Not Trying At All

Allow me.

I have failed.

Nothing is worse than not trying at all. How does the old saying go? Better to have tried and failed than never to have……(wait, I think I am in danger of making up an old saying on the spot. Please disregard.)

There is much that I would like this blog to become.

A place for book reviews; a place to be creative; a place to share what I am learning in my journey through God’s Word; A place to share my life with whoever happens to care; a place to work on proper grammar.

This post does none of the above. Instead it is at least an attempt to begin again. Perhaps it will continue, or perhaps it will lead to a whole new relaunched blog in the future. Or perhaps it might end it all.

But for now. It is none of that. It is instead a small step towards re-engaging with the blog-o-sphere and those whom the Lord might have me to influence.

In all of this I seek to follow the example of the Apostle Paul:

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

An Exciting New Poll

It’s all mixed up.

When God’s Word states:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ~ Isaiah 5:20

I think this is an example of what is meant.

This event happened yesterday October 4, 2010. It happened in the capital of my home country of Canada.

I am ashamed, not surprised but ashamed nonetheless.

The Power in your Pocket

Below is a Mission I have belonged to for a number of years.

I encourage you to check it out and sign up.

Have you heard the news?

This is the greatest news you will ever hear.

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Influence

If you spend 15 minutes with someone, they influence your life

When my friend Scott first made this comment to me years ago I questioned it.  My thinking was, surely I am not that easily influenced.  As the years have tumbled along though, I find that it is more true than I could have imagined.

Thinking about this past week I have had brief influences that vary in degrees of significance yet still meet the qualification of being influential.

I have had:

• Compliments that have encouraged me in a certain direction of thought
• Quiet Criticisms that have challenged me to rethink other thoughts
• A good natured invitation to enjoy a past-time from a “past time” in my life (which I accepted by the way)
• Placed in my hands what looks like a soul-challenging book
• Another quote was passed along to me “Determination is not character”

All of this in just a few days of 15 minute connections.  I can’t help but wonder where I have  exercised influence in the lives of others.  For as true as it is that we are influenced by that 15 minutes, it is equally sure that we exert a similar influence on others.

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

-Proverbs 15:23 (NKJV)

Boyd Chronicles 2008

Prepared

Just back from taking a test.

It seems as though it’s been a long time since my mind was worked that way.  Actually I liked it.  To me there is not much that beats being ready for a test and passing it (we’ll wait to see if my confidence matches my marks).

Life is full of tests though.  Those that come all of a sudden are the hardest to be ready for.  The sudden death, the terminal prognosis, nothing prepares you for these things.

At camp this morning I taught on the book of Job.    Talk about being unprepared.  In one day he loses his Livestock, his Living, and his flesh and blood.   We use his utterance of worship so often that there is a tendency to forget the context.    Having just learned of his enormous loss he says:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” (Net Bible)

He gives his Lord first place over all.  This is worship.

Coming up on any of life’s test, the one sure way to be as prepared as possible is to “Fear God and shun evil”.

Reflection

Filling in the blank pages in my mental notebook is an ongoing experience for me.  At no time in my life do I desire to do that more than the 7 days between Christmas and New Years.  Please do not make the mistake of thinking that it always happens.  There are times where it seems I am erasing more pages than I am filling.  But the goal is always present.
2008 promises to be……..well, yet more time for more opportunities.  I guess the objective is to take them.
Speaking of opportunities, let me take this one to wish you all a Blessed Christmas season.  May the Lord Jesus have first place in your life in this coming year!

Maranatha,
Trent

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Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Christian, opportunity, 2008, blogging, blank pages

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