The habit I’ve developed over the past few years is waking up early during the week or sleeping in a little on Saturday but then before anything else I read God’s word. Right now I’m reading the bible reading plan: “The Bible With Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version” with some friends at my church. Then throughout the week as thoughts from the reading plan, sermons at church, music from my radio, podcast type sessions, life…I note thoughts then try to flesh them out here. It’s a bit selfish that I do this but rethinking through these “moments” helps me put them in my mind. I do not know how many times I’ll hear something and think that’ll be a good subject for the blog but then forget before I can write it down!
Today’s post is a “But God” moment I came across. Those who’ve been around me might know I love a good “But God” moment from scripture.
He is my strength!
When I get down and rattled by a negative thought he reminds me he’s there with me. It happened just this week. I’m in an early morning bible study with a group of men who meet once a week and discuss a passage of scripture. (Right now we’re reading Colossians.) Our leader sent out a topic of discussion for our next meeting late Wednesday evening to think about before our meeting (Thursday morning). When I first read it, I immediately went to a negative thought place, thinking “what can I talk about that’s positive”. The question was: “As you look over the last year, what changes for the better have you seen in your thoughts and attitudes?” As I said, I went negative then paused to think a minute. In the middle of negative points were positives. All throughout my life he’s my strength, he has placed moments and people in my life to surround me in the good times and the bad times. I could list time after time of these both positive and negative moments but the one paragraph that stuck out to me from my bible reading plan that morning and what I shared with the group is:
“History is in many ways a story of influence. Leadership is about influence. Everyone influences someone. Therefore, in a sense, everyone is a leader. Sociologists tell us that even the most introverted individual will influence 10,000 other people during his or her lifetime. We all influence one another in all sorts of ways – from what to have for lunch and what films to watch, to more important matters of truth and ethics. My life has been influenced by so many people – my parents, teachers, friends and family. Just as I have been influenced by others, inevitably what I do and say will influence others for good or ill. As the African proverb puts it, ‘If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.’ The mosquito makes a difference in an annoying way, but the principle is the same. One person can stop a great injustice. One person can be a voice for truth. One person’s kindness can save a life. Each person matters. How can you maximise your influence and use that influence for good?” – Nicky Gumbel
Oh Death:
“You ain’t nothing but a stone that my Savior rolled away!”
Those negative thoughts are dead to me, HE’s my strength! I’ve got 10,000 reasons to praise his Holy name! (I just need to remember more often!)
Leave you annoying mosquito!!
Goodbye Yesterday!
I have decided…
Michael A. Gilbert 