My Life 6 3 2017

In or Out That Door Gonna Shut!

One thing that I have been trying to teach my children is that if there is something in life that you want then you have to go get it. Rarely do things fall into your lap by chance and circumstance. Often I have seen the phrase “Good Luck = Hard Work”. How these words ring so true. When I was young I had no confidence what so ever, and as a result I never tried for anything. When I did and I was met with words of opposition, I would stop and walk away. I did what I was told and tried to stay out of the way. I was satisfied but never really happy. It wasn’t until my twenties when I got fed up and started going after what I wanted. Now that was a problem, cause it was what I wanted and therefore I made some pretty big mistakes, and went down a long dark road. In my thirties I started to dig myself out. I got back to zero. I paid for all my mistakes and got right with God. Even though I had always believed in God I was “born again” and had a rededication to my faith. I sought knowledge, I prayed more and more in the passing months. I began to study and with God as my leader, Jesus as my teacher and the Holy Spirit as my advisor I began to make decisions but it wasn’t just what I wanted to do. I ran everything by God, “What do you think?” I would often say. Answers didn’t always come as quick as I wanted but they did come in time. Some of the things that I wanted I didn’t get but I am happier for it. The things I have received following Jesus have been more grand, but you have to want God. He is always there waiting, but he wants a dedication to him, a confirmation of faith. He wants you to take the plunge and become baptized in the Holy Spirit. He will wash away everything wrong you have done, and when you make mistakes in the future if you come to God with an honest and mournful heart he will forgive you of your sins when you ask. So many want what God offers, but they don’t want to take the first step. They want God to come all the way to them, but God isn’t a genie you have to make a commitment and meet him half way. This offer doesn’t last forever, you will die one day or this age will come to an end. At that time God will shut the door and the decisions you make will determine whether you are in or out. God will let you do whatever you want. He wants your company but will you come in?

Luke 13:22-30

22He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, `Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, `I do not know where you come from.' 26Then you will begin to say, `We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27But he will say, `I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' 28There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

A Thought: Choosing, the Brain Teaser of All Time

I was watching a rerun of Big Bang Theory last night. It was about when Sheldon had to choose between PS4 and Xbox One. It was hilarious to watch, even for the second time but odd that also arrived at a time when I have a decision myself. Do I keep the job I have or try and move on? The fact is that we have lots of decisions to make everyday. Most are easy, I myself will way the pros and cons of each possible outcome. Usually a good choice makes itself perfectly clear. Its when we get hung up on decisions that seem to be even that are hard. Don’t fret the little stuff, problem is sometimes we forget what the really big things are. Mary (mother of Jesus) had a big decision. Help God or refuse, live her life as she was or become an unwed mother in a time when adultery could get you stoned to death. Wrapping ourselves up in what car to buy, what job to work and guitar strings to use is really of no consequence. Yes, could any of those decisions prove to not work out the way we want? Yes, but they are easily, learned from, corrected and we can move forward. 

The real important stuff is what we decide to anchor our life on. I was once a man of consumption. Not many times did I think about what I was putting out in the world. After a divorce that almost emotionally leveled me I began to take stock of what and who I was. Looking hard in that mirror I decided that I became a rather ugly person. Slowly I started to change myself. There were some set backs, but I changed my job, where I lived and my attitude on how to live my life. All of these things I anchored on God. I really started to learn about Jesus and started to follow his teachings. My life is now more full and happy. I am sure that there are some out there shaking their heads. Some may think that changing jobs is not a small thing. I know I used to feel the same way because that was my world. That is what I anchored my life on. Now I anchor my life on loving God, following Jesus’s teachings, loving everyone I meet and helping all I can with whatever I have. The rest falls in place where it needs to. I care about other things but decisions are now easier because I have a rock everything is built on, and its funny how if I find myself having a hard time making a decision it probably not that important at all.

Luke 1:26-38

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For with God nothing will be impossible." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.