Monthly Archives: March 2016

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Decisions


Our youngest child, Britton, struggles with making decisions.

It’s not surprising, as B is the youngest of three kids in the Carver house.  His older sister and brother have been making decisions for B his entire life.  It’s like he’s got two dads and two moms.  Advice abounds for the little guy.

Truth be told, I struggle with decisions too.

I often know what needs to be done in my life, but I resist.  I make choices out of selfish desires, wants and convenience.

Fortunately, Jesus never flinched when faced with the biggest decision in history.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus knew why he was sent to this earth.

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

How often do we think about the magnitude of that decision?  Jesus died so that we might live.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

My prayer this next week is to intentionally reflect the power of this one, unselfish decision- and to seek the counsel of Jesus for all the choices of my life.

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

Please let me know how I may pray for you.

(Kentucky Lake sunrise; March 16, 2016.  Big Sandy, TN)

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Overpaid


My son, JT, and I recently attended an NBA game to celebrate his birthday. We loved the pagentry of the arena and the passion of the fans as their teams made a final push for playoff spots.

We investigated team rosters to better follow the action. Interestingly enough, the online information also included their salaries. These men were all earning between $1-15 million a year to play basketball.

Ironically, it didn’t seem that all of these players were working that hard. The offenses were incredible, but the defense was non-existent. Players weren’t getting back on defense and the lack of effort to guard the offensive players was startling.

JT remarked that his youth league coaches would demand more effort.

We agreed that the coaches weren’t getting their money’s worth out of their teams.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

It’s a good thing that God isn’t so critical of my performance.

I’m flawed. I sin.

I struggle with a hardened heart.

I don’t deserve the rewards that God has promised me.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

But Jesus died for me. You too. He died so we could be saved from sin. And while I can never repay this sacrifice, I owe it to Him to put away all my sinful habits and to try and be the man that God desires.

I’m overpaid, but grateful.

Please pray for me to be more loving and forgiving. And let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.

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Kindness

  
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

It had been a really tough week. 

I felt pressure to get a project off my desk and I only had a couple of days to make it happen. I had been in the office late for several nights in a row. Tim, our nighttime facilities worker for our floor must have noticed the stressed, hectic activity over the three-day span. Usually conversational and engaging, he simply cleaned around my office and generally left me alone. 

One evening as I was leaving, I noticed a small package sitting in my outer office. It was a plate of food- leftovers from a luncheon that had occurred earlier in the day. There was a sticky note on the top of the covered plate that said “you’ve had a lot on your plate this week…hope this plate of dinner might help you. Good luck.”

This sort of thing certainly wasn’t in Tim’s job description. But Tim noticed that I was rushed, stressed and probably not that pleasant to be around. This one simple act of kindness changed my whole outlook on the project- and especially my day.

We are often consumed with our own projects, worries and thoughts. I pray for increased awareness to look around me and see how I can help others. It’s not always in those big, courageous acts either. We can lift the spirit of another with a simple, unspoken action.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

May we all be made aware of opportunities for kindness to others. God bless.

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