JULY 4, 2016

"I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph."
― Theodore Roosevelt

JOB 29-30

Job longs for days gone by...

2“How I long for the months gone by,

for the days when God watched over me,

3when his lamp shone on my head

and by his light I walked through darkness!

4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,

when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house,

5when the Almighty was still with me

and my children were around me,

6when my path was drenched with cream

and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.

ACTS 12

Peter is imprisoned and then rescued by an angel...

8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

JOURNAL 

There have been many times in my own life where I have longed for the days in the past. Especially when they were filled with success or times with people now gone. Mostly though they are memories of family or community or times when things were good.  I realize this is only natural but it also can get me into a place where I don't live in appreciation of today and the present and all the gifts that I have been given. There is a definite danger in this...to be able to focus on the here and now is such a blessing and gift.

Thinking about all that happened to Peter and the early christians it is clear to see that they were living in the moment...not consumed with days gone by with Jesus. They had a mission and were focused on living that mission out every day.  Through persecution, imprisonment etc.  they remained clear and focused. 

This is such a lesson for me...to have a clear focus and mission that is fueled through and powered by God. On this Independence Day, to remember that those that sacrificed and gave their lives did so in order that we that follow them would continue to fight for a greater Kingdom.  That we would be able to provide opportunity and a life that build a Kingdom of Love...the Kingdom of God. For to think that all the sacrifices were only to give us greater pleasure without increasing brotherly love and Godly communities, would be to trivialize their sacrifice. Their sacrifice gave us power, freedom and opportunity to do greater good. Not to simply wallow in our wealth and indulge in excess. 

I think we are to enjoy and celebrate our good fortunes but we should never forget the sacrifices made in order to give us these gifts. We are to use these blessings to further the the Kingdom for all mankind.

3We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

 ~ 2 CORINTHIANS 6:3-10