Unshakable

As the curtain is opened and this new year unfolds I see much suffering. Many friends of mine are struggling with afflictions life has sent their way. I pray for strength and healing and reflect on what grand times we have spent together. 

My view on what is important often changes from day to day, of which I am sorry to say. I look at what I deserve and see it as mostly what I do not have. What I do not deserve I have; a living God, a loving wife, wonderful children and incredible blessings. Often I want everything; no fuss, no problems and no work. I am a servant not a master. I am a sinner not a savior but I have a part to play in this production I call life. My true desire is that what I deserve I will learn from, what I do not deserve of this I will be faithful and what I want will not overtake me.

When this curtain opens to different acts throughout this next year I pray God will give us all a new appreciation, a greater dependence and a faith in Him that will prove unshakable.

Words

Corporate leaders wandered through the store thanking, hand shaking and well wishing employees a happy holidays and a congratulations for a successful year.  Among the chatter an introduction of a new employee was made and with the introduction came an explanation that this employee was in between jobs and was working here until full time employment was to be found.  I cringed.  Never would I begrudge someone from finding full time employment but I knew that soon we would be searching for yet another employee.

Days later I found out that someone else had taken that conversation much differently.  This person had taken the conversation to mean that the new employee was much better than the rest of us and had lowered himself to work here till his feet landed that perfect job.  He chose to believe there was an implication that we had chosen unworthy careers and were stuck here forever. 

Often I have heard it, said it and even written about it, words mean things.  We have to be careful! Tis very true, however, very often words don't mean things.  We often make up meanings to build up something within our souls.  We get upset, mad, bitter or create a cleverness about ourselves dragging  in ideas that were not intended. 

Why choose to read negative thoughts into harmless situations?  Do I enjoy the bitterness, hatred and spite?  Is it all really worth it?  If I become this bitter old man, people will not want to hear my opinion.  They will not want to desire in my desires or suffer in my suffering.  And they surely will not want to know my God. 

Many times I conjure up ideas about what people say and it affects my perspective of others and makes my flavor distasteful and my light go dim.

                                                                     Matthew 5:13

                                                   "You are the salt of the earth; but if
                                                    the salt loses its flavor, how shall it
                                                    be seasoned/?  It is then good for
                                                    nothing but to be thrown out and
                                                    trampled underfoot by men."
                                                                                                 NKJV


                                                                   Matthew 5:16

                                                 "Let your light so shine before men
                                                  that they my see your good works and
                                                  glorify your Father in Heaven."
                                                                                                  NKJV

I pray that in this new year our flavor will be rich and our light will shine bright.

Happy New Year!