Skip to main content

Every Good Work


And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (II Corinthians 9:8)

          God has blessed me. Oh, God had blessed me in so many ways, so abundantly. Some would say I’ve had an easy life, and they’re right. I hope that I have abounded in at least a few good works (please, no back patting.) As I head toward my home on the north coast, I hope to listen to lots of Scripture, but when I am not, I will have a lot to think about. And, wisdom, direction, and attitude require that I turn my attention to the future in a positive way. That’s not my natural inclination. 
          How often does a person get to start over? Some people, more than others. One of the things that I want to consider as I start over is what will allow me to abound in every good work? Getting a job? Where? Not getting a job? Getting back to my writing? Losing weight and getting in better shape? Those are a few of the answers. This summer will be a time of figuring things out. 
          It doesn’t have to take losing a job and a loved one (all at once) to come to a point where you can start asking about what good works God has blessed you so that you can do. But sometimes, if you’re like me, that’s the only time you can. One of the things I’ve learned is that you always start where you are, you always begin with the obvious. God doesn’t hide these things from people, believe it or not. I’ve known people who complained about God showing them His will for their lives, and in the next breath complain that someone should do something. Oh, but not them. This summer, I need to be asking, “Is it I, Lord?”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Pure...

            The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Timothy 1:5)   I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16) I’m probably cheating - or mishandling the Bible, but earlier I was thinking about love being pure and purifying. And hatred being pure and purifying. And anger…joy…patience… fear… jealousy… courage…lust… and other strongly felt feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Today’s verse brings purity and love together, so it’s the verse of the day, but it’s not really the focus. That means my motive for sharing it with you probably isn’t pure. As you read through my list, you   probably thought, “Yeah” about some, and “What’s she on?” about others. But consider how much hatred, a...
Post a Comment
Read more