If you look around and pause long enough to contemplate the natural beauty surrounding you, and you might be amazed at the wonderful, and diverse, thoughts of where it all comes from.
But the often overlooked key is the looking around part. And, um, the pausing part too.
Is running more important than prayer? Does a crucifix make us righteous? Does the welcome mat, the key chain and the bumper sticker say what we believe? Maybe. Maybe not:
What books come to mind when you think of your all-time favorites? Napoleon Hill published “Think and Grow Rich” in 1937, which is one of the most transformational books I’ve ever read (in 1985). Many people thought he was only talking about financial riches. He wasn’t.
Luke 6:20-31
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21) “Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.22) “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man!23)Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.24) “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation.25) “Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. “Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.26) “Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.27) “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28)bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.29)To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.30)Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.31)And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.“
The road is hard and the gate narrow. But you already know that. So then the next question is, “What do you do with that knowledge”?
The Lord has been known to use people to help spread his message, to help those less fortunate, to spread love where there is hate, to comfort the broken-hearted.
Do you ever feel like he is using you? This was difficult for me to comprehend until He started, noticeably, transforming my life. He put the opportunity in front of me to become a public speaker, in 1998.
It was neither an opportunity sought, nor wanted.
But it was, indeed, an opportunity.
A huge opportunity. A once in a lifetime opportunity.
And it created in me a confidence I’d never known.
And provided an education money could never buy.
To teach is to learn twice.
To teach, and to write, is to learn thrice.
And in the past three months, I humbly submit to you the growing fruits of this labor.
Three-quarters of a million hits.