BUSY. I know that we've all been there. With kids starting school, work, house work, yard work, church, kids extracurricular activities, home groups... The list goes on and on with no end in site. It's times like these that we can lose our focus on what's truly important in our lives. Relationships. It's our relationships that shape our lives and how we feel about ourselves. It can be our relationship with our kids, our spouses, our friends and families, a coworker or a neighbor. And most importantly our relationship with God. These relationships and the interaction that occurs in them is vital to how we feel each and every day. Has the busy week intruded on your time to talk with God? Have you lost touch with a dear friend? Have you been too busy to sit down with your children and talk to them about their day at school? Have you been too wrapped up in all of life's good and bad things to stop and have quiet time with our Savior?
It happens to the best of us. I heard a pastor of a large church say recently that he came home one day, turned off the t.v., unplugged the computer and just sat and talked to his wife and 3 children for 2 hours. He said it refreshed him and reminded him of how much he loved his family. The same works for God! and we don't even need an appointment to get time with Him. If we can just stop and tune life out and let Him speak to us it will remind us of how much we love Him and just how much He truly loves us.
I challenge you this week to call or e-mail an old friend or loved one that you have lost contact with. Make time for them and for yourself! But, most importantly schedule some time with out Lord on a daily basis. I promise you will see the fruits of just a little quiet time with Him can change your whole week!
Psalm 139:23-24(NLT)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Highs and LOWS...
We've all been there, that place where you feel like you are all alone with no friends to turn to. Several months ago I went through that very scenario. I was formerly in a motorcycle "riders" club that disbanded. After every thing came crashing down I was lost. I had asked God to help me get out of that lifestyle, but when He did I had no idea how to move on. I was used to making a phone call and having people meet me at the drop of the hat to go riding, hangout or get into trouble. But after the club life was over and I decided to live for God, it got real lonely real quick...
My former "brothers" had moved on to other clubs or were living their own lives independent of me. I begged God to help me find acceptance. I almost joined a couple of local Christian Motorcycle Ministries/Clubs. But I prayed and I felt like God didn't want me to do that just yet. I would go riding all by myself, making sure I stayed away from bars and other places that would tempt me to fall back into my old ways. So there I was all alone and wondering how I was gonna make it? The amazing part was that when I was depressed and at my lowest, God spoke to my heart. He basically told me that I was never alone, He was with me always, and that He would send the right people into my life.
After 3 months or so I made a friend at church that rides as much as I do. The best part is that he's a cop... If you've ever been involved in the MC world you know that hanging around with a cop is looked down upon. Truth be told for years I hated cops and wanted nothing to do with them. But here again God worked, changing my thoughts and mindset, and brought me a friend and a true brother to give me wise counsel and mentor me on how a Christian man should live his life. I greatly appreciate his and his wife's impact on me and my family. Just last night he and his wife overwhelmed me with the gift of a new bible. I was shocked and also so grateful that they care enough for me to give me such a special gift.
I believe God let me go through that period of loneliness in my life to ready me for something greater. He tested me to see if I would follow Him even when I was depressed and feeling left out. Now I can help someone who comes out of the same situation I was in and understand how they feel when they lose everything that they thought mattered. He also gave me new friends and has allowed me to keep in contact with my old friends and try to show them His Love!
The bottom line is that when you are going through the low of the valley, keep your head up. He will see you through. And you just might be surprised to find out that the valley you hated so much will be used as a tool to make you stronger and give you the ability to help someone else get through their valley!!!
Psalm 55:22 (NLT) Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
My former "brothers" had moved on to other clubs or were living their own lives independent of me. I begged God to help me find acceptance. I almost joined a couple of local Christian Motorcycle Ministries/Clubs. But I prayed and I felt like God didn't want me to do that just yet. I would go riding all by myself, making sure I stayed away from bars and other places that would tempt me to fall back into my old ways. So there I was all alone and wondering how I was gonna make it? The amazing part was that when I was depressed and at my lowest, God spoke to my heart. He basically told me that I was never alone, He was with me always, and that He would send the right people into my life.
After 3 months or so I made a friend at church that rides as much as I do. The best part is that he's a cop... If you've ever been involved in the MC world you know that hanging around with a cop is looked down upon. Truth be told for years I hated cops and wanted nothing to do with them. But here again God worked, changing my thoughts and mindset, and brought me a friend and a true brother to give me wise counsel and mentor me on how a Christian man should live his life. I greatly appreciate his and his wife's impact on me and my family. Just last night he and his wife overwhelmed me with the gift of a new bible. I was shocked and also so grateful that they care enough for me to give me such a special gift.
I believe God let me go through that period of loneliness in my life to ready me for something greater. He tested me to see if I would follow Him even when I was depressed and feeling left out. Now I can help someone who comes out of the same situation I was in and understand how they feel when they lose everything that they thought mattered. He also gave me new friends and has allowed me to keep in contact with my old friends and try to show them His Love!
The bottom line is that when you are going through the low of the valley, keep your head up. He will see you through. And you just might be surprised to find out that the valley you hated so much will be used as a tool to make you stronger and give you the ability to help someone else get through their valley!!!
Psalm 55:22 (NLT) Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)