Surpassing Peace Forfeited

So often when we sing hymns, especially familiar ones, we forget to pay attention to the words. But at the end of a long day, feeling like I got nothing done (due to liberty given to the flesh), I realize the truth of these precious words:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

I forfeited peace today because I did not take it to the Lord in prayer. Oh, how essential this is!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:6-7

About Me

I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, seeking practical implementation of the logical outcome of a world view founded upon the God's truth. That means I want to be sold-out for God, but my flesh keeps getting in the way. My heroes are Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming, and Ed McCully, some of the five missionaries killed in Ecuador January 8, 1956 as they were making contact with a violent tribe of Indians in order to preach the gospel to them. They lived a life of denial of self, and their faith was placed wholly in God, that their lives would be lived according to His will.

I often analyze my thoughts and actions in order to understand why I do what I do, and compare them to God's absolutes and the characteristics befitting a follower of Christ. You may read some of these things in my blog. I seek absolutes. I seek God Himself. I want my life to match God's truth; I want to glorify God. I want to have a closer, truly personal relationship with my Lord.

On a less sublime note, I am quite artistic, though have little time to practice the graphic fine arts. And I think and learn visually.

Downtime

Business has been slow lately, even for the other sign shop where I work. He's been having me come in only one day a week lately instead of the usual two. But I am beginning to see some fundamental things about my life I need to work on, which are especially manifested in these days of non-busyness—e.g. laziness.

I have always been more of a responder than an initiator, so running my own business is really a challenge, especially when I need to promote my business or make first-time phone contact with customers.

I will probably supply more details about my business and other things as time goes on, but I thought it best to start this blog in the middle of my life where I am.

Well, that's all for now!