reading | Courage for Today

Your Story Doesn’t Have to Be Over

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to babysit for our grandchildren which is always a thrill to me. They are so energetic and so full of life and just a lot of fun to be around. Theirs is a world of video games and toys and blocks and coloring books—and never a dull moment. During the time they were visiting, I came across a children’s book that one of them was reading and it caused me to think back when our own children were their ages or even younger. When our children were very young, my wife and I would read Dr. Seuss and Disney stories to them to the point that they practically memorized the text. In fact, before they could even read on their own, they could recite the words of the story just perfectly. Some nights, I would try to “fast forward” through the story and get them to bed sooner, but they were too wise for that. They knew that I had skipped pages and made me go back and read what I had purposely missed. Many nights, they wanted me to read the same story over and over. I would finally get to the “happily ever after” portion and would be coaxed into starting again. They never got tired of those worn out stories and it was as if they expected a different ending when I read the same story for a second or third time. Eventually, they would fall asleep or I would decide that this was enough reading for the night and I would close the book signaling that the evening’s stories were over.

As I think back on my journey as a Christian, I am comforted to know that God has never closed His book on me. I have failed Him and others many times. I have made bad decisions in my life that have cost me dearly. At times, I’ve not led the best Christian example I should have. There have been many years of wasted talent and abilities and times when I wondered what my purpose was or why I was on this Earth. I remember watching others who seemingly had it all and thinking I could never be like them. As far as I was concerned, my book was closed and my story was over.

Fortunately, God doesn’t see things the way I (we) do. My Christian story is never over. Your Christian story is never over. Your life might be filled with as many Chapters as the novel, War and Peace, but as long as you put Christ first in all you do and seek His guidance, your story never ends. If you’re at one of those inevitable deserts in your spiritual life and are struggling with your faith at the moment—never forget that in God’s eyes, your story isn’t over yet.

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Its No Secret That I Don’t Have A Green Thumb

Encouragement

I hate yard-work and it shows. It’s all I can do to keep my grass cut. I’m not sure why I’m this way, but I’m just not one of those folks that loves to work in their gardens and lawns constantly. I once had some neighbors that worked seemingly 24 hours outside. Their lawns, shrubbery, and flowers were gorgeous and showed the fruits of their labor. As for me, I’m just content to do the basics. I have too much going on in my life to over burden myself with yard work.

Sadly, my Christian life has sometimes mirrored my garden life.

I’ve had those times where it just seemed like I was in a rut. I wasn’t growing. I wasn’t reading God’s word. I wasn’t bearing witness to others. I was just “tired” of being a Christian and all the work it required, or so I thought. There were times it was just easier to not put in the work to be a Christian. After a while of being miserable, I came to my senses and realized that there were three things causing my miserable State of Mind:

I was idol and barren. I was doing nothing in my Christian life. In fact, it became a vicious cycle. The more miserable I became, the less I felt like making a change. Just like my flowers, lawns and gardens, I just really didn’t put forth any effort. I finally changed that attitude and began making changes. It wasn’t easy at first, but I stuck with it. I began reading God’s Word regularly again I began praying regularly, not just for me but for others as well. It was like getting reacquainted with an old friend.
I was unfruitful and never worked to reach others. Gardens and plants, if watered and fertilized and weeded regularly will bear other plants and fruits. Our Christian life should be no different. The more active I became in my Christian Life, the more fruit I started bearing. I was able to witness and reach others in ways that wouldn’t have been possible before. I began caring more about others than myself. I became sacrificial instead of self-serving.
I was blind Blind and forgot what God had done for me in the past. I found that I was marching through life complaining about things I shouldn’t be concerned about, all the time forgetting how wonderful and mighty God had been to get me to that point in my life. My Father-in-law grew up on a farm and constantly relied on his past experiences and what he’d been taught over the years, especially when he planted new crops. I suddenly realized that I needed to do the same thing as a Christian. I need to spend time reminding myself that God has never failed (me or anyone else) and that his truth, love, mercy, and kindness were the same always and today.

Where are you in your Christian Walk? Do you feel stale and stagnant, or do you feel alive and revived? If it’s the former, I challenge you to develop your “Green Thumb” in your Christian Walk by becoming active; bearing fruit; and remembering what God has done for you. I promise you’re new Garden will never be the same.

Playing Hide and Seek With God

Encouragement

When our children were pre-schoolers, they loved to play “hide and seek.” I’m not sure why they loved the game so much. I guess it was the thrill of hiding somewhere and, then, having Dad become frustrated trying to find them hiding in some obscure place. My daughter, especially, took the game to its most extreme level. She took hiding serious. So serious, in fact, she was disappointed if she was found.

I remember one particular occasion we were playing hide and seek indoors and she hid in some small space between two dressers in our bedroom. A space so small, I wouldn’t have even thought she would fit. I searched and searched and searched. In closets; under beds; everywhere. She was as quiet as a mouse. I was actually beginning to think she may have gone outside or gotten hurt. I searched continuously for several minutes until, finally, I saw her wedged into this small place that no one would have thought to hide. As soon as I found her, she burst out laughing knowing that she had “won” this particular battle.

This morning, I was reading Colossians Chapter 3, Verse 1. It says: ” Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ” Of course, the logical question is, what are the things above we should keep seeking? I continued reading through versus 12-17 in the same Chapter and it was there I found the answers. The Lord lists such things as putting on a heart of compassion; kindness; gentleness; humility; and patience. But beyond all these things is love. It was a true blessing this morning to be reminded of these “things above” and my responsibility in finding these “things above.”

Speaking from experience, I sometimes just expect the Lord to pour these “things above” on me in a mighty way, without any effort on my part. I lose sight of the fact that it is I that should be seeking those things. And, I should be seeking those things continually. Not just once or twice, but continually. Seeking these things in Christ is a Goal, not a destination. I’m always working toward the goal, but I’ll never fully reach it.

I never stopped searching for my daughter all those years ago until I found her. In Christ, I am reminded to never stop seeking those things above.