Do Overs and Shiny-ness of this World

Praise God!

 

As long as He gives us breath, we have a chance to serve Him!

 

No matter how much we've messed up.

 

No matter how far we ran away from God.

 

No matter how deep the pit of sin we wallow in.

 

If we repent, turn away from our sin and follow Him, He will use us.

 

Maybe not today.

Maybe not next week.

Maybe not next year.

 

But eventually, as we obey Him, trust His plan and wait on Him, He will use us for His glory and our good.

 

Read on to learn about Mark.

 

And, start again, today....follow Jesus, obey Him and love Him with all your thoughts, words, deeds and actions.

 

All week I've been thinking about that raccoon Frank talked about on Sunday. 

 

He related an account of a trapper from long ago. He said that raccoons were curious animals, and he described a proven method for catching them that took advantage of their tendency to investigate everything. The trapper would find a log that had fallen across a stream and bore a hole eight inches deep into it. Then he pounded small, sharp nails around the edge of the hole at a downward angle, so that a circular opening was created just large enough to allow the entry of the raccoon's hand. A shiny object was dropped into the bottom of the hole - usually a piece of tin foil - and the trapper left until the next day.

The raccoon would walk across the log to cross the stream and, ever curious, would peak inside the hole looking for grubs or other source of food. Seeing the bright object, he would immediately reach through the circular opening created by the nails to grab the object. Upon pulling back his hand, however, he would discover that with his fist doubled up, his hand was much too large to get past the nails, which were now digging into his skin as he pulled against them. The harder he pulled, the more it hurt. The next day, the raccoon would still be there, because he would have stubbornly refused to let go of the foil, and the trapper would have his prize.

As we picture this scene in our minds - the trapper approaching the frantic raccoon with raised club in his hand - we almost want to cry out, "Let go! Just let go, and you'll be free!" What a simple solution to a literally deadly problem.

What shiny things are you holding on to?

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Be a Mark Posted: 29 Oct 2009 02:19 PM PDT "My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)" (Colossians 4:10) In dressing up for school parties today, my preschooler has already been a football player and Spider-Man. I wish it was that easy to become like the best of the Jesus-followers. But that takes commitment, preparation and, well, beginning. Today's role-model (from Paul's entourage of ministry teammates listed in Colossians 4) is a guy called Mark, tagged forever as "Barnabas's cousin." In fact, Mark is the guy who contributed to splitting up the dynamic missionary duo of Paul and Barnabas. Mark went AWOL after joining them on a missionary journey, leaving the pair in the lurch. When it came time for the next trip, Paul wouldn't take him. Barnabas wouldn't leave him. So the friends went two different directions. Here, though, we see that later on Mark has been there for Paul in prison -- and Paul may even be sending Mark on a mission to the Colossians. He earned his way back on the team by starting again and being faithful to following Christ. Mark shows us that one big failure doesn't have to be the end our service to the Lord; we can start again. We must start again. Think: Have you avoided serving Christ on a deeper level because you've failed in some obvious or painful way? Do you feel disqualified to use your life up for Jesus? What would keep you from starting again to humbly serve God in a new way? Pray: If you've sidelined yourself from service to Christ because of a big failure in your life, ask God to give you the courage to start serving again. If you haven't been sidelined, think of someone who has and pray for that person today. Do: Read about the breakup of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:36-41 and then check out what else Paul says about Mark later on in 2 Timothy 4:11.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Who are you? Whose are you?

Sorry I haven't written or posted anything in like, forever, but it has been crazy busy at work.  In fact, if you would keep me in prayer, I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

As many of you know, I work at CHOC.  I do love what I do!  Though I don't beleive I'll be affected, on November 2nd CHOC will announce layoffs.  This is an attempt to keep them within their budget and long-term plans.  Mostly, people who are in "service" positions (non-medical positions) will be cut.  I happen to be in a service position.  I am totally trusting God with my future, whether it be continuing at CHOC or elsewhere.  I'm not anxious (really, not even one bit!) or even interested in participating in the "guessing game" here amongst CHOC employees.  I am paid to do my job, so when I arrive at work, that is what I focus on doing.

 

Like Tychicus mentioned in today's PW Devotions, I have sought to be an encouragement to those working around me.  Some pretty awesome conversations have come up about trusting God and having a relationship with Jesus.  This is a win for the Lord, no matter how you look at it!

 

So, why do I ask you to keep me in prayer (you're probably wondering)?  I need God's supernatural strength to wade through the "negative" attitudes, piles of paperwork and upcoming deadlines for my job.  And, if God so chooses to have me laid off, I know He has a job waiting for me somewhere.  Pray for me that I will continue to trust Him and with all thanksgiving, seek a new job.

 

I know the economy is bad.

I know the job market is bad.

I also know, with every fiber of my being, I serve a good God who orders my very next step...breath...heartbeat.

We serve an awesome God!

 

I hope that whatever you are facing right now, you'll stop and thank God for allowing you to go through this thing, whatever it is.  He cares for you and me, His children, and will give us the grace to go through all the good and bad which comes our way!

 

Happy Tuesday!

May the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the same yesterday, today and forever, calm your hearts and minds today.

May you know a peace that surpasses all understanding.

May you drink deeply of the living water only Jesus can give.

May Jesus be glorified in our lives today and every day.

 

Oh yeah, be a Tychicus!

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Be a Tychicus Posted: 26 Oct 2009 09:39 AM PDT "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts." (Colossians 4:7-8) For better or worse, it's Halloween week and the big question in grade schools across the land is this: "What are you going to be?" It's a question the Bible asks a lot, too, and this week we're going to look at some of Paul's suggestions. I'm not sure they'd make for great costumes, but in Colossians 4 he lists some excellent role models from his friends in ministry. Each of them has qualities we can put on to become more like Christ. The first is Tychicus, a man from Asia who Paul mentions in three other books of the Bible as a major part of the ministry team. Tychicus was headed toward the Colossians with two jobs: reporter and encourager. You can be a Tychicus by making it your job to notice and tell others about the great things God is doing around you and by taking on the role of an encourager. Some travel may be required, but you'll be one of the most important members of the team. Think: How hard do you work to notice what God is doing in your life and the lives of those around you? When you do notice, who do you tell? Who have you encouraged this week? Pray: Ask God to help you to be like Tychicus by telling others about what He's doing and by being an encourager. Do: Notice the other places Tychicus pops up in the New Testament: Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21-22, 2 Timothy 4:12, and Titus 3:12.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/