My Own Worst Enemy

Many times, I have faced decisions and felt pressures from every side; some of which work to undermine correct decisions. The worst part is that not all of those pressures originate outside. The most difficult influences to control are my own heart and mind. Our fears and desires can be more overpowering than our circumstances. In fact, sometimes we short-circuit our own processes and make terrible decisions before we even realize it; we have become our own worst enemy.

The ability to walk worthy of the Lord demands a true understanding of God’s desires for our lives.

The Bible verse that has guided my life and driven my ministry for many years is Colossians 1:10. 

 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

I wish I could say that because of this verse all my decisions have honored God. Unfortunately, I cannot honestly say that. However, I do believe that many more have followed God’s will than would have if these words of God had not been an integral part of my thought process. I pray that I never stop “Increasing in the knowledge of God.”

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THANKSGIVING

I am thankful for so much. God has blessed my life from the very beginning; growing up in a loving Christian family that understood and taught serving the Lord requires more than just lip service or wearing a cross around your neck. He has directed my life to acquire the necessary skills and training to serve God here. More than that, God has changed my heart, attitudes, and vision. I am happy to say that God has taught me mercy, grace, forgiveness and love; although I am sorry to say that too often, I was reluctant and resistant. Too many times God had to go to extreme lengths to make me what He needed me to be. Praise God that He chose to use wonderful caring people to make those changes in me. People like my wife Jackie, my sons Nate, Isaac and Luke, and so many others that have crossed my path or are still in my life. I thank God that He does not give up on me but continues His work tirelessly. My prayer is that my life and legacy will glorify the Lord forever.

STRESSED

Stressful days become the norm. Fantasies and photos airbrushed to “perfection” and presented as normal raise expectations to unrealistic levels. Pushed upon us are life goals that require immoral, unethical and even dangerous activities in pursuit of success and approval. This adds so much stress to life, increasing confusion and emotional disorientation. Life’s guiding principles slip aside effortlessly, viewed as barriers rather than the foundation upon which true success stands.

We can look at truth like this with a clinical efficiency condescendingly holding others to a near perfect standard for their lives. UNTIL, the stress really hits home dissecting our mind and heart. When those heightened expectations and unbearable burdens bring us low, we quickly dismiss the clinical approach as unreasonable, even impossible! Blame is thrown at everyone and everything around us in turn adding to the loneliness of the affliction.

Reality and truth lay somewhere in the middle where we strive to maintain uncompromising foundational truth, look at expectations with a godly vision and interact with grace, as we desire others graciously understand our plight. I know, how it feels; but you are not alone. God puts people in our lives that can encourage and help us hold fast and stay the course to the blessings of the Lord. He never leaves us and He never forsakes us. You and I drop our heads and begin focusing on the problems instead of looking to the Lord with thanksgiving for those God gave us for the journey. Thank you God, for the wonderful people you have put into my life. Help me Lord not to take them for granted.

Satisfied In Failure

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” Abraham Lincoln

When life is crushing, peace and victory seem unattainable; sometimes we just want give up and find some comfort even in failure. It is easy to lose heart.

(Galatians 6:9) “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Where our family and mission are concerned, how can we ever be content with failure? The Lord offers guidance and strength so that we may press on uncompromisingly and undaunted. God wants to help.

(Isaiah 40:29) He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Some things are clearly so important we must fight on and never lose hope.

Empowered Communication

Empowered communication requires listening without bias and speaking filtered by grace, truth and love. If I could only master this, my relationships would improve immeasurably!

“Listening” to verbal and non-verbal communication without jumping to conclusions, getting defensive or rushing ahead is the only way to discover the real felt needs of those in my life. Every time I lose focus, I lose the quality connection necessary for true understanding. I need to be willing to listen with understanding as my only goal.

With empowered positive communication as my objective, a speech filter becomes necessary. Filtering out the hurtful and abrasive without sacrificing the truth enables a good connection. When carried upon a conductor of love, the communication comes through clear and powerful.

O God, give me ears and heart that can listen without prejudice and lips that can cleanse my words with grace and truth and love!

Ripple Effect

Life is complex, interconnected and fluid. Yet, for some reason we often look at life’s difficulties as though they were isolated to one aspect of our being. We miss the real cause because we are following the ripples and reflections that travel through our life instead of tracing them back to the source, the reason for the disturbance.

1Thes. 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Issues can and do originate in the physical, emotional and spiritual areas of our lives. Each then passes on the effects to the other areas of our lives until we cannot distinguish what is disturbing us. It isn’t long until we feel like we are a puddle in a rainstorm and begin to loose hope that the peace and calm we once knew will ever return.

Draw near to the Lord and He will bring you back to peace and hope.