Why do I work?

Why do I work? God created work and it is good like everything else he created but that's not really what I am asking. What is my motivation for working?

The obvious answer is that if I don't work I won't have what I need to live; work is the tool that God is using for me to have what I need. He could and has used other tools but for me, at this point in my life it is my work. Now, does my work only supply what I need or does it provide more than I need? Do I work more than I have to so I can have more or save more? Am I working so I will have a retirement fund for the day I want to quit work and buy a vineyard? Those are the why's I want to explore.

Jesus is extremely clear in his teaching that a disciple's primary purpose is to meet the needs of people as he/she preaches repentence. He repeatedly reminds us that the Father will provide all our needs. Be careful that you don't misundertand me I am not saying that everyone is supposed to quit their job & go to the mission field, though some will undoubtably be called out to do that. All of this speaks to our motivation and attitude about where we work and why. Where we work can easily be part of our "mission field" and why we work is about WAY more than funding our needs, it is about providing for our mission as well.

I am challenged to review my budget and where I put the money, time and resources God gives me with the understanding that where I am "storing my treasure" (or spending it) reveals my heart. Where is your heart? Is it in your retirement account or God's Kingdom? If you thought that the money in your savings account could secure the salvation of even 1 person what would you do?

God loves people

A few years back we sang a little chorus in church that said:
God loves people more than anything
God loves people more than anything
More than anything he wants them to know
He'd rather die than let them go
God loves people more than anything
That has been rolling around in my head since this morning when I read the 15th chapter of Luke where he records three stories that Jesus used to illustrate how important it was to him to reconcile people to God. It is obvious by his death & resurrection the extent he would go to in order keep us from an eternity w/o him.
How could we not think his heart remains the same and to really serve & worship him we must have the same drive, the same intense goal, to give everything to seek & save those who are lost?
Father I know I do not even come close to living out this purpose. I crave & satisfy my own comforts & desires far more than I do those of others or you. Forgive me. Move me forward,  propel me to seek out the lost and extend your love to them.

It is Time to Write

It is time to start writing again. Writing is one of  "those" things. You know what I mean. Those things we let fall to the side and get crowded out of our lives for no particular reason other than the failure to remain disciplined in it.

I know I let my discipline waver in this area often. I battle the feeling that it's not really important, what do I have to say anyway that anyone really wants to read? Then sometimes I just feel like I don't really have anything to say. (I am, after all, the quite type.)

I'm going to try to do better and write more. I also have a goal to write less. My goal is to write more often but less at one time. People are busy, like me. Few people will take time to really sit and read through a whole essay on a topic, unless the writer or subject is amazingly captivating. I notice that in myself. Though I love to read and I have many people and newsletters and daily emails that I really enjoy reading but it isn't very often that I read them all or even all of one. I'll skim, read bits unless the topic really grabs me then I'll go back. Like even this note is getting too long. It's time to move on...

Until next time...