and trust in me.  There will not be a time that you will be able to take your eyes from my work, it will need to be your life work, for this is all that I ask; that you make this orchard flourish, and honor me with the fruits of your labor.   My loved one as you grow in knowledge I will bless you with a larger tract, and more generous fruits.  You will grow to be a teacher of my flock; this is my calling to all my children.  My son the day will come when you come to me and I will rejoice in saying; Well done, my good and faithful servant.

 

Your Father.