Investment

"Read the history books and see - for we were born but yesterday and know so little, our days here on earth are as transient as shadows. But the wisdom of the past will teach you. The experience of others will speak to you..."- Job 8:8-10 (TLB).

Do we know it all? Though Bildad's assumptions of Job losing everything were wrong, this is an important thing for us to look at. The past can teach us much. Looking to what God has done throughout the lives of others is an investment we all need in our own lives.

God help us to allow ourselves to be invested in through the past so as to strengthen our future. For our lives are "as transient as shadows." Amen.

Scary Stuff?

In my Life journal reading today I came across Jesus in the region of the Gerasenes dealing with the Legion of demons and the man possessed by them. It is interesting to me that after the entire event unfolds the only person begging to follow Jesus and be with him is the healed man. The people of that region were fearful and told Jesus that he needed to leave now! What is it about what we do not understand that makes us so afraid? It happens all the time. I think it is part of what makes man so intent on only believing what we can prove and make sense of. Spiritual matters are often hard to make sense of, and we can't always explain them away. It's what makes serving God so great is that what He does, we could never do.
Today, let go of the things you feel you need control over and see what God can do with a willing and accepting life! I believe we will be amazed at what He does as we allow Him to move freely! No need to be scared!

Compassion

Looking over the letters we have received from the 2 children we sponsor through Compassion International is always a blessing. Charles lives in Kenya while Natalia lives in Brazil. I so look forward to hearing from them and it's such a blessing to know that good things are happening for them. The latest letter from Natalia tells us that she wants our photo and that she prays for us everyday. She also told us that her little brother is "chubby and cute!" This is not about just giving charity for someone, but rather building a relationship with kids that bless us probably more than we can bless them.
Today I would encourage you to get involved with Compassion International and help children overseas get the care and education that every child deserves. Trust me, it will bless you as much as it has blessed us. Get involved my friends. Use well the time and resources God has entrusted to you. Compassion is simply one way to do that.

Humble & Gentle

Was reminded today while listening online to a message to embrace humility and gentleness in life. It is so easy to get involved in putting our heads down and bulldozing through with our own way, leaving others in the dust and often frustrated. Humility is living in such a way that we don't think we are above all others in our thinking or ways. The things we say sometimes aren't as important as the way in which we say it. We must have a gentleness about us in our words. I am reminded to allow God to show me how much grace I have received and MUST pass that grace on to those I come into contact with. We must do this as believers in Jesus Christ. Without it we cannot call ourselves Christ "followers". Let's allow God to break pride in our lives so that we may become gentle followers who are easy to be with. Amen!

Gems from the Leadership Summit

I spent the day at a Global Leadership Summit in Everett, WA. listening to a satellite feed from Willow Creek Church in Chicago. There are so many things to process and I am mulling back over many of them tonight. I want to share just a few things that really stood out to me and caused me to pause and reflect tonight. I hope they speak to you. Here we go...

1. "Can we please go find some darkness?" There was a cute story that goes along with this statement that I will not go into, but the fact is that Christians are too slow to get involved in the dark places that they would rather be sheltered from.

2. Breakthrough is never a single occurance, but a process. When we are always looking for the home run, we are really only grasping for something to save the day and probably on the verge of losing.

3. How is the quality of your antenna? Are our antennas in good working order to be able to hear from the Lord when He whispers?

4. Putting in long hours is not the same as being productive. They are totally seperate things.

5. Don't let the devil ride cause eventually he will want to drive! :)

6. There will always be certain tensions/problems in every organization that cannot and should not be solved/resolved, they just have to be managed.


Blessings!

Hope

I have hope. Some may say that "God is not at work", but I see it all the time. I see it in the faces of so many that are committed to Him. I see it in the way God places people in our paths to get to know. I see it in the way that so many people are seeking "more" but can't quite seem to nail down what "more" is. I believe people want to serve God but are looking for someone who is faithful to lead the way. I believe people want to know the God of the Bible but are looking for those who are committed to finding Him themselves. In the book of Esther we don't see God's name mentioned even once, but you can see strongly that God's providence is there. He is there, behind it all orchestrating all that takes place. Why do I have hope you ask, because I know that the God of the Bible uses the weak to humble the proud. I know that human strength cannot even begin to compare to God's "weakness", if He indeed had any. I have hope because I'm not in charge of God pouring out His spirit on us all, He is. "Pour out your Holy Spirit Lord as we bath in your presence, Amen."

Got Questions?

Habakkuk is so cool. I love his questions of what God was doing, makes me feel like I'm not the only one! Questioning what God is up to isn't wrong, God can handle it. Make sure however to do it with sincerity, that's the key. Habakkuk had questions and wasn't afraid to ask God. As a matter of fact he went up to a watchtower to listen intently for God's response. He didn't necessarily get the answer he thought he would get but God did show him what he was up to and for Habakkuk it was cause to sing praise to God. The next time you seek answers of what God is up to, make sure to:

1.Seek sincerely for God to show you His ways.

2.Listen intently somewhere where you can connect with God.

3.Praise God for His goodness when He does respond to you.

Be blessed today!