1 Corinthians 15:51, 58

“51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Sometimes we work so hard, so long, and so much, that we can lose sight of why we do it. The loss of focus causes us to take time from those who need our time the most. Family, friends, spouses, and even our ministry suffer due to this attention deficit.

Every now and then we need to do a welfare check. This check is an inward and outward check.

We have to take time to check in with the ones we love. Those who we have pledge to God, that we would love and cherish, till death parts us (this would extend to our children). Those who we owe a moral obligation to cover, and those who have been engrafted in our family. We need to see how we are doing from their point of view.

Then we need to do an inward check. We have to ask ourselves (and honestly answer) some status questions:

Have I spent quality time with my spouse?

Have I had quality engagement with my children? (Spending time with them doing what they enjoy in an effort to get to know them better).

Have I remained true to the call and direction God has given me for my ministry?

Once we have honestly answered these questions, we need to take action. Then you can complete the final stage of the welfare check.

If you are doing well, then keep doing what you are doing. You can take comfort in the fact that you are on the right track, doing what God has required of you.

If you are lacking in some areas, then your actions should be corrective in nature. Repair your relationships and spend time nurturing them.

This may seem time consuming, but it is not. Most people will just appreciate that you care enough to inquire. They will let you know what is needed to maintain a good relationship. The benefits in this is twofold, as the welfare check also affords you the opportunity to express what you need in return. So that all is well from your point of view too. Once everyone involved has a clear understanding, you can all move forward together.

The final stage of the welfare check is to talk to God.

Life is full of distractions (I know, I say this all the time – because it is true!). Working hard brings a lot of stress (distraction). The stress takes our focus in many directions. As long as their is something to stress over, we will always fight distraction.

God is able to remove stress (or worry). He tells us to cast our care on him because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Give him our stress and refuse to take it back. This will keep us focused.

Looking at the scripture text in 1 Corinthians, we are reminded of why we work in God’s vineyard. We are reminded of why we care about God’s people, of why we fast, and why we pray. We are reminded of why we suffer, of why we constantly extend ourselves out to be hurt and rejected.

There is a reason. We have a goal that we are working towards. We want to see God’s face in peace and forever be with him in glory.

Yes, every now and then we need to remind ourselves of this most important fact. We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed…

The remembrance of this fact is enough to encourage us to keep on fighting the good fight. And don’t be fooled – it is a fight! But it is a fight that we will win! We have to fight not to give up or to give in. We fight to stay encouraged. We fight to keep moving forward even when we feel we are alone in the battle.

My Monday Morning Encouragement is this: be steadfast, unloveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.

Understand that you may not always find encouragement from other people. But know how to encourage yourself in the Lord.

Do your welfare checks at least quarterly.

Seek the Lord daily

Know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

God will bless the hard work you put in for your family and for your God.

This is Monday Encouragement!

Have a blessed day!

www.youtube.com/watch

Haggai 1:5-7

“⁵ Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

⁶ Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

⁷ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”

Have you ever felt like you are working and working, but not getting anywhere. Do you feel you all of your effort is wasted?

If you find your self here, take a step back, stop moving, and just wait.

Take some time to consider your ways.

Consider is defined as think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision. think about and be drawn toward (a course of action).

Most of the time the frustration we feel with our situations is because we did not take the time to consider the situation fully. We moved before we allowed God to pull us in the direction we should go.

Patience is a virtue. It is an essential component to success. Yes success involves risk, but it is a calculated risk. Risk that is based on experience and research.

Most of the time, we move with out consideration, research, or communication with God. To continue to act without consideration is a breeding ground for frustration and failure.

So yes, take a step back. Ask God if your plan lines up with his plan for your life. If so, wait for him to draw you to a course of action. While you wait, prayerfully research and learn as much as you can. When you are pointed toward a God-inspired direction you will be better prepared to possess the land.

Be prepared to be obedient.

If you are not walking in obedience you will miss what God is trying to do with your life. God cannot work with a disobedient soldier. Your rebellion against the plan that God has for you will increase your frustration and poor decision making.

Consider your ways. There is a reason why you are having this Haggai experience. Find out why, repent, and walk in obedience.

Have a blessed week!

A major part of any relationship is appreciating the one you love. When you do, you just want to talk about the one you love to anyone who will listen.

To that end I just want to take time to talk about God to anyone who will listen. He has been so good to us all whether we realize it or not.

Today, I am thinking about (and appreciating) the mercy of God. For he was thinking about me while I was yet stinking in my sinful ways. I did not deserve his goodness, but he considered the plans he has for me more than the reality of where I am “right now.”

God is rich (plentiful; abundant) in mercy. There is no danger of him running out.

Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

God could have, at any time, punished us for the wrong we are guilty of. Instead he chose to extend his mercy toward us. Yes, I truly appreciate the mercy of God!

Full of Mercy:

Ephesians 2:4-5 “4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

Today, I am also thinking about the patience and long suffering of God. There are times when we feel like we are on a hamster wheel – just running in circles. We make the same mistakes, make the same choices, over and over again. We get the same results and wonder if things will ever get better.

God could have turned his back on us, but he did not. Instead, he waits patiently for us. He orders our steps, and takes corrective actions to bring us back in line. Because we are human, and a little hard headed, it takes time for the “light bulb” to come on for us. The light bulb that lights the way to a new path with smarter decisions. Causing a change in our life.

This light bulb finally came on for me. Allowing me to think better, to talk better, and to have a closer (different – more intimate) relationship with God.

It took time – a lot of time. To get here, I had to bump my head a lot. But through it all God was patient with me. He showed me his patience and long suffering over and over again. I sincerely appreciate that!

Patient:

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Long suffering:

Exodus 34:6 “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”

Romans 5:3-5 “3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Today, I also am also thinking about God’s sovereignty. By definition, sovereign is possessing supreme or ultimate power. God can do what he wants to, when he wants to for he is God.

I appreciate this attribute because I am a planner. I set a goal, then devise a plan to achieve it, the I try to execute the plan. This makes sense, however, you have to allow space for changes in the plan. Why? Because God is sovereign.

Many times our plan does not line up with God’s plan for us. With this conflict, God’s plan will always prevail, and our plan will take the back seat. We have to be willing to let God be God in our lives. This means not always having things our way – and being okay with it.

I appreciate God for truly being in control!

Sovereign:

Psalms 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Proverbs16:9 “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

Proverbs 19:21 “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.”

God is all of this and so much more. He truly is EVERYTHING!

When we do not actively pursue a relationship with him, we short change ourselves. In our daily struggle to achieve, accomplish and obtain, we tend to lose focus of God.

But God is faithful. He exercises his mercy, Long suffering, and patience toward us continually. He wants us to understand he is a sovereign God. He does what he pleases- it is always to work his purpose.

What do we do when what we want is not the same as what God wants for us? Hopefully we will yield to God’s will, but realistically the best thing we can do in this case is to spend time with God in personal devotion time (praise and true worship).

Why? Because it is impossible to come into his presence and not be changed. Just look at Moses. He went in with a open heart, but came out a servant of God. Let God do the work. You just position yourself at his feet.

God is full of mercy – he is working for us even when we don’t deserve it.

God is long suffering – he does not give up on us, or turn his back on us,

God is patient – he will order our steps a taking us on the path that leads back to him.

God is sovereign – he does what he pleases for his own purpose.

God shows us his goodness because his ultimate goal is the saving of our souls.