Monthly Archives: July 2012

Don’t ever be satisfied…

At the beginning of the year, I set for myself a goal to ride 2-3 Centuries (100 miles) on my trusty Centurion.  Many upgrades to my bike over the past year have me set in a good position to continue to ride.  Well, the first two rides have come and gone.  The first Ididn’t get to ride in.  As for the second,  I only completed the Half Century (50 miles).  I hadn’t put the miles in  needed leading up to this second opportunity.  The icing on the cake was the 100+ degree temperatures we were having on June 30.  Although the bike is ready… I haven’t been.  I’m real proud of a couple of my riding partners who did complete the 100 mile ride in 100+ degree temperatures. (Great job Dean and Jeff!!)

I had the vision to do these rides yet I didn’t have all the makings to see the vision through.  The vision to complete a Century is still there and I will make that attempt in September.  In the meantime, I have signed on to the Le Tour Challenge at MapMyRide.  To complete 544 miles during the 23 days of the Tour de France.  So far, I am on target.  The weather has cooperated and all of the schedules I have to keep up with have all worked in my favor thus far.  This is one way for me to keep getting those much needed miles on my legs in order to obtain my goal.

I’ve had visions, dreams, and goals in life… I say, “had,” but really I still have them.  Now I keep them tucked away – hidden and out of sight.  The only time I seem to let them out is in my frustration.  I’ve even told one friend I’ve just about gotten to the place where I was ready to give up on them… and my ability to see them through.

It’s a funny thing how God works.  It never fails when I reach the low moments of frustration God sends someone to me with an encouraging word,call, text message, or email.  It’s really bazaar how that happens with the words that are used to encourage.  As I read Oswald Chambers this morning I have thought about several individuals who have played important roles in my life.  Those people who have believed in me for years – who have seen me as a success when I couldn’t see it.

What is it in life you are working on?  What sort of goals do you have that you have not attained? Have you had a vision from God that hasn’t come into being?  Don’t settle for second best.  Don’t seek out Plan B, C, or even D.  Let the words from today’s My Utmost for His Highest encourage you for another day of dreaming.

Allow the Potter to put you on His wheel and whirl you around as He desires. Then as surely as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out as an exact likeness of the vision. But don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had a vision from God, you may try as you will to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never allow it. (July 6)

Confession of Sin

When was the last time you sat down with God to deal with sin in your life? 

That’s  heavy question.

I can recall so many times being in one particular church needing to go to the altar to pray… often!  Maybe it was because going to the altar to pray was a big part of the “tradition” of that church. Or, just perhaps, it was the result of having been in the presence of God.  For me, that was a big part of what I did when I went to church… go to the altar in response to the message I had just heard.  It was something about taking that step to kneel and pray to confess sin or to make a commitment to God in some way that was in response to His Word I had just heard in the message from the Pastor.

Oswald Chambers brought my thoughts back to several experiences as I read this morning.  He speaks of Isaiah’s confession of sin when he enters into God’s presence.  Isaiah’s confession was not a blanket confession, “God, please forgive me of my sins.”  No, Isaiah’s confession was specific, “Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips…” Isaiah 6:5.

A person will easily say, “Oh yes, I know I am a sinner,” but when he comes into the presence of God he cannot get away with such a broad and indefinite statement. Our conviction is focused on our specific sin, and we realize, as Isaiah did, what we really are. This is always the sign that a person is in the presence of God. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest July 3).

Go back to my original question, When was the last time you sat down with God to deal with sin in your life? If I understand Oswald Chambers correctly that just may be the last time either one of us was in the presence of God.

Growing Spiritually?

I often wonder why I find myself where I am in life.  Did I arrive on purpose or by accident?  Or was it a series of good or bad mistakes?  There’s not much around me that resembles the dream I once had.  Maybe the dream was just a personal fantasy not born of God.  Maybe the dream was born of God and yet I wouldn’t get out of the boat to walk on the water.  Maybe the past poor decisions is keeping me holding onto the shore instead of launching out into the deep waters of His provision.

I know we all grow at different paces… kind of like cycling.  We all respond to God’s leadership in different ways.  I also realize that the older I get the less likely I am to take risks like I did when I was younger.  I don’t ever want to get to the place where I settle down in life just because others think that is what I should do.  I don’t want to settle because that’s what my circumstances dictate to me.  I may ride an older bicycle but I’m still pedaling.  I’m still going the distance.  I may not be getting there as fast… but I’m getting there.  The point is to not give up.  No matter where you find yourself keep striving for the goal.  We aren’t here specifically to please others or to impress them.  Keep reaching, learning, and growing in Jesus.  Keep your eyes fixed on God in Jesus.

“…the moment you realize that God’s purpose is to get you into the right relationship with Himself and then with others, He will reach to the very limits of the universe to help you take the right road.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, July 1.

“If you find yourself asking, “I wonder why I’m not growing spiritually with God?”— then ask yourself if you are paying your debts from God’s standpoint. Do now what you will have to do someday. Every moral question or call comes with an “ought” behind it— the knowledge of knowing what we ought to do.”  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, July 1.