Day 236 - Have You Heard?

Avalon harbor dock overloaded with small boats

"I could tell a lot of people had never heard faith taught." 

In the church world it seems to be a constant turnaround. People come and people go. One pastor commented that we pastor a parade. Whoever is in front of us we minister to with the understanding that they are just passing through. 

With this understanding I often will find myself repeating concepts and preaching the same thing over and over again. This is not only good for those who haven't heard but it serves as a refresher for all of us. We need to hear things more than once and be reminded and stirred up from time to time. 

The remedy for all this is to be consistent. If I could speak anything into someones life it would be to stay faithful to God and be consistent in church. Wherever you are at, and I know that people read this all over the world, get into a local church and be consistent. 

I recently went to Catalina Island. I hadn't been there in decades and the one time I went was for a concert and I didn't get to experience the island. In the main bay there are boats all over the place and they moor out in the bay. Everyone rides their smaller boats to get to shore. There are often too many boats for the dock. The image left an impression on me.  

What we need is more people that are stable and willing to stay in the same place.  Consistent people serve as an anchor for others. Eventually they will see the blessing of being stable and consistent. In the Psalms is says that people who are planted in the House of God will flourish in His courts. Our lives will be blessed by the consistent nourishment we receive from regular church attendance, fellowship and prayer in agreement with faith filled people. 

Have you seen the benefit of consistency? How did it bless your life? 

Day 38 - Late Night Parenting

"The kids stayed up later then they should and were besides themselves by the time we got home. Just another reminder why we as parents stopped staying out late. We reminisced about the days where 11 pm was our starting point. Of coarse that was before kids and a lot of responsibility. Times have changed."

I don't care what anyone says, routines are a parent's stability and sanity. The baby stage of life prepares the parent to be tired so that they appreciate putting the kids to bed at a decent hour. I have heard a lot of trendy talk about breaking out of the routine. I get it...I do it from time to time when needed and with certain things. But when it comes to enduring tears and rage from my children I would rather have a 'bed time'. 

Some of the most freeing verses in the Bible for me contained the simple words "as was his custom". These words refer to both Jesus and the apostle Paul. If they had customs then it may not be a bad thing to have a routine. I believe God works with us. Think about it; God created all the systems of earth, space, time, biology, etc. 

God also created parenting...and sleep. 

What systems or routines help you from day to day? Why?

Day 10 - Definitions

"We have been fasting sweets this month and I noticed my taste buds have changed. I had a bowl of honey nut o's and they tasted way too sweet. Before the fast they seemed so bland but now that I am deprived of sugar they are overkill! How amazing to me that the same person with the same thing in a short period of time can have two totally different opinions of that thing. I guess the same could apply to words like rich, blessed, painful, happy, content, sick, beautiful, fair, etc."

I am amazed how at this time last year I was thinking about how we define things because today I wrote a sermon about how faith defines us. The only way we can define anything is by the Word of God. God alone is true, Jesus is the person of truth, the Holy Spirit is the revealer of truth. When we define things by our experience or circumstances we get off into things which are constantly changing. If that goes on long enough we become unstable. On the other hand, when we define everything by the truth of God's Word, no matter the circumstances, the definition remains the same.

What words could you add to my list from last year? How has defining life by truth rather than experience helped you?