Living Wise or Unwise?

Ephesians 5:15-20

 

Be very careful then how you live-not as unwise but as wise. Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our lord Jesus Christ.

 

When I read this I always seem to get the feeling that I could be doing things, a bit better than I have been.  At some point in life I think we all get to that place of feeling somewhat complacent with where we are at in life. Whether it’s our work, family, or just life in general. Up pops that nagging question,” Is this all there is to life and living?”

 

One of the things that I enjoy doing as an adult is going to the Library. I will walk down different aisles and just pick up a book and start reading. I may do this for five minutes, then put the book back on the shelf, move down five steps to a different section, pull out the next book and do it again. Often I’ll close my eyes so I won’t be able to read the title.

Why would someone do something like this you might ask? When I was a kid my Dad would take us to the Library. This little exercise was one of the things he would have us do.

 

I recently walked down the aisle that has all the self help books on it. After glancing through five or six different books with the above mentioned scientific approach, I came to the conclusion that their really is a lot of confusion in the world. Secondly, that everyone thinks that they have the answer. I’ve been guilt of this myself. But what was missing? Not a single copy of the Bible.

 

Going back to scripture I’m reminded in Ephesians, “To be very careful how I live- mot as unwise- but as wise.” I can spend all my time acquiring knowledge but if I don’t have relationship with Christ, then I still have gained nothing.

 

My prayer this week: Lord allow me to spend my time seeking you. Not looking to the things of this world but to keep focused on you. As it says in Ephesians, to be filled with the spirit. I will spend my time making music in my heart to the Lord, seeking his will in my life. Singing songs to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. For all the knowledge of this world, will never come close to being in the presence of the Lord

I don’t deserve this!!

 

I don’t deserve this!! Have you ever said this? Well, I’m pretty sure I know the answer to that question.
In fact I’ve said it so many times or thought it that I’m sure I really couldn’t put a number to it.
There are many events in life that may trigger that thought. Tonight while driving home from work I was thinking about different folks I know. I usually try to use that commute time to reflect on my day and or to pray.
I’ve asked the Lord many times why certain events that seemed traumatic to me are allowed to happen.
I’ve had many people I’ve witnessed to say to me many times, “If there was really a God, why do these things happen.” One of the most recent statements told to me by an individual was, “There are just to many paradoxes behind Jesus for me to follow someone like that.” Another person last week said to me, ” Don’t quote scripture to me. In fact I’m not asking you to stop. I’m telling you.”
So again tonight on the way home I was thinking about these situations.
Yes, terrible things happen in this world. To others as well as to myself. Then naturally I got to thinking about Jesus and the Disciples. Let’s see, how did that work out?
Jesus /Crucified. John the Baptist/Beheaded. Stephen/ Stoned to Death. I had to ask myself the question? Is life really that bad. What is going on that I even think I deserve better? Through this process I realized just how self serving one can be. Call it the flesh. We get so caught up in our own little worlds that we can’t even recognize the needs of the person standing next to us. Quite frankly I’m just as guilty of this as the next person. Can I use that as an excuse to keep behaving in that manner. Absolutely not!
What can to mind is that Jesus came to earth to save us from ourselves, as well as from eternal damnation.
He didn’t have to do that. We certainly didn’t deserve to have him do that for us. Next question. What can I do differently or continue to do to please God. I mean if your going to call yourself a Christian, then shouldn’t I be asking myself that question daily? I think so. In fact I don”t just think so, I know so. Which takes me to one of my favorite scriptures.

Psalms 63:3-5 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.(4)I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.(5) My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

My prayer today is. “Lord forgive me for sometimes acting or behaving as though you don’t exist. Allow me to become so focused on your purpose for my life that I naturally come to you with all ny needs. Allow me to glorify you in all that I do. Allow me to treat my fellow man with respect and with the love you showed for me by laying yourself on the cross and forgiving me of my sins. Jesus, I love you.” Amen

 

Posted by David William at 12:43 AM 0 comments

 

 

 

Monday, January 16, 2012

“The fool says in his Heart….

 

From Psalm 53 we read, The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”(end) Every time I run across this scripture I read the little note I wrote to myself as a reminder next to the text. “How many times, do I have to read this before I remember that this is what the Unbeliever, believes?
We need to remember in our daily walks that many will be blinded to the truth of the gospel.
Should this stop us from witnessing to unbelievers? Not at all. If anything we should be encouraged every time a unbeliever comes to know the truth. Please, encourage each other as Jesus encouraged the apostles. Be a Blessing to those you come into contact with, whether they are believers or not. Be an encourager and share the Gospel. With that said, I encourage you to read and take to heart what is written in Deuteronomy 28:2 “All these blessing will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord you God.” My prayer for you today is this:
May you be blessed in the City and blessed in the field. May you be blessed sitting down and blessed rising up. May you be blessed socially, physically, relationally, interpersonally, and physiologically. I speak into your day that you may accept prosperity and success. I speak increase and no decrease. I speak peace into your home and your life that you may come into alignment with Gods Holy Word the Bible. I declare wealth and riches into our homes that we may share with those in need. I pray our feet will walk the ways of righteousness and will overcome every obstacle that comes against our families. That you will be the first and not the last. I pray that we are above and not beneath. I pray that we are loved by God and chosen by God and Protected by God in direct alignment with the plans and purposes of God for every Good and Perfect Gift that comes from God. That today is our day and it will end in perfect good. In perfect alignment through the will an Grace of Jesus the Christ.
Elohim!!! Elohim!!

 

Posted by David William at 9:41 AM 0 comments

 

Labels: blessing, grace, mercy, peace

 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Wonderment ! Cloud Angels

 

 

Mercy. God’s wonderful gift. While I can be just as guilty as the next person racing here and there looking for the next thing that’s going to make me feel good, I stand in wonderment at he glory and grace that God has given us. I recently was reading a text that said,”The place where mercies are kept is at the throne of God. Here is the infinite wealth and infinite power and infinite wisdom. And all this stands ready in the service of mercy because of Jesus Christ, the mercy of of God incarnate. Whether you learn this through pleasure or learn it through pain, like Job, whatever you do, learn it: “The Lord is compassionate and Merciful.” Jame’s (5:11) Is there anything that I can add to this? Dare I ? Yes, as the author of Psalms stated in Ps (40:5) “Many O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be to many to declare.” With this said I looked to the skies and thinking about the heavens declaring the “Glory of God,” this cloud came across the sky: Look at it closely, I call it “The Sky Angel.” The picture was taken just outside the backdoor of my home.

 

Posted by David William at 6:06 AM 0 comments

 

 

 

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

God’s Glory

 

It amazes me when I look around and watch people in their daily lives. Rushing here and there thinking that they have all these things to accomplish today. I’ve been just as guilty. Naturally this last couple of years has helped to put things in perspective. No, I haven’t had some life threatening disease or something traumatic like that. Thank you Jesus.
But I do wonder in amazement at how smart man thinks he is. An example of that is a show that is called “Ancient Aliens,” which airs on the History Channel. Now this is pure entertainment.
The jest of the show is that Ancient Aliens came down from the skies and genetically altered the human race so that we could speak to each other, a sort of experiment to see just how would we react. The only thing that isn’t funny about this is that people will be convinced that this is true.
Another one of Satan’s lies. Man with all his wisdom and knowledge is still a fool, when you consider the glories of God. I was reading a book recently authored by John Piper. I quote,”And even the knowledge of the created universe is a dew drop on a blade of grass compared to the Ocean of knowledge that Jesus has of the being of God himself. While the Universe is finite, God is infinite. Complete knowledge of the infinite is infinite. Therefore to know God as Jesus knows God is to have infinite wisdom.”

 

Posted by David William at 1:03 PM 0 comments

 

 

 

Monday, January 18, 2010

 

January 18th,2010.

Wow !!What a last year this has been. We are now experiencing what it is like not to have any children at home. The baby went and got married. In Maui no less. The older daughter and her husband went from Arizona to Oregon. Then to Hawaii for the wedding closely followed by a trip to the midwest back to Oregon then turned around and made it to NYC for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Alisha and Ben got us motivated on redoing the inside of the House. I’m not sure we ever would have got started if it hadn’t been for them getting after us. I guess you just get used to things being the same old way, that you just don’t change things. Well the inside of the house is really looking like a new house. Thanks Alisha and Ben. When I get done with all the updates, I guess I’ll have to have them come and stay a while so they’ll get me motivated on the yard. Can’t do a BBQ this summer without the yard looking right.

 

Posted by David William at 7:52 PM 0 comments

 

 

 

Thursday, April 30, 2009

David on the State of the Economy

 

Would you like to hear my 00.02 cents worth on the state of the Auto Industry?
With all the talk about the auto makers not providing what the consumer wants, therefore they go to a competing brand and buy this different product.
The reality is that the American Consumer is very finicky.
All the surveys and market adjustments and readjustments won’t stop the fact that American buying public always wants, what is new and different.
I have no real idea about what it cost to produce a new model. I do know that the cost have to be enormous. Coupled with whether the public will buy the vehicle or not is a completely different matter.
As I see it the manufacturers,the franchised dealer body, and the consumers have a war going on several different fronts.
Based on my limited knowledge of history, the fact remains that winning a war on more than two fronts is an equation for defeat. Napoleon tried it and failed. Adolph Hitler tried it and failed. Why would a business model be any different.
Every company has had their share of successes and failures. It really doesn’t matter what industry your looking at. Whether it’s auto,technology,medical or any of the hundreds of other smaller support industries or service sectors all have had the day in the “Sunshine”.
One thing that I believe is an absolute regardless of the industry you may work in that remains constant is that the product you manufacture or service you offer, mst have a percieved value that has to be sold. Oh my goodness! Now that is a four letter word. I remember the day all to well when I took my first job as a salesman. I was told by my employer that I may never get rich, but some company would always need there product sold. How true this has turned out to be.
Now another thing I have noticed over the years is that it doesn’t matter what product is being offered or at what price, the consumer always thinks it to much money. I personally want to thank all of you consumers who feel this way, regardless of the product. As long as your buying decisions on such silly factors as (Insert whatever comes to mind) this salesman will have a job.
One last thing I’d like to say today. Over the years salesman have endured a great deal of criticism for the function they play in the overall economy. They are looked down on and despised by many. To all of you career salesman, “I take my hat off to you.” Without your efforts this economy would have stalemated a very long time ago. So to all you salepeople out there regardless of what you sell, today you can make a difference in turning the economy around. Go do what you do best, sell.

 

Posted by David William at 8:03 AM 0 comments

 

Labels: car market, confessions of a car salesman, the economy

 

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

February update

 

Ok so I’m a little slow on updating. It’s now February 2009. What’s new!!
Well, We had quite the ordeal this morning. Some kid (22 years old) got ran over by his mom in front of our house; and before it’s all over the kid gets arrested.
One of the people in the neighborhood happens to be a Police Officer. I was asked to keep the kid on the property while the neighbor went to get his radio and handcuffs.
Then I assisted the police officer in subduing the kid.Just like TV
Of course one of the neighborhood kids tried to interfere, and got the wrong end of a handgun pointed at him.
I told that kid that he needed to leave. Which he eventually did. Then after all that
lots of sirens and other police officers and Ambulances show up at the scene at which point I decided it was time for me to go back home. I told the cop if you have any questions, you know where I live.
Amazing what can happen in a nice middle class neighborhood!!
So what else is new?
I did manage to raise enough money to go back to Honduras on another missionary Journey. To all the friends and family that made this possible…Thank you.
I’ll be posting pictures when we get back. There will be ten people going this time. We will be completing construction on a church as well putting a roof on another. With the economy in the shape it’s been in we will be the only group from this organization going to Honduras this year. I’ve talked to a number of Missionaries who have expressed concern over being able to raise funds for their particular outreach. It used to take about a year for a Missionary to raise funds to stay in the field for 2 years. Now it’s taking about two years to raise the same funds.
So if you have a particular missions project that your fond of,they all need your help.
Well more later. Thank you for your patience.

 

Posted by David William at 8:12 AM 0 comments

 

 

 

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God’s Glory

God’s Glory
It amazes me when I look around and watch people in their daily lives. Rushing here and there thinking that they have all these things to accomplish today. I’ve been just as guilty. Naturally this last couple of years has helped to put things in perspective. No, I haven’t had some life threatening disease or something traumatic like that. Thank you Jesus.
But I do wonder in amazement at how smart man thinks he is. An example of that is a show that is called “Ancient Aliens,” which airs on the History Channel. Now this is pure entertainment.
The jest of the show is that Ancient Aliens came down from the skies and genetically altered the human race so that we could speak to each other, a sort of experiment to see just how would we react. The only thing that isn’t funny about this is that people will be convinced that this is true.
Another one of Satan’s lies. Man with all his wisdom and knowledge is still a fool, when you consider the glories of God. I was reading a book recently authored by John Piper. I quote,”And even the knowledge of the created universe is a dew drop on a blade of grass compared to the Ocean of knowledge that Jesus has of the being of God himself. While the Universe is finite, God is infinite. Complete knowledge of the infinite is infinite. Therefore to know God as Jesus knows God is to have infinite wisdom.”

I woke up this morning and got to thinking about yesterday. My question was,” Did I learn anything yesterday?”
I’m usually in kind of a pissy mood when I first wake up. My day started when my wife decides within minutes of me waking up to read me Ecclesiastes Chapter 2: This is what I call the “Meaningless Chapter.”  2:11 really jumped out at me. “When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Funny how we can go from feeling like a zero, to a hero in just a few seconds. As you know I don’t really watch much football but I did learn something yesterday.
On the fumble recovery yesterday (1/02/2012) in the Oregon Duck vs. Wisconsin Badger game, (Michael Clay) grabbed the ball and hung on for dear life.  Coach Chip Kelly was jumping up and down telling someone to grab that ball.” When they then gained possession of the ball everyone was elated. Another “Zero to Hero comparison.”
So my thought this morning was this, crazy as it may sound. What if that Ball was Jesus? What if Chip Kelly was the Holy Spirit,
leading you through the day? What if the fans cheering after the recovery, were the Angles in heaven rejoicing after one more soul found Jesus?
“Today I am going to remember that there are many distractions in life that try to trip me up. That Jesus is the Hero and that he does not see me as a Zero.”
DM

More Holiday Cheer!!

More Christmas Cheer. A friend of mine had his house burgularized over the Christmas Weekend. Naturally they stole all electronic equipment. Kicked or broke in through the patio window. I hope that everytime they turn on the television set, they think about how proud they are to have not worked for the televsion set they are watching. Maybe they gave it to their crack dealing friends to pay off a debt? Whether it’s weeks or years from now when they ask themselves beacause of some traumatic event in their lives, “Why me,” they’ll think back to breaking into this house and stealing what does not belong to them. So they get my “Jack” of the month award.

Dear Jesus

Lord Jesus,

I wanted to check in with you today and let you know that even though Christmas Day has passed that I still think your the Greatest. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins. Thank you for creating me so that I can worship you. “The Heavens truly Declare the Glory of your name.”Psalns 19:1. I am mystified by how much you love us.

DAvid with the New Grandaughter Aubrielle

Being a New Grandparent is an exciting part of life.
But being a parent and a Father was an even bigger blessing.