The New Season

Hello fellow bloggers! I am back for "The New Season" of blogging. I have titled this blog "The New Season" because I believe that is what I feel like I am in for my life and that seems to parallel with the fall time of the year, school now beginning everywhere and college football. I have a nephew that is starting a new season in his life this Tuesday as well. He is starting preschool and this is the first time that he will be away from his mamma when it does not mean she is working and Nana is at his house taking care of him and his sisters. I know that he might have some concerns as does his mamma in the beginning but this made me realize a couple of things recently that deals with a new season and uncertainties. I am in a uncertain time in my life after finishing in rough drafts, waiting on final approval from my editor, my first ever book I have written for many to hopefully read. I began this journey of the unknown and writing for a potential career a little over a year ago and the "New Season" has had some bumps and confusions but I know that ultimately I will be ok. I learned this because of a passage I found in the Bible. I think this can apply to me, my nephew and any new Christian that is starting out in this crazy world or trying to survive in it. It is found in Luke 2:40. It says "The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him." I believe because of this verse, it shows that not only with my nephew starting his new season will be fine but so will I. God's grace is on him, me and you if you want Him there. So now I am glad to be in this "New Season." I hope that with God's grace, I will be something mighty someday just like I hope the same for my nephew. God bless Isaiah and to you all too!

Brad

By the way, the little boy in that verse grew up to be known as the Savior of the world called Jesus. That is awesome and brings a smile to my face!

Good Points and Bad Points

So I recently decided to go down the road of real self evaluation. The only evaluation many people say that best helps you is with yourself…. You know the Good points and Bad Points about yourself stuff. Who was it that decided that this is the best approach to helping you? I say it is stupid because you have to tear yourself down just to try building it back up again. Then I started reading this book called “Me, Myself and Bob” that a friend of mine let me borrow. While I am not finished with it, I realized something about that book. It was making me think about me. Phil Vischer writes about how he tried to make something out of his imagination. I find it interesting that how even though my friend had some idea that I was trying to write a book out of my imagination, he didn’t know how it would impact me to realize things in my own life were going. How I have tried and tried to make a mark in this world. But somehow in my crazy mind, people think that I make more mistakes I feel than progress. They say I have no plans for the way my life should go. While that may be true, I would say that I have tried to make many goals in my life that have either failed in the beginning or down the road a piece to help me learn and try something new and imaginative. I find it harder and harder to keep picking myself up whether from my own bonehead mistakes or outside factors. I have realized that my crazy mind can make up much of things that may skew my reality. Phil Vischer talks about in his book how he had no money, no connections and no clues what he was getting himself into. While I mirror that thought recently in my life, I started writing down my list called Good Points / Bad Points. This list scary enough, since this might be the fifth or sixth draft I have made to this list since I first wrote one down in high school around 20 years ago, showed some same appearances that were bad about myself still there 20 years later. I am happy to say there were a few more good points I have written down about my accomplishments and behavior. Somehow though, I feel more focused on the bad things instead of looking at the good things. I was reading in my quiet time on March 7, 2008 the book of Isaiah in the 24th chapter about how he saw the world then and for the future. What I understand and makes me feel better is that there were those many years ago like Isaiah, Job and others dealing with very hard life decisions and actions toward them that made them question and still seek God like me. Isaiah writes how all he can see is doom, doom and more doom. The word of God or also known as the Holy Bible is filled with many truths and assistances for even today’s problems that were written thousands of years ago. In the version of the Bible called the Message, I found a very compelling story of the Earth’s future back then. Isaiah wrote, I believe because of this story in Chapter 24, all of his good points and bad points in later chapters. I am glad to know that I have made progress with a longer Good points list. Now I wonder what book by someone best fit you. What are your Good Points / Bad Points lists telling you as well? I hope you find peace with it. As for that friend who pointed me to that book by Phil Vischer which is a story about dreams and God, I say thank you.

Be blessed!

Brad

When Is Enough Really Enough

I have heard the phrases “Enough is Enough” and “Enough with that nonsense” all my life. Why is it that those phrases are so shallow. When I hear Enough is Enough it makes me laugh today. Parents make idle threats of taking their children to the car 14 times and never do it. Parents also threatened to punish them but end up bribing them with toys or food to make them behave better. Why do we want to say things we don’t mean and Act without purpose? Is it because we have not learned pride and humility within ourselves or have we become idolators of ourselves? I have realized that we as humans are guilty of both. How do we fix this? I believe it is slowly done by following a few steps. I found some of those understandings in the following verses: Colossians 3:2-4 talks about setting our minds on the things not of this earth and focus on Christ who has died for our sins and helps us through all things. Further down in this chapter in verses 9 and 10 it tells us to not lie to each other. I believe humility can also be learned in another great book in the Bible called Romans. In chapter 12 verses 1-3, it teaches we are to try and be pleasing to God in all that we do and that no one is better than another. I must confess that this part is very hard for me to attune to and live out a lot of days. I look most of the time at the wrongs people do to me and that I am better than them because I am a Christian and what talents I bring make me the best for a job or a position. Of course when I am so narrow focused, I forget that I can always be replaced in anything I do and God can show me my faults. I have to do self evaluations and God always seems to remind me to be humble and I am only as good as He allows me to proceed. It is true I believe “Pride does come before the fall.” In the last few years I have realized the humor in situations like Parents with little children for example. I am glad that I do not have that responsibility to discipline children since I seem to be disciplining myself every time I forget humility and place idols of me before God. I am glad I know what “Enough is Enough” means and that God has not had enough yet for me to continue to grow. I hope that we all can learn from these words in the Bible. So what do you think about that?

Be blessed!


Brad

Been Caught Speeding

Have you ever been caught speeding? Whether you deserve the ticket or not you are guilty of that violation. Now that you have this debt to pay to society, how are you going to do it? What if you can’t afford to pay the fine at that moment or maybe never? Some can say it is not fair or right if I can’t afford it. Let’s say in addition to the ticket you can’t pay off your house mortgage, your car note or your $70,000 credit card debt. Since you can’t pay for the ticket or debt, the government comes to garnish your wages and then takes your house from you to pay off the debts. Now you have no money, no house and you still have $70,000 debt in credit cards. How is it ever going to turn around?
In Luke 7:36-50, it is shown how someone with nothing to pay for the debts owed, had their debts cancelled. One man had a debt of 500 denarii which means 500 days of wages owed and it was all cancelled. I believe this passage is teaching about compassion and forgiveness just like Jesus forgives the sins of a woman. Is it not great to know that compassion and forgiveness shown by God through His son Jesus, he forgives us all of everything we have done wrong regardless of what we can think or say? Which of us can show love for God more just by having our speeding tickets and so much more wiped clean from our records? I can’t answer that but I do know that God loves us more than we can ever love Him. He even allowed His son to die for all our debts. I hope this encourages us all to be more understanding of and thankful for our debts that he can wipe clean if we just ask Jesus in our hearts and lives. Thank you God!

Be blessed!


Brad

All Things Are Possible

When you did something important in your life, how did you do it? Did you go at it with a plan in mind? Did you go on instinct? Whatever your initial move, the beginning had promise and drive to a hopeful great conclusion. What percentage did you give the move? I have always heard in my life that you need to give your 110%, like the extra 10% was even possible. I have tried to give that 110% in everything I do that is important. Other things in my life are taught or instinctual like; brushing my teeth, taking a shower or driving a car. When you or I do something does faith or fate ever enter the equation? I believe that faith plays a large part in aiding our successes in life. I also believe it is there in failures as well. Faith in failures aids to help guide us through those difficult pains.

In the book of Philippians, there is a verse that gives me great comfort and hope to conquer whatever in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I get down, depressed and uncertain sometimes but then I remember this verse which helps me through those times. The chapter is 4 and the verse is 13. It says, “I can do everything through Christ who strengths me.” In another translation it says, “I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength.” This verse especially speaks to me more recently with changes in my life. It is telling me that all things are possible if I can just lean on Jesus freely. There is no bank, job, news report or television show that I have seen that can give you that guarantee. When you go for a loan on a business or to buy a house, are they telling you that all things are possible? Are they sticking by you no questions asked? Most will stop your dream if they know you can't financially pay it off totally. I am thankful for God’s free gift of His son Jesus that makes all things possible. There are no deeds to be performed or guidelines to meet. We can be fearless for and through Him because He will always be in our corner. Thank you God! How do you feel about that?

Be blessed!

Brad

Peek A Boo I See You

When we grow up as children and learn the games that generations have known for decades and decades, how do we know the correct way to play it? I must confess! I want to know how to play a game the right way the first time that I play it. Do you? When we play “Marco Polo” in the pool where one person closes their eyes and many people scatter out through the shallow end of a pool, is that fair? The person calls out Marco while the others say Polo. We learned to play a game where blindness matters and hearing does too. Which of these is most important to you in your every day life? Is it Sight or hearing or all the senses? I choose all the senses. In “Hide and go Seek” we learn that someone stands in a corner or in a room and counts while others hide. When that person finishes counting, they go find all of them until their turn is over. The important point of these games I believe is that rules and guidelines were laid down on how to play a long time ago for many generations to follow and play. What if there were no definite rules or ever changing rules? Is that fair? In John 10:35 – 41, Jesus faced his accusers about his behaviors and actions. The rules for him seemed to be always changing on him. So Jesus dealt with it by showing them, in my opinion, a very valuable lesson. He asks them “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Then he explains that he is Him. He says, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” I believe this is very important for not only them to hear and learn but for many generations that have come after them to learn as well. What I find amazing about the quote I gave you is that Jesus came down to die for you and me so that those blind to the truth will find it and believe. Those who think they know the truth not being Jesus is the Savior of the World will become blind. I find that powerful and that the rules are preset for you and me to follow. When we play this game called our lives, do we follow the rules and play the game? There are no changes from them. God I believe wants us to play the games of Marco Polo and Hide and go Seek with Him every day. Jesus is saying Marco. Jesus is the one counting. What I love about Jesus is he is listening for our replies of Polo. He is also searching for us still counting until He finds us all. Are you the blind that now see? Are you the sighted that become blind? I hope you are the first question and answer his calling. This gives me a whole lot to think about. How about you?


Be Blessed!


Brad


P.S. I used the New International Version of the Bible for my quote.

Keep Moving Forward

Recently, I watched the movie “Meet The Robinsons” with my family. I heard something in that movie that was very interesting that we all need to have as a motto in our lives in my opinion. This motto is “Keep Moving Forward” played out and believed by Lewis as a boy and others in the future. As a man, Lewis was very inspiring to his family because he never gave up on anything. When things got him down, Lewis quickly got back up trying to fix a problem with a new and better solution. This is very important for me in my life. I try to not let things get me down that much. If I do, then I pick myself up and get going again. It has been harder in recent years to do it but I keep trying. I have had so many obstacles trying to make me quit and change to what the world wants and expects of me just like Lewis in this movie. He kept telling himself to “Keep Moving Forward.” While you and I don’t have the luxury to look at our lives from the past to the present and then the future at all times like this movie in a short time to help us stay positive, God I believe has provided for us a way to stay positive. God sent his son Jesus to come show us how to be positive and then further teach us valuable parables or lessons to help us for hundreds of years. Jesus then proceeded to die on a cross and then rise from the dead three days later to help us “Keep Moving Forward” if we will just ask Him to save us and believe that He is our Lord and Savior. I am really glad that I saw this kids’ movie to help remind me that I need to “Keep Moving Forward.” My prayer is that more of you will do the same with this motto. I am not settling and I hope you are not either. The best parable I think that might apply here for this blog is found in Matthew 13:36-43. I hope that you will read this passage and let me know if you agree. If not then let me know one that is better. Thanks for reading this blog!

Be blessed,


Brad

Worthless Worrying

How you doin'? I have heard that many times before. So how are you really doin'? I am shocked to find that there are a lot of people that are like me. I am a Worthless Worrier a lot of times. I try not to be but the world can blind me from God. It tries to tell me to worry about the next President of the United States. It tells me to worry about a job whether working 40 hours or more. It tells me that I have to have a lot of money and a significant other to be happy. The ironic thing about all of this worrying is that we all don't need to do this. God has done all that worrying for us and provided us with all the protection that we need to make it in this world. All He asks us to do it to fall in love with Him. We can do this by asking and it will be given and seek and you will find. But the most important thing in my opinion is the last which is Knock and the door will be opened for you. These three things I mention can be found in Matthew 7:7. As for dealing with Worthless Worrying. God has provided the protection for us in multiple places. But one of those for this blog I want to point to is found in Psalms 91:11. Angels have been put in charge to watch over us and protect us whereever we go. So I hope we all take heart that God is watching over us and protecting us. All he asks is three things in Matthew 7:7. Now I hope to stop being the Worthless Worrier. I hope you do too. So now I ask, How are you doing now?


Be blessed!



Brad