This morning the sun is shining brightly in Central Oregon. We are 6 months into this year of the Lord and I’ve been missing the F in my SHIFT. This concept of SHIFT has been VERY different then what I thought I was getting when the Lord gave me the word in January. It is a tedious process. I am so thankful that I have braces right now because it is 100% what my year has been like. A slow, monotonous, continuing shift of everything. It is not at all like shifting the weight from one shoulder to another, this SHIFT is like shifting teeth. No short cut, no easy way, just painful, slow, persevering shifting.
I realized last month that there was no F in my SHIFT…which makes it…well you get my point. So, we started walking every night, the whole family, all four of us and 3 dogs. It was the best thing for me. I breathed deep fresh air. Did you know I have worked every day this year, except 2 days. I’m telling you this not for sympathy but so that you understand how a SHIFT can so easily become not very fun without FRESH AIR.
This morning, I awoke early, knowing that my work was calling me but instead I grabbed my coffee and my alpaca blanket and went out onto the patio. I sat quietly, listening to the birds, absorbing the sun and imaging that the cars streaming by were the waves hitting the beach. I was in paradise. I breathed deeply. Everything was instantly right with my world.
Do you take time for yourself? Do you get lots of fresh air? Do you remember that this world is about your relationship with God and spreading HIS love to people you come in contact with? Did you know that the treasure we store up here on earth will be burned up like chaff? All this STUFF is nothing compared to the treasures God is storing for you in Heaven.
So why do I do it? Why am I working like it matters? Because it does. I’m not working to store up treasures here on earth, trust me..there is not much earthly treasure in what I do. But I have come to the conclusion that I must be responsible for what has been entrusted to me. I am living the parable of the talents.
Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28
Carefully note the outcome of faithful service and of unfaithful service in this scripture. Faithful service led to increased responsibilities in the kingdom of heaven, and eternal joy in the presence of the Master, Jesus Christ. Unfaithful service led to condemnation, the removal of one’s stewardship, and an eternity away from the presence of our Lord. It is not about the making of the money or the sharing of the profit or the house you bought or the car you drive…it is about what you do with those things that have been entrusted to you.
For some reason, at this time in my life, I have been entrusted with a mammoth sized job to re-create the processes and procedures of my families business. I don’t know if I was BORN for this but I do know it was entrusted to me and I will follow the lead of Jesus.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Through the Joy of enduring the cross….Jesus breathed FRESH air. His last BREATH. He did it for you. You can endure for him. Do well with what is entrusted to you.
~Peace
