Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Got Joy? By Rev. Gill Ford
Joy is the most vivid sensation in the soul. It is depicted in one's countenance. It thrives in adversity; it grows amidst difficulty, hardship and misfortune because of a hope to enjoy forever the promises of a God. Being reconciled in Christ, demands we let go of anger, animosity, bitterness, wrath and other hurts along life's road, so it (hope) may reside fully in our hearts and mind (Eph 4:31). Letting go of the pain allows more room for joy in your life. If you really want to get even with those who hurt you, enjoy life.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Pack Light
One bit of advice for the 2012 journey, pack light.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana, West Africa. I had about one year to make preparations. The trip was expensive so I took on a second seasonal job to earn money to save for related expenses. I got all the necessary medical check-ups and shots. I purchased all of the recommended items on the packing list. As the days drew closer for my departure, I found it difficult to pack. I would be gone for approximately two weeks to a country I had never been and traveling with 60 people whom for the most part were strangers, except 2-3 of them. I didn't want to forget anything that I may need or want to bring to comfort me so far from home.
I ended up taking three bags total only because that was the travel limit without additional fees. I made my way to the airport, checked my bags and was off to NYC for a short layover before heading to Nigeria and finally Ghana. My dream journey had begun. Of course, in all of the excitement, I hadn’t given much thought about how I would carry the three bags once I made it to my destination. It wasn’t until I landed that I realized I would be in for with all that luggage. It was quite overwhelming and a bit awkward lugging my bags from place to place. Apparently I wasn’t alone. We had to rent an additional truck beyond our charter bus just for luggage during our stay. After the first night, I felt kind of foolish because I didn’t really need all the things I brought. I only need the essentials, which for that particular trip meant travel documents, a few items of clothing, toiletries, a camera and spending money.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, if I had it to do all over again, I would pack light.
This life lesson to pack light reminds me of Hebrews 12:1…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. There are many things that weigh us down and interfere with the race that God has planned for us: sin, bitterness, unforgiveness, anger and hatred to name a few. I encourage you in 2012 to pack light. There are some relationships, habits, ways of thinking, etc. that are slowing you down and hindering you from running the race God has for you.
Think about it, even runners “pack light” to run their race to finish from the shoes they put on their feet to the types of food eaten to fuel their bodies to the clothing they run in. Runner only takes the essentials, because less is more when running a race.
I don’t know about you, but Jesus is essential to my journey. He gave His life for me, He sticks closer than a brother, He gives me peace, He provides protection, and He sits at the right hand of the Father and advocates for me…I could go on, but I think my point has been made.
Lord, help me to recognize those things that are weighing me down and give me the courage to unload my baggage, let it go, strip it off, so I will no longer be entangled or tripped up by it. I want to run the race you set before me to the end. To do so, I must pack light.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana, West Africa. I had about one year to make preparations. The trip was expensive so I took on a second seasonal job to earn money to save for related expenses. I got all the necessary medical check-ups and shots. I purchased all of the recommended items on the packing list. As the days drew closer for my departure, I found it difficult to pack. I would be gone for approximately two weeks to a country I had never been and traveling with 60 people whom for the most part were strangers, except 2-3 of them. I didn't want to forget anything that I may need or want to bring to comfort me so far from home.
I ended up taking three bags total only because that was the travel limit without additional fees. I made my way to the airport, checked my bags and was off to NYC for a short layover before heading to Nigeria and finally Ghana. My dream journey had begun. Of course, in all of the excitement, I hadn’t given much thought about how I would carry the three bags once I made it to my destination. It wasn’t until I landed that I realized I would be in for with all that luggage. It was quite overwhelming and a bit awkward lugging my bags from place to place. Apparently I wasn’t alone. We had to rent an additional truck beyond our charter bus just for luggage during our stay. After the first night, I felt kind of foolish because I didn’t really need all the things I brought. I only need the essentials, which for that particular trip meant travel documents, a few items of clothing, toiletries, a camera and spending money.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, if I had it to do all over again, I would pack light.
This life lesson to pack light reminds me of Hebrews 12:1…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. There are many things that weigh us down and interfere with the race that God has planned for us: sin, bitterness, unforgiveness, anger and hatred to name a few. I encourage you in 2012 to pack light. There are some relationships, habits, ways of thinking, etc. that are slowing you down and hindering you from running the race God has for you.
Think about it, even runners “pack light” to run their race to finish from the shoes they put on their feet to the types of food eaten to fuel their bodies to the clothing they run in. Runner only takes the essentials, because less is more when running a race.
I don’t know about you, but Jesus is essential to my journey. He gave His life for me, He sticks closer than a brother, He gives me peace, He provides protection, and He sits at the right hand of the Father and advocates for me…I could go on, but I think my point has been made.
Lord, help me to recognize those things that are weighing me down and give me the courage to unload my baggage, let it go, strip it off, so I will no longer be entangled or tripped up by it. I want to run the race you set before me to the end. To do so, I must pack light.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Unfinished Business
If you are a list maker like me, I bet you have a never ending list of “To Do’s”
that seems to grow faster than you can check off the things you’ve done. My never
ending “To Do” list makes me feel overwhelmed and stressed out quite often. No matter how much I check off or cross out I really can't enjoy the sense of
accomplishment as a result because there is always some other unfinished
business to do.
So, on this 2nd day of January 2012, I have to ask myself some hard
questions. Will I take this list of unfinished business with me into 2012? Is
it worth my time and energy to complete this unfinished business? Is completing
my “To Do” list from last year really a prerequisite to grabbing hold of a clean
slate in 2012? Should I ditch the list making altogether? Because of how I'm
wired questions like these are never as simple as they seem.
Then it came to me. At the core of this back and forth in my mind about unfinished business was really this one question: Was it God’s will or my will that kept me tied to this unfinished business? It was likely mine and I was reminded that Jesus
finished it all at the cross.
Thinking about my unfinished business from this perspective, I am encouraged and hopeful. Even when there are things that I may never get to on my “To Do” list, I trust that God allowed me to accomplish exactly what was on His “To Do” list for me in 2011. I am at peace with my unfinished business.
My Prayer: Lord, I trust You to direct my path in 2012 according to Your perfect will for my life. I seek Your wisdom and ask for supernatural discernment regarding each and every decision I must make this year from my daily to do list to choices about ministry, etc. In Jesus’
name I pray.
that seems to grow faster than you can check off the things you’ve done. My never
ending “To Do” list makes me feel overwhelmed and stressed out quite often. No matter how much I check off or cross out I really can't enjoy the sense of
accomplishment as a result because there is always some other unfinished
business to do.
So, on this 2nd day of January 2012, I have to ask myself some hard
questions. Will I take this list of unfinished business with me into 2012? Is
it worth my time and energy to complete this unfinished business? Is completing
my “To Do” list from last year really a prerequisite to grabbing hold of a clean
slate in 2012? Should I ditch the list making altogether? Because of how I'm
wired questions like these are never as simple as they seem.
Then it came to me. At the core of this back and forth in my mind about unfinished business was really this one question: Was it God’s will or my will that kept me tied to this unfinished business? It was likely mine and I was reminded that Jesus
finished it all at the cross.
Thinking about my unfinished business from this perspective, I am encouraged and hopeful. Even when there are things that I may never get to on my “To Do” list, I trust that God allowed me to accomplish exactly what was on His “To Do” list for me in 2011. I am at peace with my unfinished business.
My Prayer: Lord, I trust You to direct my path in 2012 according to Your perfect will for my life. I seek Your wisdom and ask for supernatural discernment regarding each and every decision I must make this year from my daily to do list to choices about ministry, etc. In Jesus’
name I pray.
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