"I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live, your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die wherever you die and be buried there." (Ruth 1:16-17)
Wow, what a commitment! I will go wherever you go...
I love to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me and speak to me through Scripture, teaching me love-life lessons to apply to my life and the lives of others. Ruth is a fascinating story, full of love-life truths, but let me pull out just one (I encourage you to spend some time in Ruth if you haven't been there lately):
God will lead us to the right harvest fields so that we can be a blessing to others and He can bless and provide for us.
Ruth could have gone out to any number of harvest fields, but God directed Naomi to send Ruth to Boaz's harvest fields. God knew where Ruth would be protected and cared for, as well as providing for her and Naomi, and God used Naomi to point Ruth in the right direction.
God's blessings through us and to us, and His provision along the way, is amazing as we follow His lead! As we seek refuge under His wings He brings the right people into our lives so that in His grace there might be mutual blessing; us to them and them to us. God's blessings are rarely, if ever, one-sided. He blesses through us so that He may bless us through others. It's Kingdom love-life!
Thank you Jesus! Lead us today to the right harvest fields to glean from that the Owner of the field may provide for our needs so that we can bless and provide for the needs of others. Jesus, use others to point us in the right direction. . . to the right harvest fields.
May we be faithful today, trusting and loving God enough to guide us to the right fields so that we may be blessed as well as be a blessing.
Live today in the love-life of Jesus and His Kingdom,
Shawn
Serving Those Who Serve Others
Friday, May 19, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Back in Texas
Well, after three days in a truck, with a labradoodle who thinks she's a lap dog between Jack and I, and Rochelle and her mom in our Sequoia, with two dogs of their own in tow, we've made it to Amarillo. We were able to unload a U-Haul and fill our new house (thanks Rusty and Donnita) with more boxes then I remember going into the truck, set up beds, meet some neighbors, pick up a car that Shawn bought (and then take it back... that's another story), get Jack to baseball practice, enroll him in school, put up blinds (thanks Mema), unload more boxes where Shawn's office will be, navigate torrential rains, and stuff I'm not even sure about that Rochelle and her mom have been doing, Rochelle is making a house a home!
As Rochelle and her mom work hard turning a new house into a warm home I have been able to be with Megan as she runs from doctor to doctor, and early this morning to day surgery for a port replacement. Her treatment schedule is exhausting, but she navigates it like a pro. I'm proud of her!
Life is precious and when I find myself anxious about trying to accomplish more than I can, I am grateful for moments when God says, "be still." Well, to be honest, I'm not really grateful until I actually obey His words and "am still" in His presence. Being still is not comfortable, or really all that pleasant. But, heeding His words and working at stillness is not just about slowing down, or stopping what you are doing. Come on, let's face it, we all have a lot to do. Rather. being still is about doing all that you have to do and recognizing His presence all around you, empowering you to do (or not get done) all that you need to accomplish.
I know you're busy today, and slowing down is probably not an option! So, instead, try to "be still" in His presence in the midst of your busyness. Don't know how? Take a deep breath, hold it... hold it..., now as you exhale whisper the words, "thank you Jesus for Your presence." And go on about your day.
Inhale... hold it... whisper, "thank you Jesus for Your presence."
Blessings,
Shawn
As Rochelle and her mom work hard turning a new house into a warm home I have been able to be with Megan as she runs from doctor to doctor, and early this morning to day surgery for a port replacement. Her treatment schedule is exhausting, but she navigates it like a pro. I'm proud of her!
Life is precious and when I find myself anxious about trying to accomplish more than I can, I am grateful for moments when God says, "be still." Well, to be honest, I'm not really grateful until I actually obey His words and "am still" in His presence. Being still is not comfortable, or really all that pleasant. But, heeding His words and working at stillness is not just about slowing down, or stopping what you are doing. Come on, let's face it, we all have a lot to do. Rather. being still is about doing all that you have to do and recognizing His presence all around you, empowering you to do (or not get done) all that you need to accomplish.
I know you're busy today, and slowing down is probably not an option! So, instead, try to "be still" in His presence in the midst of your busyness. Don't know how? Take a deep breath, hold it... hold it..., now as you exhale whisper the words, "thank you Jesus for Your presence." And go on about your day.
Inhale... hold it... whisper, "thank you Jesus for Your presence."
Blessings,
Shawn
Monday, March 20, 2017
I really did make a commitment to be better at writing in 2017. I really want to be a writer that people want to read and are anxious for my musings put down on paper. Well, it's now March, almost April, and this is my second post of 2017. Epic fail!
Have you ever really wanted to make something a part of your life? Lose weight? Exercise? Make more money? Be a better spouse or parent? Read more? Write more, ugh! Be a better Christian, not that we compare ourselves to others or anything? And you've done all the right things to make it happen. You committed it to paper, because we all know how well that works. Maybe you even scheduled it into your daily routine, but you still control your schedule. The original desire was there, but somewhere along the way your dream got relegated to the "I wish I would have pile in your life."
So, the big question is, "what do we do about it?" How about this simple trick, do it again. Yeah, pick up where you left off and start again. And that voice in the back of your head that tells you that you'll never finish this. Well, tell the voice to... well, you know!
One more thing, start over for you. Ultimately, I don't really write hoping others will read this mess, I write for me. Don't go to the gym for someone else, go for you. Don't be a better spouse or parent for others, be a better spouse or parent for you. Sounds selfish? Not really, when you make the decision to start again for you you'll be surprised at how others benefit too. When I choose to be a better spouse or parent for me of course my wife and kids benefit. When I go to the gym and exercise regularly not only do I get healthier but my family has me around that much longer. When I choose to dive deeper into my relationship with God I become a greater witness for the Kingdom.
So, here I go again. Will you start again with me? Let's do it for ourselves so that others benefit. Now I can hear the voices of the super-Christians out there; "we are supposed to do everything we do for the glory of God." I agree, but unless I do it God gets no glory. So, join me today, pick up where you left off and let's do this. Get into the gym. Spend more time with your wife and kids. Dive into God. Pick up your pen and write. Just start again.
I'm sharing your struggles, but let's start again right now. It's not too late. The world is waiting for you and you have something to offer.
Let's go, let's do this thing...
Have you ever really wanted to make something a part of your life? Lose weight? Exercise? Make more money? Be a better spouse or parent? Read more? Write more, ugh! Be a better Christian, not that we compare ourselves to others or anything? And you've done all the right things to make it happen. You committed it to paper, because we all know how well that works. Maybe you even scheduled it into your daily routine, but you still control your schedule. The original desire was there, but somewhere along the way your dream got relegated to the "I wish I would have pile in your life."
So, the big question is, "what do we do about it?" How about this simple trick, do it again. Yeah, pick up where you left off and start again. And that voice in the back of your head that tells you that you'll never finish this. Well, tell the voice to... well, you know!
One more thing, start over for you. Ultimately, I don't really write hoping others will read this mess, I write for me. Don't go to the gym for someone else, go for you. Don't be a better spouse or parent for others, be a better spouse or parent for you. Sounds selfish? Not really, when you make the decision to start again for you you'll be surprised at how others benefit too. When I choose to be a better spouse or parent for me of course my wife and kids benefit. When I go to the gym and exercise regularly not only do I get healthier but my family has me around that much longer. When I choose to dive deeper into my relationship with God I become a greater witness for the Kingdom.
So, here I go again. Will you start again with me? Let's do it for ourselves so that others benefit. Now I can hear the voices of the super-Christians out there; "we are supposed to do everything we do for the glory of God." I agree, but unless I do it God gets no glory. So, join me today, pick up where you left off and let's do this. Get into the gym. Spend more time with your wife and kids. Dive into God. Pick up your pen and write. Just start again.
I'm sharing your struggles, but let's start again right now. It's not too late. The world is waiting for you and you have something to offer.
Let's go, let's do this thing...
Monday, January 2, 2017
Breath of Life
"Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Genesis 2:7 (NASB)
In Genesis chapter 1 we discover that God created us in His own image, but we need Genesis 2 to explain life. Life is the very breath of God, breathed into us by a living God.
Genesis 3 tells us that sin stole life from us as God intended, but sin did not steal God's image from us. Sin can bury God's image deep within, but when life is breathed into us through Jesus God's image begins to resurface and shape us into that image. We are still created in the image of God, but we need His breath breathed into us by Jesus.
Father, right now Satan is trying to steal life from people. Jesus taught us that the Devil only comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), but that is not the end of His teaching. Immediately Jesus says that He came to not only give life, but to give life to the full (abundantly, exceedingly, to the extreme). He came to breath life into us! (John 10:10)
Those yet to believe in Jesus for salvation have been deceived about who they are and the image they bear. Often times they gasp for breath living lives under the lies of the enemy. Believers in Jesus often have life stolen from them too. Circumstances of life have stolen their breath away as they struggle in their own strength rather than relying on the One who is victorious over our battles.
But we weren't created that way. We were created in the image of God and to exist on His breath, not our own - gasping for air. What a fundamental truth of God's Word: 1) we are created in God's image, with the ability to have His heart and mind, to know His will and live according to His purpose; and 2) that in Christ we can receive His breath of life to live out His life in a broken world.
Whether for the first time, calling out to Jesus for salvation and receiving His breath of life, or in need of a fresh breath of life, call out to Jesus today and stop gasping for air, living lives under the lie of the enemy. Enter into 2017 with a fresh breath of Heaven breathed into you by a gracious and loving God.
You were created for life! Breath on us today Breath of Heaven, breath on us today!
Happy New Year!
Shawn
In Genesis chapter 1 we discover that God created us in His own image, but we need Genesis 2 to explain life. Life is the very breath of God, breathed into us by a living God.
Genesis 3 tells us that sin stole life from us as God intended, but sin did not steal God's image from us. Sin can bury God's image deep within, but when life is breathed into us through Jesus God's image begins to resurface and shape us into that image. We are still created in the image of God, but we need His breath breathed into us by Jesus.
Father, right now Satan is trying to steal life from people. Jesus taught us that the Devil only comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), but that is not the end of His teaching. Immediately Jesus says that He came to not only give life, but to give life to the full (abundantly, exceedingly, to the extreme). He came to breath life into us! (John 10:10)
Those yet to believe in Jesus for salvation have been deceived about who they are and the image they bear. Often times they gasp for breath living lives under the lies of the enemy. Believers in Jesus often have life stolen from them too. Circumstances of life have stolen their breath away as they struggle in their own strength rather than relying on the One who is victorious over our battles.
But we weren't created that way. We were created in the image of God and to exist on His breath, not our own - gasping for air. What a fundamental truth of God's Word: 1) we are created in God's image, with the ability to have His heart and mind, to know His will and live according to His purpose; and 2) that in Christ we can receive His breath of life to live out His life in a broken world.
Whether for the first time, calling out to Jesus for salvation and receiving His breath of life, or in need of a fresh breath of life, call out to Jesus today and stop gasping for air, living lives under the lie of the enemy. Enter into 2017 with a fresh breath of Heaven breathed into you by a gracious and loving God.
You were created for life! Breath on us today Breath of Heaven, breath on us today!
Happy New Year!
Shawn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)