Thanksgiving Ponderings...

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1 NIV We live in a society defined by division & negativity. In general, we seem to focus on what's wrong far more so than on what is right with our world. Everyone is offended by something or someone and seems to look for opportunities to take offense. I know we all fall into that at times. It's part of the ups & downs of life. However, we need to look at the positives & work at minimizing the negatives. In spite of what may appear, GOD is still on His Throne. America, with all her problems, is still a blessed & prosperous land. Families, although sometimes fractured & distant, are still connected by blood and love. How about we praise GOD for His blessings? How about we pray for our country & our leaders? How about we love one another in spite of failures, disappointments and hurts? We have so much to be thankful for but we want to focus on what we lack rather than on what we have. While my family sometimes frustrates me--I love them all. While my job is sometimes difficult & challenging, I'm grateful to follow my calling, do what I love & earn a salary for doing so. While I know much is amiss in society & the country as a whole, I am grateful to live in these United States where I can pursue my dreams and live comfortably, while having the rights & freedoms to make personal choices about my faith, my work, my health, etc. While I know I have failed much, I'm grateful for the love & forgiveness of family members I have hurt along the way in my journey. I'm grateful for a multitude of friends, who love me in spite of my many shortcomings. Most of all, I am thankful that GOD knows me personally--my thoughts, my weaknesses, my heart--and that He loves me & forgives me time & time again when I stumble on the pathway of life He has laid out for me. He draws me back when I wander the wrong way. He restores me daily. He surrounds me with people who lead, guide and love me along the way. You see--its about perspective. One finds what one looks for. If we look for negative, it is easy to find & fixate on. However, if we look for good and positive things, they also are easy to find & fixate on. The battle does truly begin in our minds. What we allow there takes root and shapes our thoughts & attitudes. "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8 NIV "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15 NIV "The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23 NIV God gives us what we need and shows us in His Word how to refocus & redirect ourselves--if we will seek out His Knowledge & Wisdom and not allow the negative pull of the world to distract us. It's a choice that each one of us makes daily. Determine today to focus on the positive, to love others unconditionally, and to be thankful in all things--knowing that GOD will take care of you... Blessings! Tony

I'm Tired, Boss...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Remember the movie, "The Green Mile"? John Coffey made the statement, "I'm tired, boss," to the prison warden regarding the gift he had been given. I always liked that movie & often pondered the potential spiritual connection there. Lately, I have felt a lot like our friend, John Coffey. I'm aware that God has given me gifts and talents to be utilized for the furtherance of the Kingdom and I enjoy what I do. But some days, I simply feel pulled in multiple directions with all sorts of variables thrown in and it completely exhausts me. I find myself saying, "I'm tired, Boss!" just like John did. It's not that I don't appreciate all I have been given & Lord knows my desire is to be used by God to make an eternal difference in the lives of others, I just sometimes feel like I've been put into a blender & life is spinning out of control with a variety of new items (be they hobbies, church, family or work obligations) that mix all in and leave me feeling as if I've been chopped & shredded like the makings of an old-fashioned cole slaw. Sometimes, I just need to merry-go-round of life to stop & let me off for a while--just to catch my breath and regain my wits so I am fit to fight the next round. Still, at the same time, I'm grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded me & the last thing I want to do is complain in any way about what God is doing in and through me. Maybe a vacation is needed, just a time to relax & refresh and not go at a 100 mile per hour rate from 5am-10pm every day. The Tasmanian Devil ain't go nothing on me! I can churn up a lot of dust and make noise but not feel like I am actually accomplishing anything at all. Somehow, God finds a way to use me in spite of me & occasionally someone tells me that something I said or did really made a difference in their life. I know that my rewards are in Heaven & I look forward to the day I arrive to throw those accomplishments at the feet of Jesus and move into a place of peace. For now, life is what it is & I hope to continue forth and make The Father proud of me. It is He who deserves the glory & praise, not myself I'm just hoping to rest a little along the way & be successful in what He has given me to do. My fear is that at times I allow myself to be spread so thin that I'm not effective at anything I'm attempting to do. Surely there are others who can relate... In the end, God is good & I am blessed! He does give me strength to do and I must press on towards the prize that awaits me... Blessings! Tony