Help Us!

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2 KJV)

The reality is that there are some things that we just cannot control.  Stuff happens!

Some stuff happens that can only be fixed by the Lord. That does not mean we should sit back and say nothing or do nothing when we are able. God surely works through his children and so we must do what he calls us to do.  But, without God we can do nothing!

And, so we pray:  Help us Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Enjoy Work!

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." (Proverbs 16:3 KJV)

I have always attempted to teach my children and grandchildren to enjoy the work that they do. Work is inevitable. We must work to eat, to have shelter, to have warm clothing; and, if you really must want a lot of nice things, you must really put a lot of effort into earning that "stuff." We spend a huge portion of our lives working so we may as well enjoy it. Making a game of doing house or yard chores and doing it together helps it to me more fun.

As young people begin planning for what kind of life-long career they would like to pursue, they ought to consider what it is that they will enjoy doing. Do you enjoy helping people? How about computers or working with animals? There are so many career choices in the world today, it is impossible to comprehend them all. Whatever it you love to do; whatever talents that God has gifted you with; follow that path.

God has a plan for you. He calls you to serve him according to the gifts He gives you. Whether it is a talent and desire to be a doctor or a hostess; God provides the opportunities to be trained in the way He would have you go. And... don't forget to commit your work to the Lord. Do all things that they might glorify your Father in heaven and you will not only do them well; but, enjoy doing them.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Goal

 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV)

So much time and energy is wasted striving after things of this world. Of course, we all need to work for basic necessities. St. Paul had written to the Thessalonians, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” (2 Thess 3:10) But, often our focus is so centered on "stuff" that we forget that we are to focus on the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. We think that our worship and service can be relegated to one hour per week and the rest of the week is to strive after and, yes, even worship and glorify "stuff" of the world. We lift up powerful people and even sports heroes and musicians and other such celebrities. We envy and strive to be like those who have earned much in this world; after all, they have done so much for themselves and look how happy they aren't! In this world it is a sign of success to have earned much "stuff."

But, the "stuff" that you've been striving after will not save you. "Stuff" will only drag you down. It will require your focus and energy to obtain and maintain. "Stuff" will not save you. The world will not save you. You cannot save yourselves by your own power and might. Only Jesus saves. Put, aside those things which have puffed up your ego and set a new course. Strive for the goal: life in Jesus' presence, in his Kingdom. Press on and take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of for us. Set aside egos and desires of this world. Set aside your confidence in your own flesh to earn anything worthwhile. Spending your life accumulating stuff is a waste of time and energy. Trust Jesus and live life in him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

"I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."  Eph 4:1-3 NIV

I wrote no blog yesterday. The internet and cable television went down late Friday afternoon during a storm. I called it in. At first the man on the other end of the line said since I was the only one who was down in the area they probably wouldn't be able to send a tech out until Tuesday after the holiday; but, he would try to get them to call me Saturday morning (while I was at an appointment) to set up a time for them to come out and fix it. He had walked me through the usual, unplug the modem and plug it back it. I've been dealing with modems for a few years and already had done that; but, I patiently complied anyway, even as I explained that there had just been a bad storm and I was pretty sure I wasn't the only one who had lost their connections in the neighborhood. About an hour later I received a call from some one else from this company telling me that they had just declared an area outage and assured me they were sending out a tech to take care of it. She didn't say when; but, for some reason I assumed that evening. I let my son (who was previously a tech for another company) know that they were coming out. He laughed saying that I would probably have it back up and running the next morning around 10. He was right. The neighbors informed me that the tech had just left when I returned home from an appointment at about 10:15 yesterday morning.

Therefore, I wrote no blog yesterday. If I can't do it early in the morning, I rarely find time during the rest of the day and yesterday was no different. My days tend to be pretty full. There were plenty of other doors that were open; plenty of other directions to go in and to do.

I am getting better at having patience with cable and satellite companies. I have learned to wait on them without getting upset. I did not even roll my eyes; at least not more than once. I don't watch much television so that is never a problem. I have learned to wait on many things. Everything does not always go as I plan. But, life continues. There is no sense getting upset about something so minor and that we have no control over. There are so many things in this world that are so much worse than the internet not working or a television show or a computer game being disrupted. It can even be a good thing when we lose our connection with the world wide web from time to time.

Some of the things that we lose patience with are pretty trivial compared to the troubles others suffer in the world. It would be best to ignore these minor obstacles and just move on past or over them. Don't let them interfere with what God has called you to do. Take advantage of what might seem to be a hindrance; because, it just might be a door opening for you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff; Feed His Sheep

Bulow Campground, Flagler Beach, FL

Above is a photo of Bulow RV Park in Flagler Beach, FL after Matthew went through. They had more than a little damage there both to the property and to the RV's that some people live in permanently. Overall, Haiti got hit much worse.

It was amazing to see people come together to help each other out. It was amazing to hear the stories that were shared at worship. So where are we today. The clean-up is underway, at least here in this country. Will those who got left homeless be forgotten once the many service agencies head home? Will the hungry be left to beg or steal? What will you be busy with tomorrow? Some minor thing that for some reason has become a big deal? Or will you be out proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom in both word and deed? Will you be serving the Lord and His children in unity with others or disunity as you strive to serve yourself?

Just asking...  Just wondering...

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matt 10:5-8

And... please don't forget how many thousands Jesus had his disciples feed with very few loaves and fish.

Don't sweat the small stuff. It's all small stuff. There will always be someone in greater need than we are. Just go and feed his sheep in both word and deed and before long you will forget that you had any problems. The 1960's were wrong. Focusing on ourselves only makes false idols unto ourselves. We get more and more into ourselves and more intent on serving ourselves. But, when we focus on doing what is best for others and the world around us; then, we are serving the one true God.

Feed His Sheep in Word and Deed!

God's Peace - Pr. J

God's Love Sustains Us

Baptism in Huron River, Baraga County, MI

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19

At times, I find myself a bit anxious. I think that we all do. I am not alone in that. I find the world a bit tedious. I also find it a bit reassuring that anxiety came even to the psalmist now and then.

Life can be a lot of work over things that really have no significance; over the small stuff. The book written by Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... And It's All Small Stuff reminds us not to be stressing over the minor details of the day. There is just too much life to live to spend our days anxious about small stuff. 

May God help us all to stay focused on what is truly important and that which sustains us: the unfailing love of God for all people through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen

God's Peace - Pr. J