The context of this quote does speak of mocking God and reminds us to consider that our work will be shown for what it is. This is an important caution, for all of us have times when we are a little “plastic,” trying to hide our real feelings and motives behind a good image. We may fool some people at times, but God sees the heart and the fruit of our works will ultimately be seen for what it is.

This is a heavy truth, but it also points to a tremendous blessing. For if our poor choices yield a harvest of poor fruit, then it is also true that our good choices will yield a harvest of good fruit. When we sow good seed in our lives, our families and our ministries, we experience the blessings that naturally follow.

Someone once said, “Who you are today is the result of the choices you made yesterday.” If I do not like where I am at today; if I do not celebrate my thoughts, actions, or harvest in my life, I can immediately begin planting the seeds of change by sowing into what I dream for tomorrow. Not all seeds bear fruit overnight, and there may be weeds to uproot, but the conscious decision to sow the seeds of life that come from God will lead to the life abundant.

Today is a good day to examine the fruit of our lives. It is a good day to be honest about where we are. It is a good day to celebrate our harvest of life, and to sow new seed in the areas that are dead or dying. This is the day the Lord has made and in it we can choose to plant something good for our tomorrows.

The post What You Sow appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

No, I did not make the goal, but on top of the learning that took place, I had a great time. I also enjoyed some wonderful ministry time with our church, developing some new outreach initiatives and a new Saturday evening worship service that will launch in January. I enjoyed getting ready for Thanksgiving and did some early preparation for Christmas. There was time to work with our seminary interns, care for people in need and help a family, and the church, through the loss of a dear saint. There was also time to be with my wife and kids, get our two youngest children ready to begin college, work through financial aid, and spend a lot of time holding our new grandson.

Many would assess my success by how well I achieved my goal. I am judging my success on what I learned and how I lived. It is all too easy to be caught up in accomplishments, but there is so much more than that to successful living. The process is much more valuable than meeting a goal. God created us to love and to live. We are part of the great divine plan to transform the world for good, not just by crossing finish lines and checking off “To Do’s,” but also by being a transforming presence along the way. Life is not just about getting there. It has a great deal more to do with the journey we took along the way.

Don’t get me wrong, there is great value in goal setting, list making, and project completing. The danger is when we use only these tools to evaluate our success. A runner who finishes last, but breaks a personal best is hardly a failure. The student who scores a 70% on an exam, when that score is up from a 50% on the previous exam can certainly call that a success, even if the test makers do not. Success and failure are not so easily measured by such external tools. Sometimes, the greatest successes are hidden in the midst of amazing failures.

This season brings with it an enormous pressure to succeed in everything. We worry about our parties, our gifts and our commitments. We fear the judgement of others about our choices and abilities. We rush thought a myriad of activities to “make it a good Christmas,” and miss the real meaning of the season in the process.

What really happens if someone gives you a better gift than you gave them? Is your relationship so fragile (and maybe shallow) that it would be damaged by the value or size of a gift? Does the world end if your cookies don’t bake right, if the decorations fail to fully light, or if you miss a couple of holiday parties? Sure, all these things are important, but typically, not to the degree we think they are.

Several years ago, we came into December with our finances tighter than we wanted them to be. We could not see how we were going to be able to have the Christmas we were used to with our family. We prayed and talked, and we made a decision to make some difficult cuts. We talked with our children and explained that we needed to cut back, that we would not be able to travel and that we would have to postpone much of our gift giving until February or March. We shared how we believed that we should spend what we could on the holiday traditions that built our family: special foods on the Christmas buffet, time to be together, and fires in the fireplace.

The result was one of the best Christmases ever, even our children thought so. There were many homemade gifts on Christmas Day, great food, and great time together. Nothing was lost, but much was gained. The season was not a success by the standards of those who believe it is about what we get and what we can spend, but for our family, it was anything but a failure.

As you celebrate this season, and the many seasons of your life, be careful to look in the right places to determine your success. Often, what the world around us calls failure, God calls excellent, and it the latter opinion that really matters. Keep your eyes on what really matters, slow down, give yourself some grace and really live the life that you’ve been given.

The post Really Live appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

I frequently receive this question or some variation of it. People want to know what to do to strengthen their faith walk, to help them through difficult times and give them the power to live victorious lives. It is a good question when our desire is to know God’s will and plan for lives and when we intend to act on that knowledge, but it can be deceiving when we are looking for a shortcut to deep faith.

Stay up late most any night to watch a little television in the wee hours of the morning and you will discover a myriad of infomercials selling shortcuts. There are secrets to losing weight, looking younger, and building muscle. Buy the right item and your housework will be a breeze, broken items will look like new and your car will run forever. Some of these products may be effective, but the deeper philosophy all of them share is that there is a hidden, almost magical way, to accomplish goals that simply require effort to achieve.

Bring this philosophy into the Christian life and you find many people who are looking for that same magical step that will lead them to a deep and powerful walk with God. Ultimately, it is a search for a shortcut around putting in the effort to grow in faith.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians says this, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (3:13b-14) It turns out there is a secret, but it is not a shortcut. Rather, Paul makes it clear that growing in the Christian life is the result of intentionally avoiding distractions and pressing on toward the goal of Christ.

He uses athletic terms to drive the point home. A serious, competitive runner sets her mind on the goal. Previous successes and failures are set aside so she can attend to the task at hand. Then, with great focus, she devotes herself to the goal. With her senses, skills and strength committed to the task, she gives her all to win the prize.

So, what is the secret to successful living? It is not surprising, nor is it a shortcut. The secret is to commit your ways, your very self to the Lord, and allow him to direct your paths. Avoid distractions and press on, focused on the goal of Christ, and give your all to the task at hand. There is no shortcut, just the the strength of focus and the power of doing that “one thing.”

Let us continue to run the race, eyes on Christ as we commit to doing that one thing, and let us encourage one another so that we may all finish well.

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