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I
found this list to be very interesting. It is a list of six
destructive mistakes according to Macus Tullius Cicero.
1.The
delusion that personal gain is made by crushing others.
2.The
tendency to worry about things that cannot be corrected.
-
Insisting
that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it. -
Refusing
to set aside trivial preferences -
Neglecting
development and refinement of the mind and not acquiring the habit
of reading and studying. -
Attempting
to compel others to believe and live as we do.
I
find myself wondering about many things. I am having a difficult
time believing that one of our major cities is filing for bankruptcy.
And that is just one of the many changes that I my mind is trying to
understand. In my profession there are so many changes each and
every day that at times I am not sure what to do. I am trying to
wrap my brain around the idea that there are many who are hungry for
the things of God and yet they are not interested in the church.
Again I am not sure what to do about that apparent fact.
So,
today as I do many days I am taking all of this and more to God in
prayer. I do not expect a miracle answer that will appear as I am
praying but I am expect God’s love to come over me and tell me that
many of life’s concerns are not to cause me undo discomfort. God is
working and is always working and is working all things for His
purposes. So, today I rest in thought that this is God’s world and
He is really in control.
Today
begins our Church’s Vacation Bible School. It is amazing to me that
this activity has survived the years and continues to reach out to
youngsters. This year it looks like we will set a record in
attendance and we have many great workers ready to lead on. I am
impressed. But what really gets my attention is a God who continues
to work through the ages. He does not let up one second. He is
always luring humans to Himself. He does it in a variety of ways but
keeps the pressure on at all times.
I
just have to say what an amazing God. Today I will get to see those
young one laughing and enjoying being loved and cared for by many
volunteers. I am blessed to see God working right before my eyes.
Today look around God is working all around us all.
Life
does not always go the way I think it should go. At those times I
find myself having to make a decision. I can fight against it and get
upset. I have done my share of that senseless choice. Or one can
trust and go on. I am learning to trust more and panic less. One of
the ways I have learned this lesson is by going back and looking at
my life up to this point. As I have done that I have learned that
life has been very good to me. Some of the very things I have fought
against in life have not only made me a stronger person but have
proved to be blessings as well.
The
Bible does contain many words that are wise. I love Romans 8:28
that state that all things work together for good to those who love
God and are called according to His purposes. Today I will rejoice
even when my plan has not gone as I think it should have gone.
I
love seeing God at work through His people. Last week we had a
finance committee meeting. Who would have guess that God would show
up like He did? Reports were given and I saw God’s hand working in
one report. The report was on the back of the stack of papers. It
was titled Charitable Giving. This report was simply how much money
our community of faith has given outside of the budget for mission.
We have given for the first five months of the year $29,298 and we
have also given to missions $14,810 that is in our budget. So, our
mission giving for the first five months of 2013 is $44,108.83. The
dollars are not as impressive as what can be done with this money.
For example we have given over 10 thousand dollars to local missions.
This helps those in our community. We have help those whose lives
were changed by tornadoes. We have missionaries and many other
mission endeavors. God is working.
Last
week I also ventured to our church kitchen to get a cup of coffee and
saw that lunches were being made to be disturbed in our community. I
learned that one day over 200 sack lunches were given out. Amazing
that in our community there are those in need of a meal. What is
more amazing is that we have volunteers making sure that need is
meant.
Today
I am thankful for those who care and show their caring hearts in many
ways. To all who have helped us to continue to be in mission I say
thanks -thanks-thanks.