Beginning our second day here in Romania. After a long flight and long day at church yesterday we will begin working at the ministry center this morning. God is definitely up to something. Cant wait to see what will happen today!
Will post more info later. Time for breafast now!
Here it is May and I haven’t followed through on my commitment to write out some goals for 2009. As I stated earlier, I am not much for New Years Resolutions. But I am a goal person. So, I sat down (back in January!) and wrote 10 things that I want to work on this year. I am still not 100% complete with wording these goals. But I thought I should at least get them on here. So here are 10 things or areas that I would like to improve in. 10 goals for 2009. Enjoy!
1. Spend time in prayer everyday.
2. Spend time in God’s Word everyday.
3. Write in my journal everyday.
4. Read for at least 1 hour a day.
5. Pray with my wife, Lourae, everyday.
6. Spend more quality time with my wife & children.
7. Work out & run 3-5 times a week.
8. Write in my blog every week.
9. Spend more quality time @ home.
10. Continue to grow in my faith.
Well, there you have it. Probably not the most amazing top ten you have ever read. But it will have to do for now.
Until next time!
Big D
Has anyone else ever had trouble understanding Paul’s statement in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 when he simply says to, “be joyful always.”? The ESV, my personal favorite translation, records it as “rejoice.” That we should “rejoice always.” How is that even remotely possible? How can we always be joyful or always be rejoicing when things around us, maybe even our very lives, are falling apart? i have a perfect example of this. Actually…it is several examples. They may not be big deals to everyone…but to me that are huge.
Within the last month, basically all of my appliances in my house stopped working…at once! First, our microwave shut down, which was only 2 years old by the way. Then, our hot water heater decides to stop heating the water. Our dish washer has begun to stop cleaning the dishes. Our dryer stopped drying. And last but certainly not least, our 5 month old computer shut down, erased all our documents, pictures & songs. Restored itself back to factory condition. Which is ok…if it’s brand new & delivered from the factory. It’s not so good news when you have EVERYTHING on it!
In other words…things were falling apart. Fast! Under these circumstances, usually, I would have become very sad and depressed. However, God has been teaching me a few things lately about joy and mercy and grace. And what He has been teaching me goes against my true nature.
I am finally beginning to understand what Paul meant when he said to be joyful always. He is not saying that we will always have moments to rejoice about or that there will never be set backs to living the Christian life. He is saying that even when difficulty comes, we can have joy. Because our joy, the joy of a C hristian is found in Jesus. Our joy is not to be surrounded or centered around the circumstances and situations of our life. If it is then we will never fully have joy. The joy of a follower of Christ is in the fact that we have a relationship with Him. Our joy is our salvation which is found in Christ Jesus.
Paul also tells the Philippian believers that they are to “rejoice in the Lord always” and to ”not be anxious about anything”. There is nothing for us to worry about because God is with us and if He is with us then it doesn’t matter who is against us. It doesn’t matter what happens in our day to day life. What matters most is that we have an eternal relationship sealed with Christ in Heaven.
Circumstances may affect my mood and even my attitude from time to time. But they should never affect the joy that is to be shown through the life of a person fully committed to Christ. Our joy is in Him!
Okay…so I’m not much on New Years resolutions. However, I have made a top 10 list of things that I will do better in 09 than I did in 08. I will share the entire list on here later but one item that I will share now is to write a new post every week. Nothing earth shattering I know but it’s a start. Will return later to display my list.
Deron
I think we could all agree that we live in a fast paced world today. Much faster than when our parents or grand-parents lived. Since it is so fast paced, it seems that the motto of many is, “Get what you can when you can.” That’s the way to get by in our society right? If you don’t go after it…somebody else will. So, no matter what, get what you can. Sort of a “Win at all cost” type of thing. At least that’s the way it seems to me. I know this because I sort of have the “I want it all & I want it now” mentality. I am not very patient…I admit it. I just want it…whatever “It” is…i don’t like to wait. So we seem to pass this approach on to others. While I do think we need to try our best to reach our fulest potential in life, should we really take this approach to life? The book of Proverbs chapter 21:6 tells us that “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” Which means if we try to get ahead, by any means possible, our success will be short lived. Our actions will find us out. It will be fleeting…it won’t last long because it was obtained in an inappropriate way. But, it won’t only be fleeting or short lived, it will also lead to destruction. It’s a “deadly snare.” Before long we will be trapped in it’s web. The need for more success or fame will be the only thing that matters & we will continue to whatever it takes to achieve.
So next time you think you must have “it” or you must succeed “at any cost” think again. As with many things, it’s not always as appealing as it appears.
This is my first shot at blogging. This entry was actually written several weeks ago but is just now making it’s way to the page. Enjoy…
Okay…so I had one of those completely embarrassing moments the other day. I had gone into my unbelievably small master bathroom after returning from a long week of summer camp. I laid my brand new Blackberry Pearl on the counter, only 20 days old at this time, turned to close the door, turned back and knocked my phone into the water. Not just any water…the blue water in the oval shaped bowl. It didn’t hit the side. It didn’t roll around the rim. It went straight into the water…and I went in after it. Over the next 30 hours or so I had to learn how to function in my world without a cell phone. (Mine had a little drying out to do). It’s really amazing how something like a cell phone has become an essential. By essential, I mean something we simply cannot do without. Especially when you think about the fact that ten years ago not everybody had a cell phone. At least not the kids in my son’s 4th grade class.
How is it that things that are relatively new become essentials for us? Things that have only been around for a few years we can’t live without. When the One true essential for everyone has been around from the very beginning and we think we don’t need Him. At least we behave like we don’t.
I became convicted and really just ashamed of the fact that I spend more time on my cell phone each day then I do with my Savior.
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