Luke 12

”Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:25-26

I know that in life I do tend to worry. I think everyone worries, but some more than others. I know myself as of late I have been focused a lot on my house. Now I know the Lord is in control and I can easily say that, but I still worry about the future and selling it and on and on as my analytical mind runs with it. Now this can be a problem. As I know worry can at times take my focus and even be something that I dwell on way too much. Worrying can really can effect how I and others live life.

Then I continue on to read in Luke 12 and come to verse 47"”That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

If worrying truly effects how I am living my life than I am not able to use what gifts the Lord has given me to the best of my abilities. These gifts can be very broad when I look at how blessed I am. Then because I have been given so much I need to really make sure that I am on top of my game and frankly when I read both these verses. I mean “beaten with many blows” because I know and don’t act really? I think back as a little kid and getting spanked for all my mischievous acts and misbehaving. I know how much I didn’t enjoy that now I need to take notice to what the Lord says here to ensure that I am making the most of what I have been given, that I am putting everything to work for who He is.

What else do I worry about?

Mute Forever?

I sit and read Luke 1 only to come to a common story that I have heard many times.

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
Luke 1:18-20

This time I read it though it was different. See I got to thinking about the Lord’s will, His power and myself. See the I read this and started thinking about how many times would I have to become mute to learn that what the Lord says will come true and that He is in control. I tied this directly to another common verse that sticks in my head these days.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jer. 29:11

My fear is that if the Lord was to treat me with the consequences of that of Zechariah that I would end up being mute my whole life. See I feel His promises are all over the bible yet I tend to want to take things into my own hands, do my own thing, be in control, and want things in my timing. These have been the story of my life over the past 31 years, but this different look at Luke 1 definitely has caused me to think and meditate on who He is and who I am in respect to that. I need to live each and everyday knowing that He is who He says He is and will fulfill the promises He makes. I may need to take my Faith to a new level and my relationship with Him to a new level also, but He has been gracious with me. After all He could have made me mute many times over. Hey, I may never have spoke if this verse was true for me and every time I question Him.

Falling Apart

As I look back at 2008 my first thought is to think that everything is falling apart. The stock prices plummeting, thousands of houses going into foreclosure, inflation, a depression looming it is all kind of scary at first thought. It was New Years Eve and New Years day when I was sitting on the coach thinking of all these things and just processing the year at its end and a friend so kindly reminded me that I am still in the wealthiest 10 percent of the world. Really when I am reminded of this it comes to mind why am I so lucky.

He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1:8,9

So as I go into 2009 I look a new goal for myself and it may seem simple, but as the world goes lately I want to look at my glass as Half Full instead of always Half Empty because really with the Lord as my Savior can the glass really ever be even Half Empty no matter how bad it gets?

Tough Lesson

I looked back on my past couple weeks of my own personal devotions and I tie these verses together it is amazing. We serve an amazing God. The day of my car accident I read this from Col. 2 “Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.”

See moments before my accident I think I had lost my connection with Christ. As I sat there in traffic waiting in line I grew more and more impatient and frustrated with those around me. Here I sat in a hurry wanting to get things done and rush, rush, rush and I sit in a long line of cars trying to make a left turn at a difficult intersection. Well, next thing I know at the vary intersection I was getting frustrated I ended up in an accident. I had become detached from Him yet He kept me safe as it could have been much, much worse.

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
Matthew 5:22

I definitely was subject to judgement that day as I had become detached from the head my Lord and Savior. Not only was I in need of an attitude adjustment, but I also needed to apologize to the lady that hit me which definately changed her attitude to me at that time. I needed a time to sit and think about who I am in Christ and who I was becoming in my rush, fast pace mind set I get into.

I always seem to need to learn my lessons the hard way. If I could only remember to stay connected to Him as my rock I would more than likely make life much, much easier on myself.