Becoming so heavenly minded that we are of some earthly good.
What would your life look like if you found the one thing you were called to do?
Think of the great leaders of the past. Men and women who gave their lives for something that mattered. People like Benjamin Franklin, Ronald Reagan, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
People who actually changed the world.
At some point they stepped into their God-given destiny and pursued it with all their might.
…now think about what matters to you.
What do you constantly think about?
The story of David and Goliath is one of the most popular Bible stories.
Even unbelievers know it and use it when referencing underdogs who defeat big enemies.
A young shepherd boy with a slingshot defeats Goliath, a 9-foot tall giant trained in combat.
In order for this story to have a happy ending God had to show up. It had to be 100% him, right?
…all God and none of David. That sounds very Christian-like, right?
Do you ever get enticed into a conversation about something you later feel kind of yucky about?
It happened to me recently.
I met someone who wanted to talk about politics right away.
He told me his take on Donald Trump and why he wouldn’t be voting for him — unless his vote was actually the deciding vote, in which case he said he would vote for him (I didn’t understand his logic… but it made sense to him).
I recently read this quote by C.S. Lewis:
It often happens that two schoolboys can solve difficulties in their work for one another better than the master can. The fellow-pupil can help more than the master because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago he has forgotten.
After reading that I felt inspired to start writing on here again. Why?
A.A. and the 12-Step Program has a special place in my heart because that’s where I first became open to “spirituality.”
It’s also the first place I experienced grace from people. I remember opening up my heart and really letting people know what was going on inside of me.
And the strangest thing happened… nobody judged me! They didn’t even give me “concerned” looks.
For the last 20 years I’ve been involved in some sort of “crusade.” I’ve argued that:
However, over the last several years I’ve been learning how to spend less time arguing, and more time encouraging people.
Is it possible to always be thankful?
I think it is because the Bible commands us to. So how do we do it? How do we cultivate a thankful heart and attitude despite what’s going on?
I don’t know. But I want to find out.
I do know one thing though… thankfulness isn’t dependent on circumstances or things going our way. At least that’s true for me.
Or at least at I hope it is.
Recently, I met two new people. Shaun, was at a business prayer meeting I attended in Vancouver, WA (link to his blog) and Tim, is a pastor I met online (link to his blog).
And they both essentially told me the same thing: “Josh, I’ve read your blog and I hope you keep writing on it.”
I thought, Yeah, maybe I should start writing there more.
So I pulled up this blog to see when the last time I posted was and it was 11 months ago! Wow.
As I was praying this morning I was reminded of the verse that says, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” I didn’t remember the rest of the verse so I googled it and found 1 Samuel 15:22 which reads:
“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
When I heard, “to obey is better than sacrifice” I knew God was referring to something specific in my life: writing. More specifically, writing on this blog, Beyond Cliches.
No is a powerful and important word.
And now that I have a 1-year-old daughter I use it now more than ever.
“No Emma, don’t touch that!”
“No Emma, don’t crawl up the stairs!”
“No, Emma don’t take Daddy’s chess pieces!”
I say no a lot.
But I’m also learning that saying no is important in other areas of life.
© 2024 Beyond Clichés
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑