Sharing My Life

Do you go the extra mile?

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:55:48 -0500

Blessings from His Word: Col. 3:23-24 (AMP)
Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah.

Think on This:
This morning I ate at a Starbucks on 147 ave and 8th Street. I asked for a sandwich and a dopio espresso. I was asked if I would having it to go or for here. When I said “for here” (2 oz. espresso is too little to take with you). The young lady helping me asked if she could place my coffee in a porcelain cup, if she could heat my sandwich and if she could open my sandwich and place the lettuce on the side so that the lettuce would not “die.”

Maybe this is not a big deal to you, but to me it meant that I went from having another “meal on the run” to a very enjoyable sit-down breakfast, I even drank some extra coffee as a result. This young lady never stopped, she was either fixing coffee, cleaning tables, or greeting customers (nobody could leave without her saying goodbye to them).

My question for you is; Are you going the extra mile at everything that you do? Do you stand out in the crowd as a person of excellence? Do you fit in, or do you stand out as picture of what a proper work ethic is.

Pocket Blessing:
The Bible teaches us “do not work unto men, instead work unto the Lord.” Don’t just tell people that you are a follower of Christ, show people that you are a new person. Remember that being born-again in Christ is to get a second chance at being the person that you always wished that you could be.

Prayer for Blessing:
God change me from the inside out. God today I resolve to improve in one area of my life. Today I will seek out one characteristic of Christ and incorporate it into my life. I pray that in His name Amen.

Why do we focus on the bad...

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:18:58 -0500

Blessings from His Word: Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Think on This:
I was the recipient of a wonderfull ceremony the other day; a was ordained as Pastor of IBB Homestead. Everyone who was there commented on how everything was perfect.

So why did I wake up so upset the next day? I was bothered by how many of my close friends did not come (I feel like almost none of them made it). I was upset by the certificate of ordination that was not ready, by the buletins (they were the reason I was late to my own event) because they were not ever handed out. By the video that was worked on for several weeks that was never shown. The speach that I wrote that was left at home, so I had to adlob a few words. I was even upset thinking about how if the invitations had been completed two weeks earlier that maybe others would have come.

Why do we focus on the bad? My childhood Pastor made it and spoke some kind words. Many of my family and all of my wife's family and friends came. The food was good and plentifull. Everything started and ended on time. Nobody knew that anything was missing. Everyone left happy; including me.

I don't understand myself; why did my wife and I get into an argument? Why am I so disatisfied? What is wrong with me? Am I weird? Am I the only one who is his own worst enemy? Does anyone know; why do we focus on the bad?
Thanks for letting me share.

Prayer of Blessing:
God help me to remember your blessings in my life. God thank you for all the people that come to worship you at IBB Homestead Church each Sunday. God help me to not let the devil tempt me with negative thoughts, help me to always remember your promises. I pray that my faith grows stronger in you each day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The definition of a friend is...

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 11:37:52 -0500

A friend is someone who loves you enough to hurt your feeling; for your own good.
It is much easier to let someone make a dumb decision when you don't really care about them.
Today I am tired because I stayed up past midnight to wake up a friend and give them some tough but loving advice.
Without getting into details I had to remind him that the ends doesn't necessarily justify the means. That just because you can pretend to be ignorant of something God and your conscious cannot be deceived. And finally that all of our decisions have a consequence. Seeing yes to something urgent, could also be saying no to something very important.
U am sorry if this is confusing, I will get better with time.

His Love is all you need...

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:06:30 -0500

Blessings from His Word:
“...so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (2 Cor. 12:9 MSG)

Think on This:
Grace is an undeserved demonstration of love. God showers us with blessings and grace so often that we often do not even realize all the love that is all around us. I want you to know that your past cannot keep you down, your present cannot condemn you, because God loves you and God is for you, and God wants to bless you with a fresh start today. Today could be the day that you achieve the life that you always dreamed about having.

Don’t let negative thoughts (which come from the enemy) make you feel like you are anything less than anyone else. Our enemy the Devil loves to use unfair comparisons to belittle us, to make us feel less than worthy, to keep us from achieving all of our God given potential. If you get nothing else out of this blog, understand this: God knows that you are not perfect, he knows it better than you realize, because he created you exactly the way you are. All that you are, your physical limitations, your emotional weaknesses, your financial challenges, even your mistakes that may be in your distant past or may be occuring as you read this, all that you are can be used by God to make the world a better world if you just accept His love for you.

God wants you to be his eyes - and find those that are broken hearted, God wants you to be his feet, - and bring love to those that feel hopeless, God wants you to be his hands - and bless others with random acts of kindness. God says trust me, accept my love and together lets change this world. God has always thought as a champion, so never again think of yourself as a victim. You and God are an unstoppable force for good, fill the world with love, peace and happiness.

Pocket Blessing:
Do not focus on what you do not have in your life, do not let insecurity and envy (weapons of the evil one) cause you to think that you are missing anything in your life to be happy. Jesus has already paid the price for all your mistakes, and God has the power to change the world using you JUST AS YOU ARE. There is nothing wrong with you! You were created in a special way for a special purpose. And, if that does not put a smile on your face and a spring in your step I do not know what will.

Prayer of Blessing:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and grace today. I receive Your strength and favor in my life. Help me to extend that grace to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Absolute Answers...

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 06:08:41 -0400

Blessings from His Word:
Have you ever heard anyone say that truth is relative? Maybe you’ve even heard someone say, "Your truth isn’t necessarily my truth. What’s true for you may not be true for me." Ever say that yourself?

Some people think that truth and standards of right and wrong change from decade to decade or from person to person. They make choices based on society’s or their peers’ definitions of right and wrong. Like Judges 21:25 says, "The people [do] whatever seem[s] right in their own eyes" (Judg 21:25). Does that describe anyone you know?

Think on This:
Magazines, newspapers, and the Internet carry story after story about lifestyle choices: an unmarried couple who lives together before marriage ("After all, we’re in love"); a person who finally decides to break "free" of the shackles of heterosexual life to explore his or her "true" nature as a homosexual; a teen who just wants to be free to express his or her sexuality; a pastor who decides to bless the union of a same-sex couple—the list goes on and on. If you didn’t catch those, just wait for the follow-up talk shows and movies. Many of these choices are made in the name of tolerance and other forms of political correctness. Those opposed to these lifestyle choices are viewed as intolerant, especially if society gives them the green light.

Wondering what’s truly right or wrong? The Bible provides definite answers. The Ten Commandments and other laws reveal God’s standards of right and wrong. Take murder for example. God says no to that. What about adultery? Don’t even think about it. Stealing? Ditto. But honoring God and your parents are good moves.

Pocket Blessing:
Although times change, God’s standards never do. "Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven" (Ps 119:89). "The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever" (Ps 119:160). Because God’s standards always are the same, some are quick to describe the Bible as old-fashioned or lacking in relevance. Others might ignore it because the resent being measured by its standards. What’s your view?

This blog is an excerp from Depen Your Faith a weekly e-Devotion.