Something To Think About

If rewards were based on time, talent, or treasure, those who are relatively rich in these assets would be rewarded for possessing things that actually come from the providential hand of God. The fact that rewards are based on faithfulness to the assets and opportunities we have been given is the divine equalizer that gives every believer, regardless of economic, social, intellectual, or vocational status, the possibility of being approved by God.
Ken Boa - Handbook To Spiritual Growth

God is not measuring us on what we have but how we use it in His name. There is no excuse for not running the race until He declares it over for you; of fighting the good fight until He calls you home. No reason to give in or give up. It is a sobering thought that God does not expect us to do what He has not equipped us to do. He is gracious in the granting of gifts, but He is just in measuring how we used what we are blessed with.

He knows what you have, do you know to use it? I don't, at least not all the time, so I am really going to think about this for a while.


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Shifting Values

My wife spent a few days out of town recently visiting family. On the day she was returning, she asked if we had any messages. She seemed surprised when I said it hadn't occurred to me to check for them. I mean, everyone who wants to reach me calls me on my cellphone, don't they? And I have it with me almost all the time, don't I? The thought of checking messages on our land line phone just did not occur to me. Seemed so 90's. Life flows through my Droid ERIS these days.

It made me think about how values and priorities change. Due to technology, due to age, due to changing societal opinions and values. Due to faith. I had a big change about 7 years ago in my faith as I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I was a somewhat religious person before, but now I had a faith that changed my life. I check for messages in the Bible now, not in the popular culture. I read different books, watch different shows and movies. Listen to different music (well some times I listen to some of the old stuff, I am a rocker of the boomer persuasion after all). I answer messages on a different type of phone.

Things have certainly changed in my life, the most change coming in the past 7 years. But I pray one thing never changes going forward: my faith in Jesus as my Savior. And here is a verse I let echo around in my head form time to time to give me the assurance that my faith need not change because of the certainty of who He is:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)

A Post to my Slog, er, Blog

Putting up blog posts in 2010 have been a challenge for me, just check my archive list to see just how challenging this year has been. I am making a major goal of 2010 to be still blogging in January 2011.

But every once in a while someone gives me encouragement that keeps me going. Unexpected encouragement coming from previously unknown directions. Yesterday I had two of those, so I just had to write about it to keep the blog moving along for at least another day. A new follower on twitter sent me a tweet telling me she will be following the blog. Someone from my church read a post of mine on my Facebook wall (made for the blog at the ministry I work at) and found it encouraging today. Not my blog, but it was my post, and I'll take it from whence it comes.

Just a line or two but a big boost to my determination to keep things going. Thank you both. I am always appreciative of the comments and encouragement any of my social media endeavors get. There is so much going on that it is nice to know that people notice your small voice in the thunderstorm raging all around you.

So, I will try to be faithful to the blog for the remainder of 2010. While I do not expect it to be easy, I am sure I will be glad if I keep it going. God has used it to bless me over these past two years, and I am glad I took that first step in this journey.

So my advice to any fellow bloggers, keep going, we do not slog alone. And actually, it is pretty good advice for life in general. Keep going,we are not alone. Reminds me of one of my favorite passages of Scripture, which I have used before:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

I have to remember this every time I struggle through something in my life. So I will have to think of it daily, but no more than seven days a week. Max. If I am a work in progress, faith in Him requires I keep going until He says I am done.

Sometimes It Is Harder Than I Think It Should Be

Staying on The Narrow Road. I understand it in theory, I struggle with it in practice. If I were a car, I would say I have to tighten up the steering a bit because I keep running up on the shoulder or into the lane of oncoming traffic. Neither is where I want to be if I want to keep my life from winding in needing bodywork.

It can be frustrating to know what to do, but yet have so much trouble just doing it. Sinful beings in a fallen world, it sounds good as an explanation but also as an excuse. More accountability for actions and thoughts. Thoughts, yes indeed. Being accountable for what is going on inside that little pea brain of mine.

I think that is the real key. Being accountable for the things no one else can hold you accountable for, because only you know them. You and well, you and God,

That's what keeps me trying. My Savior asked me to. And I do so want to try harder to do as He asked, in love and gracious mercy. It's the least I can do.

And it pains me when I do it with my least.