Sharing My Most Important Gift

Posted by John | Filed under Uncategorized

I had a very rewarding experience recently. I have always felt like God wanted me to share my faith. But I have felt uncomfortable fearing people might thing that I am a freak (my kids think I am a freak….but that is another story!….funny one at that). Some people have come on too strong to me about their faith and that didn’t work for me either.

I was afraid that people might think less of me or it might even hurt my business. Well, I took a chance recently and asked some friends/business associates I had not seen for awhile, if they would be interested in receiving this daily devotional email. I was so pleasantly surprised that many were receptive and thankful. Some said thanks but for various reasons (too many emails already, religious issues, just did not want to be bothered) declined but they were very gracious. 

One good friend and business associate said “thanks for thinking of him but probably not a good fit since he was an atheist!”  I thought that was funny.

My point is that I think God wants us to try in our own way to share whatever message we believe is appropriate and timely with those we come in contact with. After that, it is up to God and the other person. We can only do so much….but I believe it is appropriate for me to at least try, take a few risks, if necessary, but look for ways I can share the greatest and most important gift I have in this life, My faith and relationship with God!

Read more | Comments (1) | July 8th, 2009

Friend of God

Posted by John | Filed under Uncategorized


by John Fischer

Here is the best news ever. The greatest truths are often the simplest and most profound, and it’s hard to get more profound than this: you and I get to be in this universe with God. Whatever happens, this is bottom line. You and I get to be in this universe with God. This transcends economic downturns, depressions, heartaches, sickness and death. We get to be in this universe with God. And we don’t have to wait until we die to realize it. We can realize it now. Regardless of what we might be currently experiencing, nothing takes away from the reality that we are permanently, eternally tied to God through the love of Jesus.

Experiencing the universe with God is like stepping through a thin membrane of realization. You’re still in the same place, but everything looks different. That God, the maker of the universe, would want to share what He made with us is one thing. That we, ourselves, are the highest example of that life, is another.

Made like Him to be His companion. “Let us make man in our image,” He had said, and so He did. What greater role in life could there be but to be God’s friend?

He is not a taskmaster, as we thought, or a mean exacter of behavior, as many concluded. He is full of grace and has made full provision for our sin, so that we might be friends forever. He’s done it all with us in mind, so how can we not give him our attention now that we know that?


Read more | Comments (0) | July 7th, 2009

Pray anyway

Posted by John | Filed under Uncategorized

When you sin and continue to fail, pray anyway. God keeps on loving you.
 

Read more | Comments (1) | July 6th, 2009

Let Love Motivate Your Work

Posted by John | Filed under Uncategorized

by Rick Warren
“Do all your work in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14 TEV).

The apostle Paul says, “Do all your work in love.” He doesn’t say some of your work, but all of your work. He also says “no matter . . . what I do, I’m bankrupt without love” (1 Corinthians 13:3 MSG).

The point is, any job can be turned into worship when it is built on the model of Christ’s love; that love is expressed to co-workers, clients, and customers. Mother Teresa said, “It’s not what you do so much that matters, but how much love you put into it.”

Think about it like this. Two-thirds of the word career is “care”: C-A-R-E. John Rushcan once said, “When love and skill come together, expect a masterpiece.”

So, I want you to pray a prayer every day this week. When you get up to go work—whether it’s at home or at school, in your backyard or at an office or wherever you work—I want you to pray, “Father, today I want to worship You through my work. I want to express my gifts, I want to do it as if I’m doing it for You, and I want to do it in love.”

“So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer” (Romans 12:1 TEV).

Read more | Comments (0) | July 5th, 2009

Trusing in Jesus

Posted by John | Filed under Uncategorized

I struggle with my faith because when things go wrong in my life for circumstances out of my control…..personal life…….health……work……finances…………..family…….friends….. unexpected negative surprises…..I sometimes have such a feeling of doom, depression, of fear, being out of control, helplessness………..I hate those feelings.  I want to be able to turn those fears over to the Lord but I find it so difficult to do.

I realize my worrying is not going to solve anything and usually makes matter worse. I try to look for action steps I can take to try to help solve my problems which is what Eckert Tolle’s philosophy of THE POWER OF NOW professes. He says the only reality is this very moment in which we can take action and take charge. Worrying about what happened before or what may happen in the future is beyond our control at this very moment. And focusing on the past and future with no ability to affect either at this moment only add to my anxiety and frustration.  I believe in this concept…………but I find it very difficult.

But some problems are so out of my control that there is nothing I can do about it at the moment. At those times I try to “accept” God’s Will………..I want to………trusting that HE is in control………..but I struggle with turning these moment over completely to Jesus.  I have a long way to go in my Faith Journey.

Read more | Comments (0) | July 1st, 2009