Archive for July, 2009

A group of dear friends that I meet with on a weekly basis were discussing the question: “What would you hope people will say about you at your funeral?” While the responses varied - your legacy is really a report on your earthly journey.

This thought calls to mind one’s intentionality. It examines the effect and the by-product of how a person invests the time God gives us. Another question might be: ‘What are some milestones, landmarks, or highlights that will be recalled about your life?’

“They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan river, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had commanded Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed a memorial there.” Joshua 4:8 God was weaving the events of each of their lives into a dramatic story of influence, power, and victory.

We need to take time to ‘mark the moment,’ to be deliberate in impacting the lives of our families and those where we are positioned. So often, we take things for granted and fail to maximize opportunites to leave lasting memories.

Are you taking time to lay the foundation on which those that come after you will build?

May it be said of me [as it was of Caleb in Joshua 14 and 15]: ‘He followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He walked with God and impacted the lives of his family and those he came in contact.’

Lord, thank You for the things in the story of my life that have molded me and placed me where you want me.

I love you!

Stay faithful and finish strong,
dale

Do you recall the incident with the fleece? Gideon looks to God for some type of ’sign’ that will make him feel better about risking his life in battle. Remarkably - God offers a gesture not once, but twice. Apparently, God is willing to work with ‘uncertain skeptics’ that are scared to death.

Is it a sin to doubt? Unbelief can promote disobedience to God and paralyze one’s ability to offer their best effort. In Hebrews 11:1 we read: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for.” But most of us are more sure of what we are afraid of than what we hope for. God was attempting to encourage Gideon [and us] to live our lives by seizing opportunities that will drive us to our knees and keep us living in absolute dependence upon Him.

We need to get hold of the idea that our daily labors should be performed as acts of worship acceptable to God via Jesus Christ. To accomplish this mission we must live actually and determinedly. Batterson [in Wild Goose Chase] offers: “There is nothing remotely passive about being part of the kingdom of God. We are called to forcefully advance the cause of Christ. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. Faithfulness is storming the gates of hell.”

Facing overwhelming odds, Gideon was afraid. God understood his fear, but did not excuse him from his responsibility. He will use us in spite of our limitations and failures. It is when we obey God that we will find the courage to forge onward.

I love you!

Stay faithful and finish strong,
dale

“For my thoughts are are not Your thoughts, neither are Your ways my ways . . . “

Certainly this applies to when You forgive!

When others hurt us or wrong us - - we handle this completely different from the way that You handle it.
- We question if they are even worthy of our forgiveness
- We measure the ‘offense’ - as to how much we will forgive them
- We are eager to place limits on how many times we will forgive

How can we wrap our brains around the boundaries of Your forgiveness? Isaiah was certainly correct: “as high as the heavens are above the earth” - and then, multiply that!

Father, we thank You for Your complete pardon!

Help us in our attempt to think like You - - at least in forgiving others.

I love you!

Stay faithful and finish strong,
dale