Saturday (5/17/2014)

Update:

Friday morning I headed to the church office to work on my message for Sunday.  I was able to get that finished along with some other things that needed doing.   I worked until 4 p.m. and then headed home.

Looking at the weather, I decided to take a quick ride on my motorcycle to try out the adjustments that Jon and I made.  I ended up putting on about 30 miles.  It is much better with the changes we’ve made.  With my prosthesis, I do have to lift my leg to “stomp” with my heel to shift, so it is a bit of a new movement, but I got comfortable fairly quickly doing it.  It is funny that usually you have to work to find Neutral.  With the new heel shifter, I usually have to double shift from first to get to second, otherwise I’m coasting in Neutral.  I’m getting the hang of it and it feels good to get out on the bike.  And as I twisted and turned on various roads, I managed to miss all the scattered showers that went through the area so that I never got wet!

I made dinner for Karen and I and then started some laundry.  Afterwards I did my box and stretch bands exercises.  Think of step aerobics for a prosthesis wearer when I say box exercises; however it is nothing so intense.   The stretch bands really work my shoulders and back muscles.

After that I walked to end of my block and back.  It felt so good to get out for a walk even if by other’s standards I didn’t go far—it was a good distance for me.  In the spirit of those who post the distance and times of their runs—I went 240 yards with a cane in about 12 minutes.  LOL.

Tonight I am really going to go to bed earlier.  I keep saying that each night but still turn the lights out after 10:30 or 11 p.m.   That is way too late for getting up at 4:30 a.m. even if I do sneak a nap in later in the day.  I need more beauty sleep—who can argue with that!?!

On Saturday I’ve got a late-morning wedding to attend over in Sand Creek (about an hour’s drive one way) and then I have two graduation parties to attend later in the afternoon. 

Thought for the Day:

This morning (Saturday) I’m out of time and need to leave for the wedding of a family friend.  At church, I am just concluding a message series on Stewardship—taking the resources that God has entrusted to us and putting them to use for the Master.  I’m concluding with two messages on our financial resources.  Os Hillman’s Today God is First devotional message (5/17/2014) nicely parallels my thoughts.  So I’ve copied it for your consideration today.  God bless you!  Enjoy the day!

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income" (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

A successful businessman once confided in another businessman known for his wisdom. "I've made a lot of money. I will soon be able to retire comfortably and do just about anything I want."

"John," the wise businessman replied to the man, "I've noticed that every time someone thinks they've built a tree that is so tall it almost reaches heaven, God often decides to shake the tree."

The minute we start trusting in riches, God will, in fact, "shake the tree" to demonstrate who is the source of wealth to turn us back to trusting Him completely. He did it in my life, and He'll do it in your life too because He loves us too much to allow us to continue down this destructive path.

Money is mentioned more than 2,000 times in the scripture. Jesus used it many times in illustrating an important lesson to his disciples. He spoke often of being a good steward of the resources He entrusted to us. He wanted a return on His investment and He wanted us to stay away from making money an idol in our lives.

Jesus understood that He was here on earth only to do the will of the Father. "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; He can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does."

As we look at our relationship to our heavenly Father and our use of money, it is clear that we, like Jesus, are here to do the will of the Father in all areas of life. This means seeking to live a life that is totally yielded to His purposes -even in the financial area.

Money, independence, and security are often the reasons many start their own businesses or change jobs. Check your motives today and see if your financial life can stand Jesus' scrutiny. Are you operating as a steward of the financial resources He has entrusted to you?