It's finally here, the 29th of February. The extra day in our calendar. It took four years and it's finally here.
What would you do with an extra day? Would you go have fun? Read a book? Spend more time with someone? Sleep?
It seems so often we have wonderful plans for good things like spending time with God or serving others when "I have extra time". But you will never have "extra" time. Even on this leap day it really isn't anything extra, we're going to do all the same things today we'd do on any other Monday.
You have to find time. Make choices to spend your time wisely. Make sure you delegate time for what's important.
Otherwise, it will be four years before you have this day again...
T
Monday, February 29, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Is It About Us?
This has been something weighing on my mind this morning:
When was the last time I worshipped in a way that I found uncomfortable, but I did it so someone else could find God?
When was the last time I prayed for something I didn't want, but I knew it was necessary?
When was the last time I talked to someone I didn't want to, but they needed to be loved even if it's through a tiny conversation?
When was the last time I served when I really just wanted to stay home?
When was the last time I read my Bible when a hockey game was on?
When was the last time I sang a song I didn't really like in church but knew it was speaking to the heart of someone else there?
When was the last time I gave money to God that I could have spent on myself?
When was the last time I helped or served in a way I didn't like but knew it would help someone else?
When was the last time I listened to an opinion I didn't agree with, but listened and did not try to force in my thoughts?
When was the last time I did anything difficult for me just so someone else could have a glimpse of Christ and His incredible love for someone?
When was the last time I asked myself the hard questions, wrestled with them, and actually tried to be more of who Christ wants me to be?
T
When was the last time I worshipped in a way that I found uncomfortable, but I did it so someone else could find God?
When was the last time I prayed for something I didn't want, but I knew it was necessary?
When was the last time I talked to someone I didn't want to, but they needed to be loved even if it's through a tiny conversation?
When was the last time I served when I really just wanted to stay home?
When was the last time I read my Bible when a hockey game was on?
When was the last time I sang a song I didn't really like in church but knew it was speaking to the heart of someone else there?
When was the last time I gave money to God that I could have spent on myself?
When was the last time I helped or served in a way I didn't like but knew it would help someone else?
When was the last time I listened to an opinion I didn't agree with, but listened and did not try to force in my thoughts?
When was the last time I did anything difficult for me just so someone else could have a glimpse of Christ and His incredible love for someone?
When was the last time I asked myself the hard questions, wrestled with them, and actually tried to be more of who Christ wants me to be?
T
Monday, February 15, 2016
Happy President's Day
Who wants that job?
Judging by how things are going in the election right now, not many people. And the people who do want the job we aren't very happy with.
So here's my question. When was the last time you prayed for these leaders? Not prayed for God to remove them or fix them, but prayed for them?
Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. ~ I Tim. 2:1-2 (TLB)
It's not an easy job, I bet they could use some prayer...
T
Judging by how things are going in the election right now, not many people. And the people who do want the job we aren't very happy with.
So here's my question. When was the last time you prayed for these leaders? Not prayed for God to remove them or fix them, but prayed for them?
Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. ~ I Tim. 2:1-2 (TLB)
It's not an easy job, I bet they could use some prayer...
T
Monday, February 08, 2016
It's Hard Letting Go
Last week I lost something very dear to me. It was beyond my control, there was nothing I could do to stop it. I lost my favorite internet radio site live365.
Now, let's break this down a little. It was never really "mine". There are hundreds of other places I can go to listen to music online. But you know what? This was my favorite. It was my go to. We had the app/program on every single device we own. And because of that moving on and moving forward seems hard.
But that's how life seems to be many times. We hold on to something, not even because it's the best, but because it's the familiar. I may find something else I like even better. I may even expand my musical horizons. But part of me doesn't want to let go simply because I don't want to let go.
How often do we have to be forced to get rid of things in our lives that are actually holding us back simply because we don't want to let go? We don't want to go through the pain of finding a new spreadsheet program and learning how to use it so instead we stick with the program from 1997 we already have and know. And sometimes, the only way we get out of that cycle is a program crashing and we are forced to find a new one and learn it and realize how we've been handicapped all this time without realizing it.
Jesus does this for us too. Sometimes we are living in ways that are old and familiar and holding us back but we don't realize it. And hopefully, we can start to make the change before our world crashes around us and we have to change. For some, that never happens and we still live with our broken lives. Let's choose not to, let's be better.
Ephesians 4:21-24 ~ Since you really listened to him and you were taught how the truth is in Jesus, change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness. (CEB)
T
Now, let's break this down a little. It was never really "mine". There are hundreds of other places I can go to listen to music online. But you know what? This was my favorite. It was my go to. We had the app/program on every single device we own. And because of that moving on and moving forward seems hard.
But that's how life seems to be many times. We hold on to something, not even because it's the best, but because it's the familiar. I may find something else I like even better. I may even expand my musical horizons. But part of me doesn't want to let go simply because I don't want to let go.
How often do we have to be forced to get rid of things in our lives that are actually holding us back simply because we don't want to let go? We don't want to go through the pain of finding a new spreadsheet program and learning how to use it so instead we stick with the program from 1997 we already have and know. And sometimes, the only way we get out of that cycle is a program crashing and we are forced to find a new one and learn it and realize how we've been handicapped all this time without realizing it.
Jesus does this for us too. Sometimes we are living in ways that are old and familiar and holding us back but we don't realize it. And hopefully, we can start to make the change before our world crashes around us and we have to change. For some, that never happens and we still live with our broken lives. Let's choose not to, let's be better.
Ephesians 4:21-24 ~ Since you really listened to him and you were taught how the truth is in Jesus, change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness. (CEB)
T
Monday, February 01, 2016
"I Found My New Favorite Bible Verse"
I heard this statement three times last night.
And one of them wasn't even a verse they were asked to look up.
This is what can happen if we choose to read our Bibles. We find nuggets of truth that speak to us. We find words that inspire us, bring us comfort, let us know that we are loved by the God of the universe.
Start reading, you may be surprised what you find.
T
And one of them wasn't even a verse they were asked to look up.
This is what can happen if we choose to read our Bibles. We find nuggets of truth that speak to us. We find words that inspire us, bring us comfort, let us know that we are loved by the God of the universe.
Start reading, you may be surprised what you find.
T
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