Encouraging Signs

From the sounds of things in the news the world is spinning wildly out of control. From $4+ gasoline in the U.S. to unmanagable weather shifts, this ball of mud we call home is falling apart. But the world I live in has so many more positive things happening than negative ones. Oh sure, there is a constant ebb and flow in the lives of the men and women who inhabit this earth, the economy is hurting and the weather changes, but in the daily scheme of things, life is GRAND.

I am blessed to be able to spend time with Christians who truly love each other and the God they serve. They laugh together, cry together and simply accept each other for who they are...people with a common purpose and a united destination. They have experienced major strokes, cancer, death of parents, siblings, children and spouses, but still they live with a hope that outstrips the worst that life can throw at them.

I am also blessed to be able to minister to some men and women who have chosen as their avocation the task of firefighting. They willingly place their own lives in danger so that others can live. These guys and gals, some of whom are devout belivers and others who don't know how to spell God unless it's used with damn attached, live to serve. They also experience life's worst with job layoffs, disease, injury, death and destruction. In fact, those things are part of what they see every day. But still they go on...they continue to beat back the defeatist attitude of the world around us and carry out their chosen duties to the best of their ability.

The Christians live with hope in their hearts...firefighters hope to live. Either way, these people are happiest when they are serving others side by side...and serve they do.

In both realms I am encouraged for the continued existence of the world. Because they live to serve, these men and women make the lives of others more enjoyable...more liveable.

Changes are constant

I continue to be amazed at how God works in the lives of His crowning creation. Through the process of constant change He finds ways to make us better than ever before...continuing that miraculous evolution of the human.
I have found myself in the position of returning to a previous ministry. Actually, I wasn't gone for even a year when it became obvious that I had made a serious error in my decision to move away. I can't begin to describe the process as it took place in my head and heart...I can only tell you that the Spirit was working overtime on me.
All of that brings to my mind the fact that change is an inevitable part of our existence. If we were to settle in and allow status quo to rule we'd stop growing...stop having the experiences that make us better. Instead, from the moment of conception until we die we continue to change and be changed.
While many changes aren't particularly enjoyable to experience I can say with great assurance that the most recent change in my life is paying big dividends in terms of my mental and emotional health. I can rest better at night knowing that I'm working to right some wrongs and rekindle some valuable relationships.
Admit it or not...changes are constant, necessary and most often, for our own good!