Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Stuff


Summer is full of stuff; baseball, softball, swimming, gymnastics, soccer, skiing, tubing, fishing, camping, vacations, gardening, mowing, watering, painting, traveling, hiking, grilling, resting, shopping, cooking, driving, golfing, movies, hanging out, playing, going to the lake and more.
It is so easy for us to fill our life with stuff that we don’t have any room left for the important things like God and family.
As you plan your summer this year, start with the important things, put them on your schedule first, and then fill the other time with stuff.
Heb 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

“Are You His Child?”


In his book, “Who You Are (When No One’s Looking)”, Bill Hybels reminds the reader that we are called to live a consistent life of character, even when it doesn’t seem to matter.
I have come to believe that the truth of a person’s faith is not found only in the big things but it is mostly found in the little things. When you see a stranger drop a five dollar bill, do you wait until they leave before you retrieve it for yourself or do you instantly give it back? When nobody is looking, do you take a little thing that will not be noticed or do you leave it in its place? Do you lie or cheat? These things show us more about our true faith than any bible bowl test ever could.
Do not misunderstand; we need to know the book but it is more important that we live according to what we know. Jesus said in John 15:14
“You are my friends if you do what I command.” NIV
One of my favorite passages is 1 Peter 2:12
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” NIV
I want to challenge you to take a look at your life this week and ask this question “Who am I when nobody is looking?” Am I His child or am I just pretending?
In Him
J. Tom Washburn