Pulling back the curtains, streams of sunlight poured in as I gazed at the ocean front view. Staying in a resort hotel, even in the off-season should be a pleasant experience. But how pleasant can it be if you are wondering if you just lost your job? Great way to make a first impression, by challenging your new boss on an ethical issue. Not a big issue to anyone else at the meeting of managers and management officials. Yet it was a big issue for me that could not be crossed.
That moment of my life was almost 20 years ago and yet whenever I think of it I can remember the smell of the ocean, the darkness of my emotions that spoiled the sunset and the look on my manager’s face. The confrontation was not bad or brisk. Yet it was somber to realize that it was a make or break moment in my career. The reason I relive it from time to time, as many of us do with life impacting moments, is because it said a lot about who I was and what I stood for. I have never regretted the decision and ironically that decision energized my career rather than hurt it.
Standing up for what you believe in is one of those things I consider a non-choice. There are people who wrestle with moral dilemmas and issues every time they are confronted with one. However, I believe that when you make firm in your mind what your values are everything else comes a bit easier. I never had to debate my decision those 20 years ago and I still don’t. Faced with major choices I know some things are never up for debate. I don’t have to wonder what I would do with a choice that would compromise what I believe; the answer is no compromise of who I am.
The tuff choices really aren’t that tuff when you decide up front that you believe and stand for what the Bible teaches. Not just about eternal life and salvation, but about eternal principles and values. Make a decision to stand for something this day and everyday and you will discover two things. First, you won’t feel crowded, a lot of people that you thought were close to you won’t be. Second, those who are still around in your life, when you look into their faces you will feel good about it, especially that person in the mirror!
Copyright 2007 © Charles Lyons
Friday, March 16, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Plan on Your Prayers, Not Your Despair…
I am always amazed at people’s prayers. Too often they pray as though there was no connection between them and God. I recall the old story of the minister that called the people of a farming community to come to the church for a prayer meeting. Their purpose was to pray for God to send rain to end the long term drought they were experiencing. The preacher went to the platform and announced he was canceling the prayer meeting. When asked why, he explained that the congregation was not serious about praying for rain. After all no one had brought an umbrella.
In many ways that lack of trust in God is still going on. God says through Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Yet, often people pray for an answer to paying a debt, or strength through an illness or joy in a relationship and then continue on as though nothing has or will happen. Why pray if you don’t believe in prayer, or worse, if you don’t believe in the one you are praying to?
I believe in God, better still, I believe He gets personally involved in our lives. I don’t always get the answer I asked for. However, I always get an answer. Sometimes yes, other times no, and often wait. That’s ok. I learned some time ago an important lesson, not only is God smarter than me, He loves me with a perfect love.
When someone loves you with a perfect love they don’t do everything you ask. They do everything that is in their power to help you grow, be comforted, and be more than you ever dreamed possible. God loves His children that much. That’s why the best description of how much He loves us is still found in John 3:16, “God so loved…”
Plan on God answering your prayers. Move forward knowing His best is the best. Remember that you don’t have reason to be in despair when your Father is the God who cares.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” II Corinthians 4:8,9
Copyright 2007 © Charles Lyons
In many ways that lack of trust in God is still going on. God says through Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Yet, often people pray for an answer to paying a debt, or strength through an illness or joy in a relationship and then continue on as though nothing has or will happen. Why pray if you don’t believe in prayer, or worse, if you don’t believe in the one you are praying to?
I believe in God, better still, I believe He gets personally involved in our lives. I don’t always get the answer I asked for. However, I always get an answer. Sometimes yes, other times no, and often wait. That’s ok. I learned some time ago an important lesson, not only is God smarter than me, He loves me with a perfect love.
When someone loves you with a perfect love they don’t do everything you ask. They do everything that is in their power to help you grow, be comforted, and be more than you ever dreamed possible. God loves His children that much. That’s why the best description of how much He loves us is still found in John 3:16, “God so loved…”
Plan on God answering your prayers. Move forward knowing His best is the best. Remember that you don’t have reason to be in despair when your Father is the God who cares.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” II Corinthians 4:8,9
Copyright 2007 © Charles Lyons
Monday, March 12, 2007
There is Sunshine Above The Clouds…
The day began with a phone call from a friend who was concerned for my safety. They had heard the reports on the weather channel of tornado warnings, severe rain and lightning in my area. In contrast I was oversleeping lulled by the gentle calming sound of rain coming down. OK, so one person’s storm is another person’s reason to oversleep.
The truth is we often cannot afford the luxury of sleeping in, yet we can always afford to trust in the protecting hand of our heavenly Father. Psalm 20:6-7 state that:
“Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
In my case this morning I was resting because of the soothing sound of the gentle rain unaware of the surrounding storms. However, for the child of God who leans on their LORD, we can be calm. We can be fully aware of the storms and still be fully at peace. We take safety precautions and use common sense, but that is not what we trust in. We trust in God knowing that regardless of the outcome, we are in His care, His provision and in His arms of love.
It really doesn’t matter how many storm clouds there are or how dark they turn. Just above the clouds the sun can still shine. Believing and trusting in Jesus Christ means the storms clouds can still come, but He will be with us regardless. Let others trust in chariots, horses and weather forecasts, but I chose to remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Copyright 2007 © Charles Lyons
The truth is we often cannot afford the luxury of sleeping in, yet we can always afford to trust in the protecting hand of our heavenly Father. Psalm 20:6-7 state that:
“Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
In my case this morning I was resting because of the soothing sound of the gentle rain unaware of the surrounding storms. However, for the child of God who leans on their LORD, we can be calm. We can be fully aware of the storms and still be fully at peace. We take safety precautions and use common sense, but that is not what we trust in. We trust in God knowing that regardless of the outcome, we are in His care, His provision and in His arms of love.
It really doesn’t matter how many storm clouds there are or how dark they turn. Just above the clouds the sun can still shine. Believing and trusting in Jesus Christ means the storms clouds can still come, but He will be with us regardless. Let others trust in chariots, horses and weather forecasts, but I chose to remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Copyright 2007 © Charles Lyons
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