I find issues that deal with faith are always complex and challenging. I know as a I walk this journey day to day there can appear to be a "faith leak", sometimes fast, sometimes slow. On a good day when things are going my way I can be bouyant and have all the faith in the world. Faith to move mountains , faith to believe for anything. However on a bad day I can slip quickly into unbelief and be badly in need of a faith injection. Have you had those days when nothing you try seeems to work? When you pray and pray and it seems like your voice is bouncing off the ceiling." Is Anybody out there ?!!" Today is a day like that!
I remember reading some work by Henry Blackerby and him commenting that new truth or revelation may come into your life through your circumstances. If circumstances are not how I would expect them, I may be thrown into a "crisis of faith". The result of which will either be to move closer or further from God. Today I have to choose which way do I want to go? What do I know about God? What I have experienced of God in the past? What truth do I have to stand on?
In the end it comes down it a simple choice. Do I choose to have faith in God today?
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve .......... but as for me and my household we will serve the LORD Joshua 24:15
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Life's Anchors
I continue to struggle with fitting all the things that I should or could do into a day. How do I learn to abide/ remain in these tasks, so I can gain the benefit from the positives that are so obviously there? This is especially important in the area doing my physical exercise. When I start out I am full of enthusiasm........... but trying to develop it into a regular exercise programme seems to have some real difficulties!
Gaining balance while remaing fully engaged in life is an interesting process. I see that I need help in this process to make it work.. I think there is need for a spiritual component to aide in this process, otherwise it all reverts to self will, which in my experience is an area I am found wanting in. My will power has a lot of short falls, especially in the area of exercise.
I do see there is need for this spirital component, which I choose to call faith. I guess the next question is faith in what? For me, in my life it comes back to faith in Jesus Christ because I have found that without His anchor, I tend to fail most long term tasks. I can compare my pre-Jesus, to life with Jesus....... there is no comparison! This prospect of abiding without God would seem to be neither useful, nor profitable. I look forward to hopefully sharing my success in my exercise regime. I have Jesus Christ as my anchor in life what is yours?
Gaining balance while remaing fully engaged in life is an interesting process. I see that I need help in this process to make it work.. I think there is need for a spiritual component to aide in this process, otherwise it all reverts to self will, which in my experience is an area I am found wanting in. My will power has a lot of short falls, especially in the area of exercise.
I do see there is need for this spirital component, which I choose to call faith. I guess the next question is faith in what? For me, in my life it comes back to faith in Jesus Christ because I have found that without His anchor, I tend to fail most long term tasks. I can compare my pre-Jesus, to life with Jesus....... there is no comparison! This prospect of abiding without God would seem to be neither useful, nor profitable. I look forward to hopefully sharing my success in my exercise regime. I have Jesus Christ as my anchor in life what is yours?
Saturday, 21 April 2012
What's in your hand?
As I try to think about the practicalities of what abiding might look like, what are things around me that may help me develop the knowledge and character I need to withstand and overcome the pressures of modern living? Was I mad to pick up another thing to do by writing this blog? I am a family man with a "drop dead gorgeous wife", 3 kids (two married), 3 grandkids, so do I need another thing to add to my already busy little world?
I think the answer is a most definite yes! Anything that helps me develop character - and dare I say it discipline - to walk one day at a time is valuable. Discipline is not a popular concept or term in modern culture, but it is something that the ancients knew well and used to help them to cope with the pressures of their world. So I am looking around at what are the things that are going to help me develop me? The answer appears quite simple in the end, What's in my hand?
What's in my hand: my family, my job, my pets, exercising, my spiritual devotional life. All of these can help me learn to abide/ remain not just endure, but to excel in the way I do life. Doing things in a timely way, completing what is necessary, doing so with a positive attitude. This means my life will be not only a blessing to myself but to those around me.
What's in your hand?
I think the answer is a most definite yes! Anything that helps me develop character - and dare I say it discipline - to walk one day at a time is valuable. Discipline is not a popular concept or term in modern culture, but it is something that the ancients knew well and used to help them to cope with the pressures of their world. So I am looking around at what are the things that are going to help me develop me? The answer appears quite simple in the end, What's in my hand?
What's in my hand: my family, my job, my pets, exercising, my spiritual devotional life. All of these can help me learn to abide/ remain not just endure, but to excel in the way I do life. Doing things in a timely way, completing what is necessary, doing so with a positive attitude. This means my life will be not only a blessing to myself but to those around me.
What's in your hand?
Friday, 20 April 2012
Keep your eye on the ball
Hello my name is Paul, as I begin this journey I do so with a certain amount of trepidation. To share your thoughts with an unknown audience is an interesting process. What I hope to do is to share life with you as I travel "One day at a time". It is such a privilege to walk a journey with fellow travellers.
At the minute I am learning to "abide" which comes from the Greek word meno: to remain, to dwell, to stay in a given place/relationship/expectency. This is such an intersting concept in an age where we are encouraged to move on and move on again. Where change is progress and progress is good, but is that entirely true? I think there are many things that work well and actually probably don't need to be changed for the sake of change. It may well be that we are to go deeper in the place where we are, rather than skim the surface and move on.
It occurs to me that what the world needs now is deep people rather than people who appear to be very gifted and innovative, but are shallow in the things that may have eternal or generational value. Keeping our eyes on the things that matter, the things that we believe in, the things that will bring long term value; family, spititual faith serving others rather than being so easily diverted and amused by things that bring immediate gratification. That does not mean that there is no fun to be had in our journey, in the sharing, the caring and the challenges. Abiding, "keeping your eye on the ball" makes the difference and the difference is significant.
At the minute I am learning to "abide" which comes from the Greek word meno: to remain, to dwell, to stay in a given place/relationship/expectency. This is such an intersting concept in an age where we are encouraged to move on and move on again. Where change is progress and progress is good, but is that entirely true? I think there are many things that work well and actually probably don't need to be changed for the sake of change. It may well be that we are to go deeper in the place where we are, rather than skim the surface and move on.
It occurs to me that what the world needs now is deep people rather than people who appear to be very gifted and innovative, but are shallow in the things that may have eternal or generational value. Keeping our eyes on the things that matter, the things that we believe in, the things that will bring long term value; family, spititual faith serving others rather than being so easily diverted and amused by things that bring immediate gratification. That does not mean that there is no fun to be had in our journey, in the sharing, the caring and the challenges. Abiding, "keeping your eye on the ball" makes the difference and the difference is significant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)