Many years ago someone near and dear to me had a crisis. In that moment they turned to Jesus for comfort. Being that I was not a believer at that time it really struck me as insane and concerning. The person said to me it was like they "won the lottery" and the person had this peace that was not normal for him/her. Being that I figured this person was just escaping reality in order to not face up to what was going on I did everything in my power to quell this faith fire. In the end I was successful and to this day the person is not a follower of the Lord.
However the event had a profound effect on me and soon after it my faith walk started. As I put out the fire it started to burn in me. You see at the time I was in a crisis of my own. Being that I was most secretive it was not something that others knew. Even those closest to me were totally unaware of the situation that was nearing a boiling point. God used this situation for my betterment. I still pray for the other person to come to the Cross and believe that someday it will happen.
Anyways, just the other day someone made a reference to perhaps winning the latest big jackpot. I don't play lotteries at all myself. I'm happy with where I'm at. I mean yes it would be nice to be able to tour the world and not have to work hard labour to make ends meet. However, as Solomon said, this is my lot and I choose to be happy in it. I don't think more money would bring me more happiness.
I've seen documentaries and read stroies about major lottery winners. While some of the winners live good lives sharing their wealth with extended family most say they wish they could go back to how things were before they won. Broken families are the norm. There is a great deal of lottery winners who end up flat broke with even more broken lives. The love of money is a sickness and greed rears its ugly head when wealth increases suddenly.
I actually believe life with Jesus is better than winning the lottery. My life has much more joy than sorrow. In those times of difficulty I know they will pass. As Job said naked I came into the world and naked I'll leave. God blesses me with possessions and permits me to enjoy them. So I'll take it a step further than my friend in saying Life with Jesus is better than winning the lottery.
It's not what you have but how you use it. My joy outweighs my circumstances. Better days lay ahead for me. Even if at the moment they may not look like it. God is still working out my salvation and has plans for me to prosper. That is his promise and I see that in my life.
Money, possessions, people and circumstances will come and go. In the end it will be you and God. All I desire to hear is "well done, good and faithful servant" because my personal accomplishments and wealth won't mean a thing in His court. I hope you feel the same!!
Joy is better than winning the lottery! God bless you right where you are!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Christ follower living in a secular world: Life by HIS rules, keeping the Sabbath holy
A Christ follower living in a secular world: Life by HIS rules, keeping the Sabbath holy: About 9 months ago my work went from a 5 day a week operation to a 24/7 work place. I was concerned for several reasons but mainly how this ...
Life by HIS rules, keeping the Sabbath holy
About 9 months ago my work went from a 5 day a week operation to a 24/7 work place. I was concerned for several reasons but mainly how this would affect my Sundays as I worship God everyday but in a big way on that day in particular starting early in the morning.
After some wrangling I managed to secure a shift that included Sundays off. This came up for renewal a couple of months later and again was able to stay on the same shift. God blessed me in this time and my ministry opportunities grew as my new shift freed me on a Monday morning too(I work GY shift and had Saturday/Sunday nights off). I built a life for myself around this shift and life was good.
My work has this kind of crazy arrangement IMO where everyone has to resubmit their shift preference every 6 months. I kind of figured it would be difficult to attain this shift again but did my best to try to keep the status quo. It didn't work out but I did attain what seemed to be the best scenario my seniority could afford which meant my shifts were Tuesday night until Saturday night meaning my week would end Sunday morning at 7 AM. This I figured would be difficult with my Sunday schedule and would mean a big adjustment in my early morning routine. That being said I was thankful to get what I did as it was still allowing me to attend my main Church service on Sunday(all be it tired) plus minister on a Monday morning which has become a big passion of mine.
Well I worked last Saturday night and made do with it. I attended Church but everything just felt a little off. As the week went on it just didn't sit well in my spirit. This has become a spiritual battle for me and a question of faith. You see God has always provided what I need and I am fully devoted to him.
But do I truly trust him? You see recently I entered into a relationship that has been life changing and I can totally see building a life with this person and feel a strong desire to provide and be a stable influence. Can I trust God to be the rock or will I turn to my own devices? Isaiah 2:22 which I read the other day provided some clarity for me. I was trusting in my own human reasoning when really all I know for sure is there is oxygen in my nostrils!! I had to turn the situation over to God and trust him.
So On Friday night at work I did just that. I informed my supervisor verbally and by letter that I would not be available Saturday night anymore. I've applied to go part time(in the letter I stated why I can only work 4 of my shifts per week) as there are provisions in my works CBA for part timers but it has to be approved by the Industrial Relations department. I think it will likely be approved but if it isn't I could be in a bit of battle. Even if it is approved it will mean I will have to get by on less in the interim. I'm going to trust in God on this one. He provides for me and has done things in my life far beyond what I was praying for. I'm not saying that will be the case here because the moment I try to interpret what God is about to do in my life he does something I never even thought of.
Regardless, I have the peace of God in my heart this Sunday. I got up at 5 AM but was actually in prayer from about 1:30 and on. I feel God's presence and his kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven. So whatever happens, happens as it is in God's hands now. His will, will be done in my life and in this situation.
So praise the Lord, praise his Holy name. Thank you Jesus, lover of my soul!
There are certain things that should/can be done on a Sunday that are not ungodly or unholy. Certain occupations are necessary on a Sunday but warehouse work is hardly one of them. Working on a Sunday for a Christian is a real hardship and I could not reconcile it in my occupation. I would really rather my work didn't work it at all but just because it does I don't see the need to force a Christ loving Christian to work it just to eke out a living. I trust God to work it out.
Blessings to you today!
After some wrangling I managed to secure a shift that included Sundays off. This came up for renewal a couple of months later and again was able to stay on the same shift. God blessed me in this time and my ministry opportunities grew as my new shift freed me on a Monday morning too(I work GY shift and had Saturday/Sunday nights off). I built a life for myself around this shift and life was good.
My work has this kind of crazy arrangement IMO where everyone has to resubmit their shift preference every 6 months. I kind of figured it would be difficult to attain this shift again but did my best to try to keep the status quo. It didn't work out but I did attain what seemed to be the best scenario my seniority could afford which meant my shifts were Tuesday night until Saturday night meaning my week would end Sunday morning at 7 AM. This I figured would be difficult with my Sunday schedule and would mean a big adjustment in my early morning routine. That being said I was thankful to get what I did as it was still allowing me to attend my main Church service on Sunday(all be it tired) plus minister on a Monday morning which has become a big passion of mine.
Well I worked last Saturday night and made do with it. I attended Church but everything just felt a little off. As the week went on it just didn't sit well in my spirit. This has become a spiritual battle for me and a question of faith. You see God has always provided what I need and I am fully devoted to him.
But do I truly trust him? You see recently I entered into a relationship that has been life changing and I can totally see building a life with this person and feel a strong desire to provide and be a stable influence. Can I trust God to be the rock or will I turn to my own devices? Isaiah 2:22 which I read the other day provided some clarity for me. I was trusting in my own human reasoning when really all I know for sure is there is oxygen in my nostrils!! I had to turn the situation over to God and trust him.
So On Friday night at work I did just that. I informed my supervisor verbally and by letter that I would not be available Saturday night anymore. I've applied to go part time(in the letter I stated why I can only work 4 of my shifts per week) as there are provisions in my works CBA for part timers but it has to be approved by the Industrial Relations department. I think it will likely be approved but if it isn't I could be in a bit of battle. Even if it is approved it will mean I will have to get by on less in the interim. I'm going to trust in God on this one. He provides for me and has done things in my life far beyond what I was praying for. I'm not saying that will be the case here because the moment I try to interpret what God is about to do in my life he does something I never even thought of.
Regardless, I have the peace of God in my heart this Sunday. I got up at 5 AM but was actually in prayer from about 1:30 and on. I feel God's presence and his kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven. So whatever happens, happens as it is in God's hands now. His will, will be done in my life and in this situation.
So praise the Lord, praise his Holy name. Thank you Jesus, lover of my soul!
There are certain things that should/can be done on a Sunday that are not ungodly or unholy. Certain occupations are necessary on a Sunday but warehouse work is hardly one of them. Working on a Sunday for a Christian is a real hardship and I could not reconcile it in my occupation. I would really rather my work didn't work it at all but just because it does I don't see the need to force a Christ loving Christian to work it just to eke out a living. I trust God to work it out.
Blessings to you today!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A Christ follower living in a secular world: Life without TV, sane or insane?
A Christ follower living in a secular world: Life without TV, sane or insane?: My church recently concluded a 21 day fast. Now, not everyone can go 21 days without food and while I could I felt it would have made me a l...
Life without TV, sane or insane?
My church recently concluded a 21 day fast. Now, not everyone can go 21 days without food and while I could I felt it would have made me a less effective worker at my job so I asked God to give me something else significant I could fast. Over the last 7 years I've gone on various fasts including short term food fasts. All of them have ended up changing me at least a little and IMO for the better. I don't enter fasts to end up improving myself but to honour God. He just does that as a gift because he is God and God loves his children so much more than they deserve.
Anyways, I gave up TV for the fast and while the fast ended on Sunday night I am still going. I look at my blank TV screen once in a while and think maybe I should throw it on. I mean I have a PVR(cable is included in my rent so not watching TV while living here isn't going to save me anything) and I have 6 hours of Christian teaching to watch never mind anything else I may want to partake in. My TV viewing has changed significantly over the last several years. The stuff I tend to watch more so now is cerebral or socially interactive or a little of both. I like Survivor and Amazing race because I like to see how people think out situations and I can discuss it with friends/family during and/or after the broadcast. I enjoy sports too but more for watching how the players react to stress than just watching the pretty plays.
I think I'll give sports it's own paragraph since I don't have to follow conventional story structure :)
Sports was a big part of my watching. At one time I could watch pretty much anything that was a competition. From Darts to hockey to poker to curling to etc etc etc. I still watch Hockey, a little CFL, some golf and auto racing. Hockey has been king for me in the past. I lived and died with the Canucks. A side of me comes out I don't particularly like when I watch the Canucks. I get frustrated with the bad calls, I get angry at the opposing team players and I act with less grace towards fans of other teams especially when the Canucks are pitted against them. I have lost a lot of my passion for it but it is still there. I mean before coming to the Christ I went through tremendous highs and lows. Sports could make my day good or bad depending on the outcome. It was ridiculous and it now looks absurd to me but I know that ungrateful wretch is still there in my sinful nature. I want to be able to watch a game still but not at any cost. It is something I will hopefully not have to drop entirely but it may come to that. After the fast started I became aware how much Canuck paraphernalia was hanging around my place. I never intended it to be but my place was like a shrine to the hockey gods. Thankfully I wasn't bowing to them but I got rid of half the stuff and am not sure about what I have left. At least it doesn't dominate the suite anymore.
Several significant relationships I am developing are with people who don't watch TV or at least seldom do. A couple of them were developing for months before the fast. The other started soon after the fast started. This most recent one is particularly important to me as it is something that could be life changing(not that all new friends aren't life changing to a certain degree but this one is even more significant I believe). I planned on watching TV on Monday, then on Tuesday and was at my Mum's on Wednesday and she watches it a lot but I asked her not to and so here we are at Thursday and the Canucks are playing the Wings in an hour. I fully intended on watching this game just yesterday but now I am wavering. The question is do I want to receive or give or both. TV is mostly receiving and often not very improving of yourself as opposed to reading non fiction which can lead to wisdom and knowledge depending on what you do with it. I don't have any plans today for a change(I've been pretty busy) and I think I will spend my time reading if nothing else pops up.
I must say one of the huge benefits of not watching TV has been in my visits with my Mum. I see her virtually every Wednesday for dinner(and often one more visit at random times during the week) and these past 4 weeks have been the best visits I've ever had with her and I mean EVER. It has been a huge blessing, God is good! Totally an unexpected benefit and a very welcome gift from Papa.
In conclusion, I can totally see watching TV again but I'm pretty sure it has been placed way further down the priority list than it was just 25 days ago. I love my life with God as my guide. It is always interesting and revealing. I never know what is going to happen but bring it on!!
Sane or insane? You decide for yourself.
Blessings to you and for you!! James
Anyways, I gave up TV for the fast and while the fast ended on Sunday night I am still going. I look at my blank TV screen once in a while and think maybe I should throw it on. I mean I have a PVR(cable is included in my rent so not watching TV while living here isn't going to save me anything) and I have 6 hours of Christian teaching to watch never mind anything else I may want to partake in. My TV viewing has changed significantly over the last several years. The stuff I tend to watch more so now is cerebral or socially interactive or a little of both. I like Survivor and Amazing race because I like to see how people think out situations and I can discuss it with friends/family during and/or after the broadcast. I enjoy sports too but more for watching how the players react to stress than just watching the pretty plays.
I think I'll give sports it's own paragraph since I don't have to follow conventional story structure :)
Sports was a big part of my watching. At one time I could watch pretty much anything that was a competition. From Darts to hockey to poker to curling to etc etc etc. I still watch Hockey, a little CFL, some golf and auto racing. Hockey has been king for me in the past. I lived and died with the Canucks. A side of me comes out I don't particularly like when I watch the Canucks. I get frustrated with the bad calls, I get angry at the opposing team players and I act with less grace towards fans of other teams especially when the Canucks are pitted against them. I have lost a lot of my passion for it but it is still there. I mean before coming to the Christ I went through tremendous highs and lows. Sports could make my day good or bad depending on the outcome. It was ridiculous and it now looks absurd to me but I know that ungrateful wretch is still there in my sinful nature. I want to be able to watch a game still but not at any cost. It is something I will hopefully not have to drop entirely but it may come to that. After the fast started I became aware how much Canuck paraphernalia was hanging around my place. I never intended it to be but my place was like a shrine to the hockey gods. Thankfully I wasn't bowing to them but I got rid of half the stuff and am not sure about what I have left. At least it doesn't dominate the suite anymore.
Several significant relationships I am developing are with people who don't watch TV or at least seldom do. A couple of them were developing for months before the fast. The other started soon after the fast started. This most recent one is particularly important to me as it is something that could be life changing(not that all new friends aren't life changing to a certain degree but this one is even more significant I believe). I planned on watching TV on Monday, then on Tuesday and was at my Mum's on Wednesday and she watches it a lot but I asked her not to and so here we are at Thursday and the Canucks are playing the Wings in an hour. I fully intended on watching this game just yesterday but now I am wavering. The question is do I want to receive or give or both. TV is mostly receiving and often not very improving of yourself as opposed to reading non fiction which can lead to wisdom and knowledge depending on what you do with it. I don't have any plans today for a change(I've been pretty busy) and I think I will spend my time reading if nothing else pops up.
I must say one of the huge benefits of not watching TV has been in my visits with my Mum. I see her virtually every Wednesday for dinner(and often one more visit at random times during the week) and these past 4 weeks have been the best visits I've ever had with her and I mean EVER. It has been a huge blessing, God is good! Totally an unexpected benefit and a very welcome gift from Papa.
In conclusion, I can totally see watching TV again but I'm pretty sure it has been placed way further down the priority list than it was just 25 days ago. I love my life with God as my guide. It is always interesting and revealing. I never know what is going to happen but bring it on!!
Sane or insane? You decide for yourself.
Blessings to you and for you!! James
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Christ follower living in a secular world: Encountering unbottled rage
A Christ follower living in a secular world: Encountering unbottled rage: On Sunday morning I had decided to take my Mum to church. She has only been going to that one for a few months and I just never had the oppo...
Encountering unbottled rage
On Sunday morning I had decided to take my Mum to church. She has only been going to that one for a few months and I just never had the opportunity to check it out. I find it hard to pry myself away from my own church and they meet at overlapping times. The weekend had been filled with missionary stories as I had spent the previous 2 days at missionsfest. Nothing against the people speaking at my church on Sunday but it was a mission related service so I took this opportunity to go across the bridge and check it out. The service itself was a little off the norm for that congregation because the Pastor had become ill last minute and a very young looking youth pastor presided over the service. That being said I enjoyed it very much. We went out to have lunch after the service and had a very nice visit.
So now we come to the incident the title alludes to....
After lunch we headed to her apartment building. The rain had come on quite heavy. My Mum doesn't walk that well or smartly so I decided to drop off at the front door so she would not get wet. As I pulled into the driveway there were a couple of vehicles blocking the driveway and a minivan directly in front of the entrance way. There was enough room behind it for my Mum to get through though the driveway pavement is a little broken up and a large puddle was forming right where she had to walk. The situation irked me a little. Not a lot but a little.
So by the time my Mum had made her way past the minivan the other vehicle had pulled away. I started to draw past the van I was surprised that there was someone in the drivers seat. I paused briefly, made eye contact, mouthed the word why, shrugged my shoulders and pointed forward where he could have been parked temporarily without blocking the door. I went and parked my vehicle on the street and was heading back inside to make my mum a coffee before I took off. As I turned the corner off the sidewalk toward the front door I was surprised the van was still there. I was just forming the thought to say to him why I gestured and what it meant if he was unsure.
Well As soon as he saw it was me he burst out of the van yelling obscenities at me and acting most menacing towards me. He was burly but short, honestly in a fight I doubt he would have stood a chance against me but I had no interest in fighting him or returning his evil. Once his first barrage of verbal insults subsided I tried in vane to explain what I had a problem with. I spoke forcefully but not with anger. I didn't take an aggressive stance but at the same time didn't submit either. I said if he wanted I could call the Police. He backed off but as he got back into his van he yelled more obscenities and in among them he stated he could park wherever he wanted. I didn't like that and I turned around and explained the situation one more time.
Well he burst out the van again and this time ran around to the passenger side and flung open the sliding door which revealed 2 young children in baby seats in the second row. He then said I had embarrassed him in front of his family he then walked to where my Mum had walked through and gestured say there seems to be plenty of room for you to fit through here. He then started to come at me and this time I got my phone out and we ready to dial 911. I really thought he was going to attack at this point. I guess he got a slight grip on himself and backed off at that point. I headed inside and the incident was over.
In review as I like to do with pretty much anything in life a few things come to light....
I felt so bad for those little children and also the realization that he was probably waiting for his wife to come down and she was going to get into a very hostile environment. So some of it I did well and praise God for that but other parts I can truly learn from. I've been praying for the unnamed man and kids ever since. My armour was damaged a little and it took some time to sort it out with God but he repaired it.
If anyone who reads this has some wisdom to share please do. Either leave a comment here or message me via email or FB. It is quite possible I may encounter this man again and I just want to do the right thing whatever that is.
Blessings, James
Edit: I should have added when he revealed his kids I spoke into that. I chastised him for his foul language and that it was even worse doing it in front of his children. I also reminded him that I did not say one curse nor insulted him personally in any way. The things that upset the most about the entire incident was that those tiny ears had to endure that barrage of filth.
So now we come to the incident the title alludes to....
After lunch we headed to her apartment building. The rain had come on quite heavy. My Mum doesn't walk that well or smartly so I decided to drop off at the front door so she would not get wet. As I pulled into the driveway there were a couple of vehicles blocking the driveway and a minivan directly in front of the entrance way. There was enough room behind it for my Mum to get through though the driveway pavement is a little broken up and a large puddle was forming right where she had to walk. The situation irked me a little. Not a lot but a little.
So by the time my Mum had made her way past the minivan the other vehicle had pulled away. I started to draw past the van I was surprised that there was someone in the drivers seat. I paused briefly, made eye contact, mouthed the word why, shrugged my shoulders and pointed forward where he could have been parked temporarily without blocking the door. I went and parked my vehicle on the street and was heading back inside to make my mum a coffee before I took off. As I turned the corner off the sidewalk toward the front door I was surprised the van was still there. I was just forming the thought to say to him why I gestured and what it meant if he was unsure.
Well As soon as he saw it was me he burst out of the van yelling obscenities at me and acting most menacing towards me. He was burly but short, honestly in a fight I doubt he would have stood a chance against me but I had no interest in fighting him or returning his evil. Once his first barrage of verbal insults subsided I tried in vane to explain what I had a problem with. I spoke forcefully but not with anger. I didn't take an aggressive stance but at the same time didn't submit either. I said if he wanted I could call the Police. He backed off but as he got back into his van he yelled more obscenities and in among them he stated he could park wherever he wanted. I didn't like that and I turned around and explained the situation one more time.
Well he burst out the van again and this time ran around to the passenger side and flung open the sliding door which revealed 2 young children in baby seats in the second row. He then said I had embarrassed him in front of his family he then walked to where my Mum had walked through and gestured say there seems to be plenty of room for you to fit through here. He then started to come at me and this time I got my phone out and we ready to dial 911. I really thought he was going to attack at this point. I guess he got a slight grip on himself and backed off at that point. I headed inside and the incident was over.
In review as I like to do with pretty much anything in life a few things come to light....
- It was out of concern for my Mum and others like her that live there but do I really have to correct people
- people can totally misconstrue hand signals/gestures and I'm pretty sure he did here. Perception is reality
- once the incident started I handled it fairly well
- however was it necessary for me to correct him again, did I really think he was going to receive it now or was that just my anger
- what will I do next time
- God protected me big time
- 10 years ago I would have been in a fight 99% for sure
- those poor kids
I felt so bad for those little children and also the realization that he was probably waiting for his wife to come down and she was going to get into a very hostile environment. So some of it I did well and praise God for that but other parts I can truly learn from. I've been praying for the unnamed man and kids ever since. My armour was damaged a little and it took some time to sort it out with God but he repaired it.
If anyone who reads this has some wisdom to share please do. Either leave a comment here or message me via email or FB. It is quite possible I may encounter this man again and I just want to do the right thing whatever that is.
Blessings, James
Edit: I should have added when he revealed his kids I spoke into that. I chastised him for his foul language and that it was even worse doing it in front of his children. I also reminded him that I did not say one curse nor insulted him personally in any way. The things that upset the most about the entire incident was that those tiny ears had to endure that barrage of filth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)