This morning I attended a funeral of someone who had a huge impact on several people's lives. He began his battle with cancer almost two years ago, and started a Carepages blog during this time. It ended up being a true testament to life, and how passionately he lived his last few years on Earth. As I was sitting there, I was amazed at the number of people that were in attendance. They even had to simulcast it into a gym, for the overflow of people. As I looked around at everyone, I realized that he had an impact on each person there. I know in my life, he was my first real full-time boss, he taught me to be organized, and his proper way of writing a business letter. He would dictate all his letters (including punctuation) and at the time, it drove me crazy, but it also really taught me a lot. There were hundreds of people that didn't know each other, but were connected in those few hours by just one person. This got me thinking about how every action you take can have an impact on someone else. It could be someone you may, or may not know.
The other thing that really struck me was his family. His wife and children all spoke, and as the kids were speaking, their mother was close behind them, rubbing their back or saying words of encouragement. She was being their rock during this time, and when she spoke, they were doing the same for her. It really made me think of how love of others can really get you through any tragedy that comes. Having people in your life that you truly rely on and support you, is an amazing thing to be thankful for. We all get so busy in our lives, that sometimes we forget to stop and appreciate the little things. His brother also spoke, and he was talking about how he always got to work really early (I would get work voice mails from him sometimes at 4:30am) and he would call him and comment on how spectacular the sunrise was, or anything out in nature he was seeing. He would stop, and take the time to appreciate the little things. Appreciate life. God only gives you one life, and living your life for what God wants, is your purpose while you are here. Rob's cross to carry was cancer, which started the Carepages...that impacted and changed lives. Don't get so busy in life that you miss how God is trying to use you. You never know how it is going to impact someone else.
Going to that today really makes you stop and think about what is important in life. Stop and think about who in your life is important, and take the time to tell them. Life is too short to let life get in the way of what the true important things are.
11.16.2011
11.13.2011
Trust
This morning I woke up and had to decide whether I was going to go to church or not. Normally it is not even a question, but tomorrow I have a major test to take, and I need more time to study. So, I honestly thought that I could stay home, warm and comfy in my pajama's -or- get ready and drive to church (this is somewhat hard to admit, but truthful.) Based on my current living arrangement, I don't always go to the same church each week. I'm usually in a different spot each weekend, so going to the same church is difficult. This one in particular I have been to a few times, and the way the services are set up, they do an early worship and in depth teaching service, then two other services with preaching and not worship. This was also one of the reasons I was thinking about not going because I truly love the worship part of church, and could not make the early service. It's usually those times in my life when I am thinking about not doing something, then do it, is when God shows up.
Starting off, my quiet time this morning was about God choosing people He can depend on. He knows you can withstand your trial, if not, He would not give it to you. It is seen all throughout the Bible - Abraham, Moses, Paul, Ruth, and Job to name a few. He knows your strengths and abilities and gives you trials that you can face, relying on His strength.
When I got to church, there was a special speaker and he was talking about the trials in your life. When trails come, push though it and resolve in your heart that no matter what happens, God is the one who controls it. So often, our human nature is to control the situation ourselves. The quote he said that stuck with me was “It is doubtful whether God can use a man greatly, until first He wounds him deeply." A.W. Tozer. We all have been wounded in our lives, and those wounds are how we will be used greatly for God. Sometimes these wounds are so deep that we wonder if we can even survive it. I have been there, and know that it seems like it may never heal. But, His promise to us is that the good work that He started in us, long before we probably even realized it, He will complete in us. Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. One of the hardest thing about a trial, is praising God for it and knowing that it is God's way of using you for Him.
This got me thinking about my current trial that I have been dealing with for several months. My biggest insecurity has been brought to the surface several times, and I have been scared and telling myself that it is just too hard. Instead of trusting that God can do far more that I ever can myself, I have been telling myself I can't do it. The focus is on what I can't do and not on the fact that nothing is bigger than God. Nothing.
I am extremely thankful for the service this morning, and when the speaker was finished, they had an amazing time of worship. It's time to trust in God and know that it is all going to work out for His good.
Starting off, my quiet time this morning was about God choosing people He can depend on. He knows you can withstand your trial, if not, He would not give it to you. It is seen all throughout the Bible - Abraham, Moses, Paul, Ruth, and Job to name a few. He knows your strengths and abilities and gives you trials that you can face, relying on His strength.
When I got to church, there was a special speaker and he was talking about the trials in your life. When trails come, push though it and resolve in your heart that no matter what happens, God is the one who controls it. So often, our human nature is to control the situation ourselves. The quote he said that stuck with me was “It is doubtful whether God can use a man greatly, until first He wounds him deeply." A.W. Tozer. We all have been wounded in our lives, and those wounds are how we will be used greatly for God. Sometimes these wounds are so deep that we wonder if we can even survive it. I have been there, and know that it seems like it may never heal. But, His promise to us is that the good work that He started in us, long before we probably even realized it, He will complete in us. Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. One of the hardest thing about a trial, is praising God for it and knowing that it is God's way of using you for Him.
This got me thinking about my current trial that I have been dealing with for several months. My biggest insecurity has been brought to the surface several times, and I have been scared and telling myself that it is just too hard. Instead of trusting that God can do far more that I ever can myself, I have been telling myself I can't do it. The focus is on what I can't do and not on the fact that nothing is bigger than God. Nothing.
I am extremely thankful for the service this morning, and when the speaker was finished, they had an amazing time of worship. It's time to trust in God and know that it is all going to work out for His good.
6.18.2011
Selfish
Life isn't about you. I sit here in an air conditioned home, thinking about all the things I need to accomplish today, when there are people suffering in the world, and I'm sitting here thinking about my stuff. When Jesus walked the Earth, do you think He went through the day thinking about what fun He and the apostles were going to have that day? No, I'm sure that is not where His thoughts were. I need to do more. More to help those less fortunate than me, more to show God's love. How? I have no idea. Life is busy, and I'm trying to get ahead enough to where I can have more time to do those things. I am trying to trust God everyday that this is where He wants me, and where I need to be until He shows me what's next. It's not easy. I knew moving back here would be hard in some ways, and those have proven true. I love being back near family and close friends, but there are other things that make this path rough. What is really boils down to is, am I trusting enough? Where is my faith right now? Do I have the faith and trust to take that step down the path that I have no idea where it leads? It is a scary thing to think ahead to what that may look like, but I know that with God in the center, it will be perfect. We all are human and have selfish tendencies, but try to do something for someone else today. Think about others and how your actions could make a difference. Philippians 2:2-4: (2)then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (4) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Happy
If you stop and think about your life...are you happy? When you stop and take a good look at what you are doing in your life, and just the stuff that goes on around you, can you say that you are truly happy? What is being happy anyway? After my "list" and the events that occurred before and after that, I have had a lot of time to reflect on this very question.
First, I had to ask myself, what is being happy anyway? Is it just a feeling that happens when everything is going smoothly? When I am not being effected in a negative way? Sure, that is usually the case, you feel happy when nothing is bringing you down! But, how can you be happy when things are not going well? How do you keep that loving feeling when you feel like the world is falling down around you?
My happiness comes from knowing that when the world fails me, God does not. The most challenging thing to do is change your way of thinking. Our human nature is to sometimes lean towards the negative way of thinking. In my current situation, I spend a lot of time in the car, which leaves me a lot of time to think. Often, those negative thoughts creep in my mind, and when they do, I try to immediately have a conversation with God about it. I literally tell Him what I was thinking (yes, I know he already knows) and give whatever that thought is, to Him. When I do that, it clears my mind and puts new perspective on whatever it was that I was thinking. 2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Take every thought to God and begin to think more postive. Your outlook on life will change.
First, I had to ask myself, what is being happy anyway? Is it just a feeling that happens when everything is going smoothly? When I am not being effected in a negative way? Sure, that is usually the case, you feel happy when nothing is bringing you down! But, how can you be happy when things are not going well? How do you keep that loving feeling when you feel like the world is falling down around you?
My happiness comes from knowing that when the world fails me, God does not. The most challenging thing to do is change your way of thinking. Our human nature is to sometimes lean towards the negative way of thinking. In my current situation, I spend a lot of time in the car, which leaves me a lot of time to think. Often, those negative thoughts creep in my mind, and when they do, I try to immediately have a conversation with God about it. I literally tell Him what I was thinking (yes, I know he already knows) and give whatever that thought is, to Him. When I do that, it clears my mind and puts new perspective on whatever it was that I was thinking. 2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Take every thought to God and begin to think more postive. Your outlook on life will change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)