"Uptime"

A week and a half ago, I wrote about downtime, a period of time in which business was slow. Well this week it's been the opposite, especially today. A huge order for engraved signs came in yesterday afternoon, so the engraver's been running all day long, turning out 46 signs (about 600 characters total!). I've begun work on a logo design for a new construction company, which has been testing my illustrating skills and taxing my patience for going over my time budgeted for it.

Speaking of taxes, I finished figuring my taxes this year. Praise the Lord I don't have much to pay! It was fun figuring it all by myself for the first time, though I did occasionally have to consult with Ken and Mom.

The other thing on my mind today is the fact that all this stuff needs to get done before Friday morning, which is when I'm leaving for Mexico.

Ken and I are traveling to Leon in the center of Mexico to work with a missionary family there and a group of students from Emmaus Bible College. Much of what will our role be is still unknown to me, but I know that if I obey the Lord and stay close to Him, I will not be shaken.

How wonderful is our Lord! It´s astounding to think that we have the power of the One who made the world and the sun and the hurricanes and the mighty forces of nature on our side to strenthen us and conform us to His own image!

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,

"For your sake we are bing put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New Definition of "Bad Day"

In the past years, having a "bad day" meant things were not going like I expected them to, were not easy, and/or kept going wrong. But now, being a few years older, with a little more spiritual growth having occurred (thanks be to God alone), I have found a new definition of a "bad day."

Today was one of those. I kept working at what I was supposed to, starting a logo design, finalizing another, making a few plastic signs, and working a little on my promotional brochure, but by the end of working hours, I felt like I do when I waste a day. Why was this? I did not in spirit commune with my beloved Father in heaven. The day was not horrible, nor would I say full of forfeited peace, but it just wasn't right.

A bad day is a day spent without devotion to the Lord.

I am reminded of the words of Joe Zichterman (sung by Mac Lynch & Tim Fisher) in the song "One Needful Thing"

With my whole heart I beseech Thee to behold Thy glory, Lord.
May we learn to wait and worship at Thy throne.
We are cumbered with much service; may we cast our cares on Thee
As we go into our closets there to meet with Thee alone.

That one needful thing, that one needful thing,
As the sacrifice of praise we humbly bring.
As Thine own peculiar treasure, created for Thy pleasure,
May we not forget that one needful thing.

When Thou sayest, "Seek Me early," Thy face, Lord, will I seek;
For Thou art my soul's exceeding great reward.
While abounding in Your service, may men's record of us be
That we've spent much time in secret in the presence of our Lord.

I am learning just how much prayer and communion with God is "one needful thing."

More on Numbers 11:1a

The reason it says they became like those who complain of adversity is that their circumstances were not adverse! Though the complaint against the manna starting in verse 2 is not what verse 1 refers to, we can see they had nothing to complain about with just cause. They had miraculous food and water and their clothes did not wear out. Their circumstances were not adverse, abut they complained. Thus the anger of the Lord was kindled.

Lately, I have found myself complaining as though I am in adversity. Really, it's been all my fault that I have bad days and felt unfulfilled. I have not been in close fellowship with the Lord and that throws off my entire day. Seeking fulfillment in other things that are normally fun does not result in true fulfillment. Thus I have complained to the Lord as though in adversity. But really I am more like the prodigal son, trying to find pleasure apart from the Father. That doesn't work! I gladly return home where He provides all the pleasures and fulfillment I need (Luke 15, Psalm 16:11).

In contrast to the Israelites complaining like those in adversity, David complained when in adversity, where it was appropriate: Psalm 55:2-3,16-17

Give heed to me, and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,
Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the pressure of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

As for me, I shall call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmer,
And He will hear my voice.

When truly burdened by something, we ought to "complain" about it to the Lord: Psalm 55:22, 2 Peter 5:7

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

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!