Persistent Endurance ... the lessons of water.

Ravi B - Flowing (Vibezy Riddim) "2015 Trinidad Soca". - https://penitent.deviantart.com/art/Water-Flowing-22215255

Persistence is defined as continuance till the end. And endurance is defined as using strength to continue despite pain and fatigue. The difference between the two is that persistence is remaining steady in hopes to finish while endurance is bearing pain so that you can finish. Yet, great power emerges when we combine the two elements. The successful possess a persistent endurance against the hardest situations.

I am always amazed at water. The combination of two hydrogen and one oxygen creat a powerful force. It is the model of persistence endurance. Water has a way of pushing through amazing obstacles, one drip at a time. There have been many instances where what seemed to be an insignificant drip was really a tiny part of a larger body of water pushing through a little at a time. Water is also very adaptable to what it wants to accomplish. Water can be calm and peaceful, but become raging and destructive. A lake can rise inch by inch and suddenly become a flood. A bay can combine with wind to be an agitator and bulldozer.

Imagine our lives as if it were more like water. We could be determined to push through our obstacles to serve whether by peace or by force. Water can trickle along gently, flowing across pebbles and shaping them as we move over them. Water changes things...persistent endurance changes things. It exerts gentle pressure over time and softens hard rocks into rounded pebbles. Water combines with others to gain power. A stream joins with other streams to make a river. A river combines with other rivers to make its way to an ocean. Water is not satisfied with being a mere drop, but makes its way drop by drop to being a grand ocean.We are best when we work together as one.

Water carries things. It carries life along its banks. It carries progress from place to place. Water moves people and things from where they are to where they need to be. The persistence of successful people ... serve others ... Serving with persistence is not about the “me,” serving with persistence is about clinging to the hope of our dream by serving the “THEM.” Much like water as it flows carving out landscapes and bring vital hydration to the land.

Water is a change agent. It changes barren lands to fertile grounds. It can cut off or it can bring together. Water changes the power balance. Water rises to the occasion. When life pours too much in it, it just finds new paths for it to flourish. When life tries to contain it, water pushes through to where it wants to go.

Successful people ... become more like water. Water is persistent. Successful people are persistent as well. Those who desire success can learn from water and move towards goals, one step at a time. Goals will not be reached overnight, but through the diligence of continued steps. The combine strengths with others forms alliances which propels the successful to where we want to go.

Indulge me while I suggest: When we add and multiply our strengths, we will eventually overflow our present boundaries and flow out into our full destiny. We need to carry ourselves from dream to reality to prosperity by flowing in persistent endurance in our daily living. We should not be satisfied with stagnancy, but keep current flowing and keep moving toward a life full of productivity and creativity and fruitfulness.

Most of all, we should be full of life. Full of life-giving nourishment. Full of life-giving hydration. We should add to, not take away from. We should rejuvenate, not suck the life out of others’ dreams. We should bring forth creativity, not stifle. We should saturate life with details while living in appreciation of distance gained in flexibility.

If ever we need encouragement, we should think about a drop of water and ponder about how water gets where it wants to, drop by drop, building pressure that eventually results in a breakthrough. There is so much power in a drop of water. It is just the beginning. It is only the promise of what is yet to come. You are a only at your beginning and the promise of what is yet to come is achieved in persistent endurance toward your goal.

If a drop of water can move a mountain through persistent endurance, then surely we can serve through the method of persistence and move the mountains on our journey.

You know I love ya, Don

What is the standard of the follower of Jesus?

One of the things which cause doubt in Paul's ministry was the amount of suffering Paul endured for the faith. In other words, people began to ask how can God be with the Apostle, if he is forced to endure such hardships and suffering? The modern culture remains just as doubtful. Shouldn't the follower of God possess a special dispensation of grace which empowers the believer to avoid such pitfalls?

Paul responds to such accusations by turning the worldly view on it side and pointing to a crucified Jesus. It is through suffering which prove Paul's service. It is through surrender to the suffering Messiah comes the discovery of the power of God and the consequential conquering of death. Paul writes: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." (NASB 2 Co 4:7–10). Paul's suffering is the mark of Jesus on his life.

Those who follow Jesus in a vocational work or in a volunteer work can relate to Paul's words. It is the believers mantra to agree with Paul in 2 Cor. 12.10: "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (NASB 2 Co 12:10). In my weakness, I learn to trust in God's abilities to work on behalf.

God is not about to stop being God. I am glad and praise him for carrying us through each and every struggle. You know I love ya, Don

I Can Get it Done!!!

Purpose is the reason for which something exists. Purpose is an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal. Purpose is the determination and resolute attitude.

Paul told the Christian in Colossi in Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Our purpose is to put on Christ and whatever we are find on our path will be accomplished through His purpose. Which is to shine the light of hope in every aspect of life.

You might be thinking, “Don, I can’t not do all things…” the reality is that God has created you to do all the things he has gifted you to do. Let that reality sink in for a minute.  God has created you to do all the things he has gifted you to do. Which is much, much more than you allow yourself to do.

Look at this graphic. If I were to draw two circles… in the first

circle I would write, “Find your gift” and in the second circle write “share your gift” – where these to circles over-lap is your purpose. What do you feel gifted in doing and how are you sharing it? This is the purpose God has intended for you!

I can (Persistence) 
    do (Power) 
          all things (Purpose)
               through Jesus that strengthens me… (Partnership).

You know I love ya, Don

 

The Church is the Embodiment of Grace and Truth!

John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth.”

I love the thought that you and I are to be FULL of both grace and truth. Jesus and the N.T. does not suggest a balance between grace and truth, but the full embodiment of grace and truth. Jesus did not come to strike a balance between grace and truth, but He brought the FULL MEASURE of both.

So what is Grace and Truth?

             Grace is generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved acceptance.

             Truth is is that which confirms reality, fact, or actuality. We don’t have time to debate the philosophy, the historical, or even the age-old question, what is truth. This definition will work for our purposes … In other words, what Jesus is teaching and revealing is that the confirmation of my faith is when I live it in reality, as fact, and in actuality.

The church is the embodiment of BOTH Grace and Truth. Now listen, the only group Jesus consistently condemned were graceless religious people – those who misused truth to control through guilt, fear, and condemnation.

The bible is the ultimate truth which is filled with the ultimate of grace. The church (You and I) is to be characterized by a full dose of truth … calling sin what it is and pointing to the purity and holiness that comes through believing, accepting, and uniting with Jesus … AND characterized by a full does of grace. THIS IS A CHALLENGE!

It takes boldness, commitment, and to move beyond yourself! How do we do this?

First, We confront sin! In our own lives and in the lives of those around us. 

Second, We don’t ostracize the person, including ourselves … Jesus always looked beyond the sin, to the person and helped them to see a greater possibility through living the truth. 

I want to commit to having soft hearts of grace and calloused hands from serving! You know I love ya, Don

Good Friday ... The day Jesus walked through sin!

I

t is Good Friday! Good Friday is the Friday of Holy Week, commemorating the crucifixion, suffering, and death of Jesus. We call it good, because God is so good in offering His own life as redemption for our debt of sin.

John 20:19-20 where the Apostle John records an encounter with the Risen Jesus. He writes: “On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”

My friends, Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus walks through the doors of our lives and says, “Peace be with you.” Even when we try to lock him out in fear or grief or shame, … he doesn’t get angry, but responds with Peace. What do you lock away from Jesus? Remember, the risen Jesus is not angry with you. He loves you and offers you peace.

Happy Easter ... You know I love ya, Don

God is an active participant in life!

2 Corinthians 6:16 “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Ezekiel 37:21 also records God declaring; “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Did you notice the tense of these statements: Yes, they are conditional on our relationship with God. These verses are also about God is present tense.  Not future tense or as Bette Midler sings, “God is watching from a distance” – God is not watching, He is participating.

Our future is to never be deceived by self-righteousness. We will not be fooled by sin. As followers of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God living among us now.

Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what is happening around you get inside you & weigh you down. Don’t let the world rob you of an active relationship with God and cause you to sink.

Is God active in your life? You know I love ya, Don

Heavenly Minded: Foundation for a greater Existance!

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Colossians 3:3-4; “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

We weren’t raised with Christ and left in the graveyard. We may be physically on earth but spiritually we should be soaring. Heavenly-minded people are living a life with the foundation of an eternal existence.

Heavenly minded people live Isaiah 40:30, which states: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Heavenly Minded is to SOAR in life because Jesus lives and working in our lives today and is working to give us a greater future.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he brings;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

My Friends like that Eagle, we weren’t made to remain on the ground, we were made to spiritually soar. “SOAR” We weren’t raised with Christ and left in the graveyard, we weren’t raised with Christ to mire in crud … we were made to reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control…Run and not grow weary… Walk and not be faint…heavenly minded is the foundation for an eternal existence that fuels our every action and reaction. 

Being a Jesus follower is being heavenly minded because that is where Jesus is … He is our foundation for optimism. Jesus defines the best possible outcome because of his love. We are to diligently, actively, single-mindedly pursue the things of Jesus. We need to be a generation of heavenly minded people who see human beings and the earth itself not simply as they are … but as God intended them to be…

Heavenly minded is to live optimistically because of the foundation of an active Jesus, of right living, and an eternal existence.

Do you believe God walks on water?

            God is walking on whatever you are drowning in.

Do you believe God gave sight to the blind?

            God sees beyond what you cannot see.

Do you believe God parted the red sea?

            God can part the obstacles in your life.

Do you believe God healed the broken?

            God is ready to heal you broken relationships.

Do you believe God provided manna for the people?

            God is ready to feed your spiritual hunger.

Do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead?

            God is ready to lift you from the death and set you to soar with the eagles.

God is able and willing to mount you up and lift you to the highest heights as you set your mind on Heavenly things. Keep looking up and you know I love ya, Don

How to find God's presence in our present!

In Psalm 90:8 we read that God is God today… “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”

God is God today, just as he has been God in our past. God is the God of the Present Time… 2015 will be just as much God’s possession as any of the years prior to it. The present (or now) is the time that is associated with the events perceived directly and in the first time, not as a recollection (perceived more than once) or a speculation (predicted, hypothesis, uncertain). It is a period of time between the past and the future. God is God of the time in your life between your past and your future.

So, how do you and I make His presence real in the present? How do we see the truth that God is in the here and now and make it relevant for our lives? I think of Carl Boberg .

Here is a man struggling much like us in life to find God in the present time. Mr Boberg, relates that he had been invited, with other men, to a meeting of women who came together to sew for the benefit of missions and there was probably food involved. It was a beautiful day. All nature was arrayed in its summer finery. Both young and old enjoyed the hospitality of the home and roaming about the large estate.

Presently a storm cloud was seen above the horizon and before long the sky was overcast, lightning flashed across the dark heaven and a downpour drove the visitors under cover. Soon the rain stopped, however, and on the sky was seen a bow of promise…the rainbow. From a church across the bay, where a funeral was in progress, the bells pealed forth their doleful cadence.

Enraptured with the wonders of it all, Boberg that evening gave expression to his feelings in the writing of the poem O Store Gud! nine stanzas long. It was first published in a couple of periodicals and then apparently forgotten. Several years later, he attended a meeting in the Province of Varm­land and was surprised to hear the con­gregation sing his poem to the tune of an old Swedish melody…it was translated into English and we know it as “How Great Thou Art.” Carl Boberg was born in 1859 and died in 1940. He lived through the time leading to two world wars and a great devastation, recessions, depressions, and revolution. He never forgot the reality that God is God of the here and now because he took the time to recognize the power of God around him … these are the words:

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, 

            And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die—I scarce can take it in; 

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclama­tion

            And take me home—what joy shall fill my heart!

Then shall I bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,  How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Your wonder, your amazement, your true gaze into the reality of God in your life, defines how present God is in your present. Psalm 90:14 states: “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

God was God … God is God … God will be continue to be God! You know I love ya, Don

Whose Hand are you holding?

Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge over a river. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, 'Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river.'

The little girl said, 'No, Dad. You hold my hand.'

'What's the difference?' Asked the puzzled father.

'There's a big difference,' replied the little girl.

'If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go.
But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go.'

Trusting in God is not me holding God’s hand but God holding my hand. He is not capable of letting go. In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. 

You know I love ya, Don

There is Power, Power, Wonder Working Power!!!

Daniel 6:23
“The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”

Walking with God opens opportunities of power.

Power is the possession of control, authority, or influence over people, matter, and things. Your God has the power over your circumstances and your life. You submit to Him and in return, He uses that power to PROVE He is God and is sovereign over every day, every hour, every minute, and every moment. How do we receive that power...through integrity to our commitment to God...in our daily habit of living the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

Max Lucado writes a funny story, that one New Year's Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.

Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" find themselves out of gas.

Luke 24:48-49
“You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Holy Spirit grants us power and we are to share that power in every fiber of our being.
There is power, power, wonder working power....

The unshakable life is on solid ground by walking with God that open opportunities of integrity, struggle, confidence, and power. The integrity we "commit to" in our walk with God doesn't take away our struggles. It builds our confidence because of the demonstration of God's power in the struggle.

Do you know the power of God in your life?

Give your heart to Him! 

 

Renew your commitment to living integrity in your walk with God.

Make prayer, meditation, reflection, and communion with God a habit.

You know I love ya, Don

Confidence counts!

Daniel 6:22 

“Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty”

Walking with God opens opportunities of confidence.

Godly confidence is the quality and state of being certain of our God. A Christ-Follower has every confidence of success that God will prevail and He will be proven holy, just, and loving. Believers in Jesus walk on solid ground...the circumstances may shake, but the ground they walk on is solid and unshakable.

Lack of Confidence is the the enemies largest weapon in the church today. The enemy defeats us before we even get out of bed with all the guilt we put on ourselves. We parade our failures and our problems across our minds eye...the confidence we gain in Jesus Christ is blotted out... as believers in Jesus, we are guaranteed that God's mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.

Rather than letting the enemy steel our joy, we should be grateful for trials, failures, and short comings...it is the struggles of our life that God is most effective and the struggles are the places God can demonstrate the most grace.

The integrity we commit to in our walk with God doesn't take away our struggles...in fact our struggles build our confidence because of the demonstration of God's power in the struggle.

The American painter, John Sargent, once painted a panel of roses that was highly praised by critics. It was a small picture, but it approached perfection. Although offered a high price for it on many occasions, Sargent refused to sell it. He considered it his best work and was very proud of it. Whenever he was deeply discouraged and doubtful of his abilities as an artist, he would look at it and remind himself, "I painted that." Then his confidence and ability would come back to him.

You can take confidence in the TRUTH that Jesus Christ loves you and wants to know you on the personal level. I love this picture of this cat...she is living the confident life. In Jesus Christ, we also can look in our mirror and see a roaring lion.

How is your confidence these days?

Do you stand and preach the good news that Jesus is the Christ in the way you live your life?

Do you act as if He is the son of the living God in how you live life at work, at school, to your neighbors, in retirement and to anyone that comes in contact with you?

Do you demonstrate Godly confidence?

You know I love ya, Don

Sincerely Forgiven!

¹⁵ When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: ¹⁷ 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50: 15-21 NIV)

Joseph wept at the message from His brothers. He had already sincerely forgiven them, yet they still feared Joseph's wrath...even many years later. I can see why he wept.

God has sincerely forgiven me, yet I forget how sincere God was while He was on the cross. He said "Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing." The great part of today is that He is still saying that for me and you. He is sincerely forgiving us and interceding for our benefit. I am reminded of the old saying, "I am not perfect, but I am forgiven."

You know I love ya - a fellow forgiven Christ-follower, Don

P.S. - I am preaching in the Solid Ground the next two weeks and we are going to talk more about detours in life and Joseph is the first. For the story of Joseph read the last ten chapters of Genesis.

"Mom Likes You Best"

"The Lord turn his face toward you." - Numbers 6:26

In the late 1960's, the Smothers Brothers built a comedy empire on a routine that began with Tommy whining to Dickey, "mom always liked you best." My sister and I have done that a few times. What made the Smothers Brother routine work? Probably the fact that all siblings remember the sting of having a sibling or classmate or CO-WORKER take first place, dethroning us from the status we felt we deserved.

Number 6:26 describes a unique and wonderful favoritism. In the New Living Translation, the first phrase of this verse reads: "May the Lord show you His favor."

When we have favor with someone here on earth, our needs take precedence with that person. Our requests have top priority. We enjoy "no-knock access" to the home or office of the person who holds us in that kind of esteem. Bob Kelly is my mentor and I have that type of relationship with Him. When we worked together, he had a blue couch in his office. I still remember the comfort it was to know that I was always welcome to chat and come sit on the blue couch.

Now think. What must it mean to have God's favor rest upon you and I...to be God's favorite son or daughter? But how can we all be God's favorite? Just as mom tells her four sons, "You're all my favorite" and genuinely means it, so too, our Lord says to us through Jesus' resurrection, "You are all my favorite." He genuinely means it, too!

As if to reinforce this very point, Jesus told his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you" (John 15:9). In light of what Jesus said, consider what Paul said, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

You can go around today and tell people....I am one of God's favorites....You know I love ya - Don

A Bad Monday

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

Psalm 63:1-2

This is a great POWER verse for a Monday. A believer that takes times to recognize God in their lives on Sunday and visits the sanctuary is bound to have power on Monday. As believers, we took time to visit with the Creator of the universe, Jehovah God, the Almighty, and the Savior of the World. You have seen Him...your thirst was touched...and you beheld His power.

(All that is assuming you were awake and alert to God for these things...)

Today, we get to go forth and live with God in our daily lives....WOW! Evil will press in and try to topple your day, but if you cling to His grace and these assurances of power, how could any day be a bad day.

You know I love ya and keep pressing in! - Don

I Lift My eyes Up

There is a new chorus that Dean Nester has introduced me to titled, "I Lift My Eyes Up." It iis based off of Psalm 121.

There is a Spiritual blessing in the pure ability in lifting our eyes up. Yesterday, Alice, our two year old greeted me at the door. She called out, "Hello Daddy. I love you Daddy" The best and greatest words. Needless to say, "I loved hearing it."

At that moment the text of this chorus became clear to me...no matter what I may face or what issue I may have, when I lift my eyes up to God and say hello "Abba Father" (Daddy) he will swoop me up and hold me tight carry me through every moment because He loves hearing it too.


"I lift My Eyes Up" is by Brain Doerksen and this is a link to a YouTube video of it.

These are the lyrics:

I lift my eyes up to the mountains,
where does my help come from?
My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven,
Creator of the earth.

O how I need You Lord, You are my only hope;
You're my only prayer.
So I will wait for You to come and rescue me,
Come and give me life


Wallow in His love today and don't forget to look up and say, "Hello Daddy."

You Know I love ya, Don