Matthew 25:21
His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
My mom tried for years to teach me a truth found in this passage. The subject always surfaced when I was dissatisfied with my job. She would say, "Do the best you can with the job you have and things will work out."
I tend to grow frustrated when things don't go my way. If my frustration gets too overwhelming, then you will find me "looking", again! I think that there must be something better for me out there...I just have to find it.
What I forget is that God has placed me where I am, even if I don't think it's the perfect job for me. And, God has a plan for me to grow in the place He's placed me. He's given me a little bit to handle now, in hopes that I'll handle it and be prepared to handle more later.
Let's be faithful with our few things!
Lon
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Law of Gravity, by Lon Alderman
Matthew 14:30
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Rachel's article, Fear and Success, inspired me regarding the thoughts that fly through my brain when I step out in faith. I don't always respond well when God calls me, but when I do take a step of faith I find that I immediately feel the gravity of the situation.
As Peter stepped down out of that boat, he must have felt the strangest of feelings. He was a fisherman taught by years of time spent on the water that water will not hold a person up. His experience taught him that "in the boat" was the place to be. These established laws in his life must have been screaming in his mind as he began to do the impossible.
That must have been the moment he began to sink. That moment when he realized the impossibility of what he was doing. This same devastating thought sinks many a good step of faith. We forget the Jesus that got us out of the boat, because our "laws" tell us we can't.
Defy gravity and follow Jesus!
Lon
Subscribers: The Build Up site has been recently updated! You can now search the posts (almost 300 of them) through the use of "labels". Using the labels you can find specific posts to encourage you! For example, there are 10 posts dedicated to the topic of "trust". Check it out!
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Rachel's article, Fear and Success, inspired me regarding the thoughts that fly through my brain when I step out in faith. I don't always respond well when God calls me, but when I do take a step of faith I find that I immediately feel the gravity of the situation.
As Peter stepped down out of that boat, he must have felt the strangest of feelings. He was a fisherman taught by years of time spent on the water that water will not hold a person up. His experience taught him that "in the boat" was the place to be. These established laws in his life must have been screaming in his mind as he began to do the impossible.
That must have been the moment he began to sink. That moment when he realized the impossibility of what he was doing. This same devastating thought sinks many a good step of faith. We forget the Jesus that got us out of the boat, because our "laws" tell us we can't.
Defy gravity and follow Jesus!
Lon
Subscribers: The Build Up site has been recently updated! You can now search the posts (almost 300 of them) through the use of "labels". Using the labels you can find specific posts to encourage you! For example, there are 10 posts dedicated to the topic of "trust". Check it out!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Fear and Success, by Rachel Smith
Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
When Joshua made it to the Promised Land God comforted him by telling him not to be afraid. He also encouraged him by telling him directly (through Moses) not to get discouraged.
Sometimes when we wait and pray for something so long we don't know what to do when we get it. We are both excited and afraid in one breath. Our doubts rush in and we question leaving the known for the unknown.
God, who got you to this point, will get you through this point.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
When Joshua made it to the Promised Land God comforted him by telling him not to be afraid. He also encouraged him by telling him directly (through Moses) not to get discouraged.
Sometimes when we wait and pray for something so long we don't know what to do when we get it. We are both excited and afraid in one breath. Our doubts rush in and we question leaving the known for the unknown.
God, who got you to this point, will get you through this point.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Irrevocable Step, by Lon Alderman
Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Twice in the last week I have felt God call me to action and twice I responded with a step I could not retract. They were not huge earth-shattering, walk-on-the-moon steps. In fact, these "steps" were very simple and consisted of two short emails. One asked for help and the other offered encouragement from scripture. The main thing these simple steps have in common is that I believe God called me to make them.
In each case, the step I took has developed some inertia. For example, I heard God lead me to ask a friend to help me get a project moving that I have been dreaming about for six years. I wrote a simple email and took the irrevocable step of sending it. I believe God has blessed that effort, because my friend has chosen to help me.
The lesson I'm learning is to listen to God's leading and then act upon it. Jesus put it this way, "Follow Me."
Listen ~ Act
Lon
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Twice in the last week I have felt God call me to action and twice I responded with a step I could not retract. They were not huge earth-shattering, walk-on-the-moon steps. In fact, these "steps" were very simple and consisted of two short emails. One asked for help and the other offered encouragement from scripture. The main thing these simple steps have in common is that I believe God called me to make them.
In each case, the step I took has developed some inertia. For example, I heard God lead me to ask a friend to help me get a project moving that I have been dreaming about for six years. I wrote a simple email and took the irrevocable step of sending it. I believe God has blessed that effort, because my friend has chosen to help me.
The lesson I'm learning is to listen to God's leading and then act upon it. Jesus put it this way, "Follow Me."
Listen ~ Act
Lon
Monday, July 14, 2008
Watch Out For Holes, by Rachel Smith
I got out of my van the other day and was striding along in the sunshine feeling pretty happy about life. I have recently accepted a new job, have a new haircut and a new dress so I was humming and walking straight and tall in the late afternoon sunshine.
Then I hit a hole. My ankle twisted and I fell.
My pride was hurt and so was my foot. At that exact moment doubt crept in. I started to question my decisions and started to think of all of the "I can'ts".
Every whisper of small concern suddenly had a loud voice. I had fallen and in that moment of weakness I was overtaken by fear and doubt.
I can't help but relate to Peter. I ask Jesus to save me in my hour of need when I have large trials (family illness and loss of loved ones) but here I am getting out of the warm comfy boat and doubt settles in. Christ wants our faith both in and out of the boat.
Matthew 14:30-32 (New International Version)
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Then I hit a hole. My ankle twisted and I fell.
My pride was hurt and so was my foot. At that exact moment doubt crept in. I started to question my decisions and started to think of all of the "I can'ts".
Every whisper of small concern suddenly had a loud voice. I had fallen and in that moment of weakness I was overtaken by fear and doubt.
I can't help but relate to Peter. I ask Jesus to save me in my hour of need when I have large trials (family illness and loss of loved ones) but here I am getting out of the warm comfy boat and doubt settles in. Christ wants our faith both in and out of the boat.
Matthew 14:30-32 (New International Version)
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
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