And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. – Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)
Who has done good and shared with you? Who have you done good and shared with? What have you shared? What goodness have you given? Why do you think God would be pleased?
The following story is one I am sure I have used before, but it is good.
Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers, suffering a meager harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders. "Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of how to make soup from stones."
Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town's greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones. "Now this will be a fine soup", said the second soldier; "but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!" Up jumped a villager, crying "What luck! I've just remembered where some has been left!" And off she ran, returning with an apronful of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends. In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel of the village's best breads and cheese. "You have given us the greatest of gifts: the secret of how to make soup from stones", said an elder, "and we shall never forget." The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said: "There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we may make a feast". And off the soldiers wandered, down the road.
One interpretation I have heard of Jesus feeding the 5000 claims that perhaps when people watched what little food was going around that they took out the food they had hidden away. It was hidden because they were afraid of not having enough. When the food went by they added to it, and soon a feast ensued. We often hide our resources away because we are scared of not having enough. For some reason though, perhaps due to a miracle, when we share there is more than enough and joy abounds! It is good to share and God knows it. Let this be our first stewardship devotional. What are you hiding that you can share? Share it and be a part of God’s joy!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Good Thing to Remember
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. – Philippians 4:4 (NRSV)
How do you go about rejoicing in the Lord? Why can you rejoice? What do you do that hampers your joy in God? Why do think Paul repeated himself, “again I will say, Rejoice”?
The following story was sent to me via e-mail:
A boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. “Hallelujah! God is great!” he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not. Along came a man who had recently completed studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth he asked the boy about the source of his joy.
“Hey,” asked the boy with a bright laugh, “Don't you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle.” The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the “realities” of the miracles of the Bible.
“That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10-inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.”
The boy countered with, “Jesus rose from the dead.” The enlightened man responded with, “Jesus no more rose from the dead than the Israelites walked through the Red Sea. Common sense will tell you all that. If that book can prove they crossed on dry land I'll believe Jesus rose from the dead and eat my hat.”
The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible laying open in his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor, naive young person to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go. Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.
“Wow!" exclaimed the boy happily, “God is greater than I thought! Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water.”
The man said, "Do you have any salt?"
Sometimes as life goes on and people try to bring us down we need to be reminded to rejoice in the Lord always. I’ve been told that when you become important to God you become important to Satan. Situations will arrive that will try to rob us of our joy. Paul has some advise for us in those situations. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice!”
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How do you go about rejoicing in the Lord? Why can you rejoice? What do you do that hampers your joy in God? Why do think Paul repeated himself, “again I will say, Rejoice”?
The following story was sent to me via e-mail:
A boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. “Hallelujah! God is great!” he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not. Along came a man who had recently completed studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth he asked the boy about the source of his joy.
“Hey,” asked the boy with a bright laugh, “Don't you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle.” The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the “realities” of the miracles of the Bible.
“That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10-inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.”
The boy countered with, “Jesus rose from the dead.” The enlightened man responded with, “Jesus no more rose from the dead than the Israelites walked through the Red Sea. Common sense will tell you all that. If that book can prove they crossed on dry land I'll believe Jesus rose from the dead and eat my hat.”
The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible laying open in his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor, naive young person to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go. Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.
“Wow!" exclaimed the boy happily, “God is greater than I thought! Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water.”
The man said, "Do you have any salt?"
Sometimes as life goes on and people try to bring us down we need to be reminded to rejoice in the Lord always. I’ve been told that when you become important to God you become important to Satan. Situations will arrive that will try to rob us of our joy. Paul has some advise for us in those situations. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice!”
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Friday, May 6, 2011
A Big Celebration
"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God." – Luke 15:8-10 (The Message)
Do you think God looks for you this way? Has God thrown a party for you yet? How hard is God looking for that person you think is no good? What does that mean about how you should treat that person?
A couple of days ago I was vacationing. It is always nice to vacation, but the last morning we were there suddenly I couldn’t find the key to the place we were staying, so I started looking.
Now perhaps you have also lost a key. You know that when it is found in the first five minutes you don’t think much about it. If you look for ten minutes before you find it, then you start to get a little excited about it. If you spend twenty minutes looking, by the time you find it perhaps you even shout out and have to tell someone.
I looked everywhere for this key. I went through every drawer, every piece of luggage, under beds, between cushions, under rugs, I moved the fridge, looked through bushes of every place I had walked the night before. It was nowhere! After two hours I was about to give up, but I couldn’t, I had to find it, so I pressed on. Finally I found it! And you what? I called people to tell them, I shouted out, I was ridiculously full of joy. I had no idea finding a key could give me so much joy.
How much more joy is in heaven when finally someone turns to God, when God finally finds someone who was lost? I can’t imagine. I was ready to have a party for a key. That person that bothers me, that rubs me the wrong way, that I can’t stand being around, that person is someone God would throw one epic party for, so maybe we should join God in the search. Or at the very least, enjoy the party.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Do you think God looks for you this way? Has God thrown a party for you yet? How hard is God looking for that person you think is no good? What does that mean about how you should treat that person?
A couple of days ago I was vacationing. It is always nice to vacation, but the last morning we were there suddenly I couldn’t find the key to the place we were staying, so I started looking.
Now perhaps you have also lost a key. You know that when it is found in the first five minutes you don’t think much about it. If you look for ten minutes before you find it, then you start to get a little excited about it. If you spend twenty minutes looking, by the time you find it perhaps you even shout out and have to tell someone.
I looked everywhere for this key. I went through every drawer, every piece of luggage, under beds, between cushions, under rugs, I moved the fridge, looked through bushes of every place I had walked the night before. It was nowhere! After two hours I was about to give up, but I couldn’t, I had to find it, so I pressed on. Finally I found it! And you what? I called people to tell them, I shouted out, I was ridiculously full of joy. I had no idea finding a key could give me so much joy.
How much more joy is in heaven when finally someone turns to God, when God finally finds someone who was lost? I can’t imagine. I was ready to have a party for a key. That person that bothers me, that rubs me the wrong way, that I can’t stand being around, that person is someone God would throw one epic party for, so maybe we should join God in the search. Or at the very least, enjoy the party.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Abounding In Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
What does it mean to be filled with all joy and peace in believing? Have you ever considered God “the God of hope”? Do you abound in hope? Have you met anyone who abounds in hope? How do they live?
This story was sent to me:
A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school.
As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword would cut through the sky.
Full of concern, the mother quickly got in her car and drove along the route to her child's school.
As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking up and smiling.
Finally, the mother called over to her child and asked, "What are you doing?" The child answered, "Smiling, God just keeps taking pictures of me."
And maybe that is an image of abounding in hope, yes maybe that is being filled with joy and peace. Knowing that God cares about us so much that God would never abandon us, and looking at fear in the face and smiling. Smiling because God is with us then too, and we aren’t alone. An old English proverb says it best, “Fear knocked on the door and faith answered. No one was there.” Today let us pray that the God of hope may fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that not only we will not fear, but also that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s a good way to be.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to be filled with all joy and peace in believing? Have you ever considered God “the God of hope”? Do you abound in hope? Have you met anyone who abounds in hope? How do they live?
This story was sent to me:
A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school.
As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword would cut through the sky.
Full of concern, the mother quickly got in her car and drove along the route to her child's school.
As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking up and smiling.
Finally, the mother called over to her child and asked, "What are you doing?" The child answered, "Smiling, God just keeps taking pictures of me."
And maybe that is an image of abounding in hope, yes maybe that is being filled with joy and peace. Knowing that God cares about us so much that God would never abandon us, and looking at fear in the face and smiling. Smiling because God is with us then too, and we aren’t alone. An old English proverb says it best, “Fear knocked on the door and faith answered. No one was there.” Today let us pray that the God of hope may fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that not only we will not fear, but also that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s a good way to be.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, June 17, 2010
When At The Gates of God
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name. – Psalm 100:4 (NRSV)
What are you thankful for today? Have you told God? Have you told anyone for that matter? Where have you found the gates of God? Where do you think God’s courts are? How have you blessed God’s name?
I once heard that each time you pick up the phone you should smile. When I asked why I was told, “Because the person on the other line will be able to hear your smile and you will make their day better.” Ever since I have heard that mighty peace of wisdom I have tried to follow it. Even if I am not making the person’s day better on the other end of the line, it makes my day a little better.
Mother Teresa once said, “Kind words can be short and very easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” I suppose that is true. I remember the people who tell me very kind things and very mean things. Both stick with me. Sometimes I say very rude things before I think about it. It really is simple to say something rude, and we try to apologize later saying something like, “I am sorry about that, my emotions got the best of me.” But we know that doesn’t make it better, those awful words hang in the air. The people we hurt are hurt. Words cannot really be taken back, which is why it is good to say kind words. They linger in the air too, but instead of pain they bring joy.
I got a call today from a friend. She was obviously smiling when I answered the phone, I could hear it and suddenly I was smiling too. She was so full of joy it made me happier. She was so full of thanksgiving it made me more thankful. Then she said some kind words about me and my heart rejoiced. Now I am praising God too!
I hear a lot of people talk about how awful the world is these days. We have each complained bitterly about something. But each morning we wake up we enter the gates of God. God’s courts are all around us, and there is plenty for which to be thankful! We must make choices though. We can choose to answer the phone with a frown and bring no joy. We can choose to say rude words and only make it so people don’t want us anywhere near. Or we can choose to rejoice with thanksgiving because we are in the courts of God, we are saved in the name of Jesus, we are God’s little loves. The choice is ours each moment. How will you enter the gates of God today?
With hope and joy,
Garrett
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name. – Psalm 100:4 (NRSV)
What are you thankful for today? Have you told God? Have you told anyone for that matter? Where have you found the gates of God? Where do you think God’s courts are? How have you blessed God’s name?
I once heard that each time you pick up the phone you should smile. When I asked why I was told, “Because the person on the other line will be able to hear your smile and you will make their day better.” Ever since I have heard that mighty peace of wisdom I have tried to follow it. Even if I am not making the person’s day better on the other end of the line, it makes my day a little better.
Mother Teresa once said, “Kind words can be short and very easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” I suppose that is true. I remember the people who tell me very kind things and very mean things. Both stick with me. Sometimes I say very rude things before I think about it. It really is simple to say something rude, and we try to apologize later saying something like, “I am sorry about that, my emotions got the best of me.” But we know that doesn’t make it better, those awful words hang in the air. The people we hurt are hurt. Words cannot really be taken back, which is why it is good to say kind words. They linger in the air too, but instead of pain they bring joy.
I got a call today from a friend. She was obviously smiling when I answered the phone, I could hear it and suddenly I was smiling too. She was so full of joy it made me happier. She was so full of thanksgiving it made me more thankful. Then she said some kind words about me and my heart rejoiced. Now I am praising God too!
I hear a lot of people talk about how awful the world is these days. We have each complained bitterly about something. But each morning we wake up we enter the gates of God. God’s courts are all around us, and there is plenty for which to be thankful! We must make choices though. We can choose to answer the phone with a frown and bring no joy. We can choose to say rude words and only make it so people don’t want us anywhere near. Or we can choose to rejoice with thanksgiving because we are in the courts of God, we are saved in the name of Jesus, we are God’s little loves. The choice is ours each moment. How will you enter the gates of God today?
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Love and Good Deeds
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25 (NRSV)
What are some good ways to provoke love and good deeds? Have you provoked such things in others? Have others provoked such things in you? How? Why is it good to meet together? Why do we need to encourage one another?
Yesterday at Bible study a couple came up to me before we started to share with me wonderful news, she is pregnant. As always happens when people share with me their great news I smiled hugely and couldn’t wait to tell everyone else. If I am asked not to tell people things I don’t, but joyous news is hard for me to keep in. I asked if I could share their wonderful news and they gave me the okay.
We went through all of the Bible study and had our prayer requests afterward. For the final prayer request I asked that everyone keep the couple in their prayers because, “They are pregnant!”
The best part about sharing good news in front of a group of people is watching everyone’s faces. In an instant I witnessed the crowd in front of me transformed into joy, as everyone turned to the couple to celebrate and rejoice with them. And for a moment I saw a slice of the kingdom of God and I couldn’t be happier.
Meeting together will inevitably provoke love and good deeds! We were not made to be alone, but made to live together. As we grow together we will always find more people to love, and more people who love us. In our world it is hard to make it through some days. If we lack encouragement it is a good time to make it back to a church home where we can discover we are not going through things alone. I pray that if you are reading this a cloud of love and good deeds surrounds you. If not my prayer is that soon such wonderful things will surround you. There is a church out there waiting for you!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What are some good ways to provoke love and good deeds? Have you provoked such things in others? Have others provoked such things in you? How? Why is it good to meet together? Why do we need to encourage one another?
Yesterday at Bible study a couple came up to me before we started to share with me wonderful news, she is pregnant. As always happens when people share with me their great news I smiled hugely and couldn’t wait to tell everyone else. If I am asked not to tell people things I don’t, but joyous news is hard for me to keep in. I asked if I could share their wonderful news and they gave me the okay.
We went through all of the Bible study and had our prayer requests afterward. For the final prayer request I asked that everyone keep the couple in their prayers because, “They are pregnant!”
The best part about sharing good news in front of a group of people is watching everyone’s faces. In an instant I witnessed the crowd in front of me transformed into joy, as everyone turned to the couple to celebrate and rejoice with them. And for a moment I saw a slice of the kingdom of God and I couldn’t be happier.
Meeting together will inevitably provoke love and good deeds! We were not made to be alone, but made to live together. As we grow together we will always find more people to love, and more people who love us. In our world it is hard to make it through some days. If we lack encouragement it is a good time to make it back to a church home where we can discover we are not going through things alone. I pray that if you are reading this a cloud of love and good deeds surrounds you. If not my prayer is that soon such wonderful things will surround you. There is a church out there waiting for you!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Remaining Calm When God Fights
“You only need to remain calm; the LORD will fight for you.” – Exodus 14:14 (NCV)
Are you weary? Have the times been rough? Is the stress getting to you? Have you tried to remain calm? Has God fought for you before? Do you believe that God will fight for you again?
The Associated Press just wrote an article about a study which found that the youth of today (High School and College students) are five times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than youth of the Great Depression Era. Apparently today’s youth have such high expectations for success that the stress to meet those expectations is overwhelming. Looking out at things I am sure that it is not just the youth.
Our expectations for success say that we should each be rich, all have whatever we want whenever we want, have big homes, drive big cars, and all the rest. When these grandiose expectations are not met our existence seems shattered, and then we try to cope with our shattered dreams. Today it is harder to cope than ever before because God is so rarely kept at the forefront of our hearts and minds. We prefer to blame than to pray. We would rather be consumed in anger than ask for peace. We would assume sit in depression than seek the only path to joy.
It is not the success that culture prescribes that promises us peace, it is Jesus Christ who promises us peace, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” It was this promise that let Paul joyously proclaim, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” even as he sat in prison. And it was this promise of God’s that let Moses confidently say to a nervous nation, “You only need to remain calm; the LORD will fight for you,” as they saw all the might of Egypt descend upon them.
Putting our faith in Jesus means that we stop putting faith in the promises of the world. The higher rates of anxiety and depression are reason enough to turn to Jesus. We are not meant to go through life scared and alone, stressing out about empty promises that we cannot control. God still runs after us offering a new life, a different life, and a life where we can remain calm and know that somehow, someway God is control and fighting for us. Today let us pray for that life!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Are you weary? Have the times been rough? Is the stress getting to you? Have you tried to remain calm? Has God fought for you before? Do you believe that God will fight for you again?
The Associated Press just wrote an article about a study which found that the youth of today (High School and College students) are five times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than youth of the Great Depression Era. Apparently today’s youth have such high expectations for success that the stress to meet those expectations is overwhelming. Looking out at things I am sure that it is not just the youth.
Our expectations for success say that we should each be rich, all have whatever we want whenever we want, have big homes, drive big cars, and all the rest. When these grandiose expectations are not met our existence seems shattered, and then we try to cope with our shattered dreams. Today it is harder to cope than ever before because God is so rarely kept at the forefront of our hearts and minds. We prefer to blame than to pray. We would rather be consumed in anger than ask for peace. We would assume sit in depression than seek the only path to joy.
It is not the success that culture prescribes that promises us peace, it is Jesus Christ who promises us peace, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” It was this promise that let Paul joyously proclaim, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” even as he sat in prison. And it was this promise of God’s that let Moses confidently say to a nervous nation, “You only need to remain calm; the LORD will fight for you,” as they saw all the might of Egypt descend upon them.
Putting our faith in Jesus means that we stop putting faith in the promises of the world. The higher rates of anxiety and depression are reason enough to turn to Jesus. We are not meant to go through life scared and alone, stressing out about empty promises that we cannot control. God still runs after us offering a new life, a different life, and a life where we can remain calm and know that somehow, someway God is control and fighting for us. Today let us pray for that life!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Doing the Word
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. – James 1:22 (NIV)
How can someone deceive himself or herself by only listening to the word? Do you feel you have ever deceived yourself? What does it mean to “do” what the word says? What is an example of doing what the word says that you can think of right now?
My sister called me up the other day and told me about a little boy around 7 or 8 years old. He earned money throughout the year either because of gifts given or doing the odd job around the house. There was always the promise that as he earned the money he would be able to buy something with it, so the little boy kept earning money.
Toward the beginning of December his mother asked him if he wanted to use his money. Excited the little boy shook his head yes. “Do you know what you want to buy?” asked his mother. The little boy shook his head yes. “What do you want to use your money for?” his mother prodded. The boy looked at his mother and said, “I want to give half of it to Toys for Tots, and half to the Veterans Relief Fund.” Understandably his mother was shocked, “Are you sure?” “Yes, yes mom, I am sure.”
The boy’s mother told people about how her son wanted to spend his money and it inspired a couple of people who heard. These inspired people said that they would match the little boy’s gift. Several days later the boy walked into a Toy’s for Tots donation center and gave them half of his money and half of the matched gifts. Then he went to the place to donate for the Veterans Relief Fund and did the same. All total the little boy gave almost $500. What awesome work done by someone so young!
Jesus said, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” There is no doubt that little boy did what that word says! What word is it time to do that we have heard? As we approach the New Year let us make a resolution to do the word we have heard; we may be amazed at what occurs!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How can someone deceive himself or herself by only listening to the word? Do you feel you have ever deceived yourself? What does it mean to “do” what the word says? What is an example of doing what the word says that you can think of right now?
My sister called me up the other day and told me about a little boy around 7 or 8 years old. He earned money throughout the year either because of gifts given or doing the odd job around the house. There was always the promise that as he earned the money he would be able to buy something with it, so the little boy kept earning money.
Toward the beginning of December his mother asked him if he wanted to use his money. Excited the little boy shook his head yes. “Do you know what you want to buy?” asked his mother. The little boy shook his head yes. “What do you want to use your money for?” his mother prodded. The boy looked at his mother and said, “I want to give half of it to Toys for Tots, and half to the Veterans Relief Fund.” Understandably his mother was shocked, “Are you sure?” “Yes, yes mom, I am sure.”
The boy’s mother told people about how her son wanted to spend his money and it inspired a couple of people who heard. These inspired people said that they would match the little boy’s gift. Several days later the boy walked into a Toy’s for Tots donation center and gave them half of his money and half of the matched gifts. Then he went to the place to donate for the Veterans Relief Fund and did the same. All total the little boy gave almost $500. What awesome work done by someone so young!
Jesus said, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” There is no doubt that little boy did what that word says! What word is it time to do that we have heard? As we approach the New Year let us make a resolution to do the word we have heard; we may be amazed at what occurs!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Creation to Enjoy
God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good… And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. – Genesis 1:31, 2:2 (NRSV)
What does it mean to you that everything God has made is “very good”? What do you think of all the work that God has done? Why do you think God rested from the work? Do you rest from your work, and if so why?
Last week my family and I went down to the Florida coast to celebrate my birthday with my very good friend and his family. Before we left I was a bit stressed out. There was so much to do, and I didn’t feel like I had enough time to do it. I was also concerned about driving 6 hours south to spend two nights and then drive 6 hours back. Would the trip be worth it? When would I have time to prepare a sermon? How would Langston (my 9 month old) handle being in a car for so long? What about that meeting I am going to miss… so many questions.
When we got down there I felt better, and then I felt great. I stopped thinking about everything I “had” to do, and started to relax. The second night we ate out at an open-air restaurant right on the beach. My wife and my friend were having a great conversation, and I found myself staring at the clouds over the ocean as the sun set behind us. The clouds were beautiful colors of oranges mixed with purples mixed with colors no human has yet named, and amazing shapes billowing for what seemed to be miles and miles into the sky. One group of clouds had lightning flashing in its midst far at sea, while below others I could tell that rain was falling into the ocean. It captured my attention with its majesty.
As I looked at the wonder all around me I noticed someone else who seemed to also be captured by it. I walked over to him and asked him what he saw when he looked at it all. He told me his wife is an artist and explained to me the lines that he saw in it, and how he wished she was there to paint it. Then he stopped talking for a moment and turned to me, “It’s beautiful, and I am just glad I am here to see it.” He was right, it was beautiful, and thanks be to God I took the rest I needed to enjoy it.
I am sure that God rested after it all just to take it in, to enjoy the very good universe that he created. Jesus was right when he said that the Sabbath was made for us humans. We experience things as worthless as stress and thereby fail to recognize that a very good creation surrounds us. It is time to take a break, to rest, to observe the Sabbath and just take in the creation that God could not help but sit back and enjoy. I know we will see beauty and miracle, and realize that we are blessed just to be here and witness it. God wants us to enjoy life, and there is so much to enjoy right here! Do you see it?
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to you that everything God has made is “very good”? What do you think of all the work that God has done? Why do you think God rested from the work? Do you rest from your work, and if so why?
Last week my family and I went down to the Florida coast to celebrate my birthday with my very good friend and his family. Before we left I was a bit stressed out. There was so much to do, and I didn’t feel like I had enough time to do it. I was also concerned about driving 6 hours south to spend two nights and then drive 6 hours back. Would the trip be worth it? When would I have time to prepare a sermon? How would Langston (my 9 month old) handle being in a car for so long? What about that meeting I am going to miss… so many questions.
When we got down there I felt better, and then I felt great. I stopped thinking about everything I “had” to do, and started to relax. The second night we ate out at an open-air restaurant right on the beach. My wife and my friend were having a great conversation, and I found myself staring at the clouds over the ocean as the sun set behind us. The clouds were beautiful colors of oranges mixed with purples mixed with colors no human has yet named, and amazing shapes billowing for what seemed to be miles and miles into the sky. One group of clouds had lightning flashing in its midst far at sea, while below others I could tell that rain was falling into the ocean. It captured my attention with its majesty.
As I looked at the wonder all around me I noticed someone else who seemed to also be captured by it. I walked over to him and asked him what he saw when he looked at it all. He told me his wife is an artist and explained to me the lines that he saw in it, and how he wished she was there to paint it. Then he stopped talking for a moment and turned to me, “It’s beautiful, and I am just glad I am here to see it.” He was right, it was beautiful, and thanks be to God I took the rest I needed to enjoy it.
I am sure that God rested after it all just to take it in, to enjoy the very good universe that he created. Jesus was right when he said that the Sabbath was made for us humans. We experience things as worthless as stress and thereby fail to recognize that a very good creation surrounds us. It is time to take a break, to rest, to observe the Sabbath and just take in the creation that God could not help but sit back and enjoy. I know we will see beauty and miracle, and realize that we are blessed just to be here and witness it. God wants us to enjoy life, and there is so much to enjoy right here! Do you see it?
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Minister's Minute in June's Journal of Hope and Joy
I remember the days of summer as a child. They always arrived with a Christmas-like anticipation. No school, lots of friends, trips, pools, fun, summer. I could always tell it was coming as the days got longer; the sun taking longer to set to ensure my day, my special day, could go on for as long as possible. I enjoyed the evening hours the best because I think that is when it was suppose to be dark. But summer knowing how restful and special it is, made sure that the sun maintained its course just a little longer so I could continue to frolic in its light.
My memories are like a kaleidoscope of images, all changing and melding together. Rolling down a hill at one of my favorite parks. The hill seemed so long and so steep, but I am sure if I were to see it now I would be surprised how tame it is, oh but what fun. I remember myself swinging as dusk turned the sky arrangements of oranges, pinks, reds and purples, even then I smiled at its beauty. I think no matter our age we appreciate the beauty of nature, as it speaks to that piece of divinity inside each of us, that handprint of God referred to as the imagine of God. The creative impulse of God in the universe seeing the creative impulse of God within us, and in seeing one another smile to each other, that evening sky smiles to me even now as I smile back. There was one time I swam all day long in the ocean, battered by the waves, imagining I was some superhero that had to battle these awful waves to the point of exhaustion. I remember that night as I tried to go sleep I still felt pulled and pushed by waves now miles from where soon I slept. Times with friends, the sleepovers, the ease, the joy, the carefree mentality of youth and relative innocence. All of these images and thoughts pour across my memory not quite separate from one another, but a mess of memories that form one large memory entitled, summer.
I once read somewhere that memories are special because they represent the past, and the past is the only thing that cannot change. Perhaps our memories do not correspond to actual events. Maybe they are formed by our imagination, but they cannot be touched. Our present is happening and will change at a moment’s notice, our future is beyond our grasp, but our past is always our past and is unchangeable. There is no wonder we tell stories to one another, for those stories are unique to us and incredibly precious. Summer is such a past for me, and I am delighted to sense summer’s arrival once more so that I may recall such a past.
My delight is made all the more real in that now I can share my summer with my son. It is with great joy and anticipation I look forward to being able to share a summer with him. While he will not remember this one, I will, and this summer – while not yet here – shall become a unique memory, a past truly my own, untouchable and unchangeable. I pray that the moments when I push him in the swing, mold with my moments of being pushed in the swing by my father, and my kaleidoscopic memory becomes even grander.
We live in moments, but those moments become memories, and each of us has memories of joy and strife, of love and heartbreak, of hope and despair. How we use these memories says a lot about us as people. I hope I may find myself using memories to give me a smile when there seems to be no reason to smile in the moment, because no matter how bad the moment is, a memory of joy cannot be touched by it. However that memory of joy can affect the moment in a positive way.
I remember many stories my parents shared with me of their summers. Their memories of such summers exist in times long before God blessed me with life, but I remember the joy they conveyed, and I can see in my own memory my mother swimming in a pool as girl, my father riding bikes and setting bushes on fire. They have combined with my memory and my joy expands. Hopefully one day Langston has an impossible memory of his father laughing while rolling down a hill in a park. If he does I am sure he can have a memory of an empty tomb and know the joy of our Christ. May God grant us all the ability to share the joys of our past so that others can experience such joy and have it as their own!
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
My memories are like a kaleidoscope of images, all changing and melding together. Rolling down a hill at one of my favorite parks. The hill seemed so long and so steep, but I am sure if I were to see it now I would be surprised how tame it is, oh but what fun. I remember myself swinging as dusk turned the sky arrangements of oranges, pinks, reds and purples, even then I smiled at its beauty. I think no matter our age we appreciate the beauty of nature, as it speaks to that piece of divinity inside each of us, that handprint of God referred to as the imagine of God. The creative impulse of God in the universe seeing the creative impulse of God within us, and in seeing one another smile to each other, that evening sky smiles to me even now as I smile back. There was one time I swam all day long in the ocean, battered by the waves, imagining I was some superhero that had to battle these awful waves to the point of exhaustion. I remember that night as I tried to go sleep I still felt pulled and pushed by waves now miles from where soon I slept. Times with friends, the sleepovers, the ease, the joy, the carefree mentality of youth and relative innocence. All of these images and thoughts pour across my memory not quite separate from one another, but a mess of memories that form one large memory entitled, summer.
I once read somewhere that memories are special because they represent the past, and the past is the only thing that cannot change. Perhaps our memories do not correspond to actual events. Maybe they are formed by our imagination, but they cannot be touched. Our present is happening and will change at a moment’s notice, our future is beyond our grasp, but our past is always our past and is unchangeable. There is no wonder we tell stories to one another, for those stories are unique to us and incredibly precious. Summer is such a past for me, and I am delighted to sense summer’s arrival once more so that I may recall such a past.
My delight is made all the more real in that now I can share my summer with my son. It is with great joy and anticipation I look forward to being able to share a summer with him. While he will not remember this one, I will, and this summer – while not yet here – shall become a unique memory, a past truly my own, untouchable and unchangeable. I pray that the moments when I push him in the swing, mold with my moments of being pushed in the swing by my father, and my kaleidoscopic memory becomes even grander.
We live in moments, but those moments become memories, and each of us has memories of joy and strife, of love and heartbreak, of hope and despair. How we use these memories says a lot about us as people. I hope I may find myself using memories to give me a smile when there seems to be no reason to smile in the moment, because no matter how bad the moment is, a memory of joy cannot be touched by it. However that memory of joy can affect the moment in a positive way.
I remember many stories my parents shared with me of their summers. Their memories of such summers exist in times long before God blessed me with life, but I remember the joy they conveyed, and I can see in my own memory my mother swimming in a pool as girl, my father riding bikes and setting bushes on fire. They have combined with my memory and my joy expands. Hopefully one day Langston has an impossible memory of his father laughing while rolling down a hill in a park. If he does I am sure he can have a memory of an empty tomb and know the joy of our Christ. May God grant us all the ability to share the joys of our past so that others can experience such joy and have it as their own!
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
The Joy of Jesus
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11 (NIV)
What has God told you of God’s joy? How does God’s joy make your joy complete? Do you believe Jesus’ joy is in you? If Jesus’ joy is in you, how do you live life? Have you met anyone who had Jesus’ joy inside? What about that person was joyful?
The following story is found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/shortstories/sevenwonders.html
Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.”
The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.
Now that girl had some joy of Jesus! Our joy is complete when we can with hearts of faith discover the miraculous that is all around us. God created each of us unique and special. As individuals, each of us is a miracle! Jesus’ joy is in us when we see ourselves the way he sees us, as the most precious thing he has ever created, his finest miracle and the love of his life! Today pray that we are filled with the joy of Jesus, and that our joy is complete!
With hope and JOY,
Garrett
What has God told you of God’s joy? How does God’s joy make your joy complete? Do you believe Jesus’ joy is in you? If Jesus’ joy is in you, how do you live life? Have you met anyone who had Jesus’ joy inside? What about that person was joyful?
The following story is found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/shortstories/sevenwonders.html
Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.”
The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.
Now that girl had some joy of Jesus! Our joy is complete when we can with hearts of faith discover the miraculous that is all around us. God created each of us unique and special. As individuals, each of us is a miracle! Jesus’ joy is in us when we see ourselves the way he sees us, as the most precious thing he has ever created, his finest miracle and the love of his life! Today pray that we are filled with the joy of Jesus, and that our joy is complete!
With hope and JOY,
Garrett
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Living In Love
“I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.” – John 15:9-11 (NCV)
How does love provide joy? Have you seen joy while witnessing love? What did it look like? What does it mean to remain in the love of Jesus? What is the commandment to love mean to you? What does it mean for the world?
The following story found at: http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/inspiration/butterfly.courage.htm
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet, I did nothing, for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly.
This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.
He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.
His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.
Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.
Love is worth fighting for! In this fight Jesus sacrificed himself, and we who otherwise would be dead can laugh that God would die for us and thereby give us life. Let us remain in love and therefore fight for love, in those moments we fight others will see joy where before there was none!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How does love provide joy? Have you seen joy while witnessing love? What did it look like? What does it mean to remain in the love of Jesus? What is the commandment to love mean to you? What does it mean for the world?
The following story found at: http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/inspiration/butterfly.courage.htm
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet, I did nothing, for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly.
This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.
He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.
His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.
Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.
Love is worth fighting for! In this fight Jesus sacrificed himself, and we who otherwise would be dead can laugh that God would die for us and thereby give us life. Let us remain in love and therefore fight for love, in those moments we fight others will see joy where before there was none!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Friday, February 27, 2009
March Minister's Minute in The Journal of Hope and Joy
Here we are in March. I am not sure what happened to January or February. Both seemed to fly by. As a child it seemed as though time went on forever. Those four hours of waiting for that moment when my friend would finally come over to spend the night. As soon as our mothers agreed my life became filled with such glorious anticipation that at times I would stare at the clock and count the seconds. By the time the fours hours were up it felt as though a lifetime had passed. Those six hours of school each day… an eternity. Driving the hour to visit family on the holidays… “Are we ever going to get there?” Waiting in lines, waiting at the doctor’s office, or waiting at all always seemed to take at least 8 times as long as my mother claimed we had waited.
I remember as a child when my elders would tell me to enjoy my youth because it would be gone soon enough. As everything took an eternity I was not concerned. I remember as a child when my elders would tell me that as I aged time would go faster. Since even as a youngster I had a pretty good handle on the rules of physics I paid no attention. However here I find myself, older than a youngster but too young to be an elder, discovering that indeed time has accelerated.
I suppose that as each day of life passes I have another day of memory. Now my collective memory is much longer than it was when I was 14. Now one day in the big scheme of my life is much shorter over all than one day was when I was younger. One hour passes by quickly whereas yesterday one hour could be forever.
I am now old enough to heed the advice of my elders and to enjoy what youth I have left, for soon enough it will pass away. I am also young enough to realize that those younger, who have not yet discovered this wisdom ,will not benefit from me trying to force it upon them, it is something they will discover on their own and realize, as I have realized, that others were right all along.
But in the midst of all of this as I watch my child age faster than I could have ever imagined, as my life accelerates into the future and I wonder where the days have gone, as I try to hold onto moments which quickly become memories I have one thing I want to share with everyone. If you remember nothing else I ever say remember this, enjoy each moment of your life! It is precious because it is the only moment you are in. It is precious because it is always the closest you will be to God. It is precious because you may never have another. It is precious because you have no idea when those around you will disappear into eternity. Since each moment is precious each moment can be enjoyed for we shall never have another moment like the one we are in right now.
We celebrated our 160th Anniversary recently, what a spectacular moment it was for me. I got to teach a class about Presbyterianism before the service, it was the first time I ever taught such a class, I will never have that first time again. I was blessed to baptize a child of God during the service; she will never be baptized again. I shared memories with you all about a church that will never be 160 years old again. I married a couple and no one will ever experience a wedding like theirs again. People asked me if I was ready for a nap at the end of the day… I was, but I enjoyed each moment of that day because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy each moment too, because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy my son even when he cries because someday he will not cry as a baby ever again. Today I am going to enjoy each book I read because I may never read that book again. Today I am going to relish each time my wife tells me she loves me because I love to hear it. Today I am going to enjoy all of life’s moments, even the bad ones, with the smile God has given me to use, because God will be with me in each moment and that is the most precious gift I know.
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
I remember as a child when my elders would tell me to enjoy my youth because it would be gone soon enough. As everything took an eternity I was not concerned. I remember as a child when my elders would tell me that as I aged time would go faster. Since even as a youngster I had a pretty good handle on the rules of physics I paid no attention. However here I find myself, older than a youngster but too young to be an elder, discovering that indeed time has accelerated.
I suppose that as each day of life passes I have another day of memory. Now my collective memory is much longer than it was when I was 14. Now one day in the big scheme of my life is much shorter over all than one day was when I was younger. One hour passes by quickly whereas yesterday one hour could be forever.
I am now old enough to heed the advice of my elders and to enjoy what youth I have left, for soon enough it will pass away. I am also young enough to realize that those younger, who have not yet discovered this wisdom ,will not benefit from me trying to force it upon them, it is something they will discover on their own and realize, as I have realized, that others were right all along.
But in the midst of all of this as I watch my child age faster than I could have ever imagined, as my life accelerates into the future and I wonder where the days have gone, as I try to hold onto moments which quickly become memories I have one thing I want to share with everyone. If you remember nothing else I ever say remember this, enjoy each moment of your life! It is precious because it is the only moment you are in. It is precious because it is always the closest you will be to God. It is precious because you may never have another. It is precious because you have no idea when those around you will disappear into eternity. Since each moment is precious each moment can be enjoyed for we shall never have another moment like the one we are in right now.
We celebrated our 160th Anniversary recently, what a spectacular moment it was for me. I got to teach a class about Presbyterianism before the service, it was the first time I ever taught such a class, I will never have that first time again. I was blessed to baptize a child of God during the service; she will never be baptized again. I shared memories with you all about a church that will never be 160 years old again. I married a couple and no one will ever experience a wedding like theirs again. People asked me if I was ready for a nap at the end of the day… I was, but I enjoyed each moment of that day because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy each moment too, because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy my son even when he cries because someday he will not cry as a baby ever again. Today I am going to enjoy each book I read because I may never read that book again. Today I am going to relish each time my wife tells me she loves me because I love to hear it. Today I am going to enjoy all of life’s moments, even the bad ones, with the smile God has given me to use, because God will be with me in each moment and that is the most precious gift I know.
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Enjoy Life!
So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink, and enjoy life, because these joys will help them do the hard work God gives them here on earth. – Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NCV)
What kind of hard work has God given you? Have you decided it is more important to enjoy life? What about this last week was a joy to you? How is the best way to enjoy life? Are you doing it? Can you do the hard work without the joys?
The following story found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/marbles.htm
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, of maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.
Let me tell you about it. I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself. He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom". I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.
"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.
"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight. Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones......
"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special," I said. " It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."
There is so much to enjoy about life! The moments that we do not take to enjoy will disappear soon enough. We have the choice as to whether or not we will take time for the joys to help us do the hard work God gives us. Of course God gives us the joys too! Today make the choice to enjoy life!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, September 22, 2008
Building the Bridge
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9 (KJV)
“You’re blessed when you can show others how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” – Matthew 5:9 (The Message)
Are you a peacemaker? How have you shown others to cooperate instead of fight? Who has been a peacemaker in your life? Why does being a peacemaker allow one to discover who he/she really is? What does a peacemaker do?
Yet another story e-mailed to me.
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.
There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."
We all have many more bridges to build! Christ was the ultimate bridge builder and peacemaker, for he was the Son of God. Let us all be called children of God as we sow peace in the midst of conflict. Building bridges is the only way to become God’s hope and joy! Start with the bridges you need built in your life, and then build them for others!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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