Skip to main content

Two Questions

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8)


          I originally had a different idea in mind for today’s post, but part way through the day, this idea came to mind, picking up where yesterday’s left off. It’s not new, but it’s not a habit, so repeating it is good for me. Since my thoughts happened to follow a political direction, I’ll use that as an example. 
Question 1: What are the opportunities?
          I looked up when the City Council is going to meet next, wondering if I should attend. They happen to meet on July 3 in the morning and two weeks later in the evening. That gives me two opportunities.
Question 2: What do you really need to do regarding this role?
         Attending one of those meetings, or both might be good ideas. I’m not discarding them as ideas yet, but, I’m not sure they’re what I really need to do. At least, they may not be what I need to do – yet. When I thought about what I really should do – what I need to do as a citizen, I had a “duh” moment. What I should do is become a more informed citizen. There are all sorts of opportunities to do that: attend council meetings or other civic meetings, read the newspaper, read books or documents (history or politics), attend lectures….
          Another example: Regarding my physical health
Question 1: What are the opportunities? 
          They’re endless, overwhelming, and some aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
Question 2: What do I really need to do regarding this role?
         I need to focus on it. I need to take time to do what I know how to do instead of being lazy. 
          Third example: Regarding being a writer
Question 1: What are the opportunities? 
          Legacies of the Dragon and my Random books
Question 2: What do I really need to do regarding this role?
          Do not stop until or unless someone I respect who knows the field reads what I’ve written and tells me to give it up.
          There are other ways to put these questions. What’s the obvious answer? What’s in your face? What firm decisions have you made? Do those, deal with those – and if you don’t have any opportunities or senses of what you really need to do … hand if over to God and relax about it until He shows you the road to take.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more