Yesterday, in my travels, I was seated on a plane near a group of people that were travelling together who could not stop telling stories that apparently were enormously funny to them!
I have to say that at first it was a little annoying but then, I couldn’t help but start smiling myself as I heard rolling uproarious laugh after laugh after laugh. Think about it for a moment. When you are around that kind of humor, it somehow “rubs off “on you, doesn’t it? (I think Solomon would have said “A merry heart makes good like a medicine.” Proverbs)
It’s not to say that our problems go away, but we can decide whether what rubs off from us is the joy of the Lord or the heaviness and weight of our difficulties. I know we shouldn’t mask our issues, but we do have a choice to make and I think being joyful, being happy, even laughing at times are choices that can lift our souls.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Travel Time
When we read scripture, we’re usually not very impacted by the fact that everywhere that the disciples (and Jesus) went, they did so on foot. Today I’m in cars and airplanes and travelling many miles in the same amount of time that it would take the disciples and Jesus to travel about 20 miles in their day.
What an amazing gift that we have to be so free to move about and experience so much of the variety of our nation and world and other cultures. However, we also have the cost of doing so, which is far more than financial. The stress of travel, the physical challenges and all the rest plays a toll upon us that sometimes tends to overwhelm a body's capacity to stay rested and focused.
I think that’s why Jesus was so able to “always hear the Father’s voice.” I pray that in my day of travel I’ll remain in touch with the Lord and that you will as well.
These are little things, but cumulatively it’s what makes the difference between walking with the Lord and just knowing about Him.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
What an amazing gift that we have to be so free to move about and experience so much of the variety of our nation and world and other cultures. However, we also have the cost of doing so, which is far more than financial. The stress of travel, the physical challenges and all the rest plays a toll upon us that sometimes tends to overwhelm a body's capacity to stay rested and focused.
I think that’s why Jesus was so able to “always hear the Father’s voice.” I pray that in my day of travel I’ll remain in touch with the Lord and that you will as well.
These are little things, but cumulatively it’s what makes the difference between walking with the Lord and just knowing about Him.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Monday, June 8, 2009
I Can Feel It Coming
As I wrap up a very brief 6 day trip out west, I’m already in the process of packing and sending some things home and preparing to join Carol and our North Way family on Wednesday morning.
It’s interesting, however, to already sense the rising of the level of “expectations” that come with our full time responsibilities. I love what God has allowed me to do at North Way and hope to continue to provide faithful leadership until the Lord determines otherwise, but I’m also aware that short breaks like this help us to recalibrate just a little and refocus a lot on how much we have to invest in staying close to Jesus in the midst of the pressures of life.
I hope you have the opportunity this summer to do just that. It does remarkable things to your soul to not have things to worry about or try to fulfill even for just a few days.
I look forward to being home but I don’t want to lose that deep soul connection, that intimacy with Jesus that is the literal “abundant life.”
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
It’s interesting, however, to already sense the rising of the level of “expectations” that come with our full time responsibilities. I love what God has allowed me to do at North Way and hope to continue to provide faithful leadership until the Lord determines otherwise, but I’m also aware that short breaks like this help us to recalibrate just a little and refocus a lot on how much we have to invest in staying close to Jesus in the midst of the pressures of life.
I hope you have the opportunity this summer to do just that. It does remarkable things to your soul to not have things to worry about or try to fulfill even for just a few days.
I look forward to being home but I don’t want to lose that deep soul connection, that intimacy with Jesus that is the literal “abundant life.”
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Friday, June 5, 2009
How the giants fall
Yesterday I completed a short book by Jim Collins (author of Good to Great) who studied major corporations and institutions that fell from prominence over the past couple of decades.
This is not the forum to discuss the details of his findings, but the single word that sums up the most common mistake that was made by every organization that took a serious tumble, if not complete dissolution, is “pride”. People simply thought they were invincible or that they could keep expanding without ever counting the cost.
It’s interesting when “social scientists” get factual details that support what God’s word says so clearly “pride goes before a fall”! I expect this is true of our personal lives as well. I know it reminded me to take inventory of where I’ve gotten a little bit overconfident and I asked God to keep me in that place of humility and constant trust in His care for me on a day-to-day basis.
I hope you’ll do the same!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
This is not the forum to discuss the details of his findings, but the single word that sums up the most common mistake that was made by every organization that took a serious tumble, if not complete dissolution, is “pride”. People simply thought they were invincible or that they could keep expanding without ever counting the cost.
It’s interesting when “social scientists” get factual details that support what God’s word says so clearly “pride goes before a fall”! I expect this is true of our personal lives as well. I know it reminded me to take inventory of where I’ve gotten a little bit overconfident and I asked God to keep me in that place of humility and constant trust in His care for me on a day-to-day basis.
I hope you’ll do the same!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Thursday, June 4, 2009
It's Never "Easy"
The one thing that most of us want to do from time to time is to "get away from it all and just relax.” In fact, every study over recent years suggests this is essential for long-term productivity and "stress control."
But have you noticed that it's never that easy to do? Finding the time is difficult. There's always something for work or school or other commitments that seems to hold us; but even when we do get away, our "electronic tools" relentlessly seek us out.
I finally turned my phone "off" for today after receiving 10 calls in 3 hours. I'm savoring the thought that I can, for a short while, "be still and KNOW the He is God." I'll have to diligently work to not wonder who called or what emails I missed, but strangely, the world will go on just fine without me jumping every time some one reaches out.
It's never easy for any of us to make time to be still, but it makes it easier when we remember that Jesus has been patiently waiting for us.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
But have you noticed that it's never that easy to do? Finding the time is difficult. There's always something for work or school or other commitments that seems to hold us; but even when we do get away, our "electronic tools" relentlessly seek us out.
I finally turned my phone "off" for today after receiving 10 calls in 3 hours. I'm savoring the thought that I can, for a short while, "be still and KNOW the He is God." I'll have to diligently work to not wonder who called or what emails I missed, but strangely, the world will go on just fine without me jumping every time some one reaches out.
It's never easy for any of us to make time to be still, but it makes it easier when we remember that Jesus has been patiently waiting for us.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Physicals
This part of my “road trip” includes a rather extensive physical today.
This is something I began doing a few years ago that’s far above and beyond anything my local doctor does. At first, I wondered if it was “too much” and would uncover things I didn’t want to know about.
But, so far, the opposite has been true. It’s good to know where you are physically and to know where you might need some work!
Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5. The implication is the same. We would do well to look at our hearts and souls and ask God how we’re really doing. It doesn’t hurt if we ask a trusted friend to give us some feedback as well. We’re often blind to our weakness our chose to ignore it and such “exams” can alter the course of our destiny!
Blessings,Dr. Jay
This is something I began doing a few years ago that’s far above and beyond anything my local doctor does. At first, I wondered if it was “too much” and would uncover things I didn’t want to know about.
But, so far, the opposite has been true. It’s good to know where you are physically and to know where you might need some work!
Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5. The implication is the same. We would do well to look at our hearts and souls and ask God how we’re really doing. It doesn’t hurt if we ask a trusted friend to give us some feedback as well. We’re often blind to our weakness our chose to ignore it and such “exams” can alter the course of our destiny!
Blessings,Dr. Jay
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Packing Light
I’m about to go on a one week trip that has several purposes. I’ll be in a few different cities and yet the goal on a trip like this is to not pile too many things in your suitcase for obvious reasons!
What I find is, however, that packing is a lot like living. There’s so many ways that you can envision yourself using your time that you want to try to be prepared for every scenario and thereby keep adding things in the bag.
In life, we add people and relationships, books and CDs, blogs and tweets, and then a whole lot of opportunities and wonder why life can still feel “heavy”!
This is a discipline, above all, I think. As I look through my bag I decided I didn’t need this item or that, even though it may prove to be a mistake!
But that’s where faith comes in and that’s where in life we have to make the same choices. Travel light… and trust Jesus to provide as needed.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
What I find is, however, that packing is a lot like living. There’s so many ways that you can envision yourself using your time that you want to try to be prepared for every scenario and thereby keep adding things in the bag.
In life, we add people and relationships, books and CDs, blogs and tweets, and then a whole lot of opportunities and wonder why life can still feel “heavy”!
This is a discipline, above all, I think. As I look through my bag I decided I didn’t need this item or that, even though it may prove to be a mistake!
But that’s where faith comes in and that’s where in life we have to make the same choices. Travel light… and trust Jesus to provide as needed.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
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