That's my question for you today. Are you overwhelmed yet? I know I am and I'm not even in your shoes. Sometimes life can just be that way, eh? Seems like you could use a breather and instead of the breath you get another weight put on your already stooped back. Yep, I know that. It's certainly not comfortable, is it.
I wish I could give you some easy antidote that would solve that feeling of overwhelmedness. Sadly, I don't have it. No easy antidote, that is. I can tell you what works, though. Romans 5:3-6 says, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (NLT) Interesting, right before that, Paul says, "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." (Romans 5:1-2, NLT) In other words, here we are in this grand place of being confident and joyful, looking forward to Heaven. BUT, right now we have this patch of being overwhelmed. Our job right now is to endure. Hang in there. Just keep pressing forward. IF we endure, in the end our hope will be rewarded. I think that's pretty good. One foot in front of the other. Eventually, you reach the end.
I have a situation that is requiring me to look at today and not the future. If I look at all that has to take place soon, it is almost so overwhelming that I can hardly breathe. Yet, if I take care of today, this hour, this minute, even sometimes this second, eventually I'll make it to the end. Life is not for sprinters. It's the ones who can plod who finish. Keep plodding, folks. I guarantee it - you will finish. By God's grace and faithfulness, you will complete the task for which He has called you at this time. Just keep moving.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Evolution
Would you allow me one more post about something I don't believe occurred, at least to the extent that common science wants to force on us. In this short 6 minute podcast, Howard Markel describes the etymology of the word, "evolution". Take a listen.
At the conclusion of this podcast, Markel almost sounds worshipful or nostalgic. The thought occurred to me, "How sad! Were we to think it all begins and ends here in this life, how utterly depressing!" However, I happen to be one of those folks who believes there is an eternity that makes what we consider to be concrete a mirage. That's what I call a real future!
At the conclusion of this podcast, Markel almost sounds worshipful or nostalgic. The thought occurred to me, "How sad! Were we to think it all begins and ends here in this life, how utterly depressing!" However, I happen to be one of those folks who believes there is an eternity that makes what we consider to be concrete a mirage. That's what I call a real future!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Creation - just happened?
By denying the Creator and us, as His creation, we think we give ourselves license to be and do anything we want. Not so.
Creation vs. evolution excuses poor choices because we don't have to answer to anyone and we can act/react to our animal instincts. See, when we devised a way to create our own gods, we gave ourselves the ability to rule them. By creating them, we rule them. They are ours. We give them attributes that we want them to have. We give them power that we want them to have. We also give them life. That makes us the creators ourselves. Now, stay with me for just a bit longer. So, if we can deny there is anything outside ourselves who created us and our world, then we give ourselves the power. But, if we admit there is "Something" out there that actually did the creating, the power is wrested from our grasp and placed in that "Something", or Someone. If that Being exists then it has ultimate power over us, our past, our present, our future. If evolution is false and if the Creator exists, then the rules the Creator has established will finally judge us. Those rules, then, make us responsible for our own actions. Someone once said, "If there is a God that created us, then I would be responsible for my own actions. I'll deny that God exists and therefore not have to give an account of my own actions." (Yep, paraphrased; after all, you're trusting this poor brain to remember all this.) So, for all humanity, there is a lot at stake in this discussion. It's more than our genetic make-up; it involves our whole being, from birth to death and beyond.
Creation vs. evolution excuses poor choices because we don't have to answer to anyone and we can act/react to our animal instincts. See, when we devised a way to create our own gods, we gave ourselves the ability to rule them. By creating them, we rule them. They are ours. We give them attributes that we want them to have. We give them power that we want them to have. We also give them life. That makes us the creators ourselves. Now, stay with me for just a bit longer. So, if we can deny there is anything outside ourselves who created us and our world, then we give ourselves the power. But, if we admit there is "Something" out there that actually did the creating, the power is wrested from our grasp and placed in that "Something", or Someone. If that Being exists then it has ultimate power over us, our past, our present, our future. If evolution is false and if the Creator exists, then the rules the Creator has established will finally judge us. Those rules, then, make us responsible for our own actions. Someone once said, "If there is a God that created us, then I would be responsible for my own actions. I'll deny that God exists and therefore not have to give an account of my own actions." (Yep, paraphrased; after all, you're trusting this poor brain to remember all this.) So, for all humanity, there is a lot at stake in this discussion. It's more than our genetic make-up; it involves our whole being, from birth to death and beyond.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Future?
A friend of mine just sent a link to an interesting article. In this article, the author describes how the future sort of sneaks up on us. It's almost the proverbial frog in the boiling water on the stove. Take a read. It's quite lengthy, but I think it bears exploring.
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Yesterday, today, or tomorrow?
A friend of mine (Steve Sturtevant) shared the following in a prayer bulletin he sends out nearly every week. This was written by Bob Goss.
God determines the number of your days, but you determine how they are spent. The Psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad it.” Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is all you’ve got. And you can begin your life over today. If you live by these words: “Today I will delete from my diary two days—yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday was for learning; tomorrow will be a consequence of what I do today. Today I will face life with the conviction that this day will never return, that it may be the last opportunity I’ll have to contribute because there’s no guarantee I’ll see tomorrow. Today I will be courageous enough not to let opportunity pass me by; my only alternative will be to succeed. Today I will invest my most valuable resource, my time, into my most important possession, the life God has given me. I’ll spend each minute purposefully, making today a unique opportunity. I’ll tackle each obstacle knowing that with God’s help I can overcome it. Today I will resist doubt and pessimism and warm my world with a smile. I’ll maintain a strong faith, expect nothing but the best, take time to be happy, see every task as an opportunity to honor the Lord, and endeavor to leave His footprints on the hearts of those I meet.” John Boykin wrote, “Time is your life—nothing more, nothing less. The way you spend your hours and days, is way you spend your life.”
God determines the number of your days, but you determine how they are spent. The Psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad it.” Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is all you’ve got. And you can begin your life over today. If you live by these words: “Today I will delete from my diary two days—yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday was for learning; tomorrow will be a consequence of what I do today. Today I will face life with the conviction that this day will never return, that it may be the last opportunity I’ll have to contribute because there’s no guarantee I’ll see tomorrow. Today I will be courageous enough not to let opportunity pass me by; my only alternative will be to succeed. Today I will invest my most valuable resource, my time, into my most important possession, the life God has given me. I’ll spend each minute purposefully, making today a unique opportunity. I’ll tackle each obstacle knowing that with God’s help I can overcome it. Today I will resist doubt and pessimism and warm my world with a smile. I’ll maintain a strong faith, expect nothing but the best, take time to be happy, see every task as an opportunity to honor the Lord, and endeavor to leave His footprints on the hearts of those I meet.” John Boykin wrote, “Time is your life—nothing more, nothing less. The way you spend your hours and days, is way you spend your life.”
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