Isaac asked me the other day if it was still winter. I told him that according to the calendar it was spring. He proceeded to tell me that the evidence outside would seem to indicate that the calendar is wrong. Frankly, I couldn't argue with him. Aren't we all eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring? I personally can't wait until the warm weather hits, the grass begins to green, and we can start our spring sports with an eye towards summer break. My thought through all of this is whether or not we are anticipating the celebration of Easter as much or more.
We have begun one of the most important weeks of the Christian year, but how many of us truly pause to consider what this week means to us. It is easy to glide right through this week, maybe attend church on Easter Sunday, eat some Easter ham, and then go right back to waiting for spring to arrive. If we do that, I believe we miss an important chance to reconnect and deepen our connection with the Spirit. Will we take the time to ponder what it means that the creator of everything became a human, suffered, and died for us? Will we take a minute to consider if we are living our lives in a way that honors that sacrifice? Will we even be able to pause and take a breath from eating all the Easter candy to consider what we are celebrating that early Easter morning? I certainly hope so.
I've been on a kick lately because I've discovered that I all to easily jump right from the celebration of Palm Sunday to the celebration of Easter Sunday. Didn't I miss an important event somewhere in the middle there? What about the trial, torture, and death of Jesus? There were certainly some dark times during that week, but I don't like to think about that too much. Why I ask? Maybe it makes me feel uncomfortable thinking about how Jesus was treated. Maybe I feel a little guilty that my sin may have been one of the reasons he had to endure that horrible experience. Maybe, just maybe it makes this whole faith thing a little to real when I think that God died to show me just how much he loves me. When I think about it that way, then I can't help but want to strengthen my connection and tap into that sort of love. Wouldn't you? There is no greater sacrifice then one's life, and our God showed us just how far he'll go to show us his love. Are you willing to accept that love, and then do your absolute best to live a life to honor that love? I hope so...I hope I am. Let us celebrate that show of love this Holy Week.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
March Madness
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "March Madness"? NCAA basketball? Maybe the
madness that creeps in as winter gets too long and you can't wait for spring to be here? Whatever you might think of...the first thing that pops into my head is the college basketball tournament. I admit that I do fill a bracket out trying to predict the winners, and I'll also admit that I'm not very good at it. Case and point is the fact that my wife and I have been competing against each other year after year to see who does better with their brackets. We've been married 11 years, we've done a bracket each year, and I have won once. Yup...I'm 1 for 10, a 10% winning percentage.
Isaac was asking me about the brackets this year and as I was telling him about this competition, as if it is really even a competition anymore, and I tired to explain to him how hard it was to lose each year and make it look like I was trying to win. I told him it was important to daddy that mom's self esteem be built up this time of the year and that I had to let her win most of the time. He wasn't buying it...the kid's 6 and he has already figured out I'm full of it a lot of the time. I promised him that the honor of the Wohlhuter men was on this years challenge and that him and I combined could take mom of her championship post. Stay tuned to see what happens.
If you'll engage in a little mental stretching with me we are about to celebrate another kind of tournament victory in a couple months. Jesus is going to win the ultimate game against sin and death when he is resurrected from the tomb. As we prepare for the joy of Palm Sunday, the darkness that follows Maundy Thursday and Black Friday, and eventually the greatness that is Easter I want all of us to think about what Jesus' victory means. How do we say thank you to Jesus for his gift of eternal life and forgiveness that he secured for us so long ago? Do we live a life that reflects the selflessness that Jesus showed on his journey to the cross? Does the fact that our freedom has been bought with a price affect how we live our lives? Easter is certainly a celebration, and it should be a reminder that we are called to live as best we can as lights of the Spirit. Take these next two weeks and take note of where we could do better, and take note of where we are living a Godly life. And, if you have some inside tips on the tourny I'll take those too!
madness that creeps in as winter gets too long and you can't wait for spring to be here? Whatever you might think of...the first thing that pops into my head is the college basketball tournament. I admit that I do fill a bracket out trying to predict the winners, and I'll also admit that I'm not very good at it. Case and point is the fact that my wife and I have been competing against each other year after year to see who does better with their brackets. We've been married 11 years, we've done a bracket each year, and I have won once. Yup...I'm 1 for 10, a 10% winning percentage.
Isaac was asking me about the brackets this year and as I was telling him about this competition, as if it is really even a competition anymore, and I tired to explain to him how hard it was to lose each year and make it look like I was trying to win. I told him it was important to daddy that mom's self esteem be built up this time of the year and that I had to let her win most of the time. He wasn't buying it...the kid's 6 and he has already figured out I'm full of it a lot of the time. I promised him that the honor of the Wohlhuter men was on this years challenge and that him and I combined could take mom of her championship post. Stay tuned to see what happens.
If you'll engage in a little mental stretching with me we are about to celebrate another kind of tournament victory in a couple months. Jesus is going to win the ultimate game against sin and death when he is resurrected from the tomb. As we prepare for the joy of Palm Sunday, the darkness that follows Maundy Thursday and Black Friday, and eventually the greatness that is Easter I want all of us to think about what Jesus' victory means. How do we say thank you to Jesus for his gift of eternal life and forgiveness that he secured for us so long ago? Do we live a life that reflects the selflessness that Jesus showed on his journey to the cross? Does the fact that our freedom has been bought with a price affect how we live our lives? Easter is certainly a celebration, and it should be a reminder that we are called to live as best we can as lights of the Spirit. Take these next two weeks and take note of where we could do better, and take note of where we are living a Godly life. And, if you have some inside tips on the tourny I'll take those too!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Habits...
As some of you may or may not know I've been taking a class to become an EMT. So far so good, as long as I can pass a few more tests I'll be certified as an EMT(and that is a big IF). As part of my class I have to spend some time in an ER and riding along in an ambulance. The past 2 weekends I've spent 16 hours divided between Jennie and Mercy Hospitals in Council Bluffs. I have learned a lot, but what has struck me is the habits that people get in and can't get out of. Like I'm one to talk much though...I have more than a few bad habits that I'd like to stop but I can't, and I'd like to implement a few better habits but can't. But what I've seen amazes me.
A patient comes into the ER with complaints of chest pain. The pain was a 9 out of 10, which is pretty bad, and he/she was really scared. After running some quick tests it was determined the patient wasn't having a massive heart attack, but the patient still needed to wait for some blood work to be done to see if a minor heart attack had occurred. I imagine the only minor heart attack is one that happens to someone else! As we're waiting for the results the nurse and I get some history from the patient. The history sounds like this: smoker, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, no exercise, poor diet, heart attack in December last year, father died of massive heart attack as did the patient's mother. Holy Cow! Walking time bomb.
I kept thinking to myself how many signs does this patient need to let him/her know that maybe it's time to change his/her lifestyle before it's too late? I mean really...this patient had every risk factor known for heart disease and he/she wasn't controlling the risk factors he/she could eliminate. Why? Are habits that hard to break? Does it take surviving 3 "minor" heart attacks to change your lifestyle? Maybe it takes a major heart attack before things will change.
I know I find it hard to change a habit unless I see immediate results or the negative effects of the habit are hurting me right now. I struggled forever starting and sticking to a diet until I finally committed to one and saw results. I fail sticking to it now because the results aren't as obvious and maintaining isn't as exciting as losing. Other habits I'd like to start are difficult because the payoff isn't going to come until well into the future, such as saving more for retirement or a house eventually. We humans like immediate gratification. And sometimes working on our relationship with God doesn't seem to pay off immediately. We don't get the immediate answer to our prayers, or at least the answer we think we need/deserve, and we don't get an immediate voice or light from heaven. Sometimes the pay off doesn't come later until we really need that connection and the time and effort put into building it pays off. It is hard for me, and I'm going to assume others, to get into habits that don't payoff immediately, such as tithing to church, having a strong prayer and devotional life, and so on and so on. We don't see immediate results so we wait until there is a disaster and then turn to God in prayer and maybe we give more of our time and of ourselves for awhile, but after the immediate threat is gone we fall away again. Would a stronger relationship before the disaster kept it at bay? Probably not, but having a strong foundation to stand on helps in all aspects of life instead of struggling when crisis occur and you'd wish you had something more solid to stand on.
Just as staying healthy is an investment in our future, building our relationship with God is an investment in our future. Let's hope that by being proactive now we don't have to have a crisis to turn our attention to what's important and shift our focus. Can we make it a priority now to spend some time getting to know God better and making that a habit? Build a solid foundation now and it is less likely to crumble in the future.
A patient comes into the ER with complaints of chest pain. The pain was a 9 out of 10, which is pretty bad, and he/she was really scared. After running some quick tests it was determined the patient wasn't having a massive heart attack, but the patient still needed to wait for some blood work to be done to see if a minor heart attack had occurred. I imagine the only minor heart attack is one that happens to someone else! As we're waiting for the results the nurse and I get some history from the patient. The history sounds like this: smoker, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, no exercise, poor diet, heart attack in December last year, father died of massive heart attack as did the patient's mother. Holy Cow! Walking time bomb.
I kept thinking to myself how many signs does this patient need to let him/her know that maybe it's time to change his/her lifestyle before it's too late? I mean really...this patient had every risk factor known for heart disease and he/she wasn't controlling the risk factors he/she could eliminate. Why? Are habits that hard to break? Does it take surviving 3 "minor" heart attacks to change your lifestyle? Maybe it takes a major heart attack before things will change.
I know I find it hard to change a habit unless I see immediate results or the negative effects of the habit are hurting me right now. I struggled forever starting and sticking to a diet until I finally committed to one and saw results. I fail sticking to it now because the results aren't as obvious and maintaining isn't as exciting as losing. Other habits I'd like to start are difficult because the payoff isn't going to come until well into the future, such as saving more for retirement or a house eventually. We humans like immediate gratification. And sometimes working on our relationship with God doesn't seem to pay off immediately. We don't get the immediate answer to our prayers, or at least the answer we think we need/deserve, and we don't get an immediate voice or light from heaven. Sometimes the pay off doesn't come later until we really need that connection and the time and effort put into building it pays off. It is hard for me, and I'm going to assume others, to get into habits that don't payoff immediately, such as tithing to church, having a strong prayer and devotional life, and so on and so on. We don't see immediate results so we wait until there is a disaster and then turn to God in prayer and maybe we give more of our time and of ourselves for awhile, but after the immediate threat is gone we fall away again. Would a stronger relationship before the disaster kept it at bay? Probably not, but having a strong foundation to stand on helps in all aspects of life instead of struggling when crisis occur and you'd wish you had something more solid to stand on.
Just as staying healthy is an investment in our future, building our relationship with God is an investment in our future. Let's hope that by being proactive now we don't have to have a crisis to turn our attention to what's important and shift our focus. Can we make it a priority now to spend some time getting to know God better and making that a habit? Build a solid foundation now and it is less likely to crumble in the future.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Storm of the Century!!
3 days left! 3 days to buy your supplies and be prepared to hunker down in your house for at least a day or 2. That's right! Because of the predicted 6 to 12 inches, maybe more, of snow you had better be ready to ride it out in your house for at least a day maybe even two. Are you prepared? Do you have enough food and water? Do you have a generator ready to power the electronic babysitters in-case the power goes out? What will we do? Better make sure you hit up the grocery store and anywhere else you can buy supplies!
I love the predictions. I've even seen parents telling their kids there will be snow days on Thursday and Friday. I hope it does snow. I like the snow, and the good news is now we're getting close enough to spring that it won't stay around forever, and maybe it will give us some much needed water. So I'm with Mike...bring it on Mother Nature!
I hope you read some sarcasm in the previous paragraph asking if we're prepared to spend a day or two cooped up in the house. I think the scariest sentence in that paragraph though is what happens if the power goes out? No TV, no video games, no internet...oh my gosh no Facebook! The humanity! Whenever there is a snow storm and you are in your house for more than a day it doesn't take long for cabin fever to kick in. Even though you really have no where to go it is almost like you've been stuck in that place for two weeks and just need to get out before you go nuts. And if the electricity goes out, besides the fact it is going to get cold, how are you going to entertain yourself. You might have to actually interact with your family. You might have to break out a book and/or play a board game. Would we survive?
I think there is a lesson here, and it's not to buy a generator. The lesson is how all of our stuff keeps us distracted from our families and from God. We're so busy trying to keep up with whatever is going on in the world through various connections that we neglect the most important connections. Our connections with God and our family. What happens if you have a rule in your house no electronic devices during the week, except for work or school necessities? Would you recognize your family? Would you know what to do? Of course I'm exaggerating a little bit, but I think we need to be careful in how distracted and busy we keep ourselves. It is easy to lose the connection with the Spirit, and even your connection with your family. During this Lenten season of sacrifice why don't we try to limit our time spent on electronic stuff and focus a little more attention on the Spirit and our own families. I know it won't be time wasted, and I bet you'll even find you can enjoy each other! Who's with me?
I love the predictions. I've even seen parents telling their kids there will be snow days on Thursday and Friday. I hope it does snow. I like the snow, and the good news is now we're getting close enough to spring that it won't stay around forever, and maybe it will give us some much needed water. So I'm with Mike...bring it on Mother Nature!
I hope you read some sarcasm in the previous paragraph asking if we're prepared to spend a day or two cooped up in the house. I think the scariest sentence in that paragraph though is what happens if the power goes out? No TV, no video games, no internet...oh my gosh no Facebook! The humanity! Whenever there is a snow storm and you are in your house for more than a day it doesn't take long for cabin fever to kick in. Even though you really have no where to go it is almost like you've been stuck in that place for two weeks and just need to get out before you go nuts. And if the electricity goes out, besides the fact it is going to get cold, how are you going to entertain yourself. You might have to actually interact with your family. You might have to break out a book and/or play a board game. Would we survive?
I think there is a lesson here, and it's not to buy a generator. The lesson is how all of our stuff keeps us distracted from our families and from God. We're so busy trying to keep up with whatever is going on in the world through various connections that we neglect the most important connections. Our connections with God and our family. What happens if you have a rule in your house no electronic devices during the week, except for work or school necessities? Would you recognize your family? Would you know what to do? Of course I'm exaggerating a little bit, but I think we need to be careful in how distracted and busy we keep ourselves. It is easy to lose the connection with the Spirit, and even your connection with your family. During this Lenten season of sacrifice why don't we try to limit our time spent on electronic stuff and focus a little more attention on the Spirit and our own families. I know it won't be time wasted, and I bet you'll even find you can enjoy each other! Who's with me?
Monday, February 11, 2013
Boys will be boys
Tracy and Alex have been gone since Thursday, so on Friday I told Isaac he could have a friend stay over. Oh the joys of listening to and witnessing two boys play. If they are involved in a competition then they argue over every little thing, and if they are trying to decide what to do next each one is desperately trying to convince the other that their idea is the most fun. Luckily it didn't come to fistacuffs, and I reminded Isaac that his friend was the guest in our house, which I'm not sure registered. I was reminded of the times I played with my best friend as I was growing up. We would almost kill each other over a game of 1 on 1 basketball. But, as with most boys, and with Isaac and his buddy, when we were done playing it was all in the past and we were bust buds again. I had to keep reminding myself of my past growing up to keep myself from barging into the room and telling them both to knock it off and get along!
As I pondered my blog for the week I wondered how often God wants to barge into our world, or our rooms, and just scream at us to get along. I would assume almost every minute of every day! I'm not sure why God doesn't make us all get along. I'm sure the answer to that question is about as easy to answer as to why God allows bad things to happen at all. But we don't do a good job of getting along as a human race do we? People starve as we eat pretty much when and what we want. People go without basic needs for shelter and water while we redecorate our homes and by designer water in stores. I suppose I could go on but I'm depressing myself. If we don't like looking at the macro scale of human relations we can look at the micro scale. Think how easy it is to put someone down, gossip about someone, and feel angry towards someone that we know. There have been times when all of us have acted like little children when we didn't get our way and probably threw the same tantrums. Why is it we find it easy to tear down instead of build up? Why do we insist on our own way and argue like crazy whenever we feel like maybe we didn't get exactly what we think we deserve or earned? In essence we never stop being kids who want their own way...especially when it comes to how we think we want our lives to go.
This Lenten season I have a challenge for you. I don't want you to give something up...I want you to take something on. Think of a friend...think of a family member...think of an enemy...someone you've not been close with for whatever reason and reach out to them. Say you're wrong if you made a mistake. Forgive them if they've wronged you. Reach out to someone who needs to hear from you. Make an effort to put someone else first for a change and see how rewarding and freeing it can be for you. So...who's it gonna be?
As I pondered my blog for the week I wondered how often God wants to barge into our world, or our rooms, and just scream at us to get along. I would assume almost every minute of every day! I'm not sure why God doesn't make us all get along. I'm sure the answer to that question is about as easy to answer as to why God allows bad things to happen at all. But we don't do a good job of getting along as a human race do we? People starve as we eat pretty much when and what we want. People go without basic needs for shelter and water while we redecorate our homes and by designer water in stores. I suppose I could go on but I'm depressing myself. If we don't like looking at the macro scale of human relations we can look at the micro scale. Think how easy it is to put someone down, gossip about someone, and feel angry towards someone that we know. There have been times when all of us have acted like little children when we didn't get our way and probably threw the same tantrums. Why is it we find it easy to tear down instead of build up? Why do we insist on our own way and argue like crazy whenever we feel like maybe we didn't get exactly what we think we deserve or earned? In essence we never stop being kids who want their own way...especially when it comes to how we think we want our lives to go.
This Lenten season I have a challenge for you. I don't want you to give something up...I want you to take something on. Think of a friend...think of a family member...think of an enemy...someone you've not been close with for whatever reason and reach out to them. Say you're wrong if you made a mistake. Forgive them if they've wronged you. Reach out to someone who needs to hear from you. Make an effort to put someone else first for a change and see how rewarding and freeing it can be for you. So...who's it gonna be?
Monday, February 4, 2013
Client's Corner
Every month or so I get an email from my financial adviser. I look forward to reading his emails because he'll forward an article and write some of his own thoughts on the market and investment strategies. I like reading them because they keep me grounded. When the market was in free fall a few years ago the articles came more frequently and they always contained data that showed what happened to people who jumped ship and to those that stayed the course in investing. It's not like I have a ton of money in the market, but I enjoyed, and still enjoy, those articles because they remind me that I am a lifetime investor. The articles showed the folly of trying to time the market and get in and get out at the right time. I also enjoy talking to Ryan and going over our retirement plan every so often because it assures me that Tracy and I are taking the right steps now to ensure we can live comfortably in retirement. We won't be on a private island somewhere, or traveling to exotic locations all the time, but we should be able to keep a roof over our head and some food in the cupboards. It's good to be reminded once in awhile amongst all the doom and gloom that there is a rhyme and reason to all this and the future is something to look forward to and not dread.
As I was contemplating the last article Ryan sent I thought this would be good advice for life too. Sometimes we get so caught up in the immediate goings on of the present that we forget the lessons of the past and the promises of God for the future. Sometimes the rat race keeps us form seeing the forest because of all of the trees. Wait, did I just mix a metaphor there? Anyway, my point is we need to be reminded sometimes that there is a bigger picture. God is in control, and even though life may seem like an out of control freight train sometimes we can be assured that God will never abandon us or forsake us. We may certainly question sometimes what the world God's plan may be, but we should never doubt the fact that God is walking with us on our journey no matter how bad the present may be.
A good way to be grounded is to read some articles that God has given to us. And by articles I mean the Bible. Reading the Bible connects us to what God has done in the past for God's people, and also connects us to what God is doing for us in the present and will do for us in the future. No matter how many times you've read the Bible something new will stick out, a new message can be taken from it's passages, and God can speak to you again. Not only does reading the Bible remind us of God's actions and faithfulness in the past, it also gives us a concrete way to connect to God's plan for our lives going forward. I challenge you to read your Bible for 30 days straight. If you can commit to 30 days, for 15 minutes a day, I promise you that you will feel connected to God in a whole new way. Let the Spirit work in your life. The path may not be easy, but I promise the reminder and belief that no matter the trouble that God is with you will help ease the burden. Take the challenge and see if God's investment strategies for the future can give you a guide.
As I was contemplating the last article Ryan sent I thought this would be good advice for life too. Sometimes we get so caught up in the immediate goings on of the present that we forget the lessons of the past and the promises of God for the future. Sometimes the rat race keeps us form seeing the forest because of all of the trees. Wait, did I just mix a metaphor there? Anyway, my point is we need to be reminded sometimes that there is a bigger picture. God is in control, and even though life may seem like an out of control freight train sometimes we can be assured that God will never abandon us or forsake us. We may certainly question sometimes what the world God's plan may be, but we should never doubt the fact that God is walking with us on our journey no matter how bad the present may be.
A good way to be grounded is to read some articles that God has given to us. And by articles I mean the Bible. Reading the Bible connects us to what God has done in the past for God's people, and also connects us to what God is doing for us in the present and will do for us in the future. No matter how many times you've read the Bible something new will stick out, a new message can be taken from it's passages, and God can speak to you again. Not only does reading the Bible remind us of God's actions and faithfulness in the past, it also gives us a concrete way to connect to God's plan for our lives going forward. I challenge you to read your Bible for 30 days straight. If you can commit to 30 days, for 15 minutes a day, I promise you that you will feel connected to God in a whole new way. Let the Spirit work in your life. The path may not be easy, but I promise the reminder and belief that no matter the trouble that God is with you will help ease the burden. Take the challenge and see if God's investment strategies for the future can give you a guide.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Following directions
I finished two projects on the to do list this past weekend. I assembled a kitchen cart that our microwave sits on, and I assembled a TV stand. We sorely needed both, and with my incredible construction knowledge and the eager willingness of two boys to "help" we got them put together. What I found interesting, besides the terror of a three year old with a hammer, was the difference in directions that came with both. One set was very detailed, and the other set was basically pictures, letters, and numbers and you were left to your own devices. So which one do you think was easier to follow? Actually, they both presented different challenges, and neither one was really easier.
I would have thought that the more detailed directions would make things easier, but sometimes they were too detailed and I found myself skipping over something or not being able to make heads or tails of what they were trying to say. The directions with pictures, letters, and numbers was a little hard at the start, but once I got the gist of the instructions things went a long smoothly. A quick aside: as I was assembling the kitchen cart I noticed that they sent me two pairs of right handed hinges and one pair of left handed hinges. Well, I needed one right and two left. After a minute, or 10, of using every curse word I could think of...carefully keeping them to myself because little ears were around...I decided to "modify" the hinges. Yup, I knew better then the directions, and obviously someone messed up the packaging, so I set off to fix it. Well, after some modifying I took a closer look at the directions and ended up unmodifying the hinges! I wasn't completely wrong, but I made more work for myself unnecessarily.
Don't we wish life came with a set of directions? I know I was looking around for the manual when we brought Isaac home for the first time! If you're like me maybe you think that life would be easier if we had step by step instructions on how to get form here to there. Well, maybe life could be easier, but do you think we'd follow the instructions carefully enough? Or would you be like me and find the detailed instructions too easy and find yourself skipping a step or two and ending up starting over again. Maybe you'd like some general guidelines, but then think you needed to modify somethings in your life because obviously the directions are wrong. You know what? We do have a manual for our lives and it is the Bible. I bet you didn't see that one coming! The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we are to act in each and every situation we face. The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we raise perfect children, attain the 5 bedroom house and the 3rd car we just drive around in the summer, but the Bible does tell us how we can live a happy and content life. There is a catch though...You need to read it, and better yet you need to follow the direction the Spirit gives you. I know, pretty deep thoughts, but if you're searching for direction in your life the Bible is always a good place to turn. Can you find time to read it?
I would have thought that the more detailed directions would make things easier, but sometimes they were too detailed and I found myself skipping over something or not being able to make heads or tails of what they were trying to say. The directions with pictures, letters, and numbers was a little hard at the start, but once I got the gist of the instructions things went a long smoothly. A quick aside: as I was assembling the kitchen cart I noticed that they sent me two pairs of right handed hinges and one pair of left handed hinges. Well, I needed one right and two left. After a minute, or 10, of using every curse word I could think of...carefully keeping them to myself because little ears were around...I decided to "modify" the hinges. Yup, I knew better then the directions, and obviously someone messed up the packaging, so I set off to fix it. Well, after some modifying I took a closer look at the directions and ended up unmodifying the hinges! I wasn't completely wrong, but I made more work for myself unnecessarily.
Don't we wish life came with a set of directions? I know I was looking around for the manual when we brought Isaac home for the first time! If you're like me maybe you think that life would be easier if we had step by step instructions on how to get form here to there. Well, maybe life could be easier, but do you think we'd follow the instructions carefully enough? Or would you be like me and find the detailed instructions too easy and find yourself skipping a step or two and ending up starting over again. Maybe you'd like some general guidelines, but then think you needed to modify somethings in your life because obviously the directions are wrong. You know what? We do have a manual for our lives and it is the Bible. I bet you didn't see that one coming! The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we are to act in each and every situation we face. The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we raise perfect children, attain the 5 bedroom house and the 3rd car we just drive around in the summer, but the Bible does tell us how we can live a happy and content life. There is a catch though...You need to read it, and better yet you need to follow the direction the Spirit gives you. I know, pretty deep thoughts, but if you're searching for direction in your life the Bible is always a good place to turn. Can you find time to read it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)