Enjoy your lot

One the of the most important questions to ask yourself daily is whether or not you enjoy what you do. If you do, great! If you don't find something that you enjoy, or really fight hard to enjoy your present circumstance. 

What do I mean by that?

God has blessed us with work to do..he has given us all a lot. In our short time here on earth, we must enjoy the work that we do or we will never be happy. 

"And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave the world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for northing-like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud-frustrated, discouraged and angry." (Ecclesiastes 5:16-17)

It's a crazy thought...to leave this world no better off than how we came into it. We didn't bring anything with us, and we can't take anything with us. We work so hard for all things things in life, and we might as well enjoy what we do and what we have because we can't take it with us.

"Even so, I have noticed that one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during their short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past." (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

It's an incredible gift from God to have the opportunity to work and have a good life. Regardless of your financial status, what country you might be in, the type of work you do, we all have been given work from God. 

When we enjoy the work we do and the lots that God has given us, we get so busy enjoying life that we should never take any time to think about the past, or unhappy times. 

If you are someone reading this and thinking that you don't like your job at all, and maybe it's not for you, that is completely fine. God has an amazing plan for all of us. We are called to be obedient to God, love others, and trust in him. If your lot isn't what you thought it would be, God's got an even better one waiting for you. 

The Advantages of Companionship

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." 

Have you ever tried to do something completely alone? Or have you ever thought you could do something alone? It's a lonely road when you try to do something completely on your own. 

Companionship is everything. God created us in such an amazing way where we thrive in relationships with others. 

I look back at my life throughout the years and everything that I have ever faced or went through I needed someone by my side. I think about being homeschooled until middle school, I would've been so lonely if my brother wasn't also homeschooled at the same time I was. I think about all of the sports teams I have ever been a part of. Whether times were tough or we were winning all of our games, my guys were always there. I think about my business, and all the people that I am surrounded with everyday who have the same mission. If it wasn't for the people around me, I would've given up a long time ago. I think about my wife, my very best friend, and her forever and always being here for me. Without Rach, I don't know what my life would like. 

All those examples I just gave, I have needed those people in my life. Without them I would be miserable, lost, and lonely. 

I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, "Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?" It is all so meaningless and depressing. 

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing along can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

(Ecclesiastes 5:7-12)

Whoever reads this post today, I would encourage you to reach out to the people who came to mind when you read this. Whether it's family, friends, co-workers, or your spouses. Let these people know how thankful you are that God has placed them in your life. Thank them for their companionship. 

a time for everything

If you asked me what the one thing I wish there was more of, I would tell you that I wish there was more time. But really there is a time for everything..

"For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest. 

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance. 

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching. 

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace. 

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in our human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. So I conclude that there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as well can." (Ecclesiastes 2:1-12)

Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books in the entire Bible because it always puts everything in perspective. The last month of my life, I have not believed that there is a time for everything. I made time for things that I only thought I had time for. What I have been giving all of myself too, it's been hard to enjoy. 

God is pleased when we are happy and enjoy our lives! I have completely forgotten that this past month and other times throughout my life. This is the first post I have written in over a month. I have been writing my blog for about 5 years now and that is the longest stretch I have ever gone without writing. 

I fell into the trap of believing that I didn't have enough time. Although I was exhausting so much of myself into other things, you would think I would've been fulfilled giving everything that I have, but I wasn't and I haven't been. 

King David's son, who wrote Ecclesiastes, had everything you could ever want because he was trying to find fulfillment in his life. He not only had everything but he worked extremely hard for everything that he had and he still wasn't fulfilled. He concluded with saying: "There is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as well can."

Ed Mylett, who hosts one of my favorite podcasts, talked about an interview he had with an elderly lady who was slowly dying in a nursing home. Ed asked her what was one thing she could tell her younger self if she went back in time and she would've told herself that she wishes she would've let herself be happy and enjoy life more. 

I am going to leave with that. Be happy and enjoy your life my friends! We have the time to do that and it also pleases God. So no matter how busy your day is or how stressed you are about something, I encourage you enjoy yourself and be thankful. 

sometimes, it just takes one interaction

Our God is capable of anything and does unimaginably more than we could ever imagine, but today as believers, I believe that we expect everything to be fixed right away. I mean think about what has been going on the past 14 months, I believe there are tons of Christians hoping and praying for God to just get rid of the mess. 

That's not a bad prayer to pray by any means, we should be praying with confidence like that. But what happened to celebrating just one small interaction? 

In life, when we focus on all the things that haven't been done, we forget the work that is actually being done. 

As I reflect on a passage from John 4 that we read earlier this week in our bible study, the story about Jesus and the Samaritan Woman is something I can't get out of my head..

To sum up John chapter 4, Jesus was on a journey and he was on his way to Galilee. On his way to Galilee he made a pit stop in Samaria. In Samaria, Jesus knew that Jacob had a well there so he sat down wearily and exhausted from his walk. Soon a Samaritan woman approached him and he asked her to give him a drink from the well. This caught her off guard because Jews and Samaritans typically had nothing to do with each other. 

Then Jesus and the woman got into a pretty significant conversation, where Jesus ultimately explains to her that anyone who drinks the water that is from God will experience a living water and have eternal life. Then as their conversation was wrapping up, Jesus tells the woman everything he knows about her and she learned quickly that Jesus was the Messiah.

Excited as all get out, she ran back to her village and started telling everyone what had just happened to her and what she experienced. Because the woman told the Samaritans that Jesus told her everything that she ever did, many of them believed in Jesus.

What sticks out to me even more is this:

When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:40-42)

Many Samaritans believed because they saw and heard Jesus as well. All because the lady was bold enough to ask Jesus a lot of questions, and then she was so excited she told everyone. 

Many people believed because of the lady and Jesus' interaction. Not all people, scripture didn't say that all people believed, but many did.

So what is holding you back from sharing what God is doing in your life? One small interaction could change the lives of many people for all of eternity. Now I know it's easier said than done to talk about what God is doing in your life, but it's okay. If it makes you feel better, ask one of your friends... if it's alright that you share what God has been doing in your life. 

Be bold, share your story! 

Godly sorrow

I will start by asking a personal question. How do you feel when you sin? Do you feel sorrowful because of the fact that you sinned? Or do you feel bad about the the results of the sin?

To be complete honest, if you asked me this question when I woke up this morning, I would've had to think long and hard before I gave my answer. 

Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, what exactly does that even mean?

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leave no regret, bit worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

"Godly sorry brings repentance that leads to salvation" refers to the sorrow for our sins that results in changed behavior. Many people are sorry only for the effects of their sins or for being caught. ("worldly sorry") 

Compare Peter's remorse and repentance with Judas's bitterness and act of suicide. Both disowned Christ. One repented and was restored to faith and service; the other took his own life. 

Think about your life...Being completely honest with you, one of the ways I probably sin the most is just talking about other people. I really try hard sometimes not to do that, but when I am with a group of people, things just come out sometimes. For example, Godly sorrow would look like this, I recognize that I sinned, I ask for forgiveness and then will be restored to faith and service. Worldly sorrow on the other hand, would look like this, I realize I said things that I shouldn't have and I just feel bad about it all day. I can't get it out of my head, and I just feel awful.

Think about how many times a day that happens and how many times we just feel so bad about the mistakes we made. We are not perfect. We all sin everyday. Now instead of being sorrowful and feeling super bad about yourself, repent and be restored. 

I hope this encourages you all and helps you understand how to get rid of that feeling of worldly sorrow, I have been there, and it doesn't feel good. My prayer and hope is that your Godly sorrow leads to a change in behavior...I know it has for me, and I hope it can be for you as well. 

What will I be doing?

Recently, I have been a part of a small group of guy in my office who have spent time reading our Bibles over zoom together for the past three weeks. Every morning at 5:45 we are all logged on and ready to go! This has been an awesome experience because when there are a group of people studying the Word together, the Holy Spirit helps us all understand scripture in different ways.

I wanted to share something we talked about as a group the other day that really made me think, and I figured it might be a good thing to read before you all get your day going. 

....A question that we should be asking ourselves this: What will I be doing when Christ returns?

"And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight." (2 Peter 3:14)

Make every effort to be found living peaceful lives...do you do that right now?

I try, but I am not great. I am a pretty positive and optimistic guy, but I have may days where I am down...But I try. I have my days where I do a lot of good things, and there are days where I don't. We aren't all going to live these perfect lives waiting for Christ to return, but we can make every effort. 

I don't know about you but I don't want to get caught watching the paint dry. I don't want Christ to return and be shocked at what I am doing or even worse disappointed. 

When negativity, doubt, dark thoughts, sin, and pretty much things that wouldn't please God comes over you, I strongly encourage you to make every effort to be mindful of what you are doing all of the time. Don't get caught up in the wrong crowd at the wrong time.

Because I don't know about you, but I can think of no better feeling than to be doing something pleasing to God when Christ returns. I just picture the most genuine and happy smile I could ever imagine...

Make every effort my friends. 

bad circumstances

How do you react in the bad circumstances?

I know that one of the most impactful ways that we as believers can be a light is by how we act when we are in a bad/difficult situation. We have the ability to be a light no matter what we face and it's often one of our best ways to show Christ's love to unbelievers. 

"...in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger..." (2 Corinthians 6:5)

Being put in jail would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw jail time as one more opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ. Paul recognized that his current circumstances weren't as important as what he did with them.

What if we saw every bad situation as another possible opportunity?

He turned a bad situation into a good one. 

We may not be in prison, but we have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged - times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, political unrest, or even the loss of our jobs. 

How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe in.

Recently, I have had some difficult passing some pretty difficult exams, and it's been so easy to get down on myself and be negative. But I have had to learn that won't get me anywhere. If I get down on myself, pout, and am super negative, how will that come across to others? I know that won't represent Christ very well.

I've had to take some time to myself, but most importantly get back to it. I have had to trust God's plan for me and trust that I am learning something through this exam taking journey that he has taken me on. 

I am choosing to react to this in a way where I won't give up.  Paul never gave up when he was in prison, hungry, sleepless, and beaten. Why should I? Why should you? 

My encouragement for you, like Paul, is to look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations. Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.