Future Rewards

In my Christian life I have heard and even witnessed great sacrifice by the people of God. I have seen people give up opportunities that would make them wealthy to serve the Lord. What about these people who are on a foreign field away from family and everything they know as familiar?

Peter asked the same question in Matthew 19:27 and Jesus responded in verse 29 by saying "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."

You might be someone who doesn't have a lot in this life when it comes to material goods, that's okay because God will take care of you. Maybe you have given all for the sake of the call of God on your life, God hasn't forgotten you!

The old story was told of a missionary and his wife who returned on a ship after faithful service for 35 years in a foreign country. It just so happened that the president of the United States was expected at the same time. The band began to play and the missionary couple felt sad. They began to believe that no one noticed their faithful service on foreign soil. The husband said "you might think someone would have celebrated our homecoming." Then the thought occurred to him from the Lord, "you are not home yet."

Do you feel forgotten, just remember one day we are in for a homecoming!

God Loves Us

In Psalm 106:44-45 God shares His love for His people. I find great comfort in this scripture for a number of reasons, but the one that stands out for me is that God keeps His promises. Even though I have turned my back on Him and done my own thing He is not going to leave me or forsake me.

Let me list my thoughts on these verses

• He knows what we are going through
• He has heard our cry
• He has kept His promises

Where are you right now? Do you need to know that God knows what you are going through? Do you need to be reminded that God has heard your cries from a broken heart? Maybe right now you need to be encouraged that things are going to change for the better.

God has never failed me yet, and I am so glad that He keeps His promises. How about you?

A Change of Seasons

Today, the wind is blowing and is about 60 degrees. The leaves are starting to fall (anybody know what makes them fall?) and we are wondering where the summer went.

I like fall weather and pumpkin pie and leaves rustling under my feet, I just don't like to rake the leaves in my yard! All of this change in the weather reminded me of a truth about life. We all go through different seasons of life.

Maybe right now you are experiencing sunshine and warmth, or you are dormant and you feel so cold. Whatever season you find yourself in, know that it is just for a little while. Seasons are not meant to be forever, unless you live in the frozen tundra of Minnesota or North Dakota. It may seem that things will always be like they are right now. Take heart there is coming a better day.

So go outside and rake some leaves or bake a pumpkin pie, better enjoy this season before it is gone.

One Day

My thoughts this morning were turned to all of the things that I have to get done today. Then a thought from the Lord came, someday all of this stuff I am striving for will be over. The only important thing will be to be in His presence forever and ever!

Then it came to me. I need to focus on His kingdom and get prepared for eternity. Don't get me wrong we all have things that we have to do, but don't lose sight of what God is preparing us for.

Life Has Been Like a Blur!

To all of my friends. I do apologize. I haven't posted for a few days. The only excuse is that my office hours are really crazy. Let me share a thought with you.

The other day I was unsubscribing a bunch of e-mail subscriptions, and the thought occurred to me that my in-box would be a lot less cluttered. If your in-box is anything like mine, there are probably 2 personal messages out of what 12? Time to unsubscribe.

Can I challenge you to un-clutter your mind? Cancel those subscriptions to that stuff you just have to delete anyway. Here are a few suggestions:

• Go on a media fast: turn off the TV, the computer(except necessary e-mail), the I-pod and connect with God!
• Read a good book: don't allow the hectic pace of life to stifle your imagination
• Spend time with your family: no job is worth missing the best years of your life!
• Enjoy God's Creation: go to the park or the mountains or someplace to calm the chatter.

Happy deleting!