My brief time in Council Bluffs has been a time of learning. How are things done here? What has been done in the past? I don't know how many times I have already asked these two questions, but knowing the history and past practice is helpful in moving forward.
Most things do not line up as neatly as the flower beds pictured above. There are twists and turns, hills and valleys, and a multitude of weeds sometimes mixed in with the flowers planted so carefully. If everything was neat and tidy and lacked complexity, it would be easy to lead an organization. The reality is much different. It seems that every decision confronting me recently has a ripple effect that impacts another area. I want to be cognizant of the fact that things are not done in isolation and be vigilant in acting accordingly.
The same can be said of our spiritual journey. We do not live our faith in isolation. There is a ripple effect. Our actions influence others. Are we building up the Kingdom of God by our actions, or does our behavior negatively impact the people around us? I don't know how many times my parents said to me when I was young, "Tell me who your friends are and I will know a lot about you." If the parents of my friends said the same thing to their children, were they happy that their child was a friend of mine? Was I a good influence?
Let's bring it home to today. Do you appreciate hanging out with people who bring out the best in you? I am guessing that you do. Awesome! On the flip side, are we the kind of people who are bringing out the best in others? Let's faithfully build the Kingdom of God in our midst. Live life well. Be holy!
Most things do not line up as neatly as the flower beds pictured above. There are twists and turns, hills and valleys, and a multitude of weeds sometimes mixed in with the flowers planted so carefully. If everything was neat and tidy and lacked complexity, it would be easy to lead an organization. The reality is much different. It seems that every decision confronting me recently has a ripple effect that impacts another area. I want to be cognizant of the fact that things are not done in isolation and be vigilant in acting accordingly.
The same can be said of our spiritual journey. We do not live our faith in isolation. There is a ripple effect. Our actions influence others. Are we building up the Kingdom of God by our actions, or does our behavior negatively impact the people around us? I don't know how many times my parents said to me when I was young, "Tell me who your friends are and I will know a lot about you." If the parents of my friends said the same thing to their children, were they happy that their child was a friend of mine? Was I a good influence?
Let's bring it home to today. Do you appreciate hanging out with people who bring out the best in you? I am guessing that you do. Awesome! On the flip side, are we the kind of people who are bringing out the best in others? Let's faithfully build the Kingdom of God in our midst. Live life well. Be holy!
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