October 21, 2020
Remember the story of the twin boys? One was an incurable pessimist, the other an optimist. The parents, seeking to balance the two, gave the pessimist a new bike for Christmas and the optimist a bag of horse manure.
Christmas morning came. The parents asked the pessimist, "Do you like your new bike?" He replied, "It's okay, but it will probably rust, and I'll have a wreck and cut myself and probably have to have a tetanus shot...."
Then they said, "Where's your brother?" To which he replied, "Oh, he got all excited and went outside saying something about trying to find his new horse!"
Everybody looks at life from the up or down side. Part of this is personality, but part is FAITH (one of the reasons we need each other.) Paul was a man of incredible faith. As he describes his ministry in 2 Corinthians 4:8-18, he could have taken just one side of the equation, which is what some people do to their great detriment.
I am...
Others view their lives from an eternal, heavenly perspective and say this about their situation.
I am...
STRIKING THE BALANCE
The best possible way to view life as a child of God is to join the two, just as Paul did. This acknowledges the reality of my current condition, but also the reality of God's abundant grace to "overwhelmingly conquer" through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I am...
So how do we get there? How do we maintain a witness of great victory in the midst of the brokenness of the world and the press of ministry? The key is, as always to LOOK UP!
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we LOOK not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
If your vision is not aerated by heaven's reality you will be overwhelmed and discouraged. The authentic man of faith is a realist—but in both directions. He recognizes the problems, but also the solutions. A realistic view of both earth and heaven makes for a robust faith and gives hope in any situation to everyone who observes us.
Father, thank You for giving us what we need. Thank You that there is no problem that I have that is too big for You—nothing for which You do not have a solution. You work all things together for good to those who are loving You. Help me give a FULL and accurate testimony of my circumstances to bring hope to those around me.
March 05, 2025
Every created man or woman must make their choice. What will you do with God? Will you embrace or reject Him? Draw near or run away? Trust and serve Him or doubt God and serve yourself? This foundational choice determines everything.
March 04, 2025
As you evaluate your faith, is it “God and?” God and others. God and the world’s ideas. God and my best thoughts thrown in. God and some money. God and a clear path. Or simply: God. Are you vainly clinging to the idea that you need more than Him?
February 25, 2025
Realize you are surrounded by Him. He is beneath you, beside you, above you. Where can you go from His care? What are stronger than His arms? More sufficient than His supply? What enemy is stronger or threat more powerful than He who sits eternally on the throne?
