Category: Success Tips

Where there is a sign, there is the potential for the reality to appear. Yesterday I was out shovelling the snow that had drifted into our front walk. There was not a lot of snow ,but with the high winds again today whatever snow we did get produced diminished visibility and unpleasant conditions. While I was outside cleaning the sidewalk I heard the once familiar sound of honking geese. I say “once familiar,” because it has been a number of months since this has happened. Living on the edge of town with fields on three sides, beyond the resident Canadian geese population, we have large numbers who stop over on their trek further north.

It was only a small, low flying flock, but it was the first of 2019. The first sign that winter might perhaps be close to relinquishing its grip on our area. This is certainly something to hope for.

Hope is an interesting thing. Without hope people will give up and give in. There are parts of our world that are hoping for rain. Since our ground is water saturated and the water table is almost to ground level again, I for one, am hoping for some dry weather. The reality is our ability to create reality out of hope is limited.

We cannot get along without hope, but we need more than hope. Our hope needs to be fuelled by faith for things to begin to materialize in this world. Faith, at its most powerful point is really knowingness. Yet, hope and faith as powerful as they are still comes up short, if they are not encased in unselfish love. God’s Word identifies this kind of love as “agape love.”

This is the kind of love that God reserves for His relationship with you. It is also the kind of love He desires for you to manifest in your life. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” You want to incorporate this dynamic trio in your life.

There is an account in the Book of Genesis, in the Bible, which tells the story of the life of a man who chose to do the right thing and trust God in the midst of difficulties. He believed God would work it all out. His name was Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery. Placed in prison for taking the moral high ground and rejecting the sexual advances of his owner’s wife. Left in prison when he helped a fellow prisoner. Joseph could easily have become discouraged and negative for all the things that happened in his life.

Ultimately God promoted Joseph to the second most powerful political position in the nation and was then used to save the lives of countless people during a time of a severe, widespread famine across many nations. This led to the reuniting and reconciliation of his family. When Joseph’s brothers learned that he was alive and in a position of great power they feared for their lives. Joseph’s response found in Genesis 50:20-21 speaks volumes of his character and maturity in that moment of time. He declared, “‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. {21} So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this principle as well in Romans 8:28 where he writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I mentioned in a blog article recently of our family’s dream building activity in terms of a house in the future. That was not the only thing that was considered. My wardrobe is aging. Our family has faced some financial challenges in recent months and things are very tight. We know the present in under the Christmas tree, but the time to open that present is still to come.

One of the things which Joel Bauer, one of my mentors taught me years ago was the importance of how we dress. Some of the shirts I have had over the years are beginning to wear and I was looking for replacements, but the type of shirt I am looking for does not find its way into used clothing stores very often. A friend suggested a website a while back, where if you are willing to wait for things to arrive, you can get some great deals. I took a chance a while ago and purchased a shirt. That shirt arrived this week. I was sceptical about the quality, because the ad said it was worth $225.00. I paid with shipping, less than half the price Canadian for an average department store shirt of the same style.

I have never worn a $225.00 shirt before this week. I was amazed by the quality and feel of the material. Now I know first hand the difference between what I have had and what I just received. I could not get the specific colour I wanted, because they are now sold out, but I did order another one. I have been blessed with two quality shirts for less than it would cost for one in a department store.

My daughter Andrea has been incredibly busy dealing with the year end bookkeeping for the business, plus everything else on her plate. Yesterday morning she took the time to come with me and play the piano for the church service at the County nursing home. The people really appreciate it when she does this. We had been discussing earlier how we did not know where finances to pay the next round of bills would come from. A couple of hours ago she received an email telling her congratulations, she had just received payment for an affiliate program sign up. This is a legitimate payment that will pay one of her bills for next month.

In the midst of challenges, who do you trust. God is true to His Word when you are willing to trust Him, even when you do not see how things will work out. But that is what faith is all about, isn’t it? What will your life’s story reveal about you and your faith?