I WISH I WERE NEVER BORN! Have you ever heard someone say this? I’m sure all of us as children have said this when we didn’t get our favorite candy or other trivial desire that seemed crucial at the time. But, this statement reminds me of George Bailey in my favorite Christmas movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” During a big ole pity party of feeling sorry for himself, our buddy George wished he had never been born. His wish was granted and an angel named “Clarence” showed George what life would have been like if he were never in this world. A surprised George saw that without his presence on this Earth, many bad things would have occurred.
• His beloved brother Harry would have drowned
• A pharmacist’s career would have been ruined b/c he gave the wrong medicine
• The town he grew up in and loved would be a sinful city full of bars and night clubs
• His friends were out of work and miserable b/c George wasn’t there to loan them money to build their businesses and their dreams.
George had undervalued his importance in the world and the impact he had on the lives of others.
I think many of us do the same thing today during our own pity parties. No doubt, this life can be difficult. Sicknesses, loss of jobs, loss of loved ones, etc. cause us to become bitter and blind us to the impact we have in the lives of others. Like George Bailey, we don’t see that we’ve made a difference at all in this life. It is often true that the fruits of our labor go unknown by us and aids this bitterness. However, be assured God put you on this Earth for a purpose and He has a plan for you whether you realize it or not. No one else in the entire world knows the exact circle of people as you. You have an opportunity each day to make a difference in someone’s life for the good or the bad. You may be the only example of God’s love in someone else’s life that they can see. So, no matter how tough your life may be, remember someone is depending on you , remember someone needs you, and remember God has given YOU a Wonderful Life to work for Him, make him proud!
Galatians 6:9 “ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
God Bless!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Don't Know What You Have 'Til It's Gone
"Hold on to all loose articles and enjoy your ride..." Those were the last words my family and I heard as our roller coaster, appropriately named "Goliath", exited the loading station and began to creep up the bohemoth hill that we were about to descend. Our family had decided to go to Six Flags for the day and made it our goal to climb aboard every scary, fast, and white knuckle ride we could find. "Goliath" fit those adjectives and then some. As we plummeted 170 feet down the hill at 70 mph, for some reason I happened to look over at my teenage son. Teenagers sometimes try to hide their inner emotions. However, the enormous smile on my adrenaline filled son's filled face told me that he was overflowing with happiness and that we had made a memory at this park on this day that was truly priceless.
As we pulled back into the loading station and I checked to see if "Goliath" had blown my few remaining hairs off my head, I had nothing but gratitude in my heart and mind. Several years ago, as I sat in a hospital room for 7 days receiving chemotherapy, being in an amusement park and exposing my feeble immune system to so many people was only a distant thought. With basically no immune system, I had to limit my exposure to anyone and anyplace for several days. I remember thinking to myself that the old saying, "don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone," was definitely appropriate for me in that moment.
As I exited the roller coaster, I was so happy that I was able to experience this day with my family. I did not want to take this moment for granted. Because of my past health problems, I was able to appreciate that moment. But, you don't have to be a cancer survivor to appreciate the blessings in your life. All you really need to do is slow down and realize how quickly our lives pass. James 4:14 (NIV) illustrates this point perfectly, it says: "14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. " We are not promised tomorrow in this life. So, while we are here, take a moment to appreciate the things that you take for granted in YOUR life.
What if you lost a family member, your health, or even your job? How would your life be different without these blessings? Take a moment to realize what you have and appreciate your blessings because you truly don't know what you have 'til it's gone!
As we pulled back into the loading station and I checked to see if "Goliath" had blown my few remaining hairs off my head, I had nothing but gratitude in my heart and mind. Several years ago, as I sat in a hospital room for 7 days receiving chemotherapy, being in an amusement park and exposing my feeble immune system to so many people was only a distant thought. With basically no immune system, I had to limit my exposure to anyone and anyplace for several days. I remember thinking to myself that the old saying, "don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone," was definitely appropriate for me in that moment.
As I exited the roller coaster, I was so happy that I was able to experience this day with my family. I did not want to take this moment for granted. Because of my past health problems, I was able to appreciate that moment. But, you don't have to be a cancer survivor to appreciate the blessings in your life. All you really need to do is slow down and realize how quickly our lives pass. James 4:14 (NIV) illustrates this point perfectly, it says: "14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. " We are not promised tomorrow in this life. So, while we are here, take a moment to appreciate the things that you take for granted in YOUR life.
What if you lost a family member, your health, or even your job? How would your life be different without these blessings? Take a moment to realize what you have and appreciate your blessings because you truly don't know what you have 'til it's gone!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Are You A Box Or A Bottle?
If you are like most of us, Christmas is just a distant memory as we sit here in February. A distant memory except that I bet you still have box or two sitting in your garage that needs to go to the trash. My family had a couple boxes we needed to part ways with and since we are blessed to live in the country, I decided to take advantage of country living and burn the boxes. Don't worry, it had just rained and I didn't burn the house down or start a forest fire. But, for some reason, guys just like to burn things, and I am no exception.
A fire draws a stare doesn't it? You just can't help but look at it as it consumes the objects in its path. The cardboard boxes I had withered as the fire engulfed them and what was once a sturdy container turned into a whispy thin layer of ash. There was nothing left. As I stared at the pile of ash and dying flames, I remembered that not everything burns like a cardboard box. A glass bottle that finds its way into a fire is not consumed. When the fire goes out, the glass bottle may be charred and black on the outside, but it keeps its shape. It stands up to the fire and comes out with the same character that it had before it entered the fire. As I thought about that, it hit me... the reason the box and bottle came out of the fire differently was because of the makeup of each. The bottle was made out of material that doesn't burn, while the box was made up of material that burns like a candle.
We are much the same. Have you ever noticed that some folks can endure a cancer diagnosis, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, etc. better than others. Don't get me wrong, they hurt, they are charred and they are affected, but they don't wither away, they don't completely lose their shape. They lean on God and keep their faith and know that His ways are perfect. They know we will endure pain here on Earth, but we are on a journey to a much greater place and that our time on Earth is but a short overnight stay. So, some folks tend to focus on the greater purpose and it helps them through the hard times. I like to call the folks that have this type of enduring faith, the "bottles". They endure fire and come out the same or better because of what they are made of. They are made of faith in God and belief that God's plan is best and worthy to endure.
So, which are you today? Are you a box person or a bottle person? If you have the capacity to read this devotional, then you have the capacity to be a bottle person. Make that choice today.
"Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusal were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.
-- 1 Peter 4:12-13
A fire draws a stare doesn't it? You just can't help but look at it as it consumes the objects in its path. The cardboard boxes I had withered as the fire engulfed them and what was once a sturdy container turned into a whispy thin layer of ash. There was nothing left. As I stared at the pile of ash and dying flames, I remembered that not everything burns like a cardboard box. A glass bottle that finds its way into a fire is not consumed. When the fire goes out, the glass bottle may be charred and black on the outside, but it keeps its shape. It stands up to the fire and comes out with the same character that it had before it entered the fire. As I thought about that, it hit me... the reason the box and bottle came out of the fire differently was because of the makeup of each. The bottle was made out of material that doesn't burn, while the box was made up of material that burns like a candle.
We are much the same. Have you ever noticed that some folks can endure a cancer diagnosis, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, etc. better than others. Don't get me wrong, they hurt, they are charred and they are affected, but they don't wither away, they don't completely lose their shape. They lean on God and keep their faith and know that His ways are perfect. They know we will endure pain here on Earth, but we are on a journey to a much greater place and that our time on Earth is but a short overnight stay. So, some folks tend to focus on the greater purpose and it helps them through the hard times. I like to call the folks that have this type of enduring faith, the "bottles". They endure fire and come out the same or better because of what they are made of. They are made of faith in God and belief that God's plan is best and worthy to endure.
So, which are you today? Are you a box person or a bottle person? If you have the capacity to read this devotional, then you have the capacity to be a bottle person. Make that choice today.
"Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusal were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.
-- 1 Peter 4:12-13
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)