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Month: April 2018

A DEFINING MOMENT

A DEFINING MOMENT

I suggest there are defining moments we experience, which help shape our lives, and can have a significant impact on the path our lives take. A career choice can lead to a job or profession which brings fulfillment, advancement and provides an adequate income, or leaves one feeling unappreciated, stuck in a job they dislike or struggling financially, unable to advance. I was fortunate to have a job I enjoyed, that was satisfying and provided a comfortable living for my family. I worked at several jobs before entering the insurance profession, which I worked in over 40 years. I was happy in the job I held at a local credit union when I was offered the insurance position. Had I stayed, it would have been a good career choice as well. The decision to accept the insurance position was a defining moment.

Defining moments occur in our spiritual journey as well. The “No Matter What” moment I wrote about in an earlier post was most certainly a defining moment in my journey of Faith. Another, I believe worth mentioning, took place about two and one half years into my walk with Christ. I was attending a local Full Gospel Businessmen gathering. Along with lay person members like myself and people from throughout the community, in attendance were a number of local pastors as well as local and national Full Gospel officers. A family from the community, who were clients at my insurance agency were there. They had a son who had suffered severe injuries in an accident, was quadriplegic and in a wheelchair. The Holy Spirit drew my attention to the young man in the wheelchair. I felt strongly I was to go pray for him, and even that God may heal him! Being a relatively young Christian, I was not sure I was hearing from the Lord. I felt intimidated and self-conscious. Who am I to go pray for this young man when there are all these officials and pastors here! What will they think? What if God doesn’t heal him? Satan, my fear, self-conscious feelings and a host of other emotions won out that evening. This was a defining moment for me, because the Lord used the experience to teach me an important lesson. Almost immediately, I was filled with remorse for not having had the courage to exercise my Faith and pray for the young man. As a result I made a promise to God! Never again would I fail to act on His leading! No matter how silly I may look, when I felt the Lord was leading me to minister in some way, I would do it!

I was not condemned by the Lord for my failure! Instead, He lovingly helped me recognize I had failed. His conviction was accompanied by His love. Because of His love, compassion and long suffering, I learned a valuable lesson which serves me well, still today. Revelation 12:10 confirms, Satan is our accuser. When we feel condemned, you can be certain, Satan is at work, attempting to keep us from God’s best for our lives. God is sovereign. He does not need us, but chooses to allow us to play a part in His story. Psalm 100:5 NIV For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. God is our heavenly father and he is a good, good father! You can entrust your life to Him in the certainty of his love for you.

 

 

LIFE – A JOURNEY

LIFE – A JOURNEY

I view life as a journey in and of itself. We choose the course our lives will take. The choices we make along the way determine where the journey takes us. Like a road trip, we are sure to encounter unexpected curves, hills, ravines and detours along the way. Most of us, before beginning a trip, plan the way we want to go, by looking at a map to see the possible routes available to arrive at the desired destination. Why is it then on our life journey, we all too often, set out with no destination in mind and no idea how to get where we don’t know we are going? We often end up in a place we had no desire to visit. Like the photo above, we stare at the mountain before us, wanting to reach the top, but have no idea what path to take to get there. No wonder we often end up in the ditch, or perched precariously on the edge of a cliff, hanging on for dear life.  I have found if I plan my route, check the weather forecast, fill the car with fuel and plan for an unexpected delay, my trip is more enjoyable and much less stressful. I have determined there is a better way to travel my life journey than leaving the route and destination to chance. It’s important to me that I reach my planned destination.

If you were to gather 100 people in a room and ask them to list the top three things in life that are most important to them, happiness or being happy would undoubtedly show up on almost everyone’s list. Happiness is important to just about everyone. The definition is different for each person. A good job, a good income, a job I love, good relationships, a good marriage, children, being loved, having someone to love. The list could be seemingly endless. Happiness is subjective to every person. Something, or someone who would make me happy, could have the opposite effect for you. Bookstore shelves are filled with books that claim to hold the secret to happiness. Many of us depend on another person to make them happy. Most certainly, another person can add value to your life and contribute to your happiness. However, every person is responsible for their own happiness. To expect otherwise is certain to end in disappointment.

What I have come to realize is, God who created me and loves me with an undying, everlasting love, has provided the handbook for happiness. The Bible. He does not want my life to be boring, so he asks me to play an active part in unlocking His secrets to a happy, fulfilling life. His Word is filled with directions and landmarks, but we must search them out. We cannot understand His road map, without first entering into relationship with Him. An example He gives us is found in Jeremiah 29: 11 & 12. His handbook provides assurances the journey will be safe and our ultimate destination will be certain. It does not however assure us there will not be obstacles to encounter.  Proverbs are filled with sound advice for a happy and satisfying life. John 15: 7-14 is a portion of Scripture which provides an example of God’s love and promises to us.

Doing life God’s way works! The destination He promises for those who believe Him and choose his way is pretty amazing.  You will find a description in His handbook.

 

 

 

GROWING

GROWING

In the “No Matter What” post  I talked about fully committing to my Faith journey. You can rest assured, I came to Faith with an abundant amount of questions, ungodly habits, problems and life issues. I was in my second marriage which was in trouble. I think it must be human nature to stumble along in life until we are in a place of desperation and THEN we turn to God. Oh God, I need you now! Help me and take my pain away. We want Him to take us out of the problem, to remove it or do something to fix the situation and make everything better. Sometimes He does. I have heard testimonies from people, who upon coming to Faith, had a craving or addiction completely healed, never to suffer from that problem again. It certainly is a miracle when God chooses to act in such a profound way. I am convinced He does so in love and mercy when it is for the good of the person. Generally there will be another area of their life God will use to grow their faith. I believe every thought and desire God has for me, and for you, are for our good. I have found, usually, God does not provide a quick fix. He chooses instead to give me just enough strength, enough encouragement, wisdom, insight and other tools I need to work my way through the life crisis. He knows we need to build our faith and learn to trust Him and his plan for us. He is the Master Potter molding us into his masterpiece. He knows how hot the fire needs to be, and how long to allow us to stay in life’s oven, to achieve the change and perfection he desires for our life. The Master Gardner nurturing us into a healthy and vibrant plant.

I was a smoker when I came to Faith. God did not zap me to remove my desire to smoke. Gradually I began to realize my habit did not please God, and I very much wanted to please him. Then I read in the Word that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I wanted to quit smoking. Still God did not remove my addiction to nicotine. I struggled along and eventually I quit. I recognized God had enabled me to stop. He received the recognition and Glory for what He had done in me, enabling me to overcome my habit. It built my Faith and trust in Him. There were numerous other pruning exercises God undertook in my life. I still need pruning from time to time.  This is the kind of scenario typical in my walk of Faith.

In my experience, there has not been any instance where God has left me to flounder on my own. He has walked through life’s situations with me. I have not encountered one experience where God’s dealings in my life were not for my good and well-being. He Loves me and is for me. He Loves you and is for you as well!  Psalm 57 NLT and AMP

IT’S A LIFELONG JOURNEY

IT’S A LIFELONG JOURNEY

 

The journey begins when we accept Christ as savior. The Holy Spirit comes to life within us and we gain more understanding of scripture. (1)  Our desire to learn more, a Spiritual hunger of sorts, becomes evident. We each are unique, and while the process normally has similarities, it usually is different for each person who chooses a Faith journey. For me, about a year after I became a Christian, I undertook a comprehensive Bible study. The wife of a good friend, and fellow insurance agent, was teaching the Bethel Bible Series. Developed by the Institute of Lutheran Theology, the course is an overview of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. I have found the more I study God’s Word, the clearer my understanding of Jesus becomes. In turn the more desire I have to grow closer to Him. A healthy relationship is like a living organism. Getting the right food, in appropriate amounts, results in healthy growth. As in the natural, so in the Spiritual. (2) Reading God’s Word and listening to worship music are two ways I nourish myself Spiritually. I like to explain the relationship I have with Jesus as a life change for a lifetime. It’s not a weekend outing! Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to transform us into the likeness of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit should become evident in our lives, as we grow and mature Spiritually. (3) The more I study God’s Word, the more I realize there is so much I don’t know. I have but scratched the surface of knowing God. An activity I find beneficial is spending time alone, quietly, in the presence of God. In this atmosphere I am able to think on His goodness, His faithfulness, His provision, His majesty. I continue to be amazed at how the Holy Spirit connects with my spirit, and I am able to sense His presence. He desires our pure and heartfelt worship and devotion. Our busy lives can make it difficult to slow down and quiet ourselves as we should. It takes determination, at least for me, to achieve some success. I like to go out on our patio where I can shut out life’s numerous distractions and spend time in His presence. Your desire to grow in your relationship with Jesus will increase as you experience His presence. My journey has been worthwhile and filled with His blessings. I pray and believe you will find the same will be true for you.

(1) 1 John 4:4, 2 Timothy 1:14  NLT                                                                                                                                                                                                                   (2) 1 Corinthians 12:12, John 3:6 NLT                                                                                                                                                                                                             (3) Galatians 5:22-26 AMP