THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY…..

Desperation often leads us to humility.

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY……

God’s grace can change what was, to what He wants it to be! That’s a very good thing!

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY…..

Too many Christians get caught up in being right, rather than being redemptive. Don’t!

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY…..

There are too many people, in our churches today, who are filled with a competitive pride. Don’t fall into that trap.

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY….

Radical optimism should be a characteristic of every Christian!

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY….

The real work of God in a person’s life is accomplished during the journey.

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY…..

Don’t allow yourself to become complacent or too busy for what might seem to be the “menial” things in life.

Pastor Bill

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GET SOME REST, BROTHER!

082013It was time to get some rest. I was really tired! I had been up for more than 20 hours and I just needed to get some shut-eye. My flight was not scheduled to leave for a good four hours, so I needed to find a corner in this airport terminal and “crash” for a time.

I wandered slowly along the C Concourse. It was a long one that ended in a huge, circular area with many loading gates extending out of it. If my luck held, it should be fairly quiet this time of the night and I could probably find a quiet corner to get some rest in.

As I arrived in that part of the airport I soon found that it was, in fact, quiet. As I looked around, it appeared there were more people stretched out across rows of seats, as well as laying on the floor, than there were people seated in the waiting area.

It took me only a short time and I found a loading gate with no one near it and no one seated close by. It looked as if this would be the spot. The flight schedule that is normally behind the counters was blank. Good deal! I should be able to get some uninterrupted rest. Now, the big question; should I sleep on the flat, hard floor, or should I try and catch some shut-eye by stretching across several of the thinly padded seats in the waiting area. I chose the seats.

I pulled off my jacket, lay my small carry-on bag on one seat, and gingerly stretched out across several of the seats. After rolling my jacket into a sort of pillow, I spent several minutes before I finally found a position that seemed to work. I would have to admit, if someone were to ask, that it was not the best of accommodations, but I was tough! I could sleep anywhere! In a matter of minutes I was out; sleeping hard and oblivious to anything going on around me.

I think one of the greatest gifts God has given us is sleep. The longer I live the more of it I seem to need. An afternoon nap has become something I look forward to and cherish. It seems to give me renewed strength and energy for the remainder of the day. There are a multitude of places in the Bible that refer to sleep, but look at this one from Proverbs 3:21-26, as it is recorded in the paraphrase of the Bible, The Message: Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them. They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive. You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.

I realize that these several verses speak of more than just sleep, and rest, but I like the wisdom of all that it tells us. I hope you get a good night’s rest, tonight!

Prayer: Father, help me to always live a life that is guarded by clear thinking and common sense—gifts that You give. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of rest that You give us! In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Pastor Bill

Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY……

It can be a good thing to occasionally ask, “What is God trying to accomplish in my life right where I am—not where I want to be?”

Pastor Bill

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THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THIS JOURNEY…..

Every day, in fact, every hour in life is significant for the person truly committed to living for Jesus.

Pastor Bill

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