Some people are not easily excited. I on the other hand get tore up about everything. What I am saying is that I try, and I emphasize “try” to see God at work in everything. When I am going through a hallelujah anyhow time, I try to see that God is preparing me for another season, strengthening me through pruning, and refinement. During the good times, I try not to forget to give Him the glory in all things.
I read “Burke’s Brainwork” yesterday, and Mr. Burke’s blog yesterday spoke of change! Today I had the blessing of listening to Mr. Rich Crist’s testimony about the love of God through change, family and team work! You should have been here, it would have placed glory bumps on you from head to toe!!! For details about the Crist review on “Burke’s Brainwork,” please read the review at: http://burkesbrainwork.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/review-crist-family-declaration/
Today Mickey Gamble, and Jeff Collins two of the greatest men I know, and not just because I work for them, also spoke of the positive change in this “team.” The change in transitioning from one home to another, from one state to another, from a passenger van to a touring bus (a much needed and well deserved bus)! This kind of change and enthusiam is contageous. We as Christians should embrace this type of change and enthusiam. How can I bless Christ by telling you that I had a good feeling about what I saw in a moved to near tears Rich Crist! Sorry Mr. C. I was there with you, and nearly shed a few myself! What I felt today, shows me “Travis” an imperfect man, the perfection of Jesus Christ manifested through the goodness of man. Not because Rich Crist almost shed a tear or two, but because he was grateful, and wanted everyone to know just how much! Not just grateful towards Horizon, or Crossroads, but grateful for the goodness of God Almighty! The will to be as Coach Dungy says, “umcommon!” The will to do the ridiculous for the glory of God!
Mr. Gamble (Mickey who will get me for calling him Mr.) said that he asked himself several WW questions before getting up today. You know the WWJD type questions? You know if you are age 8 to 80 you have owned at least one WWJD bracelet, so you know what I’m talking about, even atheist wore them! He (Mickey) said that when the question was presented in his mind what would the Crist Family do, he replied with: the Crist Family would just get it done! I do not want a phone to ring, to wait for my blessing, I do not want retailers to wait for a customer to come to them to bless them with a sale, and I do not want a Christian to wait on the economy to make them feel good about what God is doing right now! My desire is that we go after the blessing, wrestle with that angel, and get it done! I, like Mickey, will refrain from using our friend Larry the Cable guys bag of tricks, and catch phrase, but it is time to get on fire for God, and the good changes He has in store for us, and that are taking place right now, and not treat them as though they are problems that are too big for God to handle!
A good friend of mine wrote a note to me about change, and said this, “You so often experience change as though something terrible were happening when in reality the change is moving you from confinement into freedom, from habit to truth. Crossroads are the call to exploration.” I loved the way Mel ended it with Crossroads! Thank you Melanie!
Hear the inaudible, see the invisible, do the impossible…but only if you have faith! Do not fear change, embrace it. Rush Hour, Lunch Hour, and most any hour traffic is still heavy, people are still going out on the weekdays, weeknights, and weekends. The restaurants are packed and so are the stores, and people are afraid of the US going under! Think I’m lying try to get into the Asheville Mall, and most malls in America on Friday night without dealing with traffic and droves of people!
Yes I was one that complained when gas went to $4 a gallon, and I was concerned when the price of milk, and other household products increased in price with it. But no matter how high prices get, or how much the COL (Costs of Living) increases, I can conclude with my favorite song from the new Crist CD Declaration, “Nothing But Good,” God’s been nothing but good to me, even when I have been a wretch that has broken the 11th commandment time and time again…Thou shall not belly ache! Be blessed and be inspired by God through His Word, His musicians, and in all of His creation!
