The last month or so I have seen both pheasants and Ducks near the highway as I drive to work each day. This is kind of unusual since most birds are scared away by the noise of vehicles buzzing by at 70 mph.
I have seen them right on the shoulder of the road as I would pass by. I think everytime I go by that these birds sure are bold. But now I know the truth. They were just living on the edge in search for something to eat. Possibly food has been scarce this winter since it has been so dry and barren. Anyway I know this because now I am seeing them dead on the side of the road after being hit by a car. To put it simple they were Living on the Edge, literally.
Something drove them to the point that caused them to ignore their built in danger sensors and put their life on the line. Most likely it was their hunger that led them to this point.
I have never had to starve or be without food in all my life. I don't know what it is like to be so hungry that you would risk your life just to eat. But there are people everyday in our world that face this issue.
What brought them to this place? Well, maybe it was poverty, maybe it is the country they live in but whatever the situation it is very real and very tragic.
Now as usual with my thoughts that I post here I like to tie my thoughts to our spiritual life. The life that we as Christians live in obedience to the Word of God.
Spiritually in our world today people are starving. They are not getting enough spiritual food to support their spiritual life. People are starving for something that will satisfy their life, longing for something to fill their heart with happiness and joy. When they cannot find it they begin to take unusual risks in order to try and fill that empty place in their life.
unfortunately some of these people go so far that they end up dyeing after they have strayed to far and ignored the warning signs too long. They become willing to take the most risky chances all in the hopes that they will finally be satisfied and the emptiness inside them will be filled.
Just like the birds I seen we to tend to take chances in this life all in the name of finding that one thing that will finally fill the emptiness and put and end to the hunger that we feel.
Oh God, help me today to really understand that you are the only one who can satisfy the hunger within my heart. Help me to understand that only your Spirit can satisfy the longings of my heart. Help me to not stray from your watchful and protective eye. Let me always trust in you to provide for me. Help me to never let the instinct inside me to override the warning signs that would keep me away from spiritual danger. Oh Lord, I pray that you would fill me with your Love, Strength, and Power that I might always be full and never hunger or thirst again. Amen.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
Just Keep Plowing
I have been going through a time at work where a project has turned into a long term task. It has also challenged me in many areas of my abilities. As I sit here today and come to some more hurdels I am understanding alot about life.
When I started this project I was excited about it and very eager to work on it every day. Now that time has gone on and some issues have become difficult I am not as exceited as I once was. I have come to a place where I want to finish but I know much work still lies ahead for me. When I think of this I can become overwhelmed and want to quit.
When we are fresh and brand new with energy and ready to complete something it is the excitement that keeps us going. It drives us and motivates us to accomplish the task at hand. However when we loose the excitement we loose our drive and our desire to complete the task.
I grew up working on a farm and I remember plowing the fields. When we started out the ground was hard and rough. After the plow dug in and began to work the soil would become softer and easier to work with. I have thought about that and it has given me hope.
As I plow through the fields of life the ground can be hard at first but once I get into the work and begin to plow the ground becomes softer and easier to work with. Not immediatly and only after I have worked hard but the soil does become easier to work with. So life becomes easier as we go through things. But there will always be the new field that needs to be plowed. When we start it is going to be rough and hard at first but after much work we can see the progress we have made.
We can even feel this way in our life when we serve God. We are excited at first but then it becomes work and we want to quit. But if we want to succeed we must keep plowing.
When I started this project I was excited about it and very eager to work on it every day. Now that time has gone on and some issues have become difficult I am not as exceited as I once was. I have come to a place where I want to finish but I know much work still lies ahead for me. When I think of this I can become overwhelmed and want to quit.
When we are fresh and brand new with energy and ready to complete something it is the excitement that keeps us going. It drives us and motivates us to accomplish the task at hand. However when we loose the excitement we loose our drive and our desire to complete the task.
I grew up working on a farm and I remember plowing the fields. When we started out the ground was hard and rough. After the plow dug in and began to work the soil would become softer and easier to work with. I have thought about that and it has given me hope.
As I plow through the fields of life the ground can be hard at first but once I get into the work and begin to plow the ground becomes softer and easier to work with. Not immediatly and only after I have worked hard but the soil does become easier to work with. So life becomes easier as we go through things. But there will always be the new field that needs to be plowed. When we start it is going to be rough and hard at first but after much work we can see the progress we have made.
We can even feel this way in our life when we serve God. We are excited at first but then it becomes work and we want to quit. But if we want to succeed we must keep plowing.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
When I don't Understand
There are many times in my life where I didn't understand something. Whether it is something at my job or when I am working on a project at home. This can be very frustrating sometimes, especially when it is an important project I am working on.
I have seen this appear in my walk with God as well. There are many things I don't understand about God. Many of our greatest questions for God sometimes seem to go un-answered. Sometimes we have all questioned God and wondered why a particular problem or issue is not addressed by God in a way that leaves us clear in our mind. These are things we must address in our life if we are going to be successful at anything.
I am reminded of a large project that I have been working on for over a year at work. Some of the issues that need to be solved in order to complete the project are not understood very well by myself. But I have found that working through these issues and allowing time to work on my side I have eventually understood and was able to complete portions of the project with a fair amount of success. But the issues were very difficult at the time and I could have given up and moved on to another job, however I would have missed out on the accomplishments and knowledge I have gained.
I want to allow this process and this attitude spill over into my walk with God. None of the disciples were perfect and it took time and many processes before they came into a polished state of their life. They could have walked away, but they would have walked away from the opportunity of a lifetime too.
God, teach me to trust you in all my ways. Teach me to lean on you instead of my own understanding. Help me when I do not understand your word or your ways. Help me to keep the faith in you so that I can be molded and made into a true child of God.
Job 23:1-12
1 Then Job answered and said, 2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! 4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
I have seen this appear in my walk with God as well. There are many things I don't understand about God. Many of our greatest questions for God sometimes seem to go un-answered. Sometimes we have all questioned God and wondered why a particular problem or issue is not addressed by God in a way that leaves us clear in our mind. These are things we must address in our life if we are going to be successful at anything.
I am reminded of a large project that I have been working on for over a year at work. Some of the issues that need to be solved in order to complete the project are not understood very well by myself. But I have found that working through these issues and allowing time to work on my side I have eventually understood and was able to complete portions of the project with a fair amount of success. But the issues were very difficult at the time and I could have given up and moved on to another job, however I would have missed out on the accomplishments and knowledge I have gained.
I want to allow this process and this attitude spill over into my walk with God. None of the disciples were perfect and it took time and many processes before they came into a polished state of their life. They could have walked away, but they would have walked away from the opportunity of a lifetime too.
God, teach me to trust you in all my ways. Teach me to lean on you instead of my own understanding. Help me when I do not understand your word or your ways. Help me to keep the faith in you so that I can be molded and made into a true child of God.
Job 23:1-12
1 Then Job answered and said, 2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! 4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Being Content
Being Content in the state our life is in can cause us to become un-productive. When a person becomes so content in one state of their life it becomes almost impossible for them to ever overcome and acheive anything above normal.
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