PUSH

Well, here we are, nearing the end of another year. And if anyone in the generations behind me want to know if the rumor about the years whizzing by the older you get is true or not, I’ll witness to that, and affirm the rumor is true. The problem with the years slipping by faster and faster is how I critique my time. I used to look at my day to warrant success or disappointment in how I spent my time. That slipped into weeks, then months, then seasons and now years. Life seems to get so busy and we fill every waking hour causing the days to rush by in a blur. I think my best days, weeks, months, seasons and or years is when I’m learning and applying something new. Maybe that’s why time sort of runs slow when you’re young, there’s so much to learn. Well, I’ve got to confess this past year has flown by like a jet, which apparently indicates that I’m in a rut. Illness has sort of finished off this year on a sour note and as I think about it, maybe it’s my lackluster that’s brought about some of it. Oh well, onward and upward.
A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that he was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years the man toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin, tired and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan), decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind of the man. “You’ve been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t moved.” Thus he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, give just a minimal effort and that will be good enough.” That’s what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. “Lord”, he started, “I’ve labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time I have not budged that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?” The Lord responded, “My friend, when I asked you to serve me, and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention I expected you to move it. Now you come to me, strength spent, thinking you have failed. Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back is strong, your hands are callused, and your legs are massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven’t moved the rock, but your calling was to be obedient, and to push, and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. That, you have done. Now, I, my friend, will move the rock.”
[James 5: 13-20] When everything seems to go wrong; when the job gets you down; when others don’t react the way you think they should; when there’s too much month at the end of the money; when people just don’t understand you; PUSH!! – Pray Until Something Happens! Be obedient in all things, and God will remove the mountains.

Future Leaders

I’ll certainly be happy when all this doctor stuff is over with. Have you ever had a period in your life you wish would just go away? I bet you have and although I’ve had them before I’ve never experienced a period of numerous physical problems all at one time. Well, it looks as though things are coming to a crescendo with appointments abound to deliver (prayerfully) favorable results of all the testing I’ve been going through. One result has already made me more comfortable with the biopsies of my vocal cords clear of any cancer. Healing is progressing and only time will tell how much voice I’ll regain this go around. While I’ve been set back on my heels and humbled by age, I’ve naturally been reviewing my life and looking to the future as to what I would like the rest of my life to produce. I’ve been here before and will probably visit these thoughts again, but I think it’s good for the health of the soul.
I read an article recently about the future by Bob Harrison and I would like to share it with you.
[Isaiah 11: 1-9] “…and a little child will lead them.” (v.6) Abraham Lincoln has been considered by many to be one of our best presidents. One of the reasons I like Lincoln so much is because he is a brother in Christ who was baptized by one of the restoration leaders before he was elected as president. Also, his humor and wit still inspires people today, as he also inspired the nation at its worse during the Civil War. The following is a quote of Abraham Lincoln that we ought to seriously think about: “A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. All your books are going to be judged, praised, or condemned by him. The fate of humanity is in his hands.” Isaiah was prophesying about the coming of Christ in the flesh and that His kingdom would bring peace and knowledge of the Lord. When the Lord came, it would be like a little child leading them, something that would seem out of place in the mind of worldly leaders and thinkers. When the Lord came the world would experience what it had never experienced before and “…the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (v.9) As Abraham Lincoln was saying, a child will carry on what we have started. The next generation takes its cue from us. What are they seeing in us? What is our life about? What is important to us? Are we following the footsteps of the Lord who came down from heaven to leave us an example? (1 Peter 2:21) Where are we leading the children who are watching us? When Jesus came, He blessed the little children, praying for them, and said this is what the kingdom of heaven should look like. (Matt. 19:13-15) Jesus said we are to humble ourselves as a child if we want to be great in His kingdom. (Matt. 18:2-4) Where are we leading the children? Are we leading them to Jesus? Are we eager, like children, to follow Jesus? Do we realize how much our lives depend on Jesus like a child depends on a parent? Remember, a child will take your place one day and be like you and do what you have done. What future are we leaving our children? Teach by example.

Unpleasant Goodness

Sometimes we have to endure unpleasant things to reap good benefits. If I got you started you could probably think of a million ways to apply this thought. For example, to enjoy a good meal, one has to shop for its properties and then prepare them for consumption in a way that tastes wonderfully good and is healthy for the body. YUM! How about painting a house or mowing the lawn or even putting out the trash? All are somewhat unpleasant things to do, but the rewards outweigh the discomfort of having to get it done. Probably the “biggy” of all uncomfortable things to do is to submit the body to surgery, hoping to reap good benefits from it. It’s one of those things we entrust to someone else and have no control over during the procedure. I’d love to help to ensure that it got done right, but surgeons are funny about that, in that they don’t need my input, so they put me to sleep. It’s probably best for both of us. I do, however, spend much time in prayer before I enter into uncontrollable situations in my life, and that includes every morning before I enter the world another day. My most sincere prayer is for God to grant me the ability to accept the outcome of those uncontrollable situations. If I were to come out of surgery no longer able to speak, or never able to sing again, will I still praise God? God didn’t change nor did His love for me change. I pray that my love and need for God will grow in His strength when I am weak. I also praise my God and give thanks for His love and strength, not only for the things He does for me, but all the good things He will do for me the rest of my life. Today I praise God for answered prayer. No cancer found in my vocal cords this go-around. The surgery has left me uncomfortable, but this will pass with healing. I still have a voice! Thank-You for your prayers and continue to pray I will remain in God’s love.
A college student challenged a senior citizen, saying it was impossible for their generation to understand his. “You grew up in a different world”, the student said. “Today we have television, jet planes, space travel, nuclear energy, computers…” Taking advantage of a pause in the student’s litany, the old geezer said, “You’re right. We didn’t have those things when we were young, so we invented them! Just what is it that you are doing to better the lives of the next generation?”
It’s bedtime and a little girl is saying her prayers: “God bless Mommy and Daddy and me. And please make Madrid the capital of Australia.” Her mother who was with her asks why she wants Madrid to be the capital of Australia. The little girl replied, “Because that’s what I put for an answer on my geography test today.”
[Job, Chapters 1&2] It seems everyone’s advice for anyone who is suffering in life is to read the book of Job. Their thought is, if you read about the troubles of Job, which will over shadow any problem you might have, you’ll feel better. It never worked for me. But, if one were to read about Job to discover how God really cares for his children, now that’s comforting. God is still in control no matter what is happening in my life. God is always watching over me and will never allow anything to enter my life that I can’t handle, with his help. My faith grows knowing that without God there would be nothing, but with God, all things are possible. When I have troubles, God is not punishing me, my faith is being tested. As Job says: I came with nothing; I’ll leave with nothing. The lord gives; The Lord takes away. Praise the name of our Lord.