So I sat down with my idea book and began flipping through the pages. I ran across some notes from messages I heard this summer. Below one of the outlines I discovered some notes I had written about a specific passage of Scripture – Matthew 14:13-21. It’s where Jesus feeds the 5,000 plus leftovers. But before He did His thing He told the disciples to feed them. When they complained all they had was some biscuits and a couple of fish He told them to bring the bread and fish to Him. It’s then He did the miraculous. Here are the notes I made about that particular passage:

• Jesus takes over when we come to the end of ourselves
• We come to the beginning of Jesus when we come to the end of ourselves (yes it’s redundant – just another way of saying the first thing)
• Stop whining about what I don’t have and start looking for/at what I do have to offer God
• God does the most amazing things when we give Him all we have
• What we see as a problem, God sees as an opportunity.

Here’s where that’s applicable to me -

• I need to stop worrying and whining about the finances I don’t have and give God the money I DO have!!

• What I see as a problem (lack of funds) God sees as an opportunity (give Him what I do have – don’t know the how or the what, but God can provide all I need and then some, eh?)

Hey guys, where are you struggling? What are you worrying about? What do you have you can give God now? Take some time and prayerfully give it to God. That’s what I’m going to do. Join me?

Mike

I began sharing the process of becoming the men God designed and desired us to be with Alex. I found it interesting that Alex commented that men will not attempt the process for fear. Fear of. . .? Fear of failure. He shared with me that because men fear failure so much they will not begin the process. They are afraid they will mess up in the process.
I never made the connection before. But I think Alex may be right. We men won’t even attempt to become the men God designed and desires us to be because we are so afraid of falling in the process.

Then. . .then I’m reminded that the Bible records the failings great men of God.

• David fell when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, then committed murder when he had one of his most loyal warriors sent to the greatest battle knowing Uriah’s chances of being killed in battle were the highest. And yes, Uriah was killed faithfully serving his king.
• Abraham convinced Sarah to lie about being his wife when they went to Egypt.
• Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to it as God instructed.
• Peter openly and publicly denied Christ.
• Elijah ran for his life after he witnessed God send down fire from heaven to consume not only an offering but the entire altar before the people of Israel.

I used to have a boss who said that he didn’t mind me messing up because it showed I was trying. Guys, we mess up. To be honest, we’re going to mess up. We’re guys! That’s what we do. So why not mess up trying to be the man God and your wife want you to be. Life will go on. Believe me when I tell you it will go a long way with both.
Mike