When You're Old...

The Christmas Musical is coming up and I've been asked the rehearse the group. We show up early. Run the tunes. Run them again then go home.  Easy peasy japanesey but the best part about the evenings (for me) are the conversations that happen 15 minutes before and after the rehearsals.

Lately I've been hanging out with our lead trumpet players Paul and Bob. These wise "old" guys have proven to be quite and inspiration for me.  They regale me with stories of life in the old days, before face-tubing and skype-tweeting. Well, this evening I mentioned how (as I'm getting older) time has become more valuable to me than wealth.

"You're right", Paul said, "When you're young. You sacrifice health for wealth and When you're old. You sacrifice wealth for health".

The older we get, the more we wish we would have spent time doing the things we loved in stead of worrying about wealth, building a legacy and social status.

Are you preoccupied with wealth? finances? your job? your grades? if so, then stop. The Bible challenges you in Matthew 6:26 to look around. God takes care of the birds. Aren't you more important to Him than they are?

If you're holding on to worry. Let it go. Give yourself break. Relax and give God more control in your life.

If God is your Co pilot - then you're in the wrong seat!

Thanks for reading,

Rick

BTW eat Tostitos Multigrain Scoops are the best chips in the world. I've just eaten an entire bag! :)

The devil's voice sounds a lot like...Yours?

I was listening to Jon Shabaglian sing this morning and boy was I amazed. His voice was like waves of light, and love crashing against the darkness of my soul. Anger and frustration being replaced by love and peace. My healthy concern for public opinion being undermined by my weak arms and buckling legs. My efforts to remain professional being converted into cool crisp tears streaming from my cold dark eyes. Who cries while wearing a sweater-vest. I guess, I do.

As I was enjoying this amazing moment, a voice in the back of my head began to grow. A familiar voice with an unfamiliar message. Distracting messages of discouragement and insecurity. And then it dawned on me...

The devil is full of tricks. his ability to confuse your voice with his words are just some of the ways he keeps you from fully experiencing Gods grace. Don't fall for it! Yes, we are all unworthy of Gods grace but He gives it to us anyway. Because God is love!  We must not forget that the devils lot in life. His only job is to keep you from fully experiencing Gods grace. God is the King of all things good and the devil is the jester of all things evil.

As an "inner-antagonist" the devil will try to convince you that God finds you unworthy, insignificant, unqualified, unloved and lacking purpose. It's a lie. God loves you just the way you are and it's because of your shortcomings that you will spend an eternity in His kingdom. God doesn't want perfect people. He wants pure hearts. The devil wants nothing more than to take your place in Gods kingdom.  Refuse the swap!

The Bible says in James 4: 7-8 to "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" What does this mean?

It means, the devil is a patient liar. When he fills your head with negative things, that's your sign to run directly to God for help. Stay strong my people and spread the word.

This was a complicated message with lots of revisions. I hope you understood it.


Thank you for reading,

Rick

What's the Point?

I get up everyday. Grab my cell phone to check my Facebook page, make a pot of coffee. Crack open the laptop and get to work.  Some days I'll even get 50 push-ups in but most days it's a downhill ride from my pillow to my office.

I've become a wealth-building drone.

Has my existence on this planet been boiled down to one thing. Paying the bills? Is that all I'm good for now-a-days?

There's gotta be a bigger purpose for my existence.  Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has a plan for my life. A plan to lift me up and give me strength.  It suggest that God has a bigger purpose for my life than I do.

If I died today. Would they say "Wow. That guy really paid the rent"?

I need to make an effort to bring more purpose to my daily routine.  What's the point - if there's no purpose?

When I get up. I need to check in with God before checking in with Facebook. I'm still gonna make my pot of coffee (so Shut-up) but I need to crack open my Bible before cracking open my laptop.

Easier said than done, right?

We find time to do the other things. Perhaps one day we'll find time to do the right things?

Have you become a rent-paying drone as well?

What simple change can you do to bring more purpose to your life (specifically before you leave the house)

Thanks for reading,

Rick  

Balance. Your Will v His

People who say "I'm just going to let God handle that situation" or "I'll pray for that" often experience the same frustration as those who try to handle the situation by themselves (without Gods help). I believe both scenarios produce the same frustrating outcomes.

Rule #1. You can't do anything (good) in this world without Gods help.
Rule #2. God can't do much without yours.

The Bible says in James 2:14 that Faith without works is dead.What does this mean?

Having faith that God will heal your situation is only part of the equation. God has used people all throughout history to heal situations. People like you and me. You can't accomplish the sum if you take either part out of the equation. God + You = Perfect.

Those of you who know me know that I am a very ambitious (and quite handsome) person; however, ambition has it's price. Being overly ambitious can often times separate us from God vision of who He wants us to be. When I remove God from my decisions I do so because I feel it would expedite the decision making process and hopefully lead to outcomes I can control better. I can tell you; however, when I remove God from the equation. The outcome is never as good as I would have hoped it to be.  The only good things that have ever happened in my life were those where God and I worked together in unison and harmony.

Which end of the spectrum do you find yourself falling in? One where you remove yourself from the situation or the one where you remove God from the situation?

How is that working for you?

Thanks for reading,

Rick

My View's on Heaven

If it weren't for the hope of Heaven, there wold hardly be a point to our time on Earth. I was reading about Saint Teresa of Avila who once said, "In light of Heaven, the worst suffering on Earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel."

The suffering we see in this world is light and momentary compared to what our life will be like with God in Heaven (Romans 8:18)

I live in a competitive world. And even though I've experienced much success, I've also experienced much suffering.

The Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang leads us to believe that life will find a way to meet homeostasis. That somehow good moments will counterbalance the bad moments, but is doesn't work that way. Life is usually one challenge after another setback and a stream of misgivings with brief moments of happiness in between.

Looking forward to those brief moments keeps us sane but looking forward to Heaven keeps us alive.

In a busy, noisy, competitive world think about this... when's the last time you thought about Heaven?

That's my challenge to you...

Thanks for reading,

Rick