I work part-time for a fantastic retailer. I was making my 25 mile commute the other day when a very impatient dude sped up behind me in a souped-up mustang. I had safely pulled out a good distance in front of him. But to let me know he had to at least come off the gas 30 seconds after I pulled out he sped right up to the rear of my vehicle. He tailgated me pretty closely until I got into Gainesville. As soon as we got into the 4-lane area he sped around me. It was his way of letting me know I had thrown his entire day off due to my slower driving. By the way, I do my best to drive the speed limit. And when some impatient dude is tailgating me I enforce that virtue even more. But...God is still working on me too. He he!
This incident reminded me of a couple of things. First, the road is a very good place to have your "Practice what you preach" tested! Even though encountering people on the road can be quite impersonal, it is also a realm in which the true essence of a person comes out! Second, the road presents the litmus test to determine a person's "smarts" level! I see many people doing things on the road that really makes me wonder if they have fully matured upstairs enough to be trusted with driving a mule on a farm road. I am convinced that driving a car safely...takes wisdom.
The Bible says that long life accompanies wisdom. Long life is not a reward for wisdom. It is the result of wisdom. For instance, speeding in a car just for the fun of it or because one is habitually late increases the chance of death for driver, passengers, and people in other vehicles. What makes this foolishness is the fact that everyone knows it is dangerous to speed. On the other hand, wisdom calculates possible scenarios and plans accordingly. If you speed because you are habitually late...change your habits and live longer. Christ-followers are in danger of presumption (tempting God) when they believe He will protect them as they violate His wisdom.
The Proverbs tell us over and over how to get wisdom. It starts with acquiring knowledge. Then with the knowledge comes understand. If I understand how I can easily kill myself, wisdom encourages me NOT to do it. If I do it anyway that's foolishness (the opposite of wisdom). James tells us Christ-followers if we lack wisdom all we have to do is ask God for it. God gives wisdom liberally. But we must apply it to every day real-life situations. Wisdom really works. It is designed to impact lives starting with your own. What about it?
Thanks for checking out my blog. I like to talk about life issues filtered through a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. I welcome your positive, encouraging comments. Again, thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
What's Next?
Hey everyone. Thanks for checking this out. I just woke up, made my way into the kitchen, put on a fresh pot of coffee, now drinking it, and looking forward to the day. Man, I just love this time of the day. It's that time when the day is fresh, God's mercies are brand new, and you anticipate the day ahead. No, I'm not a super-optimist. But I've learned from walking with God a few years that each day brings with it the potential for many opportunities. Sometimes we miss the opportunities or we even fail at opportunities. But nevertheless...they come! And each day brings new opportunities or even old ones presented once again.
At this time in my life I'm not sure if I have ever been more excited about our future (Connie's and mine.) And the truth is we don't have a clue what the future holds for us! We are in a time of transition. What does that mean? For us it means we don't know what is next...but we know it is of God and that excites my socks off (well maybe my bedroom slippers). Connie and I have never been more excited and never had more peace than we do right now. How can this be? I have a theory. Just kidding. I know exactly why. It is because we are entering a fresh new season, with fresh new opportunities to go to the next level. It's like the beginning of a fresh new day! Add to that, a fresh new year loaded with new possibilities. I am so excited! And I am on the pursuit. The Book says that if we ask, seek, and knock we'll receive, find, and doors will be opened. An opportunity is like a door. Sometimes God presents us with opportunities. Sometimes we find opportunities by asking, seeking, and knocking. But the fact is we must utilize opportunities like we go through a door. The door is there for the purpose of exiting one realm and entering another. If the door is not utilized however, you remain in the present realm. Opportunity utilized always makes us better!
I'm now sure about you, but for me change is bitter/sweet. It is bitter because of the uncomfortable adjustments that must be made in order for the change to effectively better me. Just when you get in the groove you have to forge a new one. It is sweet however, because the purpose of change in my life is to offer me new and better opportunities that result in my positive progress. The fact is if you never change...you never progress. So I'll have to say that when the negatives and the positives of change are placed in the balance, the scales overwhelmingly tip in favor of the positive! OK let me just say it...I LOVE CHANGE! It is exciting because of all the possibilities!
In 2010 I encourage you to pursue new opportunities that will help you to make positive progress in your God-given destiny. Don't be afraid to step beyond your present status. Don't be afraid to step out of the box. God is there for you. So let me ask you...what's next?
At this time in my life I'm not sure if I have ever been more excited about our future (Connie's and mine.) And the truth is we don't have a clue what the future holds for us! We are in a time of transition. What does that mean? For us it means we don't know what is next...but we know it is of God and that excites my socks off (well maybe my bedroom slippers). Connie and I have never been more excited and never had more peace than we do right now. How can this be? I have a theory. Just kidding. I know exactly why. It is because we are entering a fresh new season, with fresh new opportunities to go to the next level. It's like the beginning of a fresh new day! Add to that, a fresh new year loaded with new possibilities. I am so excited! And I am on the pursuit. The Book says that if we ask, seek, and knock we'll receive, find, and doors will be opened. An opportunity is like a door. Sometimes God presents us with opportunities. Sometimes we find opportunities by asking, seeking, and knocking. But the fact is we must utilize opportunities like we go through a door. The door is there for the purpose of exiting one realm and entering another. If the door is not utilized however, you remain in the present realm. Opportunity utilized always makes us better!
I'm now sure about you, but for me change is bitter/sweet. It is bitter because of the uncomfortable adjustments that must be made in order for the change to effectively better me. Just when you get in the groove you have to forge a new one. It is sweet however, because the purpose of change in my life is to offer me new and better opportunities that result in my positive progress. The fact is if you never change...you never progress. So I'll have to say that when the negatives and the positives of change are placed in the balance, the scales overwhelmingly tip in favor of the positive! OK let me just say it...I LOVE CHANGE! It is exciting because of all the possibilities!
In 2010 I encourage you to pursue new opportunities that will help you to make positive progress in your God-given destiny. Don't be afraid to step beyond your present status. Don't be afraid to step out of the box. God is there for you. So let me ask you...what's next?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Chalk One Up for the Red Bull
We rang in the New Year with family, football, and some really great snacks. I had driven all the way from just north of Mobile back home earlier that day and didn't know if I would manage to make it until midnight...but I did! At midnight we watched a really, really "Red Bull" hyped up dude jump over 250 feet of water (in a rally car) and land on a barge in the water. Actually it was quite interesting. Anticipating such a daring but not so brilliant stunt all evening was part of what kept me going. We watched a bowl game during most of the evening throughout which the "water jumping" event was being promoted to take place at midnight. I'll have to admit, the dare-angel in me proved it was worth the wait! I got a few chill bumps!
Underlying all the excitement of a really hyper guy flying (in a car) over 250 feet of water...and landing on a barge to start off the new year was the anticipation of another year beginning. I always get so excited at the beginning of a new year. Some people look at the new year as the end of an old one. And depending on what kind of year the previous one was probably establishes how excited you are about the old year ending! But a new year means the beginning of a brand new one...with brand new opportunities! It means fresh expectations. I also see the new year as presenting opportunities to succeed where we may have failed. You see, the new year is like a new day. The Book says that God's mercies are new every single morning. That's one in your favor! Each day brings with it new opportunities to succeed at serving God. Your success today is not determined by your failures from yesterday. Oh yes, we must learn from our failures and improve from our failures. But God's rich mercies erase our short-comings in His own eyes! Man! It's the same way with a new year. 2010 brings with it many God-given opportunities for you and me! We don't know exactly what the year holds for us. Only God does. But we can look at 2010 with fresh expectations...even opportunities to do better! I just thank God for a new year! As I said before, I get so excited when a new year full of opportunities arrives.
What are you expecting this year? What will be your part in making it happen? How much of it are you willing to put in God's hands? Where did you fail (or simply not succeed) last year? A fresh, new year will present to you opportunities to succeed! His mercies are new every year!
Join with me in launching into 2010 with fresh expectations for the new year. Give this new year over to God at the very beginning. Make a commitment to Him to trust Him in everything...yet to do your part in basing your attitude on His Word. Make a fresh commitment to stand firm on His principles through the victories and the challenges. Make a commitment to Him and a trusted friend to launch forth into the God-given vision you've been sitting on for too long! It's time! It's a New Year!! What do you think?
Underlying all the excitement of a really hyper guy flying (in a car) over 250 feet of water...and landing on a barge to start off the new year was the anticipation of another year beginning. I always get so excited at the beginning of a new year. Some people look at the new year as the end of an old one. And depending on what kind of year the previous one was probably establishes how excited you are about the old year ending! But a new year means the beginning of a brand new one...with brand new opportunities! It means fresh expectations. I also see the new year as presenting opportunities to succeed where we may have failed. You see, the new year is like a new day. The Book says that God's mercies are new every single morning. That's one in your favor! Each day brings with it new opportunities to succeed at serving God. Your success today is not determined by your failures from yesterday. Oh yes, we must learn from our failures and improve from our failures. But God's rich mercies erase our short-comings in His own eyes! Man! It's the same way with a new year. 2010 brings with it many God-given opportunities for you and me! We don't know exactly what the year holds for us. Only God does. But we can look at 2010 with fresh expectations...even opportunities to do better! I just thank God for a new year! As I said before, I get so excited when a new year full of opportunities arrives.
What are you expecting this year? What will be your part in making it happen? How much of it are you willing to put in God's hands? Where did you fail (or simply not succeed) last year? A fresh, new year will present to you opportunities to succeed! His mercies are new every year!
Join with me in launching into 2010 with fresh expectations for the new year. Give this new year over to God at the very beginning. Make a commitment to Him to trust Him in everything...yet to do your part in basing your attitude on His Word. Make a fresh commitment to stand firm on His principles through the victories and the challenges. Make a commitment to Him and a trusted friend to launch forth into the God-given vision you've been sitting on for too long! It's time! It's a New Year!! What do you think?
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