Tag: good

Posted on

Determination

There is a hill in Siauliai, Lithuania called the Hill of Crosses. It is just that, a hill covered in crosses. But, for something that simple, people from all over the world come to see it. Why? Because it is a symbol of determination.

After World War II, the Soviet Union took over Lithuania. In that time, the monument of crosses erected was flattened, burned, and disgraced. Each time, the people of Lithuania never gave up. They would replace the crosses each time. Finally, when they won their independence from communism, the hill became overwhelmed with crosses. A picture of the hill is below.

How many times does this happen in life? Our plans are trashed or things don’t happen like we think they should. It can make us discouraged or even cause us to give up and walk away. I encourage you not to do that. Be like the Lithuanian people and keep on rebuilding – because one day you won’t have to rebuild…

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ NLT)

IMG_1240-0

Information about the Hill of Crosses and picture from: http://sacredsites.com/europe/lithuania/hill_of_crosses.html

Posted on

Seasons

Right now, in Dallas, we are having a rainy, cold day.  It is winter and February is usually our coldest month.  It is just the way it usually goes.  During this month, our greatest time of purging occurs.  This cold weather doesn’t do well to the plants that like hot weather – which we have most of the year – so their foliage turns brown and things look dead.  When you think about it, this purging season actually acts like a pruning season, giving the land/plants time to rest before they need to bloom and pollinate again.

We all go through a purging/pruning season from time to time.  Friends leave, jobs end, and situations go sour.  We often pin this on the enemy, but in fact, it could be God closing a door so we can go through another.  It seems like, when we are sitting in that season, it is rough and it stings.  But, after you start to see the light again, you find rest.

Take this scripture from Leviticus 25:3-4:

“Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard.”

It is for our health that we go through this season as it was for the good of the vineyards.  The soil would have grown too toxic and not been fertile if the Israelites did not prune.  Sometimes situations, friends, jobs become too toxic for us and could contaminate the good work God is doing in us so He needs to give us a season of pruning.

I want to encourage you and ask you to keep the faith in your journey if you are in such a season.  God is getting ready for something great.  Just hold on and cling to Jesus.  You’ll make it and thrive!

Be blessed.

vineyard

Posted on

Overcomer

This past Tuesday, January 27, 2015, marked 70 years since Auschwitz was liberated.  What happened there are unimaginable evils and proves that the human race has great power which they can use to inflict the most grotesque treatment on each other.  The survivors of this horrific event in our history always amaze me – how they have overcame and kept on going.

I was watching one of the many special reports that were on TV this week and they had one very interesting man – Michael Greenfield.  He is so inspiring in how he lives his life after Auschwitz.  This is a man who has dressed every President of the United States since Eisenhower.  His demeanor is so full of joy I am sure if you met him you would not be able to tell that he is a survivor of one of the worst genocide the modern world has seen.  There was one thing that Mr. Greenfield said that struck me – the last thing his father said to him as they parted ways when leaving the train cars was “If we don’t survive this (meaning his parents, aunts, uncles, etc), survive and live in honor of us.”  So he did…

What would have happened if Mr. Greenfield decided to just wallow in his horror and not move on?  Would he have achieved all that he did?  No, he wouldn’t.  In fact, Mr. Greenfield used this tragedy to propel him into the rest of his life. 

We all have had horrible things happen to us; it may not be at the level of Auschwitz, but horrible nonetheless.  How many times do we get stuck in wallowing and not overcoming?  Probably too many.  It is much easier to just allow things happen and react to it.  But that is not how we are to handle this life.

Bad things are going to happen – that is what occurs when sin enters the world.  But there is way more good than there is evil.  Think about this: Auschwitz is no longer an active concentration camp, but a remembrance of how good wins out over evil every time.  If you go to Poland, you can stand in the middle of the camp and witness that fact first hand.  That is on my bucket list for sure, by the way.

When we face evil in our own life, remember that good will always win.  Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  Take courage in that promise and just keep on going.  Believe me, the momentary pain will be nothing compared to what happens after you overcome.

I am going to leave you with this scripture.  Be blessed, everyone!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Overcomer