There are many things that acquire from our parents or others in our family. Our families pass on genetic traits... whether it be physical appearance, personality, disease, addiction, etc... both good and bad things. There are some things that are taught to us or that we pick up just from the experience of living with our parents and family. Again, they could be good or bad. For example, my dad would do whatever he had to do to win, even against us kids growing up. I find myself in the same boat when playing with my kids. I WILL win the game... no mercy :) Seriously though, while there are characteristics like my example that may be funny, there are some things that are not so funny... often referred to as family curses... that need to be broken.

It's important that we pay close attention to timing of events that occur in our lives. We shouldn't allow time to float by or to let things just happen. For those with a destination in mind, you have to understand the value of providential moments. We serve a God with a purpose. He uses providential moments to effect and or change our current paths permanently if we are obedient. As we get closer to the end of this year of trying times, economic challenges and multiple job losses, it's imperative that we draw even closer to God.

Shepherding is that strangely wonderful, yet painful experience we all have need of. Still, when we read in Psalm 23 about the Lord being our Shepherd, we think immediately of provision, protection, peace, and any number of adjectives that have to do with comfort.

While comfort is certainly a benefit of serving the Lord, we need to remember that comfort isn't the Lord's ultimate goal for us. Rather, it is learning to be comfortable even in the midst of uncomfortable situations. Such comfort doesn't come from a denial of our circumstances, or from working really hard to achieve the comfort we desire. Rather, it comes from knowing the One who is the source of all comfort.

We have all read the scripture in Mathew 9:37: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few". As we are approaching the opening of a new facility at Church52, I was reading this scripture in context and discovered a couple of quick points I thought I would share...

Why did Jesus say this? what event occurred that caused Him to utter these words? The answer is compassion...