(11.16.20—Heart and Soul!--Matthew 16:24)
My friend, may I ask you a question? God asks us to face some pretty tough circumstances from time to time. Occasionally, however, why is there that problem we’ve never seen before?
My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I’m M. Clifford Brunner?
My son and I used to enjoy backpacking. Sometimes we selected a trail that has been nicely cut through field and forest leading us directly to a rustic campsite far off the beaten track. There is little risk of getting lost as long as you keep to the trails. But there comes a time in every backpacker’s life when there is no trail and you are forced to blaze your own. This is a whole different matter; one deserving an entirely different train of thought. As you first step into the brush or the forest undercover every backpacker is struck with the same thought. “Do I go or do I stay? Choose!” You check your compass, suck it up and tell yourself. “Well, there is no turning back.” And, into the bush you go.
In a very real sense a Christian’s life is no different. God asks us to face some pretty tough circumstances from time to time. Occasionally there is that problem you have never seen before.
Famed tenor, Luciano Pavarotti writes: “When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song. He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, ‘Shall I be a teacher or a singer?’ “‘Luciano,’ my father replied, ‘if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.’ “I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it’s laying bricks, writing a book-- whatever we choose--we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that’s the key. Choose one chair.” (Guideposts.)
Sometimes making choices becomes tedious, even onerous, as we struggle to keep what we have and long to get what we don’t. There is nothing wrong with striving. God wants us to strive, especially when it comes to fulfilling His will for us in this life. Every day He puts new choices in front of us. Some are easy and some are very, very difficult. If they all were easy, there would be no need to make the hard choices, to put our whole heart, body and soul into the decision to move one way or the other. Those “no turning back” choices can be very difficult ones to make and we sometimes find ourselves wondering why we need them at all. But it is through these choices, the very difficult ones, that God teaches us how to be committed. There is a cross waiting for you and I and there is no denying that it will be heavy and difficult to drag behind us. Without a committed heart and soul, we would never have the strength to carry it. Thank God He gives us the tough choices to keep us in condition to bare the really heavy loads.
We pray. Heavenly Father. Those “no turning back” choices can be very difficult ones to make and we sometimes find ourselves wondering why we need them at all. Why do You give them to us Lord? But it is through these choices, the very difficult ones, that You teach us how to be committed. We thank and praise You O Lord for these difficult times, knowing that You have our best interests in mind, even when the cross we bear seems heavy. There is a cross waiting for us and there is no denying that it will be heavy and difficult to drag behind us. Forgive us when we complain or balk to carry it. Without a committed heart and soul, we would never have the strength to carry it. Thank You for giving us the tough choices to keep us in condition to bare the really heavy loads. 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.