Just Do It

Nike has something there, but that is the final step of the process. Almost always before we do, we ponder. Even before that we have to have the idea to act on in the first place. Sometimes the time between having an idea and acting is a split second! Often in those cases you can end up getting in trouble.

So where am I going with this? New Year’s Resolutions, of course. It’s great that I want to get back into shape, lose weight and get organized. (notice I didn’t say get reorganized :-) That’s where the process starts. Deciding to do something, coming up with a plan of action and ultimately acting. Just doing it. Unfortunately I am all too familiar with thinking about a thing and thinking about a thing and thinking about a thing but not acting. Funny how things don’t change until our actions change!

It’s Biblical too. Proverbs 14:23 says:
In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

The key word here is idle. If you are thinking about something, that is the first step, but don’t let it stop there. Even if it’s years and years that you have been pondering, chances are it’s not too late to act.

Different actions spring from different thinking, so don’t discount that. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you’ve been thinking about getting back into shape, but haven’t acted yet. You are on the right track! The next step is to drive yourself to a track and actually run around it.

Me? My boss got me involved with a group at his church that is gradually working up to running a 5k in March. The first workout was Thursday and we are meeting again this morning in just an hour or so. The workout is pretty easy to start. (but turned out to be harder in action then it looked on paper) After a 5 minute brisk warm up walk it was 60 seconds of jogging followed by 90 seconds of walking. Lather rinse and repeat for 20 minutes. Not bad. The workouts gradually increase the running component so that by mid March we are running for 28 minutes and ready for the 5k.

I’m really excited about it. Even though I have run a few 5k’s before, that was in the early 90s! I used to jog almost everyday in 1999 and 2000. I had worked up to 4 to 6 miles almost everyday and was in my best shape since high school. A knee surgery and 10 years later (and 40 pounds later) it’s almost like starting over.

The important thing is I am starting and with a goal in mind. Now, if I could just get someone to wash my car and clean this apartment.

Looking for Change You can Believe In? Occupy Hard Work.

There are 31 Proverbs in the Bible and most months have 30 or 31 days.  I don’t think it’s a mistake that there is a Proverb for every day.  I was reading this morning’s Proverb and these verses reminded me of what is so terribly wrong with the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement.

Proverbs 21:25-26

²⁵ The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
²⁶ He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous gives and does not spare.

The class warfare being promoted in this country by Democratic leaders including the President is dangerous and immoral.  I keep hearing that the rich are getting richer.  Someone just posted on Facebook that the top 400 wealthy Americans have more money then the bottom 150 million.  The implication is that our current system just isn’t fair and we must redistribute the rick folks wealth.

In reality it is a straw man argument.  I have never met anyone with any kind of means who didn’t work their butt off.  The rich are rich for the most part because God has given them talent and they work hard!  It’s these very rich folk who create companies that create jobs that allow all of us to find work to feed ourselves and our families.

The OWS reaction to the class warfare being perpetuated by our President and the Democratic Party?  Instead of placing the blame for our bad economy and lack of jobs on policies coming out of Washington they have decided it’s a good idea to go camping in public parks.  Instead of taking their God given gifts and applying themselves (and applying for work) they complain about those who have, and demand that they get their “fair share.”   Problem is that would not be fair because it ain’t their share!

“The desire of a lazy man kills him.”  The OWS camp grounds have been a source of fleas and ticks and drug overdoses, rapes and even a shooting or two.  They spend their time greedily coveting all day long.

On the flip side it is the wealthy that are giving and do not spare.  Who do you think gives to charities across this country?  Where is the appreciation for corporations and individuals of means who GIVE AWAY their money so homeless folks can eat, so battered women have shelters, so drug addicts can be set free, so cures can be found for cancer and birth defects.  The list goes on and on.

I don’t know any poor people who give to non-profits.  They can’t.  They are broke!  It’s the people with money that have the ability to share money.  If the Occupiers would mind their own business, work hard and be thankful they live in a country that gives every individual the best chance to succeed maybe they wouldn’t be such whiny complainers and instead would work hard to become generous contributors.

Tired of Backsliding

Originally posted at EmbraceGrace.org

---

Today is the 14th of November and that means Proverbs 14 is part of my daily Bible reading. That is, when I am being obedient and actually doing my daily Bible reading.

As I was reading Proverbs 14 this morning I didn’t get too far before I had to pause and contemplate verse 14.

¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.

I think we all get frustrated with life sometimes. Disappointed that things didn’t worked out the way we planned or the wait for a promise was just a little (lot) bit longer then we expected. These are dangerous times for the Christian. If we don’t stay close to God and stay in His presence we can allow ourselves to get upset and even angry with God. If left unchecked that can lead to bitterness and a dry spirit. (don’t ask me how I know that : )

In these times (which I hope you never experience) it’s easy to turn to “comfort sins.” Those bad habits the old man used to have that want to come back in and enslave again. It can be as simple as overeating comfort foods or much worse. Certainly the comfort food analogy applies.

If you’ve ever been down this dark path even a little ways (I imagine it may be more common then people like to admit) and back again then you already know the wisdom of God through Solomon in Proverbs 14:14. You will grow tired of being backsliden (new word alert!) in heart. You will have your fill and the Holy Spirit will make you sick of it! Thank God for that!

There is a way back. Even better, there is a way to avoid this backsliden condition to begin with. Run to God every day! Stay close to Him no matter what. Share your troubles with Him. Lay your burdens at His feet. If you pick them back up an hour later, lay them at His feet again! He cares in a very personal way for you and the more you spend time with Him, the more you will see Him working in big and small ways in your life.

God is getting you through whatever it is. If you are frustrated and fall, let God pick you back up. Confess your sins to Him. Turn away from Backslideness (an even better new word alert!) and into His loving arms. Then you will be back on the track to being a good man satisfied from above, no matter what your circumstances.

Today’s Proverb for November 25, 2009

Proverbs 25:18

¹⁸ Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

I have a friend who walks the streets of NW Tucson.  I don’t know too much about her, but we have visited a couple of times.  I have even given her rides and bought her some groceries.  You may have seen her too.  She carries a parasol and is often walking on Oracle Road.

I always wondered what her story was.  When I met her I discovered she is a Christian.  As she walks, she looks for work cleaning or other work to help pay her rent.  As we talked I discovered that people make fun of her and it’s hurtful to her.  Although she doesn’t lead a “normal” life as most people understand it, she is a real person with real feelings.  I imagine 99% of the folks who talk bad about her have never met her and have no idea what her life is like.

Today’s Proverb is a great reminder to me not to run people down.  If I can’t say it to their face in love then it’s just not worth saying.

Now What?

Life comes at you fast, so the commercial says. Yet, it’s our choices that bring us to where we are. Yet, sometimes our choices lead us to places that ultimately leave us no choice, or at least no good choices. Proverbs 20:24 says:

A man’s steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?

So then how is it that my decisions have led me to where I am in life if God is directing my steps? It really is true that sometimes (many times) I have not understood my way!

Maybe it’s one of those God is Sovereign, but we have free will, things. How can we have free will if God is Sovereign? If we have free will then how can God be in control? The answer is actually simpler than it seems, and yet only God can pull it off. Romans 8:29 says:

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God knows EVERYTHING ahead of time. Before the foundations of the Earth were laid, He knew I was going to type (and then retype because of a typo) this sentence. God sees all of time from outside of time. He knows even before we are. He knows who is going to choose Him. So, since He has foreknowledge of who is going to choose Him, He then predestined those He foreknew to be conformed into the very image of Christ! Very cool!

For example. The Bible says that God hated Esau, but loved Jacob. That’s because God knew that Esau was going to reject God and sell his birthright for a bowl of soup. (Campbells is mm mm good, but come on!) He also knew that although Jacob would be quite the deceiver for part of his life, he would eventually trust God fully. God knew the end from the beginning and blessed Jacob from the beginning and helped him arrive at his end.

Same with world events down to the smallest detail. He has a plan and He is working it out and His plans can’t be thwarted! He IS God! He is taking everyone’s freewill and conforming it to His plans. Making it all fit like an elaborate super complicated 3-D (probably 5-D) jigsaw puzzle.

He is working in our mistakes and victories. He is not sleeping when we are wronged. He is merciful and kind and looooooong suffering! Slow to anger. Yet He will discipline His kids by allowing circumstances to correct us if need be. Ultimately, He is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! At the same time orchestrating World events and personal lives through free will, foreknowledge and predestination. Only He can do such a thing and it is marvelous in our sight!

So, now what?? The Lord knows. I just wish I were smart enough to trust Him like I should. Thankfully, He is working that out too. You haven’t lived until you’ve been predestined! :-)