What Mark Will You Leave?

We don't like to think about it. Many don't like to admit it. Some refuse to accept it. But the fact is, at some point, we are going to leave this world. What will you leave behind?

For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Paradise awaits. Our attitude should be that of 2 Corinthians 5:8, where Paul says, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 

That is the promise of our eternal inheritance. A life far better awaits us on the other side. Until then, and even after, we affect those around us by the lives we live. What we do leaves a mark on this world.

How will you be remembered?

If people remember only one thing about your life on this earth, what will it be? As in the picture above, will you leave behind a mark that stands out from all the rest? Or will your story blend into the background? Will your mark be different? Will it stand out for the right reasons?

We remember those who have gone before us for many reasons. That person was rich. This person was famous. She was influential in the community. He was handsome. We remember what most stands out about a person. Keep that in mind.

How about 100 years from now?

As time passes, the details of our lives fade away. Eventually, when Facebook and Google+, Twitter and SnapChat go the way of the dodo, what will be left? In 100 years, what will people say about you? What stories will have been passed down? What lasting impression will you leave behind?

I want people to remember me in 100 years. Not for what I have done for this world, but for what I have done for God. If people remember only one thing about me, if they associate only one image with my memory, I want it to be the cross of Christ.

You choose what people will remember. 

I said earlier that what stands out most about a person is what people remember. We are in control of that. We get to decide how people remember us. Be encouraging, and you will be remembered as an encourager. Give freely from what God has given you, and generosity will be your legacy. Treat your neighbor as yourself, and kindness you will leave behind.

Be Christ-like, and the cross will be your mark.

Your turn.

What are you doing to be remembered for Christ? Share your journey, that we may all remember Him.

If you believe others should consider this in their lives, feel free to share it.





 

Whom Shall I Fear?

The Lord is my light 
and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold 
of my life-
Of whom shall I be afraid?
         Psalm 27:1







Fear is a powerful force. It can motivate us to do great things, or stop us in our tracks. Fear has enabled the weak to run, and caused the strong to faint. Fear can save your life, or send you crashing to your death. Fear is, well, fearsome.

People handle fear in different ways. Some are energized by fear, so they tempt death. Others are so paralyzed by fear they lock themselves in their rooms. Most of us are somewhere in between.

I fear a few things. Snakes. Heights. Being lost. Drowning. Did I mention snakes? Though I fear these things, I do not allow them to control me. Enjoying the outdoors hunting and fishing, I encounter all of these fears. Were I to give in to them, I would miss out on some aspects of life which I enjoy most. Thankfully, my desire to enjoy God's Creation is stronger than my fears. I may carry a stick (for the snakes), but I don't let fear get in the way of living life.

Fear is universal.

Everyone is afraid of something. Crowds. Public speaking. Failure. Storms. You name it, someone is afraid of it. Some fears are founded in past experience, some are learned from others (my dad was deathly afraid of snakes), and some simply seem to be ingrained within us. Regardless of why, everyone has fears, even if they don't like to admit it.

Being afraid is not bad. Many times, in fact, it is essential. If we were not afraid of anything, undoubtedly we would find ourselves in some pretty precarious situations. Fear becomes a problem when it keeps us from enjoying life. God did not intend for us to live in fear. And we don't have to.

God conquers fear.

If indeed we believe in God as our light and salvation, what is there to fear? If God is our stronghold, what can stand against us? That is not to say a Christian should not be afraid of anything. As I said above, some fears are healthy (did I mention snakes?). But we should not be controlled by fear.

God told Joshua, Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). Courage is action in face of fear. God did not tell Joshua not to fear, but rather to face his fears knowing that God was with him. Joshua faced a monumental task, and no doubt feared what lay before him. God knew this; that's why He told him to be courageous.

We also must face our fears.

We will encounter fear in our lives. As inevitable as sadness, grief, or pain, fear will find us. At that point, we have two choices. We can give in, or we can remember God's promise. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. With God, we can face anything.

What do you fear?

Funny, serious, or otherwise, share what you fear, and how you deal with it. Maybe you can help me with mine. Did I mention snakes?
 

What do you value?

The law of the Lord is perfect;

The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy;

The commandments of the Lord are right;

The commands of the Lord are clear;

Reverence for the Lord is pure;

The laws of the Lord are true;

They are more desirable than gold . . .

 

Psalm 19, verses 7-10, provides a list of what we should value. His law. His decrees. Reverence of Him. These, says the Psalmist, are more desirable than gold. We should want them above all else.

What do we value?

How do you determine what is valuable? Review where your money went this past month. Look over your calendar and see what was important enough to write down. Think about how you spent your time yesterday, last week, last month. Those are what you value.

Did you find God? In your bank statement. In your calendar. In your daily itinerary. Was He there? Was He prominent, or did you have to look hard to find Him? Was He more desirable than gold?

He should be.

If we believe what the Bible says, God should be above all else. Not only in authority, which He is, but in what we desire. If you want something, you go after it. You invest your resources, expend your energy, and focus your attention to get what you want. Think about it. What have you been seeking?

My wife. My children. My job. Those three take a tremendous amount of my time and energy. That is not bad. Those are responsibilities God has given me. I serve Him by serving them. But what do I do with the rest of my life?

Distractions are everywhere!

I can occupy my time, spend my money, and use my energy any way I choose. The world is full of opportunity for me to be entertained, fulfilled, and satisfied. I can eat, drink, and be merry. Whatever I want, it is out there. All I have to do is go get it. So, what do I want? More importantly, what should I want?

According to the Psalmist, and many other Scriptures, I should desire God above all else. More than gold. More than entertainment. More than happiness, I should seek God. If I want to be satisfied, truly and completely satisfied, there is only one way. God.

The world would have us believe something else. The right house, the right car, the right job, the right boyfriend-girlfriend-husband-wife, the right stuff will satisfy us. Pursue that lie, and your life will be empty.

Be intentional.

If you truly consider God more valuable than all else, you will seek after Him. It will cost you, but you will gain more than you could ever hope or imagine. Give up that television show and read your Bible. Get off social media for thirty minutes and pray. Give to the needy instead of buying that new car. I don't know what distracts you from Him, because we are all different. But we all need to give up something.

I have to be intentional with my time. If I do not set aside time in my day for the purpose of being with God through His Word, prayer, and meditation, it won't happen. The world sucks up every minute of my life if I allow it. I have to be intentional.

What about you?

Where does God rank in what you value? Share your thoughts, and tell us how you put God first. Your advice just might change someone's life.

      

 

The Path of Life

You have made known to me the path of life; 
you will fill me with joy in your presence, 
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11






The path of life. The road less traveled. The narrow way. No matter how you choose to think about it, God's way is not the way of the world. He has shown us the direction we are to go, it is up to us to follow.

Not always the easiest, smoothest way.

If we were able to see the path of the Lord compared to the path of the world, the contrast would be obvious. The Lord's path may very well appear as this picture, a trail through the woods, a faint line leading us to the light at the end. It may be lonely, even abandoned.


On the other hand, the path of the world may appear as a six lane highway, complete with road signs, streetlights, and jam-packed with traffic. Jump on the entrance ramp, hit the gas, and speed towards your destination. From here, it seems, you could go anywhere.

Sometimes it is not the journey, but the destination that matters.

One main difference between the two paths is where they lead. As the Psalmist says, God's path will lead us to eternal pleasures at His right hand. At the end of that path is light, the glory of God.

The highway of the world, on the other hand, leads somewhere else. Matthew 7:13 tells us, Broad is the road that leads to destruction. And, just to be clear, he continues, and many are on it. The light at the end of that road? They may be ambulances, firetrucks, wreckers. Destruction awaits you.

Getting there is half the fun.

While the destination is the key difference between these paths of life, what we encounter along the way matters. On God's path, we will likely encounter obstacles we have to climb over, hills to conquer, streams to ford. Traveling His path will be work, but it is good work. We will be stronger because of it.

What will we see on the road the world wants us to take? Many things, but only a glimpse as we speed by. We never really get to enjoy what is around us. Most times if you want to see something, you will be looking at it through your rear-view mirror. And while the path may be easy to follow, it is filled with blind corners, hidden entrances, and road rage.  How do you feel at the end of a ten hour drive?

The choice.

You get to choose. Take the path God has shown you, or the one of the world. You already know where they lead. Which will you choose?

Children of God

I can't wait to grow up!

Remember saying that? As a kid, I had it all figured out. When I grew up, I knew exactly what I was going to do, and how I was going to do it.

No one needed to tell me what life was about. I already knew. I mean, Everything I need to know, I learned in kindergarten. Right?

The problem is . . .

Well, I did grow up (or at least got older). And, no, I didn't know everything. The older I get, the smarter my parents and others with the wisdom of age become. It's not good to track mud through the house. Money doesn't grow on trees. My room won't clean itself.
Who would have thought?

As I grew up, I learned. That is good. But as I grew up, I also forgot many things. That is not good. Let me explain.

I used to think some things just were. The sky was blue. The grass was green. God made the world go round. I couldn't explain these things, and didn't need to. It was the way it was, and I didn't worry about it.

Now? Well, now I have what is called an analytical mind. I want to explore, examine, and explain everything. I want to know how it works, whatever it is. That gets me in trouble.

Like a Child.

I would never choose to return to childhood, were that possible. People look at me funny when I say this is the best time in my life. This year is better than last, and next year looks on track to set a new record. High school was fun. College was a good time. Being unmarried and without children had certain freedoms. None of that was as good as today.

I do wish, however, that I could reclaim that child-like innocence and acceptance. I wish I could simply accept that more things just are, like I did back then. The grass is green because God likes it that way. Sky-blue is God's favorite color. God is in control. I cannot explain everything, no matter how I try.

It's called Faith.

Believing what you cannot explain is one definition of faith. I have come to realize that, as a Christian, acting like a child is sometimes a good thing. I can't throw tantrums, hide my messes under the rug, or leave my dirty clothes laying around. That's not the kind of immaturity I am talking about. But I should accept that some things just are. The Trinity. Jesus as fully God and fully man. The eternal nature of God. These I cannot explain. I don't need to. They are, plain and simple.

What about you?

As a kid, I used to think chocolate milk came from brown cows. Spoiler alert! 
It doesn't.

But some things I believed back then still hold true today. Have you outgrown your child-like faith? I hope not.

Tell me your favorite Faith like a Child story from your youth. I promise not to laugh--too hard.

 

Giving Thanks to God

 First and foremost, I am thankful for God.

My Provider.

Without God, I would have nothing. Not the air I breathe, the vessel to carry it in, or world in which to exist. Without God, forget about having nothing. I would not be.

My Savior.

Without Jesus Christ, I would have no hope. The air, the vessel which is my body, the world upon which I walk, would be meaningless. If God were Provider alone, though that is more than I deserve, I would be nothing.

My Guide.

Without His Holy Spirit, I would have no direction. The air, the vessel, the world would be a cacophony of chaos and misdirection without His leading. If God were no more than Provider and Savior, I would be lost.

My Complete God.

God is my Provider. God is my Savior. God is my Guide. He is the complete package. I need nothing more.

But He doesn't stop there.

Being everything I need, and providing Himself to me is not enough for God. He has gone far beyond what I could ever hope or imagine in His blessings. Here are a few I have reflected on today:

1) A beautiful, loving, faithful Christian wife.
2) Three children to bless our home and marriage.
3) Three men who are like brothers.
4) A family with ever open arms.
5) A network of friends to hold me up (or knock me down, whichever is needed!).
6) Gifts and abilities to feel useful in His kingdom.
7) The promise of more to come.

I could go on . . .

His blessings are endless. No matter how far I fall, or how often, He picks me up. When I feel satisfied, He reveals something new to reach for. When I get stuck, He pulls me through. When I tire, He carries. Facing defeat, He fights for me. Never alone. Ever faithful. God is good.

Those are some of mine. What about you?

What are you thankful for? Share God's blessings in your life with us, that we may praise Him all the more.

Be Still

How incredibly hard it is to be still and trust God. Often, we think it sounds great. I mean, who doesn't want to kick back, relax, and let someone else take care of everything. It sounds like a dream come true. Until the time actually comes to do it.

What, exactly, does it mean to be still? The Psalmist describes catastrophic scenes of the earth trembling, the mountains falling, the seas boiling. Nations in uproar, kingdoms failing. Wars. Desolation. In the midst of chaos, we are called to do one thing.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10. It bears repeating: Be still, and know that I am God. What does it mean to be still? In the face of disaster, amid destruction, despite war and failure, being still 

means . . . being still. Quiet. Calm. Peaceful. Sit back, and trust.

Trust? But God, things are falling apart! My life is a mess! Nothing is going my way. I have problems, I have concerns, I have enemies! You don't get it! I need to do something! Please God, tell me what to do!

Be still, and know that I am God.

No God, really! Everything is falling apart around me! All that I have, all that I know, all that I want is spiraling out of control! Please God . . . please! Help me, God, help me . . .

Be still . . .

Still? Peaceful? Quiet? Everything is going wrong, and you want me to do nothing? You want me to trust? You want me to . . .

Be still.

But . . . I don't know how!

The crux of the problem. The foundation of all our worries. We don't know how, or are unwilling to give our lives over to God. Not that we are not saved. Not that we do not know Jesus Christ. Not that we do not claim Him as our Lord. But do we give everything to Him? Not only our gifts, our abilities, our finances, our time--these things are hard enough. But what about our worries? Our troubles? Our trials?

Of all the things we should want to hand over to God, these would seem to be at the top of the list. We're always telling others that we'd gladly give them this or that burden, this or that problem. Sure, we say that, but do we really mean it? God's hands are open, willing to take all we are willing to give Him. Is there something you keep holding back?

Probably. I know I do. Tomorrow's finances. Stress at work. Conflict with my neighbor, my spouse, my kids. The hard stuff in life. The stuff only I can take care of. 

Oh wait . . .

Be still, and know that I am God . . .

In the deepest darkness, the roaring storm, highest mountains, lowest valleys--He is God. We are to be still, and know Him.

What do you need to give over to God?

Let Him carry your pack for a while, and see how it goes. I know you will be pleasantly surprised.