Praise God Anyway

When we look at the world without spiritual eyes, we see so many happy accidents. We didn’t get into the college we wanted, and we ended up going to another school where we met the love of our life – happy accident. We forgot our keys and had to go back in the house to find them, and because we were five minutes behind schedule, we missed a giant pile-up on the highway – a happy accident. Our lives seem to be full of happy accidents but are they really accidents at all, or are they blessings given to us by God? As a believer in Jesus Christ, I don’t think we can praise God too much or give Him too much credit for the blessings we experience in life. The next time you get frustrated and things don’t seem to be going your way, praise God anyway. Who knows, you may find your next great blessing at the end of this new adventure. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Next Step

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" is a common saying that originated from a Chinese proverb. The quotation is from Chapter 64 of the Dao De Jing ascribed to Laozi. I grew up hearing that proverb. The proverb’s meaning is a lesson I have needed to learn repeatedly. To get to where you want to be, you must start from where you are, one step at a time. When we would go backpacking, we would tell the kids that you can make it to the top of the mountain if you kept putting one foot in front of the other. We were always amazed at how much territory we had covered. You have heard us talk about taking the next step in your growth in this church. If you are visiting with us from time to time, start worshipping with us regularly. If you have been worshipping with us regularly, start attending one of our bible classes. If you are attending our bible classes, start showing the love of God to your world. If you are already involved in acts of service, learn to share your faith with everyone who will listen. Lasting growth often takes place one step at a time. The same thing is true in our private spiritual walk with Christ. If you want to be closer to Christ, start by getting to know Him. We do that by reading His word. You could begin with Matthew or Mark. If you have been reading, it may be time for you to carve out a time of prayer every day. If you have been praying, maybe it is time for you to ask yourself, “What do I need to be doing to be obedient to Christ?”. The process of taking the next step in my spiritual walk is never over. As long as I live, my goal should be to grow closer to God in faith and action every day. What is your NEXT STEP? In Him J. Tom Washburn

Re-mis-sion

Yesterday the Doctor told Julie and me that I was now in remission. What a great word, remission. In my case, the word remission means the diminution of the seriousness of my disease. It is not gone, but it is quiet, and it should not be in control of my schedule or my activities as much anymore. It has been a whole year since my pain or my doctor appointments and medicine schedule have not been the preeminent factors in my day. I do not know how long remission will last, but I will enjoy every day it does. Remission, what a great word. The first time I remember hearing the word remission was in Sunday School. Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” KJV In Acts 2, remission is defined as the cancellation of a debt. I am blessed. I have experienced the medical and spiritual definitions of remission. We live in a sick and broken world that desperately needs remission. If your world is ever going to experience remission, it may only happen if you live on mission. Will you allow God to use you to share His healing power of the soul? Will you allow Him to use you to share Jesus Christ? In Him J. Tom Washburn

Ready for the trip

This weekend Julie and I are making a one-night trip to go and see a couple of our grandkids, and we will also visit with their parents. It is amazing how much preparation goes into a one-night trip. There are the Mimi cookies that must be made for the grandkids, and there are gifts that must be purchased. There is the packing of clothes, personal items, and all the needed medications. The car must be checked and filled with gas, and snacks must be put in the car for the long 3-hour trip. The dog needs to be washed and his cage placed in the car, and then finally, we are ready to go. I don’t know about you, but we spend a lot of time getting ready for a twenty-four-hour trip. As I sit here and write this blog, I wonder how much time we spend getting ready for the greatest trip of all, that final trip. Are we packing our hearts with the Word of God? Are we filling our hearts with the songs of praise that we want to sing? What are we doing to prepare for the most incredible trip? If you haven’t started getting ready for the trip, it is time to start today. For those who are ready, it is going to be the best trip of all. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Boundaries that don’t do their job

Col 2:20-23 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. NIV As a parent, you sometimes know when something bad is about to happen. Something is about to happen when the kids in the car become quiet for no apparent reason. When you hear your kids start daring each other with words like “You won’t, you won’t,” something bad is about to happen. It is good to have boundaries, but rules don’t always keep us from sin. Rules can, at times, draw us toward sin. A sign that says “Don’t look” can be an invitation to look. A sign that says "Don’t touch” can act as an invitation to touch. How many times have you been guilty of ignoring signs? When it comes to our Christian walk and pursuit of The Holy, we need to spend more time working on the things to be and less time coming up with the rules other people should be following. Christ is seldom seen in our rules, but He is easy to see in the life that has been transformed from the inside out. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Stay in Your Lane.

There is a sign on Texas Highways that says, “Left Lane for Passing Only.” This sign helps with traffic flow and, if followed, can alleviate a lot of frustration. The most frustrating driver is the driver that drives in both lanes. Everyone is annoyed and endangered when one car or truck decides to control both lanes. When it comes to working together and working with others, sometimes the best advice is to just stay in your own lane. How often have you been irritated by somebody sticking their nose into your lane? How often have you discouraged somebody by sticking your nose in their lane? It is always appropriate to encourage or even to give constructive help (that means you are willing to do more than just criticize). We all want to reach our goal without having a huge pileup. We all want the very best. It is worth slowing down on the highway and arriving five minutes later if that means everyone can reach the destination. It is worth slowing down in The Body if it means everyone can make the journey with you. 1 Cor 12:24-27 But God has combined the members of the body … so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. … Now, you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. NIV --- When changes come, don’t drive in the middle of the road. Do what you can to ensure that everyone can make the journey that glorifies God. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Passwords

I don’t know about you, but I have several passwords in my life. I have a password to get into my phone, my computer, my Netflix account, my Amazon account, my bank account, and so on. Those passwords give me access to all the available services in each environment. Inside our families, we also have passwords that must be used often. Passwords like: I love you; I forgive you; I believe in you; I have missed you; I trust you; thank you; and can we pray together. These passwords, and many more, open the door of the heart. We tend to guard our heart with great care because it has been hurt so many times. Why don’t you try opening the hearts of your family and try opening your heart to your family and see if there aren’t great blessings that come from being “real” with those who have your best interest at heart? In Him J. Tom Washburn