A Really Long Trip

It has been a long time since I last wrote!  Last night, I returned from a 10 day trip that included 2800 miles of driving, two conferences, a visit to my mother's, and much time trying to figure out what to eat that is gluten free while traveling.  I figured I would write during my second conference, but the internet connection was so bad and the pace of the conference so steady that I did not get a chance.  It will take me days to get caught up on all my e-mail!  Alas, I do believe I am ready for the challenge.

"I passed by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense;

and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles,

its surface was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

When I saw, I reflected upon it;

I looked and received instruction.

'A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.'

Then your poverty will come as a robber, and your want like an armed man." Pro. 24: 30-34

Each day I read a chapter of Proverbs.  It is a very practical book in the Old Testament that gives pithy statements of general truth.  In the ancient near eastern cultures, such statements amounted to understood and passed on cultural intelligence.  To know these proverbs well and to apply them in life illustrated good education.  Solomon was the wisest man in the world because he knew, composed, and passed on these proverbs.

I read a chapter in Proverbs each day because there is one for each day of the month.  I have read a  chapter in this book each day for over 20 years!  You would think I have them memorized.  Instead, I find that the Holy Spirit applies them to my life each day.

Today, even with my weariness, the Lord impressed upon me that this trip was a good following of His leading.  I lead two sessions of a Sonship retreat in Pennsylvania, and His Spirit rested upon the time.  I also lead devotions on Wednesday for the CRC retreat and emphasized the gospel as the center of all we do as a denomination.  I shared that it is so easy for individuals, churches, and groups of churches to get caught up in theological rightness, moral correctness, and personal preference instead of proclaiming the freedom found in the gospel.  Again, the Spirit of God rested upon my feeble words.  In this case, it helped shape our final recommendations concerning ordination in the CRC. 

I know for years of my Christian journey I have not been so faithful to following the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I have been the "sluggard" talked about in Proverbs.  How so?  

I have a horrible tendency to put off to tomorrow what I could do today.  Each of us are given 24 hours to live each day.  No one has more time than others.  Why do some of us get more done than others?  They use their time wisely!  As I look back on the first half of my life, I sure have wasted a ton of my God-given time!  I have spend it on amusements, laziness, and non-Kingdom based activities.  I have folded my hands in rest and said to myself, "Tomorrow I will start."  The problem is that tomorrow never comes!

When I was a kid, we had an old bar called the Trading Post where we loved to eat dinner.  It had great food and homemade pies!  It also had a sign outside that said, "Free Beer Tomorrow."  If asked about it, the owner would say, with a sly smile on his face, "Come back tomorrow and all the beer is free."

Tomorrow never comes.  Take the five minutes to start that new project today!  Be in motion for the Kingdom.  Call that friend the Lord lays upon your heart.  Do not put it off!  As you follow the Lord's leading He will give you more strength to face the day.

Our characters are formed by repeated choices.  We can be transformed by God's grace and by asking the Spirit to apply what we hear from the living God.  Ask Him to use you!  You will be amazed what He can do!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory..." Ephesians 3: 20-21