Recalculating!

 So, you've finally made a decision to go on a trip, someplace that you have never been before. You load up the car and put the destination address into either Google or Apple maps on your phone, or your GPS unit. (Do people still use GPS?) You pull out of the drive and head on down the road. Google or Apple maps will start giving you instructions on which ways to turn and go. Left, right. How many miles to the next turn, etc.

So you are sailing along approaching your destination, when something goes wrong. You don't pay attention to the directions and miss your turn. Or turn the wrong way. All of sudden your unit has to recalculate to find out where you are and give you new directions. Most of the time if you are lucky you just have to go around the block to get back on track.

I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me. I start thinking I know more than a computer mapping system. News flash, I don't! Especially in a bigger city. This most recently happened to me when I traveled to St. Louis to see a Stryper concert. Due to construction, one way streets and a pouring rain, I was turned around and so lost. The mapping system could not keep up because I kept turning so rapidly. I finally stopped to let it catch up, and when it finally did, it said that I was at my destination. I had passed it at least twice without even realizing it.

All this had me thinking about God and His direction for our lives. He is the ultimate GPS. He knows what the best path (road) for us to take. 

I was thinking about the Old Testament Israelites. God told them He had a land picked out for them. A land of Milk & Honey. 

Deuteronomy 26:9 New Living Translation

9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey!

All they had to do was trust in The Lord. But they were a stubborn bunch, to say the least. They were poised to enter the land that God had promised to give them. But because their unbelief, they were turned around and had to wander in the wilderness for forty more years.

Numbers 14:34-35 Living Bible

34-35 “‘Since the spies were in the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, bearing the burden of your sins. I will teach you what it means to reject me. I, Jehovah, have spoken. Every one of you who has conspired against me shall die here in this wilderness.’”

A trip that should have lasted only eleven days, lasted forty years. It took forty years because of grumbling, complaining and unbelief in God.

It's sometimes the same with my GPS unit. "It doesn't know the right way!" "I can go a different route." Well that doesn't really work. Need to trust in the system to get me where I am supposed to be.

Just like we are to trust in God to get us where we are going. We'll end up eventually at our destination, just depends on how long we want to take getting there!

I have been feeling this for a while now. I feel like I am getting close to a break through, something from God and then, I am going through the wilderness again. Another trip around whatever object you insert here. Tree, mountain, block, whatever. I don't know what I am doing wrong or what is preventing me from the break through, but I pray and repent and wait! His ways are higher! 

Isaiah 55:8Amplified Bible

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

So I encourage you. Whatever path you are on. Trust in God, the best GPS there is. He knows what direction is best for you!

God bless. 

Rev. Kev.

Just Enough.

 There is a something that I have been noticing lately. I have been noticing people who are doing just enough to get the job done. I'm talking about people who put in just enough effort to get by. They only scrap their windshield to get a big enough spot where they can see and then head off down the road. Shovel just enough to get to their car door, leaving the rest of the driveway untouched! Not going to lie. I have done this once in a while, but not very often. I always think about the other cars on the road that I am going to see. Can I see them enough not to crash? Can I see traffic lights? Stop signs? Other people? I pray that I can. I think about my family who also has to use the driveway. To get out and get to work. I am not the only one that lives there. 

I think about people at work who do just enough to get their job "done". Putting material away. Place it just inside the door so that it closes. Doesn't matter if it's in the way of the next person entering the warehouse. As long as it's out of their way, they are good.

I don't want to be thought of in this kind of way. I want people to know that I went out of my way to take care of business, they way that it should've. I don't want to be perceived as lazy or selfish! If I claim the name of Jesus, how can I represent Him by doing just enough? I want to have integrity. I want to show Him to others by my actions.

Titus 2:7 New Living Translation

7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

It may take some extra effort to do the right thing, but the results will be worth it. Your car will be cleaned off so others can see you and you see them. Your driveway will be clear so the rest of the family can get out without any issues. Material will be put away in organized fashion. Make it easier for the next person to get to and use.

Colossians 3:23-25 The Message

22-25 Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

I'm not saying this to say look how much better I am than everyone else. Far from it. I am still guilty of doing these things. Sometimes I let the bad thoughts take over what I know is good. Just this once, what will it hurt? You'll never know how your actions affect others. I want to affect them in a good way, not a negative one!

I try to live my life Biblically. What The Bible says to do, I try to do it with the best of my ability. But, sometimes, other thoughts take over. When that happens, I have to remind myself of Gods word!

Romans 8:1 Amplified Bible

8 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].

I encourage you. When faced with taking a short cut or doing it the right way. always choose the right way. It will work out much better for you in the end! Do more than just enough!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Transcends

 I keep seeing this on Facebook, almost everyday. It is a saying that says "In a world where you can be anything, be kind." I love this saying. It doesn't cost a thing to be kind to someone, or take much effort.

Romans 15:2 The Message

15:2 Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

Did you know that kindness or words of encouragement transcends language barriers & culture differences. Even religious differences

I work on a receiving dock. I deal with drivers who are from around the world. There is a truck line that delivers to me that was started by people from the Ukraine. I see drivers from Canada, Russia, India, Ethiopia & Somalia. They can be male or female. Older, younger. Single or couples. In a moment of irony, with what is going on with Russia and Ukraine, I had a female Russian driver, driving for the Ukrainian trucking company.

Some of these drivers speak perfect English, the others not so much. But the one thing that they all have in common is this. Whenever I am finished unloading their trailer and take the paperwork out to them, I always tell them "great job." "Keep up the good work." "Appreciate the job you are doing!" English, some English, or little to no English, they all understand the kindness that I am extending to them. The words of encouragement that I speak to them. They always and I mean always get a big smile on their face when I say these words to them. (Especially The Female Drivers) They understand kindness, no matter the language difference.

I even have Muslim drivers come in to deliver. I am wearing my Christian witness wear and when I give them their paperwork, I do not treat them any differently than I do anyone else. I've had drivers look at the shirt that I am wearing and do the whole eye roll thing, probably expecting me to treat them harshly or not friendly because I am a Christian and they are not. Jesus tells us to love everyone. So that is what I do.

1 John 4:8 Living Bible

8 But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love.

I can not go around claiming to be a Christ follower and not be kind & loving. It just doesn't work. If I want people to see Jesus in me, I need to be kind and friendly to them. Even those who have a different faith than me.

I want to be the reason that somebody smiles today. That maybe sometime later in the day or even a few days later, that driver will remember that receiving guy treated me kindly and encouraged me. And they will smile with that memory.

I had an encounter today while eating lunch with a family who had a special needs son. He came right up to where I was sitting and said hi. I greeted him back and he started telling me all what he had going on at that moment. I talked with him until he had to order his food. His mom turned around and thanked me for being kind to him. She said that most people shy away or ignore him altogether. I told her we should be kind to everyone. I'm not saying this to say "Look how good Keven is." No, just saying that it took a couple of minutes of my time to interact with this young man to be kind to him.

So I encourage you. This world is so full of negativity, lets be the positive. Let's spread kindness and love to everyone that we come across. We will never know what that person is facing.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.