The choices we make now and the things that we do are forming who we will become in the end. Grab that cup of coffee and let's get your day started on the right foot.
Sowing and reaping...
Today's thought:
Galatians 6:7-8, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
Richard S. Halverson, the former U.S. Senate Chaplain, used to challenge people with the following image:
You're going to meet an old man [or woman] someday down the road—ten, thirty, fifty years from now—waiting there for you. You'll be catching up with him [or her]. What kind of old man are you going to meet? He may be a seasoned, soft, gracious fellow—a gentleman who has grown old gracefully, surrounded by hosts of friends, friends who call him blessed because of what his life has meant to them. Or he may be a bitter, disillusioned, dried-up old buzzard without a good word for anyone—soured, friendless, and alone.
That old man will be you. He'll be the composite of everything you do, say, and think—today and tomorrow. His mind will he see in a mold you have made by your beliefs. His heart will be turning out what you've been putting into it. Every little thought, every deed goes into this old man.
Every day in every way you are becoming more and more like yourself. Amazing but true. You're beginning to look more like yourself, think more like yourself, and talk more like yourself. You're becoming yourself more and more. Live only in terms of what you're getting out of life and the old man gets smaller drier harder crabbier more self-centered. Open your life to others, think in terms of what you can give, your contribution to life, and the old man grows larger, softer, kindlier, and greater. [Daniel Henderson, The Deeper Life (Bethany House Publishers]
Prayer: Our Father, within us beats the desire to be holy as you are holy. We thank you that you supply the power to do this. But we know a man reaps what he sows. There is a responsibility for us too and we ask you to teach us the ways we sow to the Spirit so we may grow in clearer likeness to you, whom we love and long for. In Jesus name, amen.