Flying By
Another six months of life has passed. What a ride! It is amazing to me how quickly time moves when you stay busy. There are times when I hear people talk about slowing down, and as I said earlier this year, pausing to reflect and breathe is good, but we were not left on this planet to simply sit around and consume resources :-)!
I also hear a lot of people talking lately about how we should not allow ourselves to be defined by what we do. While the intention behind that thought is good, i.e., God loves us for who we are not what we do (and this is true of course), it is unfortunate that many Christian leaders are misleading people to believe that we don't need to "do" anything for God. I couldn't disagree more...
As I watch my girls grow, (and yes, the time is moving by quickly) I remember what they do and what we do together creates moments and memories. I attend their activities watching them, cheering them on, praciting with them, helping them to improve their ability to perform, to create, to contribute. They want me to watch them - just like I want my heavenly Father to watch me...
Don't we all, even those who don't know Christ, long to know that what we are doing will make a difference, will last, will be remembered?
Colossians 3:17 & 23 teaches us to make sure that what we do and what we say is done for the right motives. There is the key. That is what we should be teaching people. Not that they should sit back and just meditate on who God is - though I need to make more time for that too :-), but rewards are not going to be given out in heaven because we lived the most righteously, meditated the most intensely or "sat the bench" the most effectively. Rewards will be given out based on "the good deeds we were created to do" or as Titus 3:8 says, "This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds", and vs 14, "let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful".
I know there is much more that needs to be said to finish the line of thinking, and also to bring some balance and definition to what is meaningful activity for God, and what simply brings glory to man done in the name of God. There is a fine line.
For now, I am enjoying watching my kids play with their toys, but I am also enjoying watching them learn to give of themselves to others, to causes and activites that bring joy, bring goodness and help us all to remember that life is made to live, not just endure.
BTW... I'm still enjoying the sunsets, and occasionally - sunrises :)... this one was taken at an overlook just north of Beckly, WV called "The Grandview"... the clouds from the valley came all the way up to our ground level, several thousand feet up. We drove to this point at about 5:30am in early October on our way home from a ministry trip in Roanoke, VA. Lori, the girls and I all sang "Shout To The Lord" and "Awesome God" at the top of our lungs as the sun rose. It was a powerful moment of worship for our family.
posted by Blackie's Tour @ 8:46 AM
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