Don’t Give Up!

I had a hard time getting online this morning!  I kept getting an error message and nothing that I tried seemed to work in solving the problem, but I did not give up – I kept on trying.  So many times as we try to live our lives, we will get thrown a curve ball and things will not work out the way that we planned.  I am not talking about the easy stuff like trying to get online.  I am talking about the tough stuff – like life just sometimes being rough and not working out the way we had hoped and planned!

Don’t Give Up! On a good day – life is hard, and on a hard day – life seems impossible!  When times get like this, we are tempted to give in and give up, but don’t you dare do it!  Keep after it!  Here are some steps to make sure that you are doing the right thing!

First, make sure that you are in communication with God. Talk to God about your situation.  He already knows all about it, but loves to hear it from your perspective.  Sometimes, just taking the time to talk it over with Him will lead you to a moment of clarity that helps you to get everything headed in the right direction!

Second, check to make sure that you are not the cause of the problem. We always want to shift the blame, but ultimately – we all bear responsibility for ourselves.  I am responsible for my actions and reactions to life!  It is very easy for us to get out of God’s plan and focused on our very own and very limited agenda.  Make sure that you are where God wants you to be and doing what God created you to do!

Third, enjoy the journey! Life here on this earth is way to short to not enjoy every moment of it.  Don’t let anything or anybody rob you of the special experiences that God has for you in the failures and the victories!

I hope this encourages you today and helps you to get more out of this very special day that God has given you!

Advertisement

Personal!

Tools Of The Trade!

I love to journal, but must admit that I do not take the time to do it as consistently as I should.  I want to do it and I even find that it is something that I enjoy, yet I sometimes fail to make and take the time for it to happen.

Blessed! God is incredible and has been very good to me.  It is a great blessing to be able to serve Him as a pastor, shepherd, leader through the ministry of His Church.  I can honestly think of nothing else that I would fulfill me.

God’s Amazing Grace! And while I love serving Him, the truth is that there are days that are frustrating and often the load is more heavy that I care for, but God’s grace is always has and continues to sustain me.  I have to come to a place that I wish all of us could come to.  The place of realizing that God has gifted and equipped me for this very thing.  It’s not just that I am good at something – this is who I am and who I was created to be.

Thankful For God’s Calling! My life would be empty and void, if I had to get up in the morning and face life without a calling from God.  I don’t even want to think about it!  The thing that God is teaching me this week is that “He in me is all that I need!”  E Stanley Jones said it best when he said:  “I need no outer props!”  This is the life I want to live – a life so full of Jesus on the inside, that there is no need for props of any kind, shape or size on the outside.

My Prayer! I pray that God will continue to bless me, by allowing me to serve Him in preparing His Bride – the Church to get ready for His return!

Treasure Map!

Got Your Treasure Today?

As you wander though this life, you will stumble across many treasures!  Some will be found very easily, while others will take solid and continued effort.  These treasures are not placed upon life’s path by accident.  They are placed there by our Creator and are intended for out blessing and our growth.

Missed Any Lately? How many treasures have you missed out on?  Missed out on because you were not paying attention, or because what was a treasure did not look like a treasure to you?

Life Changing! When you come upon one of God’s treasures and you know it’s one of His treasures, from the very moment of it’s discovery, your life begins to change.  Your focus changes, your dreams increase and your goals grow!  Treasure is important, because it always carries with it the capacity to change our lives.

Matthew 13:44 says:  “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

Kingdom Relationship! One of the greatest treasures that God has given us, is the treasure of a Kingdom Relationship.  He does not give it to us because we deserve it.  He gives it to us out of His grace, mercy and forgiveness.  Because He gives us this Kingdom Relationship, it should change our lives – who we are, how we live, what we do, where we go and the why of everything that we do.

Don’t Waste It! Don’t waste your Kingdom Relationship!  Do whatever it takes to protect it, grow it and share it!  Remember:  It is a treasure and a treasure should bring blessings!