Stay in Your Lane & Focus on the Road

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. 1 Corinthians 7:17, ESV

Recently I was driving out of town going to visit relatives.  During the drive I was reminded of the fact that I drive so much differently than I used to when I was taking road trips in college.  In my earlier years of driving I would get so nervous when passing an 18-wheeler because I thought it was going to come into my lane and run me off the road.  The main reason I believed that was whenever I was about to pass one, I would never have my eyes on the road in front of me, I would always have my eyes on the 18-wheeler.  Because of that perspective while driving, it always FELT LIKE the truck was IN MY LANE when that was never the case.  Now I drive with my eyes on the road in front of me, stay in my lane and pass with caution TRUSTING THE FACT THAT the other car will do the same, but not focus on that driver at all.

You see the problem with my driving skills in the example above is that I HAVE LEARNED that when I changed MY THINKING and what I was focused on when driving, I became much more relaxed and a better driver!  Likewise in life, when we keep our mind on what is TRUE (God's word concerning us); what is PURE (thoughts that build and don't tear down); what is HONORABLE (things minding our own business and not that of another); what is worthy of PRAISE (anything opposite of a complaint!) THEN we will change our thinking patterns.  It is then we will become better DRIVERS so that we can know that the other person is NOT COMING OVER TO RUN YOU OFF THE ROAD, because you are focused on the life the Lord has assigned to YOU.  He is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of THAT PLAN.  Focus on that excellence and we will be safer, better and more confident drivers.  I will remain CONFIDENT IN THIS I will see the goodness of the Lord!

That's what I heard!  Be blessed today!!!

Love. Love. Love.

God commands us to "love thy neighbor" in several different ways and occasions in the word.  That is the command.  The ASSUMPTION is you love yourself.  

I think that is the problem that keeps us from loving the neighbor, the family, the friends, is lack of love of self.  Love God...Love yourself...Love others!!

That. Is.  All

And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Kingdom Labor Day

Happy Labor Day to the Kingdom Laborers

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe. 

In this scripture Paul is encouraging Timothy and other ministers of the gospel. This whole section of scripture (vs 1-10) is telling them to stick with the basics of spiritual disciplines.  He lets them know from his own perspective this is not an easy life. But to continue to LABOR AND STRIVE in the hopes that all men be saved. In such an endeavor OUR HOPE is in the living God. He is the one who we r laboring for and that's who gets the glory. 

Likewise on this Labor Day I want to encourage all the kingdom laborers. Those in fullTime ministry at a church.  Those in full time ministry in their homes and community.  Those in full time ministry at their jobs in the marketplace. Those in full time ministry of reconciliation wherever they go. 

None of us are part time. This is a full time waking hours position. As we LABOR AND STRIVE each day to make the true and living God shine in and through our lives his rest is our labor unions. As full time kingdom laborers our bonus and raise comes in the form of rest with him being a burden bearer for the heavy laden of kingdom work. This job is better than "your good government job" because it has benefits of FAVOR. As a kingdom laborer when I need to call in sick the true and living God is there to heal me from all my diseases. At the "company picnic" when we hear the annual report no matter what kind of year we had the Lord is working things together for our good. When we have our board meetings with a kingdom agenda he is there in the midst of us. 

So to all of u who r taking the day off remember that WE HAVE A HOPE in God and HE is giving us rest. 

That's what I heard today!  Be blessed. Be a blessing. Happy Labor Day!