Short Fuse

Have you ever had one of those days that everything is frustrating you? You are irritable, bossy and just reverting to your old ways. A few Christmas’ ago I had one of those moments. My wife and I were supposed to be heading out the door for a party. We had just decorated the Christmas tree and we had 15 minutes to head out the door. She came into the room and immediately told me, "the Christmas tree is crooked." No worries. I am calm.  Everything is good. So I get back under the tree with branches hitting me in the face and grab the base of the tree. I tilt it and continue to tighten the screws until she says, "perfect." I come out from under the tree. I stand to look at my artwork. All is well until . . . the tree started to lean and then fall! Ornaments shattered everywhere. Time was ticking. I’m still not too frustrated but I can feel my temperature rising. Kim’s looking over the ornaments realizing that some of these were from the year she was born. I grab the tree and force it back into place. Now while I am under the tree it falls hits me in the back and more ornaments break. I start to blame Kim for not being happy with a "crooked tree." The tree and I went about five rounds! Each time I am getting more and more frustrated. Finally, I threw the tree on the ground and marched out the door to get a new stand. I bought a tree stand that cost more than the tree! Five minutes later the tree was standing. I am sure Kim just said it was straight but regardless I was done with the tree. 

PROGRESS

Living for today but planning for tomorrow

Day 5 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

Today I urge you to take time to answer the upcoming questions. Take time to write down your answers. Wrestle with the verses. Take time to set goals to make real changes in your life. I believe if you do this it will impact eternity. So grab a pen or be ready to type in the comment section. Here we go…

John 15:7

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Jesus is concerned about the place His words have in your life. Do His words shape you, move you, and capture your heart? Do they motivate you? Compel you? His words have the power to transform us. Seriously. In the same way that a caterpillar is transformed into something radically different, God wants to transform you. He wants to make you into someone who asks and recieves because you have spent so much time with Him, and you listen to Him. It is because His words remain in you that you know what to ask for, and it is simply granted to you.

Lamentations 3:22-24

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

One of the dangers of following Jesus is becoming complacent: Grace becomes ordinary. Jesus’ sacrifice becomes familiar. God’s love becomes normal. The power of the Spirit becomes something we teach about but never experience. Prayer becomes boring. Life becomes mere existence.

The faith we are a part of is no less than extraordinary. Unless we constantly remind ourselves of the enormous lengths of God’s everlasting love, we will miss out on the life that God designed for us.

Today as you ponder these verses, your life, and God Almighty, let God remind you of the deep and remarkable life He has for you.

Words inspire us. They motivate us. They shape our culture. Today I want us to think about a very specific word, a wonderful word. It’s such a fun word. It’s used in a variety of ways. The word is- whatever. Here are a few "whatevers" from God’s Word.