Are you the type of person who sees a glass half full or half empty? I don’t think we are born positive or negative; it’s just that life’s circumstances shape us into one or the other. I mean, when you have positive expectations that just don’t pan out, it can be very disappointing. And, let’s admit it, disappointment hurts! No one wants to experience that pain over and over again. So, instead of high hopes, a person who has gone through the pain of disappointment tends to settle for low or no expectations. After all, if you aren’t expecting much, you probably won’t be disappointed when nothing happens.
But is that the way to get the most out of life? I believe God is a positive force, not a negative one. When we think positively, positive things are more likely to happen. When we think negatively, negative things are more likely to happen. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think of things that are pure and lovely, and true and noble, things that are excellent and praiseworthy. It also says in Proverbs 23:7 that whatever a person thinks in his heart, so is he. You become what you dwell on. You can be a negative person or a positive person. Believe me, it’s more pleasant to be with positive people. Even in a negative situation, a follower of Christ can hold to the promise of God in Romans 8:28, “…all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Expect the best—God will not let you down. In Sync With God by Larry Refsland
Do you have a good sense of timing or are you one of those rhythm-impaired people? There are people that have rhythm and there are those who don’t. That’s true about clapping along to an upbeat song and it’s true about life, like the person who always seems to be at the right place at the right time. It’s like being “in sync” with the rhythm of life. Being out of sync always ends up in disappointment. One person described it like this, “When my ship came in I was at the train station!” Even being a little off can have disastrous results over time. Like a person sailing across the ocean without the proper bearings, even one or two degrees off course could make the difference between landing on a warm sandy resort beach or in the middle of a tribe of cannibals! One way to be “in sync” with life is to be sure of whom you are following. If you follow someone who themselves is off the beat, you obviously will be off as well. If you follow someone’s life example that is off-course, your life will be off-course too. The Bible says, “The Lord is with you when you are with Him” (2 Chronicles 15:2). In other words, get in sync with God. Follow his principles and plans that are spelled out in the Bible. Seek his direction in every aspect of your life and watch how he helps you succeed in every area. Staying in sync is key to your success and happiness. Pick up the rhythm for your life from the one who set the universe in order and has perfect timing. God bless you and have an awesome day! Remember This When You Lose Your Hair by Larry Refsland
Are you losing your hair? If your thick hair has been thinning out lately, I’ve got encouraging news for you! You’re not the only one paying attention to your receding hairline. I always tell my balding brother, “Cheer up, don’t think of it as less hair, think of it as more forehead!” The Bible says that God knows the number of hairs on our heads. In other words, God is interested in every aspect of our lives. It says he knows our rising up and our laying down, our going out and our coming in. God is paying attention to you. Why? Not because he is spying on you, waiting for you to slip up. He’s watching you to help you. He’s watching you to encourage you, to protect you, to guide you. He knows how yesterday’s bad news made you feel and he’s there to comfort you. He knows the joy you felt at your latest success and he is rejoicing with you. He knows the concern you have over the welfare of your children and he is there to give you peace of mind. The next time you check out your hairline, remember God’s love and care for you. There is nothing too big for God and there is nothing too small for Him either. Not when it comes to His children. His desire is that you would seek Him and go to Him with everything that is concerning you. Whether it’s about your health, your marriage or even if it’s about losing your hair! Have a great hair day! by Larry Refsland
What would baseball be without umpires? Anybody who has ever played or watched a baseball game knows how important a good umpire is. They call balls and strikes, indicate whether a ball is in fair or foul territory and decide close plays by declaring a runner either “safe” or “out”. When a good umpire makes the calls, the game is fair and orderly. We may not always like the calls, but for the game to continue we abide by their decisions. The rules of the game are followed and we enjoy the competition. The Bible says that God has given us an umpire to help us live our lives according to the game rules. Here’s what Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The original Greek word for “guard” is the same word from which we get the word “umpire” today. In other words, the peace of God will be the umpire for our hearts and minds as we bring everything to God in prayer. How do we know if we should pursue that relationship, or change careers, or buy that house? Present it to God and follow the peace that he gives. If there is no peace, the umpire is saying, “That’s out of bounds, don’t go there.” If there is a very strong sense of peace, follow it. Don’t forget, the umpire of peace can only be relied upon when we have first brought the situation to God in prayer. I encourage you to be sensitive to God’s umpire of peace to direct your life today. Now, play ball! Under Construction by Larry Refsland
It’s exciting to watch a building under construction as it takes shape. I can’t wait to see how it turns out! It’s impossible to tell from a pile of lumber what the finished product will look like or what the structure will be used for. The further along the building is, the more evident the purpose and design becomes. Each of us is like a pile of raw building material. Jesus Christ is the master builder. He has a plan—a blueprint for our lives. The Bible teaches us that if we want the finished product to stand against the storms of life, we must build our lives on a sure foundation. That foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told a story of a foolish man who built his house upon the sand and a wise man who built his house on the rock. He said, “When the storms came, the foolish man’s house was destroyed but the wise man’s house stood firm.” No one escapes the storms of life. Bad things happen to all people. The question is, will your house stand? Does it have a firm foundation? As we make Christ the foundation, he puts us together as a master builder and makes us into a building he can use. “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until He comes” (Philippians 1:6). In other words, once he’s started building you, he keeps perfecting the work throughout our entire lives. One song-writer put it like this: “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be; It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be, He’s still working on me.” God is a People Watcher by Larry Refsland
Are you a people watcher like I am? I enjoy going to places where there are lots of people. It’s fascinating to watch and listen to the words and actions of children, parents, friends and lovers. Some will be having the time of their life and others are having a bad day. You can tell who’s in a hurry and who has time on their hands. Some people seem like they are on a mission and others look like they missed the boat. You know, God is also a people-watcher. “The eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro over all the earth, looking for someone He can help” (2 Chronicles 16:9). When I’m people watching, I don’t pay attention to the person who looks like they have it all together. Frankly, they’re boring. I’m more likely to notice the frustrated dad waiting for the kids to catch up to him or the mom that’s digging in her bags for something to keep the baby occupied. God’s eyes are drawn to those that need help as well. You can rest assured that God has taken notice of your situation. Whether you need help with a relationship, finances or a life-controlling problem, he is ready to assist you. The Bible says when we are in distress we should “seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). As I’m people watching, often I see situations where I can lend a hand, open a door or point out the missing person they’re looking for. God is able to come alongside of us and help us as well. Just call upon Him. He’s as close as the mention of His name. Look up to the Lord who is tenderly watching you. A study just came out about how rudeness is contagious. In the workplace, if someone is rude it can negatively affect everyone, and in future incidences people will perceive rudeness where there may be none. Some workplaces have viral rudeness, but God can help us to clear the air with positive words that build one another up. Let me share how.
In a court of law, anyone about to give testimony must be sworn in, and I think it’s interesting that part of the oath is to ask for God’s help to tell the truth. The Bible tells us that God can help us with what comes out of our mouth. God is truth. He cannot lie. When God is in control of our lives, his character naturally is revealed in our lives. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” Jesus is recorded as saying in Matthew and Luke. One of his disciples, James, compared our speech to a river when he wrote, “Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh and bitter water?” We need God’s help to cleanse our inner being—our speech will reflect whether he has done that or not. Let me encourage you to ask God to “set a watch over your lips and guard over your mouth” (Psalm 141:3). He will help us to not only tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, He will also help us to speak works of healing, encouragement, and love. Just as one person can influence a conversation negatively, one person can also influence a conversation positively. The Bible encourages us to think of things that are pure and lovely and of a good report. These thoughts will come out in the words you choose. Let us be the people with words of truth and love, so help us God! Does your name identify who you are? Many of us have grown up with nicknames, some not too complimentary. Sometimes a single event in your life can cause you to get stuck with a nickname that stays with you forever.
In Bible days, everyone’s name had meaning. In some cases a person’s name became a self-fulfilling prophecy. There were names with a positive meaning like Joshua, which means “one who saves”, or Isaac, which means “he laughs”. But other names were not so positive, like a man named Jabez. When Jabez was born, the Bible says his mother had a very painful delivery, so she named him Jabez, which means “one who causes pain”. Can you imagine having Pain for a name? “Hey Pain, get out of my way!” “You’re such a pain, Pain.” As Jabez got older, the Bible says he prayed to God and asked God for two things. He asked God to enlarge his territory and to help him so he would not cause pain. He refused to be defined by his name. The label put on him was not going to determine his outcome in life. Some of us grew up in a home with a less than honorable name. I believe we can pray a prayer like Jabez. We can ask God to raise us above a bad name or reputation. The Bible says that when we start following Jesus Christ, he makes us new creatures, old things are passed away and all things become new. Jabez trusted God to lift him above the labels others had put on him. Don’t let some event of your life determine who you are, and don’t let the name you inherited define your future. Instead, become a new creature in Christ and be identified as a member of his family. This may not be the first day of the year, but it could be the first day of the rest of your life!
It’s easy for us to carry the weight and worry of yesterday into today. The result is always defeat and discouragement. What if we could start with a clean slate? What if the mistakes of our past couldn’t be held against us? What if our tomorrows depended on today instead of yesterday? How would that change your life? According to the Bible, that’s the opportunity God presents to us. When we ask God to forgive our past mistakes and put our trust in Jesus for tomorrow, our past is wiped clean. Isaiah 1:18 says, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be clean; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as white as wool.” In fact, God’s promise is to make us so clean so that, in His eyes, we are spotless and without fault. We can only have victory today and hope for tomorrow when we ask God to take care of yesterday. Every day can be the first day of the rest of your life. No one needs to carry the weight of past sins—Jesus ‘ death paid for those errors. All he asks is that you follow him today and trust him for the future. If your past has weighed you down, ask Christ to erase it with his love and forgiveness. He won’t refuse you. Only then can we live like there’s no yesterday! The Ultimate Thirst Quencher by Larry Refsland
When you’re really, really thirsty, what do you reach for? There are so many sports drinks available today. Remember when Gatorade was the only brand? And they only had one flavor? Now it’s big business, and several companies are competing to satisfy athletes and anyone else that works up a thirst. (Speaking of which, pardon me a second… twisting the cap, pour, drink, aaaaah). Now, where was I? Oh yeah, thirst quenchers! The Bible records an incident where Jesus met a thirsty woman at a well. She had come to draw water, but Jesus saw that she was also thirsty for satisfaction, security and love. It turned out that this woman had been consistently turning to men to find fulfillment. She had been married five times and was now living with a man. She had already drawn from at least six masculine wells trying to find satisfaction. Jesus offered her living water that would permanently quench her thirsty heart. This living water, the ultimate thirst quencher, is a relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can truly satisfy. We cannot hope that another human being will bring us true and lasting joy and happiness. Men and women will let you down. Relationships fail, but Jesus never fails! Nothing can separate us from his love. He loves you unconditionally. He invites you to drink from a relationship with him. That void in your life—the sense that there has to be more, can only be satisfied by turning your life to him. Go to the source of living water, ask Him to fill you up today and be our guide from now on. Knowing the Limits by Larry Refsland
Salespeople, entrepreneurs, and pilots are all familiar with the term “stretching the envelope”. Pushing yourself to the limit of your abilities can be a good way to enhance your skill and increase your income. There is a difference, however, between stretching the envelope and straying outside the envelope altogether. Most everyone has tried to see how far he or she could go before something negative happened. A child will test the limits of his or her parents’ rules. An athlete may try performance enhancement drugs. Anyone with a car has tested the extent of the speed limit at some time. The problem is, it’s sometimes hard to tell if you’re stretching your ability or testing your luck. We all know someone who has suffered an unhappy ending when luck ran out. A study several years ago demonstrated the value of clearly defined boundaries. Two elementary school playgrounds were used to test children’s behavior with or without known boundaries. One playground had no fence, while the other playground was entirely fenced. Researchers observed the children in the fenced playground actually used more of the area and enjoyed themselves within the safe boundaries established for them more than the children in the unfenced playground. Boundaries are designed to keep bad things away from us, as well as to prevent us from straying too far from safety. God has established boundaries so that we can enjoy life more fully. He wants us to experience all the good in life without the harmful consequences that inevitably happen outside of those limits. He loves you enough to offer you his protection so you can be all he wants you to be. A dog is man’s best friend… or is he? When the conversation comes to discussing the family dog, everyone has a story. These amazing animals bring enjoyment and companionship to so many. You may remember a particular dog you had that was very loyal or protective. Or you might be especially fond of a dog for its hunting skill or obedience. Other dogs are just a bundle of energy and really let you know how happy they are to be with you.
Yes, dogs can be very good friends. They don’t judge or criticize you. They quickly forgive you and seem to sense when you need someone to be near. They aren’t giving any advice, but are just being present. The Bible says that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is our faithful companion. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He quickly forgives us and overlooks a multitude of sins because of his great love for us. He did not come to condemn us, but to give us life and that more abundantly! When we are lonely, he is there to talk to. When we are afraid, he’s there to comfort us. When we are happy, he shares our joy. Jesus is that friend. The old hymn reminds us, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” If you need a friend, one who accepts you just as you are, call on Jesus today! How to Get to Heaven by Larry Refsland
"Don’t leave home without it!” I’m not talking about your American Express card; I’m talking about your map! If you’re going on a trip to a place you’ve never gone before, it’s a good idea to bring along a map. Or you’ll be stopping every so often to ask directions, and you know how embarrassing that can be! Speaking of asking for directions, do you know how to get to Heaven from your town? I’m serious! Some people think the road to heaven is found by doing good deeds. Others would say you take the highway of “trusting your church” to get you there. But, according to the Bible, there is only one road to heaven and that is the person of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.” Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible makes clear the point that the way to Heaven is by accepting the free gift of God’s grace by faith. In Romans 10:9 it says if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. In order to say truthfully that Jesus is Lord, you must turn over to Him your life and ask him to lead you the rest of your life. He will lead you to Heaven. You’ll never make it there on your own ability or merit. You must become a follower of Jesus Christ. So go ahead, get out your roadmap to eternity, the Bible, and check the directions. You can get on the right road today by asking him to lead you. Have a safe and joyful journey. Parent Rules by Larry Refsland
“Don’t smoke, don’t chew, and don’t go with girls that do!” That’s the kind of advice I got as a teenager from my mom and other adults. It seemed like every time I turned around, I was breaking one of the many rules I grew up with. When I married and had kids of my own, we tried to give a more hopeful approach to parenting. My wife and I have tried to raise our kids with only two rules. In fact, these are the same rules we use for children in our church as well. Rule #1: Don’t do something that will hurt yourself. Rule #2: Don’t do something that will hurt someone else. When you boil the Ten Commandments down to its basic premise, you get these two rules. You know, Jesus also reduced the rules and laws of the Bible to two commands. In Mark 12:30-32, he says, first love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. That’s not too complicated, is it? See, God’s not into rules! He’s into a relationship. That relationship has been initiated by His love for you and me. His command is for us to respond to that love and let that love be reflected in our actions toward others. How difficult is that? About as difficult as diving into a big bowl of ice cream with your favorite topping! When we realize God’s plan is to help us and not to hurt us, we are more willing to accept and respond to His love. So remember, keep it simple—two rules for parenting, two rules for a relationship with God that lead to life! Friday the 13th by Larry Refsland
Black cats crossing your path, walking under ladders, being careful not to step on a crack lest you break your mother’s back! These are all superstitions to most people. But everyone has some kinds of fears. In fact, superstitions are founded in fear. Some fears, however, are healthy. I have a healthy fear of electricity. It makes me cautious around wiring projects. When I was a kid, I had an unhealthy fear of chickens! Yeah, that’s right! Go ahead and laugh! I even had nightmares about them. After almost being forced to help catch chickens at my uncle’s chicken ranch, I gradually outgrew my unhealthy fear of them. Fear can be a powerful force. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God did not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.” One of the most repeated phrases in the Bible are these words of God to his people, “Fear not!” God would have us trust Him with our worst fears. Psalm 27, King David wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” It goes with these encouraging words, “for in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle, and set me high upon a rock.” Remember, “perfect love drives out fear”, and God loves you perfectly (1 John 4:18). He loves you more than life itself. He will keep you safe even in the valley of the shadow of death. Call upon Him for peace and safety—He will be sure to answer you. Then you will say with King David, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Pouring concrete for a living is hard, physical work. But there’s a lesson in the mix for all of us. I’ve been doing concrete work since the late ‘70s and have learned every good foundation has the same basic components. First, It has to be formed properly. Second, the concrete must have the right mix of ingredients. And third, it must have a durable finish. Our lives are a lot like that concrete, and I don’t mean all mixed up and permanently set!
Concrete should be poured into forms. The forms give the concrete its shape until it cures and stays there on its own. God has a given us his word, the Bible, which gives us the form for our lives. It helps to shape us into the people he wants us to be. It sets the boundaries for our lives so that we don’t run all over the place like concrete poured on the ground with no forms. The ingredients of our lives are the experiences we go through. God knows just the right amounts of joy and pain, hardship and prosperity that we need to make us strong and steady. The finish is the part people see. 1 Samuel 16:7 records the Lord said to Samuel, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” God is more concerned with what’s under the surface—how our lives are formed, and how strong the mix is, than with outward beauty. Even so, he still takes the time to put an appropriate finish on us. He smoothes out the rough spots and gives us shine that reflects the strength he has given us deep inside. May He continue to build you up into a solid child of God. “I surrender!” “I give up!” “Uncle!” All these phrases are used when one person knows that he has been defeated and can’t take anymore. Whether it’s a kid in a wrestling match on the playground or a nation’s army that knows they have been licked, the action is the same. One gives up and admits it cannot win.
Back in 1945, when the Japanese stopped fighting at the close of World War II, the official surrender occurred on the battleship Missouri. General Douglas MacArthur represented the United States. The highly decorated Japanese admiral representing Japan extended his hand to MacArthur in an expression of peace and friendship. MacArthur, however, did not accept the handshake. He said, “Sir, first hand over your sword.” After the defeated admiral surrendered his sword, MacArthur then shook the man’s hand. This act symbolized an end to the fighting and to the future threat of war. When we come to God for help, we first come to him in surrender. We must hand over the sword—the willful resistance we have maintained against him. He wants to be our friend, not our adversary. When we resist his will, we are saying we don’t trust him completely with our lives. The United States went to great lengths after the surrender to rebuild the country of Japan and establish an ongoing relationship, which continues to this day. God has gone to great lengths to rebuild our relationship with him. We owe him our lives—we owe him our unconditional surrender. Are you ready to hand over your sword and make peace with God today? He’s ready to start rebuilding. I couldn’t help but notice the sign on the back of the semi I was following the other day. It said, “Owner/Operator Wanted.” Trucking companies are always looking for an ambitious driver that is willing to assume the responsibility of paying for and maintaining their own rig. The owner/operator assumes the majority of the risk, while the company lines up the loads and takes care of a lot of the paperwork. It’s a pretty good arrangement for the trucker and the company he drives for.
As a follower of Christ, things work a little differently. Driving for God’s fleet starts with turning over the ownership of our life to him. There are no owner/operators driving in God’s kingdom. God owns the whole rig or nothing at all. And who does the driving? Well, Jesus Christ wants to do that! He’s never content with just being along for the ride. He wants to be the operator of your life. See, in God’s Kingdom, we are not the owner or the driver—God is both. He takes us down roads we would never have been without Him. He shows us people and places that he wants us to deliver his good news to. He’ll steer us to situations where we can pick up a load of grief and drop off a load of joy. Everyday is an adventure when you turn over the title and the keys to the Lord Jesus Christ! Give up the owner/operator status in your life and, instead, report for duty as a passenger and follower of Christ. Whether you’re a trucker, a baker, or a homemaker, God wants to be your leader. Have an awesome day! Have you ever wished for wings? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly like a bird? Every child, at some time, runs around with arms spread out in hopes of catching just the right kind of updraft to send him soaring through the air. I know I’ve done it.
Did you know that the Bible tells us that God wants us to soar like eagles? Maybe not in a physical sense but certainly in a spiritual sense. God’s plan and desire for us is to go higher and experience more than we are right now. If you want to reach new heights in God, follow the eagle’s example. First, find an updraft. You’ve seen eagles circling, effortlessly, rising as they go. That’s because they’ve found an updraft of air that lifts them ever higher and higher. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Waiting on the Lord is where we catch an updraft. Spending time with him in prayer and worship creates a lift in our spirits and takes us above the day to day circumstances of life that weigh us down. Everyone has a down day—Mondays especially are like that. But your day can change to an “up” day simply by taking a moment to wait upon the Lord. He will send an updraft in your spirit that will energize you and help you to overcome every difficult situation facing you. Why not pause right now and spend a moment with God? Spread your wings and let him lift you higher. You’ll find it takes no effort at all—He will do all the work. Now go soar through the day! Have you ever watched a skilled potter form a hunk of clay into a pot or a jar? Fascinating to watch, the potter uses his or her hands to shape and mold the clay until it becomes something useful and attractive. Around and around goes the wheel, every turn giving the potter an opportunity to make another unique feature in the raw material. It’s important for the clay to be flexible. Once it hardens, its shape can’t be changed.
Just as the clay forms in the hands of the potter, the Lord is shaping us. He is the potter; we are the clay. He is forming us into a vessel with a special purpose. Just as a potter has an end product in mind as he starts to work the clay, so God has an end product in his mind for each of us. He’s making us into something he can use. The key is to stay flexible! I used to have a sign in my office that said, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Remembering that we are the clay means we don’t resist the shaping process God is taking us through. The clay doesn’t ask the potter, “Why did you make me like this?” We, as human clay, simply trust God, the Potter, to lovingly shape our lives. When we resist him, we are hardened and inflexible. We are saying, “We know better than the Potter.” I encourage you to yield to the Potter’s hand today. Everyday is like a turn of the Potter’s wheel. He has a plan and purpose for you. It is a better plan than we could possibly attain on our own. Without him, you are just a lump of clay. With him, you become a one-of-a-kind vessel with purpose and strength. Have you ever pulled on a stray thread and unraveled half of your sweater? It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. Just give it a little tug and things will be fine. Then suddenly the ordered whole becomes a tangled mess, and it seems impossible to put it back. The same thing can happen in our lives. The smallest mistake can sometimes turn out to unravel our whole life! Trying to fix it on our own, we make matters worse.
God has woven the fabric of our lives together. He is the one who made us and designed us. When a part of our life is out of order, we can be tempted to ignore it, deny it, or try to fix it ourselves. These methods are sure to just make the problem bigger. To fix a stray thread, I go to someone that knows something about needles and thread. The sooner I get professional help, the less damage has to be repaired. In the same way, when we see something wrong in our life we go to the one who created life. The sooner we come to Him, the less damage has to be repaired. The loose thread could be trouble in our home, or a physical problem or a financial need. Before it becomes a crisis, take it to God. He is able to mend the brokenhearted and repair any damage in our life. Not only does he make the repairs, he comforts us in our pain or loss. A daily time with the Lord helps keep our lives from unraveling. He is the Master Tailor and wants to help us keep our life in order. No repair is too small and no damage is too great for him to make it as good as new! I’ve lived in the Twin Cities are for about fourteen years, but even so, I’ve always had a hard time finding my way out of downtown and back onto highway 35W or 94 which led out of the city. For me, Minneapolis is an easy town to drive into, but a hard one to drive out of. The signs are clearly marked on the interstate on how to get downtown, but you’ve got to look carefully and quickly to see a sign pointing to the way out!
It’s the same with some of the choices we are offered in life. For example, it’s pretty easy to get into trouble, but it’s another story altogether trying to get out of trouble. All the signs to a wrong decision look inviting. Sometimes it’s a friend that’s showing the way—other times it’s the promise of a feeling you really want to experience, just once. Whatever the temptation, the decision to yield to those signs can leave you stranded in a neighborhood you never wanted to be in. Fortunately, there is a way out. It’s called, the “Narrow Road”. Jesus describes it in Matthew 7:13-14 like this: “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that lead to life and only a few find it.” Jesus later explained that he was describing himself as that “Narrow Road”. He is the road to true freedom. He is the road to life. He is not just a guide to the road—he’s the road itself! Stay on that road, and you’ll never have to worry about how to get out of the wrong neighborhood. May I ask a personal question? What’s the condition of your Bible? Do you have one of those big Family Bibles at your house? Lots of folks have one. They look great on the coffee table or on a special stand. The problem with them is that they rarely get used. Nobody actually reads them. That kind of Bible is more for decoration, like the latest Martha Stewart Living magazine setting just so on your end table.
There’s nothing wrong with these Bibles—it’s one way to silently witness to your faith, and they can serve as a reminder to look to God for help to life’s questions. But the Bibles I like to see are the well-worn ones with lots of highlighting and personal notes written in the margins. Someone said, “If your Bible’s falling apart, you probably aren’t!” I believe that to be true! The Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is not an outdated book of myths and fables, but the living, active, ever-relevant Word of God. Here’s a challenge for the week: Spend some time everyday reading the Bible. See if it does speak to you and if it helps you. If you don’t have a clue on where to begin, let me suggest the Gospel of John. If you don’t have a Bible, there are plenty of places to get them—even online for free! I’ll be glad to give you one too. Become a student of the Word. It is the manual for life and the living record of God’s plan for successful living. Have an awesome day! Have you patched a bicycle inner tube lately? I remember getting my flat bicycle tires fixed as a kid. The repairman used “vulcanization”. This was way before Star Trek, so it had nothing to do with Dr. Spock. It was a process of attaching a rubber patch on the inner tube using glue and friction. He had this tool that resembled a spur that he ran back and forth over the patch to create friction and to completely secure the patch to the tube. If he skipped the friction, the chance of that patch holding for long wasn’t very good. The point is, that every strong bond has to have a little friction.
The same thing is true in our relationships. Whether it’s with your marriage, your work, or your kids, there’s going to be friction. The friction, or conflict, can either serve to create a stronger bond, or it can ruin them. It all depends on using the right “vulcanization” process. Becoming skilled at resolving conflict is harder than learning to fix a flat, but the process is similar. First, identify the problem and focus on that. A tire may be in excellent condition otherwise. It’s just a small hole in one spot that’s causing the tire to go flat. Don’t try to fix places that are still in good shape! Next, examine the extent of the damage and make sure the patch is adequate. A big conflict is going to take a larger patch and more effort to resolve than a small one. It may be helpful to get someone involved that knows how to fix flats. Sometimes, doing it on your own can just make it worse. Remember, friction can be good. The bonds you form that become strongest are usually the result of some friction, not the lack of it. May all your relationships be airtight today! When a tree is just a sapling, it can be trained to grow several ways. If you tie cords to it and cause the trunk to bend, eventually it will continue on its own to grow in that direction. As the owner of the yard, I want my trees to develop and become strong, healthy and useful. So I sometimes have to apply pressure in just the right ways to achieve the best results.
We do the same thing with our children. We guide them and train them; sometimes we apply pressure to them so that, in the end, they will grow and mature as healthy, productive citizens of the planet. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go and when is old, he will not depart from it.” That’s the same concept as training a tree to grow a certain way. Eventually it will continue in the direction it was trained to go. As God’s children, we also are being trained by Him to go His way. Sometimes what we think is adversity, is actually the pressure God is applying to bend us towards him. His plan, as the owner of the universe, is to help us become healthy and productive in His kingdom. God cares enough about you to shape you and bend you so that you can reach the heights he intended for you. Don’t resist his correction; thank him for it. Trust Him to do what’s best for you. His plans are for your good. His ways are the best. Have an awesome day growing for Him. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2016
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