Psalm 86:11 Teach me your ways O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
I would have to say that this verse is one of my all time favorites in the Psalms. I want the Lord to teach me His ways. Teaching me his ways is not just from him speaking to me or what a pastor teaches at church. It is what I read throughout the Bible. It is my understanding what God has instructed for my life. I want to know everything about living according to His truth. This means that I need to be able to apply what I have read and heard and seen. I want to be pure in heart, but most of all I want to honor Him. That purity of heart will come from knowing him in a personal way and focusing my whole heart on him. When I do that then I will honor him.
I have a son and a daughter. Both of them are teenagers. Both of them are selfish at times and at other times they are giving and loving towards others. When I see how they act, I can see both my wife and I in them. My children try to emulate how they see me and my reactions to events around me. My prayer is that they will see God through my reactions and that they will want to honor him in what they do and not just try to emulate me.
Recently, I took on a job at Lowes and one at Starbucks. I thought that I could handle two full time jobs and be able to function as a father. I then realized that I was not able to do all three and my abilities as a father were failing. I now only work at Starbucks and am hoping that my position there will allow for me to be able to be more of a dad to my kids and a husband to my wife as the Lord wants me to.
Scripture reading and analysis from the eyes of a Soldier.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Jobs
Proverbs 6:6-11 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
The past few days have been really busy for me. About three weeks ago I started working at Lowe's Home Improvement as a seasonal employee. I am getting full time hours but no benefits. At the same time I applied at Lowe's, I also applied at Starbucks. Yesterday, I started working at Starbucks as well. (Starbucks offers employees benefits for part time and full time employees.) So yesterday I opened at Starbucks and closed at Lowe's. This is something that I never really thought that I would have to do, but as I look at how I will be able to provide for my family, I realized that I am going to have to sacrifice some to ensure that they have a roof over their head and food to eat.
Some people look at me like I am crazy. They see me as working myself into an early grave. I look at it like this. For everything there is a season. The ants work hard during the summer to be able to survive during the winter. I am working hard now so that we will be able to survive later on. I am just thankful that I am able to have a job. There are so many people out there right now that are unable to find employement and are struggling to take care of their family. I feel that God provided a means for me to be able to take care of my family.
Praise the Lord!
The past few days have been really busy for me. About three weeks ago I started working at Lowe's Home Improvement as a seasonal employee. I am getting full time hours but no benefits. At the same time I applied at Lowe's, I also applied at Starbucks. Yesterday, I started working at Starbucks as well. (Starbucks offers employees benefits for part time and full time employees.) So yesterday I opened at Starbucks and closed at Lowe's. This is something that I never really thought that I would have to do, but as I look at how I will be able to provide for my family, I realized that I am going to have to sacrifice some to ensure that they have a roof over their head and food to eat.
Some people look at me like I am crazy. They see me as working myself into an early grave. I look at it like this. For everything there is a season. The ants work hard during the summer to be able to survive during the winter. I am working hard now so that we will be able to survive later on. I am just thankful that I am able to have a job. There are so many people out there right now that are unable to find employement and are struggling to take care of their family. I feel that God provided a means for me to be able to take care of my family.
Praise the Lord!
Monday, March 4, 2013
God's Peace
Numbers 6: 24-26 "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace."
Many pastors over the years have used this blessing as the closing of their service or their benediction. It is a verse that I have found comfort in over the years. In all honesty it was a verse that I had not read in context until today.
It is amazing how God can use certain verses at certain times to bless his people. Over the past five days, my wife has been in Virginia. I have been playing single parent and trying to take care everything at home. Not only have I been running my son to drivers ed and my son and daughter to school and practices, but I have also started a job where it is not as easy to just up and leave. This can add to the stress of everything.
My wife comes home today and I will be picking her up. Then there is work. Then I start another new job tomorrow at 5 am. Then there is my daughter's softball practices and church commitments and the mission trip that I still need to raise support for. The list goes on and on. The awesome thing in all of this is that I know that God is in control and that He is giving me peace so that I don't stress out about it all. I think that he lets me just take in a little bit at a time so that I do have a peace. He is protecting me and is being gracious to me. May I always understand this and not allow myself to stress out and become overwhelmed. He is right there to help me through it if I allow him.
Many pastors over the years have used this blessing as the closing of their service or their benediction. It is a verse that I have found comfort in over the years. In all honesty it was a verse that I had not read in context until today.
It is amazing how God can use certain verses at certain times to bless his people. Over the past five days, my wife has been in Virginia. I have been playing single parent and trying to take care everything at home. Not only have I been running my son to drivers ed and my son and daughter to school and practices, but I have also started a job where it is not as easy to just up and leave. This can add to the stress of everything.
My wife comes home today and I will be picking her up. Then there is work. Then I start another new job tomorrow at 5 am. Then there is my daughter's softball practices and church commitments and the mission trip that I still need to raise support for. The list goes on and on. The awesome thing in all of this is that I know that God is in control and that He is giving me peace so that I don't stress out about it all. I think that he lets me just take in a little bit at a time so that I do have a peace. He is protecting me and is being gracious to me. May I always understand this and not allow myself to stress out and become overwhelmed. He is right there to help me through it if I allow him.
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