Tuesday; December 14

What is the difference between being open-minded and being wishy-washy? Often, we think of ourselves as being deep thinkers when we consider several angles of a situation – however, to others they might view us as merely being unable to make a decision. To some, focused and unwavering thought is the only way to preserve truth.
Not long ago, I was confronted with a situation that has caused me to rethink some of my opinions. On one hand, I felt like I was weak for doubting what I had believed … then, I would refocus and believe that information I have recently considered might provide increased insight. After bantering this around for a few days, I doubt that I am not much smarter and am definitely a lot more confused. I kind of liked it when I could believe one singular point and call it truth; but when I look at the credentials of those who held differing opinions, I wonder if it is arrogant to think that I am smarter than them. I don’t want to water down the truth, but I also don’t want to be so unyielding that I never grow and develop.
As I thought about this, I had the glimpse of hope, ”If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5). In essence, my confusion might not be a sign of weakness, maybe it is God’s reminder that I need to be leaning more on Him than on my discovering the one right answer. He has promised to guide us through the process, but He has never promised us that it would be easy.
Are you struggling with knowing what to do or what to believe? Let’s be willing to search out the information, but let’s never forget to pray that God will lead us to the truth.

Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Thursday; May 3

I have a fish tank that allows my three Bettas (Larry, Darrell and Darrell) to live in the same structure, but remain hidden from each other – well sort of.   When I go to feed the fish, I believe that one of the Darrell’s can sort of see that the other Darrell is getting fed and he will linger over on that side of the tank even after I put his food in his tank.   I have to tap on the side of the tank where his food is floating to help him refocus and eat.   I get the impression that he is so interested in what is going on in the other Darrell’s tank that he can’t enjoy his own food. I have been told that the brain of a fish is pretty small – which explains their inability to process “blessings”, but are we guilty of the same malady as Darrell?   Are we so worried (or consumed) by what happens to the people around us that we fail to realize what is going on with us?   Are we envious of the blessings that others are receiving and end up missing out on what we have been given?   Are w
Read more

Thursday; February 14

         While most of us are familiar with today being Valentine’s Day, there are some who actually refer to February 14 th as “St. Valentine’s Day”.  This title is often affixed to a criminally historic event known as “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” on February 14, 1929 in Chicago, but that is another story for another time.  Not knowing much about the history of “Saint Valentine” I did a little research and found out he was a Roman religious leader who was martyred in 269 AD.  According to my limited research Valentine was killed because of his encouragement of Roman men (especially soldiers) to marry which was in violation of Claudias’ edict that prohibited marriage to keep their minds singularly focused on their task of defending the Empire.  Somehow, from this beginning – and possibly embellished by Chaucer – St. Valentine became intertwined with the concept of romantic love.           I am not really sure how February 14 th became connected with love, but inspired by thi
Read more

Wednesday; December 6

What does it mean to be a leader? I subscribe to the belief that a leader is someone who seeks the best for others and works with them to achieve their potential. There are others; however, who define leadership as the ability to have a vision and the tenacity to get their own way. Leaders who are this way are often portrayed as having developed the maturity to manipulate people to do things their way. However, is the ability to drive people in our direction mature or is it childish? The Christians of the 1st Century came from a lot of different backgrounds and had to work hard to work together. As the Apostle Paul challenged Christians in the city of Ephesus he challenged them to accept individual differences, “… until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. “ (Ephesians 4:13). Bossiness was not to be viewed as a sign of maturity, a willingness to wo
Read more