CHILL!

HAVE YOUR EVER BEEN LATE FOR WORK – AND UNASHAMED? I have. Have you ever done everything you could do – doing it all to the best of your ability? I have. That’s exactly what we Christians strive to do:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)

It is a pleasure and a sheer privilege to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords by doing everything to the best of your ability, whether it be cooking a beautiful meal (I don’t – Duane does – hallelujah!), cleaning the bathrooms (that I do – and for some crazy reason – I really enjoy cleaning them!) Perhaps your work is changing diapers and baking cookies with the little ones (one of the great blessings of life and love!) Or, maybe, you put out actual fires, maybe you perform CPR often in your profession as you are being driving to the emergency room to save a life. Whatever it is you are right now working on, whether for profession, family, or recreation, your whole purpose is to love God, yourself and man and do it in the way that glorifies your Creator.

Now there have been times, such as this last BIG snowstorm we Minnesotans have had that some people were stupid enough to get crabby over. Don’t you just know that only leads to irritation – which will, without a doubt, become magnified by that stupid reaction?! CHILL! Take it easy. I like to think of the pioneer days and remember how I would never wanted to live like that! Just think of that slow travel: how I greatly appreciate modern-day transportation — with a heater!

But the point of this “Joy Story” is: when something happens that is out of your control: CHILL! Take for instance, that travel-to-work-during-and-after-the-mega-storm-example —– maybe you called a taxi the night before and got up an hour early, scheduling your ride one half hour early so YOU WOULD NOT BE LATE. But guess what: the taxis (even though YOU PLANNED AHEAD AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT) were running – late. The lady from the cabby company contacted you ahead of time and let you know she didn’t know what time you could possibly even be picked up. Even though you called the night before (there are a lot of other smart people, too!), got up way earlier that specific morning (sleeping as late as possible IS a joy!) – Beloved: you did EVERYTHING you could and YOU’RE STILL LATE – CHILL!

Selah!

CHILL!

Maybe your employer wasn’t impressed that you were only fifteen minutes late due to things truly being out of you control. BIG DEAL! SO WHAT! GOD KNOWS!

God does know. He knows you tried to be precisely on time. He knows you were being 100% respectful of your employer. He knows you geared up to be highly accountable and appreciated. You were: by Him!

Only God never misses it. You know, when Adam and Eve were in the Garden before they missed it they were both naked and unashamed. When did their shame come? Of course it came when they sinned / missed it / on purpose – by deliberation. “What is this you have done?”  This is what God asked (fully knowing) Eve on that telltale day. And Adam? He hid as God called to him: “Where are you?” Why? Because Adam was naked and ashamed.

My friends – my enemies – it is only God who always knows your heart. It is only God who will never strike back with evil. It is only God who created you for His good purpose: and His good purpose is good for you! And here is the moral of this story: things happen. Things go wrong when you have done everything right! Big deal! CHILL!

Our LORD God Almighty values you before and after you sinned. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God and gave Himself for you as the only possible perfect sacrifice because you are worth it. I see your value. I see the value of the most heinous sinners: each and every person is worth the blood of Jesus.

Be still and know that He is God. And He is good!

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FROM THIS “JOY STORY”:

 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.  (Genesis 2:25)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  (1John 1:7)

 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”  (Galatians 2:20-21)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, 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 4:4-8)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  (Colossians 3:23-24)

TO FIND ANSWERS REGARDING:
Life After Death
My Statement of Faith
Why An Uncountable Number of People Have Vanished-

GO TO THESE POSTINGS:
YOUR FINAL DESTINY / IT’S UP TO YOU…
Posted: OCTOBER 8, 2015

WHY I AM EVER GRATEFUL
Posted: AUGUST 30, 2015

WHY AN UNCOUNTABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE VANISHED:
Posted: SEPTEMBER 29, 2015