My friend, may I ask you a question? Everyday, is God giving us opportunities to do His work and make our lives more meaningful? Does faith involve risk and is God always calls us to do things that are above and beyond what we can do on our own?
My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day. I’m M. Clifford Brunner?
When I was growing up I went to both public and parochial schools. Although there were obvious differences between the two, one thing was the same; we didn't have any signs posted on either public or private read: "Drug Free" or "Gun-Free" zones. There just didn't seem to be a need for them. People assumed that most students, if not 99.9%, wouldn't come to campus with guns or drugs; if that happened it would be dealt with on an individual not group basis. Times have changed. Now schools not only mandate security for guns and drugs, many are also mandated "Junk- Food Free Zones." In the drive to protect students from everything, trans-fats are the latest target. When will it end? Unfortunately, we live in a risk-free society in love with precautions. The problem is that precautions are sometimes, probably more risky than the risk itself. Safety is one thing; but the freedom to progress may often become the casualty.
Here's a story: In 1745, the Scots rebelled against the English King George. Their leader was Charles Edward Stewart, otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. For several months, he victoriously led his forces against the royalist, pro- King George troops. As he marched down south, many more joined his army, and they eventually reached the English town of Derby, 200 miles north of London. The Royalists were ready to flee the country, when Prince Charlie made a ter- rible miscalculation. He started to worry about the weather. Instead of marching on to victory, he halted the Highland army and debated with his generals. Major disagreements broke out, that resulted in a divided command. Charlie then obstinately decided to head home for shelter with his beleaguered troops. He was hoping to avoid the bad weather, but it caught up with him. The whole army retreated, in much the same way that Napoleon’s troops would in 1812, from Moscow to Paris. Morale was extinguished; the weather was merciless; and the Highlanders lost hope. Within a couple of months, the rebellion was over and this time, Charlie was the one who fled the country; giving new meaning to the phrase: "He who hesitates, loses." (Source Unknown)
He who hesitates loses. That’s what today's Bible verse, "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4), is telling us. Everyday, God gives us opportunities to do His work and make our lives more meaningful. Faith involves risk and God always calls us to do things that are above and beyond what we can do on our own. That's when we depend upon Him most. That's when we give up worrying about whether we can accomplish it ourselves, and completely put our faith in Him. Precautions are fine; just don't substitute progress for safety.
We pray. Heavenly Father. Everyday God You give us opportunities to do Your work and make our lives more meaningful. You tell us in Your Word that faith involves risk and You are calling us to do things that are above and beyond what we can do on our own without You. We praise You Father for Your willingness to push us farther and higher. Forgive us when we don’t put our dependence upon You to get us there. Help us to give up worrying about whether we can accomplish things ourselves, and completely put our faith in You. Never allow us to substitute Your intended progress for our own self—bought safety. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.