“The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone. And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun. But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.” Luke 8:11-13 Msg.
I am getting started a little late today with my morning blog. I felt like sleeping in this morning. Yes, just grab the covers and pull them over my head for about an hour longer. Another thing I feel like doing today is playing golf. The sun is shining and a slight breeze-a perfect April day in Vegas for golf.
The truth is I have a lot of work to do today. First is keep to my commitment to write. It is a commitment I have made largely to myself. I also need to finish a map of this weekend’s worship experience and get it to others so they can finish their work. Then I have whole other list of tasks to finish so I can keep my commitment to have a day off with family tomorrow.
I don’t feel like doing any of this. I feel like playing golf-today!
Which will I choose today-to live based on the way I feel or based on my commitments? Will I allow the truth (seed) of God’s word to take root in my heart or “flake out” and go with my emotions?
This is a choice that people face each and every day of their lives. I get up almost every day and either choose to go with the dominant emotions that I am experiencing or to ask myself what I really want in life and choose to stay with my more noble commitments.
Stephen Covey says in his classic book on self-leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, that you must put first things first, that making and keeping commitments to yourself preceeds the ability to keep commitments to others.
Covey also says that “anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.”
My feelings change like the latest fashion-in one day and out another. The latest flavors of contemporary culture are just that-“temporary”. All the money I spend on clothing now must be respent over and over in order to keep up with ever changing funky, freaky, fashion trends.
One day we feel like playing with our kids, the next we don’t.
Today I feel like spending $5000 on something, tomorrow I don’t.
One day we feel like quitting, the next we have energy to go on.
Immature people live lives based on feelings. Mature people make commitments to what they know are the best things and they live by them regardless of how they “feel”. My feelings are funky, flaky, freaky, and always changing like fashion. I cannot trust them.
What drives your decision making process? Emotions or truth? Feelings are like a roller-coaster ride up and down and all around. God says he has truth-clothing for me that never changes or goes out of style.
Tomorrow we talk about a mirror of truth that never lies. My feelings often lie but the mirror never does.
Chris
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1 comment:
I didn't even know you had a blog but hey. Miss you guys. Samuel is getting big. Gotta go to work. Morgan and Jackson are doing good. Kim is too, I thank the Lord for the blessings every day. Jessica's husband trusted in Jesus on Easter Sunday, an answer to prayer - they always have been dramatic (Easter) but I pray God uses Bryan mightily. We think about you guys and the church often and will continue to pray for your protection and success. See ya Chris.
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