tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82069902985285752262024-03-24T02:10:49.411-05:00Walking The WalkAs Christians, it’s always easy to talk the talk. Words are easy things. But it is so much harder to walk the walk by actually living our faith. Sometimes we need a little encouragement. A little advice. A little inspiration from God's Word. Perhaps even a little humor. I pray those are the things you will find here. Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-79464070735688241642024-03-20T05:00:00.017-05:002024-03-20T07:31:22.254-05:00Being Put To The Test<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR1PbRkD_vLvTjPYD_uY7w0Rmwu3pAf2tqlelIIW8mFWUwuoVXn4iX6ww0yotko_o5SUk0Mms9VyxKEkiZWLYaeQ_Ml_10WLpgQsNRcqakLd0DZz_GIux55Vh1QYMk2-EwNRkCpKdJG0UOupHcGhbWOEVfdXpvej0ihq2yWnpjxOcGBbIQHkmUjyqUgU/s6720/tests.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR1PbRkD_vLvTjPYD_uY7w0Rmwu3pAf2tqlelIIW8mFWUwuoVXn4iX6ww0yotko_o5SUk0Mms9VyxKEkiZWLYaeQ_Ml_10WLpgQsNRcqakLd0DZz_GIux55Vh1QYMk2-EwNRkCpKdJG0UOupHcGhbWOEVfdXpvej0ihq2yWnpjxOcGBbIQHkmUjyqUgU/w400-h266/tests.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><span class="text 1Pet-5-6" id="en-NIV-30472"></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="text 1Pet-5-6" id="en-NIV-30472">"</span><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473"><i>~1 Peter 5:7</i></span><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473"></span></p><p><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">When I preached my message last Sunday, I told a story that illustrates the difference between saying we believe something and actually believing something. I found myself in a situation two weeks ago, where I was right in the middle of a sermon about trusting in God, when I had to do just that. When I flipped the page on my I-Pad, I discovered the last three pages of my sermon notes were missing. And I depend on my notes a great deal--I'm meticulous about preparation! I had to wing it. Trusting that God would give me the words. </span><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">And He did. But what a test that was!<br /></span></p><p><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">There's a big difference between believing something, and being put to the test on that belief. Just ask Peter.<br /></span></p><p><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">Every once in awhile, we will find ourselves tested on what we believe. And what Peter was hitting on in this verse is really key in making through those tests.</span></p><p><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">Knowing that God cares for us. God loves us! Knowing that He is with us no matter what we're going through is so important to our faith. Knowing He is only a prayer away. Knowing that we are never alone no matter what we're facing. It is so important to remember that.</span></p><p><span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-NIV-30473">Look at challenges in your life as tests, and God uses test to make us stronger in our faith. As it says in James 1: 2-4 </span><span class="text Jas-1-2"><sup class="versenum">"2 </sup>Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,</span> <span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-NIV-30270"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-NIV-30271"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." </span></p><p><span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-NIV-30271">~Todd E. Creason </span> </p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-89085093823160390742024-03-15T08:07:00.001-05:002024-03-15T08:09:50.125-05:00Being Forged And Shaped<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVMLZLBNkn6m_ZRiEBgjAQSXzYOrtPaQR-mjHSkCCCy-Tteuch31VRAltDPE1vLzT1H2YoHv-unl2EK3do7EinSO1WLFFZs9Xwshk8M3l07Q2XBaDfPmEL5-0uJwPQh9cMnUCojpZ38QSbGeL_LyzU5cqtM-5XLOzKFav2RQdLZ62QQIbgEfOC11WRM4/s2000/Forged.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVMLZLBNkn6m_ZRiEBgjAQSXzYOrtPaQR-mjHSkCCCy-Tteuch31VRAltDPE1vLzT1H2YoHv-unl2EK3do7EinSO1WLFFZs9Xwshk8M3l07Q2XBaDfPmEL5-0uJwPQh9cMnUCojpZ38QSbGeL_LyzU5cqtM-5XLOzKFav2RQdLZ62QQIbgEfOC11WRM4/w400-h400/Forged.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</b></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~1 John 1:9</i></p><p>My wife and I have been watching a show in History Channel since 2015 called "Forged In Fire." It's a blacksmithing competition. They start with four bladesmiths each week, and through three rounds of competition where one is eliminated each round, one rises as <i>"The Forged In Fire Champion</i>" at the end of the show. And the judges always have a twist. Sometimes they're making blades out of metal from an old car, or sometimes rusty old bolts, or garden tools, etc. Or sometimes they're making a specific kind of knife, or utilizing a particular forging technique. </p><p>But forging is an art, and one of the skills necessary to be a good bladesmith is knowing how to correct an error or a flaw when one appears. If a crack forms. Or a flaw in the metal becomes known. How do you go about fixing that potential weakness before it ruins the final product?</p><p>Sometimes it's a matter of heating the metal up to forging temperature, cleaning off all the black scale that forms in the forge with a wire brush, and then folding it over and reforging it into a stronger billet of metal. But there's many ways a bladesmith uses to fix flaws in the metal as he (or she) is working it. It takes tremendous effort with a hammer and a press and the various tools the blacksmiths uses to make a strong piece of metal that can be formed into the desired shape, and then honed into a beautiful and useful knife. Failure to address the flaws in the metal often lead to failures when those knives are tested. Sometimes they bend, or even break!<br /></p><p>And looks can be deceiving. Sometimes what appears to be a solid piece of metal develops issues that have to be fixed. Sometimes a mess that looks like it should be thrown into the garbage is forged into an amazing blade that takes the bladesmith into the final round of competition. It's difficult to see what the bladesmith sees, because the bladesmith sees the potential.</p><p>Our faith is the same way. Sometimes we only see the flaws, and we don't think there's a way to fix them. We believe because of some small flaw in our past we're beyond being made into something useful for God's purposes. We fail to appreciate that we may not be able to fix those flaws--but God can. If we'll ask. God will never give up on making us what He intended for us to be. In God's eyes, we're never beyond being saved, being made stronger, being refined and improved until we become what the maker has seen in us all along.</p><p>It's important for us to be able to recognize the flaws, but trust in God to help us fix them. </p><p>~Todd E. Creason <br /></p><p><br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-83015332191121490762024-02-22T10:13:00.009-06:002024-02-22T10:28:52.524-06:00Taking The High Road<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hdGAblkE03s_iKYFuXxfAdaV-SHBHmK0ZwxadjyXT5PTLfw-IBO8o4VTDqARy6nKgwzb4oLCuuomWWseXTrHnGvvw22j1DmWCZe8uemQ7oapEWnNK67hisuo5LezY8SsHVMWYk8kMZ7RGC_cXiRNJfLXiQLPMikejGXnxsekD6glvoqBEflzWB8-d8Y/s3818/high%20road%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3818" data-original-width="3818" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hdGAblkE03s_iKYFuXxfAdaV-SHBHmK0ZwxadjyXT5PTLfw-IBO8o4VTDqARy6nKgwzb4oLCuuomWWseXTrHnGvvw22j1DmWCZe8uemQ7oapEWnNK67hisuo5LezY8SsHVMWYk8kMZ7RGC_cXiRNJfLXiQLPMikejGXnxsekD6glvoqBEflzWB8-d8Y/w400-h400/high%20road%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense."</b></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Proverbs 19:11</i></p><p>We make decisions about how we interact with people. We decide how we're going to react in a situation. We decide what we're going to say. We decide what we're going to do. Those decisions we make in every situation in our life is ours to make. We are (or should be) in complete control. </p><p>But we can't control what other people do. We can't control what other people say. We can't control the behavior of other people.<br /></p><p>And I know what you're thinking--well thank you very much Captain Obvious!</p><p>These things are obvious, yet we spend so much time complaining about what other people say and do, and making excuses for how we've reacted to them. Too often we read motives into other people's actions that may or may not actually be there, and when we do that it escalates issues because it skews our perception of what's actually going on. We become "hypersensitive" to everything somebody does, because we're convinced they're "out to get us." I deal with that from time to time--trying to deal with somebody's "perception" of what I'm saying rather than the "reality" of what I'm saying. <br /></p><p>So you see the problem, right? We want to complain about other people's bad behavior, and then also blame them for ours when we react badly! Sound familiar?<br /></p><p>We control one side. Our side. We <i>are</i> responsible for our side. We can't blame other people for <i>our behavior</i>. We can try, but in the end, what we've said or done is on us. And that's what we need to work on more often than not. </p><p>If we'd simply just focus on our side of that equation, wouldn't our life be a lot simpler? If we focused on how we react to things, wouldn't our life be more peaceful? If we'd pause long enough to pray about an issue before we react, would that help a bunch? If we just got into a mindset where we let other people do what they're going to do, and worry just about how we're going to deal with it--wouldn't that take a lot of stress, and anxiety, and anger, and upset off the table? </p><p>As it says in Proverbs. Wisdom gives us the ability to be patient--to be able to discern between what is important and what it not. To be able to stop and think about how we're going to respond in a thoughtful way--in a way more in line with our faith. More in line with what Jesus taught us. When we're able to do that, we'll see the glory, the value in learning to overlook so much of what we currently react to. </p><p>We'll come to know a deeper peace. <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-23757784270338002112024-02-15T14:50:00.003-06:002024-02-15T14:52:10.297-06:00Finding The Gold<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIK-Mtyk2hoWZYfqgNB_UJLyBn6nT0V8zbSDFBIzY_NS4P9kPDgC326SqiRFPp7Yv6GeCy0lqmJFPKkFgoYHX9RaJ12_EGJPpVWvzrYPQDMJCM3cz5DhQr6HtZ2xR5iXRVywt3LdgCR9dMVC8kCaEYi6WMSwpbX-Bi__D37NwSOjwwWCQzZ0dbMhUY-8/s916/pexels-pixabay-33571.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="916" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIK-Mtyk2hoWZYfqgNB_UJLyBn6nT0V8zbSDFBIzY_NS4P9kPDgC326SqiRFPp7Yv6GeCy0lqmJFPKkFgoYHX9RaJ12_EGJPpVWvzrYPQDMJCM3cz5DhQr6HtZ2xR5iXRVywt3LdgCR9dMVC8kCaEYi6WMSwpbX-Bi__D37NwSOjwwWCQzZ0dbMhUY-8/w400-h400/pexels-pixabay-33571.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Love covers a multitude of sins." </b><br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~1 Peter 4:8</i></p><p>We have a choice when it comes to how we interact with other people. We can either look for their faults, or we can look for their strengths. We can either dig dirt, or search for gold.</p><p>It's always been an adage that the first impression is the most important. I've learned from experience that's not necessarily true. Too often we make snap judgements about people the minute we meet them, and it's not THEM that made the bad impression it was YOU that made a quick judgement. It takes time and effort to get to know somebody well. <br /></p><p>Some of the best friends I have in my life were people that when I first met them, I wasn't overly fond of. Over time, I discovered my first impression of that person was completely wrong. <br /></p><p>Try to see people the way the Lord sees them. Get over that "I'm a good judge of character" thing I hear so often. Give people a chance. Be generous. Be kind. God made us all, and in each, He gave something unique. Look for it!</p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p></div>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-59013968376471254022024-02-08T09:27:00.002-06:002024-02-08T09:28:16.621-06:00Just Let It Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7pT3yjH8f4QA8mongYIpmbble8oLHcTiF0B-Gn59_GkrDyyxk12n9QDwMh9iXvVXAEZ9jo4rvQXsI23h-tYiSC562aSwoXpaR-wxh46ms2mAFUp-9r5dqXvbmc1-_LdMlI0RX7GCaQ2KVOnWiez9AUdZBYEu9YXe_AJegReWHlKNnNQXOJuIm8R5rBU/s4480/pexels-tara-winstead-8383674.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4073" data-original-width="4480" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7pT3yjH8f4QA8mongYIpmbble8oLHcTiF0B-Gn59_GkrDyyxk12n9QDwMh9iXvVXAEZ9jo4rvQXsI23h-tYiSC562aSwoXpaR-wxh46ms2mAFUp-9r5dqXvbmc1-_LdMlI0RX7GCaQ2KVOnWiez9AUdZBYEu9YXe_AJegReWHlKNnNQXOJuIm8R5rBU/w400-h364/pexels-tara-winstead-8383674.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="woj">“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.</span><span class="woj">Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."</span></b></div> <p style="text-align: center;"><span class="woj"><i>~Luke 6:36 (CSB) <br /></i></span></p><p>One of the hardest things in life is forgiving. When we are hurt. When we are treated poorly. When we feel like we've been cheated. Man, is it hard to get over those feelings. </p><p>We're not called on to be doormats. We aren't expected to let people treat us badly over and over again. We're not called on to let the same crook cheat us over and over again. Or to let the same liar mislead us time and again. But we aren't built to carry unforgiveness with us either. We need to learn the lesson, and let it go.<br /></p><p>There's a saying "live and learn." Life is a learning experience, and we learn through successes, and we learn through failure--and believe me, we learn a lot more sometimes from failures than successes. Some of the hardest lessons we learn are about people. People sometimes disappoint us. And when we're interacting with people all the time, there are going to be times when we get hurt. It's inevitable. But you can't carry that disappointment with you. The weight will become too heavy, and eventually, it leads to bitterness and mistrust, and anger--and we wind up judging everyone based on the actions of a few who hurt us. There's a lot of things we're better off without. </p><p>So let it go. Be a forgiving person. Be a wise person, but be a forgiving person. If we're truly honest with ourselves, we'll realize there are a few things we've done in our lives that need a little forgiveness, too. Remember that we will one day be forgiven in the same way we forgive others. "For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well." ~Matthew 6:14 (CSB)</p><p><span class="p">~Todd E. Creason<br /></span></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-14819193415231455602024-01-31T05:00:00.006-06:002024-01-31T05:00:00.156-06:00Just Eat The Frog!<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMSsj4ZjmIfg-WZt9LzKBwiVp2MUHf1BtZIbEzQUgrIQVZMNyTvzfsrkdnjBiKqq3qhHuTrpbaSYItqWRmcyrIRzSJzzP5is-v0QeNiDbcnZqZgRIZ4IiOUV2wTdjNFqhaXZtQGJA0F6wN-FoTfk-TzUlWjmvvgC9pwQBDb4-i6RsZTm6zHcm854SBhc/s3463/Kermit_the_Frog.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="3463" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMSsj4ZjmIfg-WZt9LzKBwiVp2MUHf1BtZIbEzQUgrIQVZMNyTvzfsrkdnjBiKqq3qhHuTrpbaSYItqWRmcyrIRzSJzzP5is-v0QeNiDbcnZqZgRIZ4IiOUV2wTdjNFqhaXZtQGJA0F6wN-FoTfk-TzUlWjmvvgC9pwQBDb4-i6RsZTm6zHcm854SBhc/w400-h246/Kermit_the_Frog.webp" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning."</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>~Mark Twain</i><br /></div><div><p></p><p><br /><i>I ran across this piece I wrote back in 2018. It's a great way to look at those tasks on our list that we just don't want to do. I still put things off from time to time, and every once in a while, to this day, you'll see three words written in my book. Eat the frog!</i><br /></p><p>From 2018: My daughter looked over my shoulder the other night and asked me why I'd drawn so many pictures of little green frogs in my bullet journal over the last few days. I gave her this Mark Twain quote. I ran across it earlier in the week, and I'd forgotten the wisdom of it. She looked at me very puzzled after I recited it to her.<br /><br />"You know how I've asked you three times this week to clean up your room," I said to her.<br /><br />"Yeah," she said. <br /><br />"You still haven't done it. You've been putting it off." <br /> <br />"Yes." <br /> <br />"That task is your frog," I told her. "You work harder and spend more time avoiding it, than it would take you to actually do it. It's not going to go away, so why not get it out of the way first thing in the morning and be free of it. It's always best to start your day by doing first what you want to do the least." <br /> <br />And she got it. She cleaned her room. We now refer to things we don't want to do as frogs, but we do them. <br /> <br />Mark Twain, for all his folksy humor and charm was a very practical and very intelligent man. There's another part of this quote I left off. The second line is, "And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it is best to eat the biggest one first." <br /> <br />~Todd E. Creason <br /><br /></p></div>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-36478682754857897772024-01-24T05:00:00.004-06:002024-01-24T05:00:00.137-06:00Out Of Sync<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5R1_U5IHnkG_1b3qfgwCc2_m8NByQPZDI140ZF3QD7q_uySmFVAShEdJQuccVJbM1yjYcFyPdTDcV5VDoh8X4LqqOFNGEZhmN_yGkq5WJKt5wziXljUaqHT9qR8Qe2A9pCZyDlxr_A6Sl3NqKI9QUCdmFpjV0-bkBbC5LvCpHzmYV7iCKb_zA1HdenQ/s6000/compass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3836" data-original-width="6000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5R1_U5IHnkG_1b3qfgwCc2_m8NByQPZDI140ZF3QD7q_uySmFVAShEdJQuccVJbM1yjYcFyPdTDcV5VDoh8X4LqqOFNGEZhmN_yGkq5WJKt5wziXljUaqHT9qR8Qe2A9pCZyDlxr_A6Sl3NqKI9QUCdmFpjV0-bkBbC5LvCpHzmYV7iCKb_zA1HdenQ/w400-h256/compass.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.</b></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Psalm 32:8 NKJV <br /></i></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">There are times in our life when we may feel like we're out of sync. Where we're out of step. We feel like maybe we missed something. We get this nagging feeling that maybe we missed a turn somewhere behind us. We just know that something isn't quite right in our life. Things aren't exactly as they should be. Somewhere, we've gotten out of step with God.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">I heard a pastor called this "spiritual discontent" once. I thought that was a pretty good term. I've felt that a few times myself. And usually it's because I AM out of step with God. I'm either doing something I know isn't quite right. Or I've made a decision about something that's got more to do with what I want to do, than what God's plan is for me.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">We let all kinds of things get between us, and the good things that God has planned for us. Too often we let sin get in the way. Or we don't want to go where we're being led. We're afraid. We want to stay where we're comfortable. Maybe we're afraid of what we'll be asked to do. Or maybe we're concerned about what we'll be asked to give up.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">And we get out of sync. And we get that unrelenting feeling that we're missing something. That we're heading in the wrong direction. That's because you probably are!</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">With freedom--with freewill comes responsibility. Sure, we have the ability to accept or decline anything God has for us. But there are consequences when we don't come into the plan God has for our life. When we never come to know our purpose. When we never discover those gifts God gave us and use them to their full potential.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">When you find yourself out of sync. Stop and consider the path you're on. And if you ask for guidance, you'll most assuredly get it. In fact, there's a good probability you know what's at the source of it already.<br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason</p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-70487141802367634802024-01-17T05:00:00.001-06:002024-01-17T05:00:00.141-06:00Blessed Are The Peacemakers . . . <p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AGqwA3DvOEU2rTy_pVblAqXBJ2-ZqtvYPAA5PVNAI2o1S1fh-xXvTJZdR5NJlOjuYYxRnIgLOtZT8cf4I7I3oxyIdumvdRigPrHfRYFpvN3BTVOQw8aKRTiOFxUXE7E19Hx1I_2xzrWVwbCo1Tl_VtzUt1Tilf_tcZLJ-6PtABZKAALdOgHcd2JcWyo/s5472/friendship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AGqwA3DvOEU2rTy_pVblAqXBJ2-ZqtvYPAA5PVNAI2o1S1fh-xXvTJZdR5NJlOjuYYxRnIgLOtZT8cf4I7I3oxyIdumvdRigPrHfRYFpvN3BTVOQw8aKRTiOFxUXE7E19Hx1I_2xzrWVwbCo1Tl_VtzUt1Tilf_tcZLJ-6PtABZKAALdOgHcd2JcWyo/w400-h266/friendship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>without holiness no one will see the Lord."</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Hebrews 12:14</i></p><p>Part of the human experience is dealing with difficult people. Everyone at one point or another is going to deal with somebody that wants to steal our peace. Who wants to cause a fuss. Who is constantly offended. Who is looking for a reason to be difficult with you.</p><p>Our natural inclination is to push back. If they want a problem, then I'll give them one! It may feel good to give a foolish person a piece of our mind from time to time, but we actually become the fool when we do that.<br /></p><p>Arguing and fighting and bickering is not what Christians are called on to do. We're called on to live in peace. We're called on to show love for our enemies. We're called on to be an example to others.</p><p>That doesn't mean the person yanking our chain isn't going to continue yanking on our chain. It doesn't mean our detractors and our enemies are suddenly going to become our friends. What it means is, we're just not going to let anybody steal our peace, and drag us off the path the Lord has placed us on.</p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-46124618762128734252024-01-10T05:00:00.037-06:002024-01-12T07:43:17.084-06:00Finding Peace Within<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS6vBuIleqThrpum9YeEqEVYEOEl2zYs18qx7mxN-H6Ab4pWiBDPDBGJcGXKJfvIZ_FR-TnSsfjWPCCTuMixQ94BYQKU5a3LL9lVrpCoobMv77Swus6q8da_QlKJhA7goPespg6zLtyc/s1600/Hulk+eye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS6vBuIleqThrpum9YeEqEVYEOEl2zYs18qx7mxN-H6Ab4pWiBDPDBGJcGXKJfvIZ_FR-TnSsfjWPCCTuMixQ94BYQKU5a3LL9lVrpCoobMv77Swus6q8da_QlKJhA7goPespg6zLtyc/s400/Hulk+eye.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strives to do what is good for each other and for everyone else."</span></div>
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<i>1 Thessalonians 5:15 </i></div>
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We are all going to encounter people in our life that aren’t going to like us. They aren’t going to appreciate us for who we are, and they aren’t going to see the good things in us. We’re going to encounter people that think differently than we do. We are going to meet people in our life that don’t have our best intentions at heart. You’re going to have people that are critical of you because you haven’t lived up to what their expectation is. You’ll even have people come to dislike you because they’ve asked your opinion about something, and you told them what you thought rather than what they wanted to hear. God made no two of us the same, and none of us perfect. So you’re going to find the potential for conflict everywhere—at work, at the grocery store, on social media, in church, and possibly even in your own family.<br />
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Most of the time we can live peacefully with one another even when we don’t see completely eye to eye. And more often than not, we’re able to overlook what we perceive to be a character flaw in another person because we can see the good in them as well. But sometimes in the course of life, we find ourselves in the midst of a difference of opinion, a conflict, or even a long drawn out battle with somebody. We’ve all experienced that at one time or another. That person that is constantly picking at you. That person that never has a nice thing to say about you. That person that twists everything you say or do. That person that is constantly trying to bait you into fighting with them on their level. They’re trying to ruin your peace. They’re trying to steal your joy. What their motive is may never be known, but how you react to it is completely within your power to control.<br />
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When I was younger, I often fell right into the trap. You want to fight, I’m only too happy to accommodate you. I’m not going to stand by and let somebody pick at me, or demean me in public—I’m going to say something about it. And all too often, I’d fall right into their trap. That’s exactly what they wanted all along. They’d pick at me until I got mad. And just as soon as I did, they’d stand back and point, “look at what a bad person he is for losing his temper and saying what he was thinking. Haven’t I been telling you about him all along? Just look at the way he acts.”<br />
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It's very frustrating. Some of you are smiling, because you know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve been there, done that, seen that, fallen into that old ploy more often than you’d like to admit. Then you're mad at two people--the person that baited you into a fight, and yourself for being so stupid and letting them. But what I’ve learned as I’ve grown older is something my younger self just couldn’t understand. It is better to stay in peace.<br />
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Now I’m not saying we should go through life never ruffling any feathers. Sometimes you have to. When we see somebody’s actions hurting another person, we should absolutely step up. When we see somebody hurting themselves, we should step up. When somebody asks an honest opinion, you should give it whether it's the popular opinion or not. We should always defend someone in their hour of need, and help those in distress. We should always stand up and do the right thing when we see the wrong thing is being done. But understand that when we do find it necessary to stand up and do the right thing, we’ll find ourselves the most hated man in the room—as the old saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.<br />
<br />We will find ourselves in some very difficult situations at times, but if we can maintain our peace, it is much easier for us to be able to determine when we should step up and act, and when we should just simply let something go. And you'll soon see that more often than not, it's better to let things go. You'll discover that you've probably been reacting unwisely more often than you'd care to admit. </p><p>And it's perfectly fine to just let somebody stay angry with us. There are some people that are just that way, and there's not much you can do about it. A wise man once reminded me that every candle eventually snuffs itself out when it runs out of fuel, and anger works the same way. We're not helping that person by adding fuel to their fire. We help them by leaving them alone, and allowing their anger to abate and their judgement to return. Forgive them. Forget the things they've done and the things they've said. Pray for them. It's not at all easy, but that's how you turn things around.<br />
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When we stay in peace, God goes to work. I’ve seen it happen over and over again in my own life. That irreconcilable difference I had with a cousin sudden vanishes overnight when I stop fighting him back. That ongoing disagreement that has lasted for months with a coworker suddenly ends with a late night phone call and an apology for no apparent reason other than I decided I was done arguing with her. Just a couple weeks ago, an old friend that I didn’t think would ever speak to me again greeted me when he saw me and shook my hand as if nothing had ever come between us--that one even surprised me! That's God going to work on your behalf.<br />
<br />
You should remember there's a time when you'll have to push back, and a time when you should let things lay. And if you'll ask, God to give you the wisdom to know the difference. <br />
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~Todd E. Creason </p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-73497015400253360162024-01-03T05:00:00.002-06:002024-01-04T18:08:37.844-06:00Words Are Easy Things<p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsWsVtZ84vEv5Pz_yjCBrRjIyPZcXp2xM5oQqSatfIBPHFxto31wGIV7oC1dz9ud8h0kGzaGH3RlAX7Tf1s4FqxpHhui_PIJw8661gxoujWqS2OFgghdJMmWXUen1WEzPpyGWdGVf_kOnZOqtz3PmyftD0rEnRI1Sj3rAIKip7gj_KnMIYHsDbUSDx0g/s602/yoda%20virtue%20signal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="602" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsWsVtZ84vEv5Pz_yjCBrRjIyPZcXp2xM5oQqSatfIBPHFxto31wGIV7oC1dz9ud8h0kGzaGH3RlAX7Tf1s4FqxpHhui_PIJw8661gxoujWqS2OFgghdJMmWXUen1WEzPpyGWdGVf_kOnZOqtz3PmyftD0rEnRI1Sj3rAIKip7gj_KnMIYHsDbUSDx0g/w400-h303/yoda%20virtue%20signal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Have you ever seen so much virtue signaling as we have today? You see it on social media. You see it on t-shirts. You see it on the bumpers of people's cars. People proudly announcing they are against hate. They are against racism. They are against oppression. They are against censorship. It gets a little silly sometimes, because I'm not always clear who they think are FOR any of these things they are so loudly and proudly against. <br /><p></p><p>In the end, words don't matter very much--it's actions that matter. Words are easy things. How you live your life should reflect your values. It's how you treat other people that shows the kind of person you are. It's how you react and interact in the world that demonstrates what you're about. It's about listening to other people. It's about learning from one another. It's about showing compassion to our fellow man. It's about being kind. It's about being forgiving. It's about being prayerful and grateful. </p><p>So volunteer your time. Write a check. Help a neighbor. And do these things quietly and without fanfare and without tooting your own horn simply because they are things you believe in. Let your actual life tell your story, rather than your social media account.<br /></p><p>If you live your values you don't have to virtue signal. People will know what you're about if you're an authentic person. But in the end, it isn't other people we should be trying to impress. Live your life to please God. <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-57988320676481443652023-12-29T19:11:00.002-06:002023-12-29T19:18:20.852-06:00And Here We Go With The Resolutions . . . <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UluHAcM9LiF5j_5cuYqqutLhztqPi0LVnJXPXAFvjV4guj10IpR6r-6CqQl3AhiC65WkuLYpxuomviPaRAWVhEMtCATGvq-QGaKr0TGRRgGqZZXMZNmTyUsS_N10Eg3UeYxrtjNCKto4WB7yhEhbzSWdYkokjwEeJ9xUkmbHxYU-ei9V0Ad2k1rgyks/s5570/scales.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3713" data-original-width="5570" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UluHAcM9LiF5j_5cuYqqutLhztqPi0LVnJXPXAFvjV4guj10IpR6r-6CqQl3AhiC65WkuLYpxuomviPaRAWVhEMtCATGvq-QGaKr0TGRRgGqZZXMZNmTyUsS_N10Eg3UeYxrtjNCKto4WB7yhEhbzSWdYkokjwEeJ9xUkmbHxYU-ei9V0Ad2k1rgyks/w400-h266/scales.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Without fail, every year at this time, social media is just flooded with promises for the new year. People are going to lose weight. They're going to organize their lives. They're going to focus on the "important things in life." They're going to eat better and exercise more. They're going to finally get a handle on a life that's gotten out of control. They're going to waste less time. They're going to use the time they have wisely . . . <p></p><p>And on and on and on it goes. Every year. Without fail. And a few may actually make some changes that are beneficial. But for most of us, by the time St. Valentine's Day rolls around we're right back in the same rut we were in on December 31st. </p><p>But I have an idea for a resolution this year that will change your life. And it's easy to do.</p><p>Almost everyone has a few quiet moments each day. Maybe it's over coffee in the morning. Maybe we sit at our desk over lunch. Or we relax for awhile in the evenings. I had somebody tell me they had no quiet time like this, but I suggested they check their phone usage, and sure enough, they figured out they had about two hours a day they were wasting at about the same time each day.</p><p>I'm only asking for 15 minutes. Instead of scrolling through Instagram and Tik Tok and FaceBook. Read your Bible instead. 15 minutes. Or find a devotional book you enjoy and spend 15 minutes with God. And make it a point to do that every single day. </p><p>And see what happens . . . I already know what's going to happen. Would you like me to tell you?</p><p>You're going to begin to enjoy that quiet time with the Lord. You're going to start looking forward to the quiet time. You're going to begin thinking about those devotionals you're reading or those scriptures you're reading during other times of the day. Little pieces of the Word are going to come to you as you're going through your daily routine. And that fifteen minutes will become the most valuable fifteen minutes of your day. In fact, for most people, it will not stay fifteen minutes. It'll become a half an hour. It's usually an hour for me first thing in the morning.</p><p>We all recognize this time of year a need for change in ourselves. So much of that is external. If you want to make a real difference in your life in 2024, start with what's on the inside. Just like with that crash diet that's going to help you get healthier, what you put into your heart and in your mind each day is just as important. And with that daily scriptural exercise, you get a coach to help you along. A wise counselor if you will--a life coach that will guide you and instruct you and lead you to a very different life than the one you may be living right now. </p><p>Wouldn't it be interesting to see where a small daily habit like that might take you?</p><p>Happy New Year! <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-54052175098443630122023-11-15T05:00:00.003-06:002023-11-15T05:00:00.135-06:00Making My Smart Phone Dumb Again . . . <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtugrxjQyYW-lfA_3f645oTA4H_-W7UupAMyv2bFJ_68ZcrhLuqu_LKJhQ86jBF_1JKLgoEMsOX1N9fljhjKD8BtrdyzASDmSCVXS8gjX-35qPDect9URrN1pOwVWNOALkFXR8dJEi_XxmPrWForKRTPcanHtF7chgOeja4XvDeOipUmUk61OxA4NjVbg/s6000/phone.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtugrxjQyYW-lfA_3f645oTA4H_-W7UupAMyv2bFJ_68ZcrhLuqu_LKJhQ86jBF_1JKLgoEMsOX1N9fljhjKD8BtrdyzASDmSCVXS8gjX-35qPDect9URrN1pOwVWNOALkFXR8dJEi_XxmPrWForKRTPcanHtF7chgOeja4XvDeOipUmUk61OxA4NjVbg/w400-h266/phone.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>I was pretty late to the smart phone party. I resisted for a long time. When I finally got an iPhone, I realized what I'd been missing. I was able to do so much right from my phone! I could check my emails, and do my banking, and schedule my appointments (even my haircuts!). What an amazing tool!<p></p><p>But that didn't last long. That tool quickly became a toy. I spent more and more time on social media, and watching videos on YouTube. Before I knew it, it wasn't a help anymore, and I spend more and more time staring at that phone and less and less time living in the real world. </p><p>I've been fighting with this phone for the last 18 months. I've had a difficult time being disciplined about how I use it. Whenever I have a couple minutes, I have that out, and I'm looking at it. I frustrates me, because it's become so habitual with me. And many others.</p><p>So I've decided to make that phone dumb again. One at a time, I've been taking apps off the phone that are simply recreational. Or distracting. Or that I wind up checking habitually. Or that sends me reminders, or buzzes, or beeps. And there are times that I don't even take my phone with me. It's shocking, but it's true. There are times I don't have my phone! And each time I take this a little further, it causes me a great deal of short term pain and stress. And then it passes.</p><p>And what I've learned is that I have a lot more time than I thought I did . . . in fact, I have many hours each day more than I thought I did (check how much time you're on your phone each day and you're probably going to be shocked). </p><p>All the stress I have because I have so much to do and so little time has been a fiction. I have the time. I just haven't been spending it wisely. And that's because my favorite tool over the last several years was never a tool. It was a toy.</p><p>Sound familiar?</p><p>I have about three hours a day now that I didn't have a few months ago. I've heard people say "if only I had another day every week I wouldn't be so far behind." You might very well have another day every week you don't realize you have--if you just break the addiction you have with that little toy in your pocket. </p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-27041282458868576672023-10-12T05:00:00.016-05:002023-10-12T08:03:50.195-05:00Mirror, Mirror!<p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtD7my7xir4Mbr2AMge2aCOfZ-dJoaaJyHacjoZvkREuG9v7DPN_SWpRzG7J6go8kR7Sco7NqfMDUe58QQCkHGIhoNNV7h5-HaR93EuuJfsTlWM_KVxiJ3jltCqguNAwL-ABcK6meZT4go1H_dPf7puaKAICEcbkIrgbMqmNeyVCi5yBc994p4WG7DxOw/s4096/mirror.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="4096" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtD7my7xir4Mbr2AMge2aCOfZ-dJoaaJyHacjoZvkREuG9v7DPN_SWpRzG7J6go8kR7Sco7NqfMDUe58QQCkHGIhoNNV7h5-HaR93EuuJfsTlWM_KVxiJ3jltCqguNAwL-ABcK6meZT4go1H_dPf7puaKAICEcbkIrgbMqmNeyVCi5yBc994p4WG7DxOw/w400-h266/mirror.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="text Prov-27-19" id="en-NIV-17189">"As water reflects the face, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-27-19">so one’s life reflects the heart.<sup>"</sup></span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Proverbs 27:19<br /></i></p><p>Checking ourselves in a mirror is something most of us do every morning. We get ready for our day by looking at ourselves carefully in the mirror as we prepare to go out into the world. We want to make sure we've shaved properly, or our makeup looks good, or fix our hair so it isn't standing up weird. Being able to see our reflection gives us an idea of how other people see us.</p><p>But there's another way people see us besides just our physical attributes--it's our character. It's how we act. It's how we treat other people. It's how we conduct ourselves. And while we're quick to notice a spot we missed shaving, or an eyebrow hair that needs plucked, we often fail to see flaws in our character.</p><p>I'm dealing with a difficult person right now. Somebody I've known for a long time. Somebody I think a great deal of and respect greatly. Somebody that has come a long way in life and accomplished a great deal. Somebody that didn't used to be difficult.</p><p>When I first met her, she used to get so upset with people that treated her disrespectfully. When people were short with her. When people made unreasonable demands of her. But she was strong in character, and she was determined, and not only did she survived those early challenges, but she went on to thrive.</p><p>But now that she's past those early challenges, she treats people the same way that people used to treat her. She's short with people. She makes unreasonable demands. She's disrespectful. And she's hostile to anybody that tries to point out what she's doing. Having experienced that herself you would think she would conduct herself differently. But she's become the same kind of person that caused her so much pain and upset when she was on the receiving end. </p><p>But she simply can't see it. She refuses to see it. She's not able right now to be honest with herself. </p><p>We have to be honest with ourselves. We have to see ourselves the way God sees us--and He sees everything. That goes way beyond our reflection in the mirror. So we have to look into our hearts, and into our minds, and into our souls and recognize those places where we fall short. We have to recognize those places where we don't reflect Christ's love. We have to acknowledge them. Pray about them. Ask for forgiveness when we're wrong. And work very hard on those ugly places we can't see in the mirror.<br /></p><p>And believe me, that requires a lot more work than going over that place on your chin again you missed with the razor this morning. </p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-17872609395178894412023-08-07T17:00:00.053-05:002023-08-07T17:00:00.137-05:00Clear Your Head!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x6ZJ5rXqK4_rsxDUg7hzCX0PlBYTZNKBZlf4CIvV0_f6Uj_poW3xqR15TBrWhObVzTHDDaZ242Okpu6ZSR3VSMb0tq60EOX3LmrNwimme1SvpXEoUaW8h6N4eb0WzBDIO4rFigIGOuJv9xTKClBJUK_lwy_7gbhoDzQReJVfaEb8FKH5GCCuVT8coWo/s640/prayer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x6ZJ5rXqK4_rsxDUg7hzCX0PlBYTZNKBZlf4CIvV0_f6Uj_poW3xqR15TBrWhObVzTHDDaZ242Okpu6ZSR3VSMb0tq60EOX3LmrNwimme1SvpXEoUaW8h6N4eb0WzBDIO4rFigIGOuJv9xTKClBJUK_lwy_7gbhoDzQReJVfaEb8FKH5GCCuVT8coWo/w400-h400/prayer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Philippians 4:6</i></p><p>I did something last week I'd never done before--I took a day off from work (both jobs), left the house early in the morning, and spent most of the day in a local park. I took a cooler full of water, my Bible, and a journal. And that was it. No phone. No iPad. Nothing that would distract me from what I needed to do. I really needed to clear my head.</p><p>I work a full-time job, and about six months ago, I became a part-time bi-vocational pastor of a small town Baptist church. It's been a challenge balancing my time between those two roles, and making sure I still have time for my family and keeping the yard mowed.<br /></p><p>But I've sure enjoyed it. I like to be busy. And I've found a pretty good balance. I have time enough to do everything I <i>need</i> to do as a pastor, but I just don't have enough time to do everything I <i>want to do</i> as a pastor. But I know that will come. I'm not too far away from retirement in my full time career. I'm looking forward to being able to dedicate all my time to ministry.<br /></p><p>But the one area that's challenged me is I don't get enough quiet time. Time to think. Time to spend with God. I have time set aside each day for reading and studying the Bible, and praying, and working on my sermons. But it's just not enough time to work through all the things a pastor needs to think about--to the point I started waking up about 2 AM and then finding it hard to go back to sleep. </p><p>So I took an entire day to clear my head. To get grounded. To get caught up thinking through things I needed to figure out. And to figure out a few things that had been bothering me. I set aside an entire day to read and to pray. I found quiet places to think. I did some hiking. I did a lot of writing. And what I found, was that it was the most productive day I've had in a long, long time. It was more valuable to me that I could have possibly imagined it would be. It was a game changer. I walked out of the woods late that afternoon feeling better than I've felt in a long, long time. Probably since before COVID. </p><p>I left a lot of baggage out there in the woods. I figured a lot of things out. I recognized where I was spending too much time, and not enough. And I spent a great deal of time talking to God about some of the questions I still have about the path he put me on. And I slept like a rock that night, and every night since. I've already got time set aside to do that again. I would imagine these little retreats into the woods will be a very important part of my prayer life going forward.<br /></p><p>We carry so much stuff with us. Sometimes we get so used to it we don't realize it. We're thinking about a million things all the time. We're in a hurry all the time. We've got more on our calendar than we can ever do. We think we need to fill every moment with some kind of activity. And when we aren't busy, we've got that phone out, and we're scrolling through nonsense that adds no real value to our life. We're missing the quiet moments in our life. The reflective moments. The prayerful moments. But you can certainly get that back.<br /></p><p>Find a little time on your calendar for a long conversation with God. I think you'll find a lot more in those quiet moments than you think. <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p><p><br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-81587090284512799302023-07-27T17:00:00.003-05:002023-07-28T07:01:25.366-05:00Hurry Up And Worry!<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SUkGJjG_Fo9V-FXgUVkuNezrm_i9IQ8qYqtuXoHjcR6ZOV9D_qGtpeSKYCYM1riTlobFepdmKrpO0H_8O6DuUymZuo5mcUiSoZ2rfOwx7aSYu9aV5mDs0XXQZnMopkXAbSWru9u2pzdQHM8YXCRRR-8HExg4hroE8_QUo9VxwSbev8pvhZsxGgH5KDs/s3835/worry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3835" data-original-width="3834" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SUkGJjG_Fo9V-FXgUVkuNezrm_i9IQ8qYqtuXoHjcR6ZOV9D_qGtpeSKYCYM1riTlobFepdmKrpO0H_8O6DuUymZuo5mcUiSoZ2rfOwx7aSYu9aV5mDs0XXQZnMopkXAbSWru9u2pzdQHM8YXCRRR-8HExg4hroE8_QUo9VxwSbev8pvhZsxGgH5KDs/w400-h400/worry.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>"<span class="text Matt-6-34" id="en-NIV-23317"><span class="woj">Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."</span></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Matt-6-34" id="en-NIV-23317"><span class="woj"><i>~Matthew 6:34</i> <br /></span></span></p><p>I used to often feel like I was jogging through my day. I had too many meetings. I had too many responsibilities. I had things I was worrying about from yesterday, things I was worrying about that day, and I was already worrying about things that were on my calendar for tomorrow and next week and next month! And what happens when you're always in a rush and distracted? You wind up making mistakes. You miss things. You wind up spending unnecessary time fixing something you messed up because you weren't focused on what you were doing. <br /></p><p>I think the most powerful idea in this verse is the idea that today already has its quota of worry built into it. Focus on where you're at! Focus on what you're doing right now! Focus on what you can control!<br /></p><p>You can't change what happened in the past. Move on from that. And worrying today about what may or may not happen tomorrow is foolish, too! Focus on what you can fix! <br /></p><p>I used to have trouble sleeping sometimes. One night at about 3 A.M. I finally got up--my head was just spinning with things I was worried about that were ruining my ability to sleep. I made a list of everything I'd been thinking about for hours that night as I laid awake. And guess what? Almost all the things I'd been thinking about that had been keeping me awake all night were things I had absolutely no control over at all! </p><p>I finally got it! What I'd been doing is worrying about things I couldn't control instead of praying about those things. </p><p>There's things we can do. There are things we can't do. There's nothing God can't do however. So why wouldn't you give God the things you can't fix yourself?</p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-58361708459678541672023-06-07T11:49:00.002-05:002023-06-07T11:50:19.794-05:00Dealing With Conflict <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmNESC69vtA-xpkquyT4CVohPL99RU7W3jmCZGZ93QldrINfgiuuu69uSjI-wa3bhbIIzY6KOJ3LyIiLoBP_biU1eLLpzUBc0_QKjataEu3HcZRh21ldmOS-S8hTh-Nm2r34A4gOA3xgsCplMPfdr6TlQXZKwfQ8rltKXbhul8YduN56RswF3fvtu/s1278/lion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1277" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmNESC69vtA-xpkquyT4CVohPL99RU7W3jmCZGZ93QldrINfgiuuu69uSjI-wa3bhbIIzY6KOJ3LyIiLoBP_biU1eLLpzUBc0_QKjataEu3HcZRh21ldmOS-S8hTh-Nm2r34A4gOA3xgsCplMPfdr6TlQXZKwfQ8rltKXbhul8YduN56RswF3fvtu/w400-h400/lion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> "Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."</b> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Proverbs 17:9</i></p><p>Sometimes we have difficult relationships in our life. We have people that we interact with that we have a long and rocky history with. It's easy in those situations to keep going back to old disagreements every time we have a problem with them rather than just dealing with the current issue. </p><p>If we want to have peace in our life, we have to learn to let things go. We have to learn to get over past hurts. That's not always easy, but if we don't learn to do that, all we're doing is ripping the bandage off every single wound that person has ever given us from the very beginning of our relationship every time we have even a minor disagreement. Instead of just dealing with the one problem we're dealing with today, we're fighting every fight we've ever had with them all over again. </p><p>It may sound crazy, but I know there's people reading this that know exactly what I'm talking about. <br /></p><p>If we want to have peace, we must learn to extend love--as difficult as that can be. Because love doesn't keep a record of wrongs. Love is learning to forgive, and then moving on from it. </p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p><p><br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-12454517423373056992023-05-30T17:00:00.005-05:002023-05-30T17:00:00.156-05:00Another Look At "The Golden Rule"<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJDn2pu7lchswg1tgtY_4BfkDAveRU24JHcEcLdj5F7t67uHnZg4ECu_YsBdjm7eF62GpSf5KDRGIQnEeh791oLiY0UY9hlFG0qogfRe8hCMNkt6jXrx-ZBPtb5HCbjSXwBrqi8OH7Spd31TExHSMr0AAl6cHoOVC1wiQWshneX20bPgx1V6Nc-vp/s360/48586.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="360" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJDn2pu7lchswg1tgtY_4BfkDAveRU24JHcEcLdj5F7t67uHnZg4ECu_YsBdjm7eF62GpSf5KDRGIQnEeh791oLiY0UY9hlFG0qogfRe8hCMNkt6jXrx-ZBPtb5HCbjSXwBrqi8OH7Spd31TExHSMr0AAl6cHoOVC1wiQWshneX20bPgx1V6Nc-vp/w400-h399/48586.jpeg" width="400" /></a><b><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj"> <br /></span></span></b></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj"><i>~Matthew 7:12</i></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">It's such a simple rule--the "Golden Rule." Just think of all the pain and anger and frustration and disappointment that could be avoided if we'd just follow that simple idea to treat other people the way we want to be treated. But it's more than just that. If you look at that first part, it says "so in everything." In everything? What's that mean? </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">Well, it means we're not just talking about being nice to people. We're talking about empathy. </span></span><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">It means putting yourself in the place of other people.</span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">It's not difficult for us to come up with a lot of reasons why we think we have the right to be rotten to somebody. He was rotten to me first. He has it coming. What's good for the goose . . . </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">We can use all those reasons to "justify" treating somebody in a way we certainly wouldn't want to be treated in the same situation. <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">Sometimes we think the Golden Rule doesn't apply at work. Too often, we confuse having the right to make a certain decision that impacts others with doing what is right. Those are, more often than not, two very different things. Having the right, and doing what's right are not the same thing! What that verse in Matthew is telling us, is when we're making decisions, we should be putting ourselves in the place of those that decision impacts first! </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">How would I feel? What would I think of my decision if I were in their place?</span></span><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj"> <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">The Golden Rule is a standard that Christians should live by, not just in their personal lives, but in every situation. There's no "40-hour-a-week work exemption" for the Golden Rule. </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="woj">~Todd E. Creason<br /></span></span></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-15907261950525371932023-05-03T14:25:00.004-05:002023-05-03T14:29:27.548-05:00The Myth of Multitasking<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XTidTNp_0TE7yaKvngno796Z0r4UPwDhbv_K1Lbjq1IY5BNiouSRIjTPNEg53YCkg1noh3Dkfg3ZIScDduagaOK1ph-qvrGlzePvOpZWFbEupfX6_qIPUWfNatYyN_OZh7luL6A-Qexv7h9O4NBt_PMvp6b-00F3jjPfPFr-C64q1pd2Brg4sh5p/s600/15168176471159074544octopus-multitasking-clipart.hi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XTidTNp_0TE7yaKvngno796Z0r4UPwDhbv_K1Lbjq1IY5BNiouSRIjTPNEg53YCkg1noh3Dkfg3ZIScDduagaOK1ph-qvrGlzePvOpZWFbEupfX6_qIPUWfNatYyN_OZh7luL6A-Qexv7h9O4NBt_PMvp6b-00F3jjPfPFr-C64q1pd2Brg4sh5p/w400-h295/15168176471159074544octopus-multitasking-clipart.hi.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm a pretty busy person. I work full time. I pastor a church part-time. I have a big yard I keep up. A wife and two daughters. A couple dogs. And I write quite a bit (and not just sermons). I have plenty to do. I get asked every once in awhile how I manage that. <br /><p></p><p>I used to pride myself in the ability to do numerous things all at once. I was a skilled practitioner of multitasking. I made my calls during drive time to and from work. I could answer texts during staff meetings. I'd keep right on working on a spreadsheet while I was on a group call. And I'd jump from project to project during the day making progress on each project every single day. </p><p>And then one day, harried and exhausted, I realized that multitasking was a myth. It didn't make me more productive, it made me less productive. I'd miss important details in a meeting because I was texting during that part. I'd forget something I was supposed to do from a call because I was driving at the time and didn't write it down. I found that jumping from project to project just meant I spent a great deal of time remembering where I left off the day before so I could make a little more progress that day. And while it looked like I'd gotten a lot done in a day, what I began to realize was that a lot of what I'd done wasn't my best work. Multitasking is a great opportunity to do many things poorly rather than to do one or two things extremely well.</p><p>It sounds counterintuitive to our culture today, but I do one thing at a time now. I sit down and make my calls interrupted. I pay attention in meetings and take notes so I don't wind up missing important details. I check emails once or twice a day, not continuously. I actually turn my phone off and check it periodically rather than constantly. Most importantly, I do only one thing at a time now, and I work at a pace that allows me to do my best work on each task. </p><p>You're probably thinking my productivity is half of what it was before. You'd be wrong, and study after study would prove me out on this. It's actually increased my productivity, because I finish tasks. I don't miss details that cost me time. I'm not in a huge rush, and I'm not exhausted by the end of the day because I'm working at a comfortable pace for a human being. I focus on one target at a time. I think rifle instead of shotgun now. <br /></p><p>We only have so much attention span, and the more we divide it, the thinner our attention is on each ball we have in the air. When you slow down and focus on one thing at a time, you'll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish. How much more time you have when you're not touching your phone ten times an hour, or stopping to respond to a text, or answer an email. </p><p>Multitasking divides your attention, and divides your focus, and while it makes you busier it doesn't make you efficient. Just tired. <br /></p><p>Try it for a few days and see if you don't agree. One thing at a time and do it to the best of ability. You'll never go back to multitasking . . . <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-30089769000524804752023-04-11T19:00:00.022-05:002023-04-11T19:00:00.203-05:00Learning To Unplug The Tech and Reconnect To Life!<div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="text Col-3-15" id="en-NIV-29533"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAb-_iVst1qnxe8kONIbdwbPdmngVeJAk0N79sCXArtEA9NfFNC3PMcoK3nfEovalLxi1f44VP4Y8IVQvQx5gJU1IWWL1F4NQo6vZhrfSr_Fp8SuyLUrmfwCE5WmbezBJfW7x4TumuLuor6AokjtkLAikIAAQFjINUcv3tghUVUPhF11mgcMnAuqt/s1079/340633167_136494216058808_1560684137747076372_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1078" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAb-_iVst1qnxe8kONIbdwbPdmngVeJAk0N79sCXArtEA9NfFNC3PMcoK3nfEovalLxi1f44VP4Y8IVQvQx5gJU1IWWL1F4NQo6vZhrfSr_Fp8SuyLUrmfwCE5WmbezBJfW7x4TumuLuor6AokjtkLAikIAAQFjINUcv3tghUVUPhF11mgcMnAuqt/w400-h400/340633167_136494216058808_1560684137747076372_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="text Col-3-15" id="en-NIV-29533">~Colossians 3:15 (NIV)</span></i></p><p>I was working at the church last week, and the secretary said I had a call. I took it, and as I'm talking I got up from behind the desk to go get another cup of coffee, and about three steps from my desk, the phone went flying out of my hand! <br /></p><p>The church still has a land line. For you youngsters, that means the phone is hooked to the wall with a cord. I grew up with those, but how quickly I had forgotten the limitations of that cord. I remember that freedom of getting my first cellular phone--being able to walk and talk and make a call or get a call anywhere. The possibilities seemed limitless on what I would be able to accomplish with this miraculous new tool!</p><p>But I think about it differently now. Those phones quickly went from being a liberator to being a master. I was watching a group of young people at a bus shelter yesterday, and not a single one of them was enjoying the perfect spring weather that was surrounding them--they were all focused down at those tiny screens that we thought were going to free us. </p><p>We were free when our phones were attached to the wall. We could leave the house all day without distractions, and enjoy the world. We weren't constantly distracted with the buzz of an incoming text, or email or phone call from our pocket. <br /></p><p>Over the last year, I've worked hard at unplugging. I use social media very little now. I intentionally leave my phone at home (gasp!). Sometimes I even turn it off--did you know you could do that? And I schedule time each day to do nothing. I take a walk. I watch the sunset two or three times a week. No phone. Just me and God enjoying some distraction free time. </p><p>And I can tell you, I've never felt better. I'm able to focus again. I'm able to concentrate on tasks again without interruption. My productivity is actually up, and my anxiety is way down! I have successfully slowed down the pace of my life, because I've eliminated a lot of the wasted time I was spending staring mindlessly at the little screen I was carrying with me everywhere.<br /></p><p>People often tell me they wish they had more quiet time--time they could spend studying the Bible. Time they could spend praying. Time they could spend enjoying life. But they are just so busy!</p><p>Chances are, you aren't as busy as you think. You just may have the time you need to do those things that are important to you. Ask your phone how much time you spend on it. Your phone can tell you how much time you're spending on YouTube. On TikTok. On Instagram. On Facebook. I was astounded! And I thought I was a moderate user.<br /></p><p>Time is something you don't get back. It is not a renewable resource. And we're wasting our lives scrolling screens. Put away that phone! Come on back to the real world! What is important is out here!<br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p><p> </p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-22373599977466729462023-03-31T12:22:00.001-05:002023-03-31T12:22:45.558-05:00Let God Fight Those Battles<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnTRIqvtcGdLwa5oZnosORsbwsdi8JxK2-s15ScnulTKkrzBuBEvk0xz41VuCcxl3AFfhB2zQVyD8Sx00v-JOj2mKu75txVT0S_O85AniNkbwAm1H-OVUcGKFwf4uxl5KANUhAUdpXiBxszSK3SV7nhPoNUAFNfAhPRm_e-8Z6jBf4jbPUvsf_VJd/s3600/AD74F5C7-9131-4351-AD07-1A2F1F3636E6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3600" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnTRIqvtcGdLwa5oZnosORsbwsdi8JxK2-s15ScnulTKkrzBuBEvk0xz41VuCcxl3AFfhB2zQVyD8Sx00v-JOj2mKu75txVT0S_O85AniNkbwAm1H-OVUcGKFwf4uxl5KANUhAUdpXiBxszSK3SV7nhPoNUAFNfAhPRm_e-8Z6jBf4jbPUvsf_VJd/w400-h334/AD74F5C7-9131-4351-AD07-1A2F1F3636E6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br />“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.”</b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Proverbs 19:21</i></p><p>Think about how much happier we would be in our lives, if we simply focused on what we can change. But we don’t. Too often we are worried about things we can’t control. We are focused on the behavior of other people. Or are fretting about events that haven’t even happened yet and that are completely out of our control.</p><p>It used to irritate me when somebody would tell me to fix what I can fix and leave the rest to God. I thought it unrealistic. I’m wiser now. I gained that wisdom by spending so much time worrying about things I can’t control. Trying to fix people that don’t want to be fixed. </p><p>Most of the things we worry about in life are things beyond our ability to control. Instead of fretting over it, pray over it. It might surprise you the difference that makes. Just acknowledging the fact you are powerless in a situation can take much of that burden from you. And every so often, when you pray about the impossible situations in your life, God will step in and fix a situation in a way you didn’t see. </p><p>Give more to God. Let God fight those battles. Trust that He will help you. Write it down when you hand things to God, and you may be surprised later when you go back and look at how many of those “impossible problems” have since vanished.</p><p>~Todd E. Creason</p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-77892659464121504592023-03-01T16:32:00.000-06:002023-03-01T16:32:04.986-06:00Paddling Against The Current<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxnyk4fK51kP1sMmjC4Pfwc-32tJdidGrk_L6ZhYafb1HQJvQWeUHQ6GW5VCbp1BJrSXeWSl3PH4iABdFnz24t_PpzYCZj2iHoYg3bpTKa2o4MarR7icxwL8YNtn6mVK8kkyzvFBGZmfoj0cTl3v0nwfN-SZyleaT4TXPvbyFks6j73Ix4vkXOzN2/s3633/pexels-brett-sayles-2250521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2417" data-original-width="3633" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxnyk4fK51kP1sMmjC4Pfwc-32tJdidGrk_L6ZhYafb1HQJvQWeUHQ6GW5VCbp1BJrSXeWSl3PH4iABdFnz24t_PpzYCZj2iHoYg3bpTKa2o4MarR7icxwL8YNtn6mVK8kkyzvFBGZmfoj0cTl3v0nwfN-SZyleaT4TXPvbyFks6j73Ix4vkXOzN2/w400-h266/pexels-brett-sayles-2250521.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.</b><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25"><b>"</b><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">~Psalm 56:3 <br /></span></span></i></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">For a good part of my life I believed that I was in charge of my own destiny. It was my decisions that would ultimately decide my fate. I believed the harder I worked the more I'd get ahead. </span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">As Americans we're raised to be very independent. We believe in the American dream. That anything is possible for any individual with enough imagination, enough bravery, and enough elbow grease. That we're only limited by ourselves. And we work hard. And we fight hard. And we find ourselves always paddling against the current. Trying to get where it is we want to go.<br /></span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">And by the time we get to where we want to go, <i>if </i>we get to where we want to go . . . we're too tired to enjoy it. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Sv_ux7tO1Ugc95_uLjhYVzw8M7JNKkDrzcw3oOouxow2olL_M_FvOe_PAJjO9Rovw8sQzaOZsb6c4ODeG0uRsZgamabvtEGEXOprDGCgybEFnx34exoLN9TV2RkqelUuJxnQpLkIUZDaIQf2ljbPl0UiVHN7lPN6BA8HrVJPgd_tQOM9m9G5Mq2X/s3993/pexels-zachariah-garrison-1640613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3993" data-original-width="3993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Sv_ux7tO1Ugc95_uLjhYVzw8M7JNKkDrzcw3oOouxow2olL_M_FvOe_PAJjO9Rovw8sQzaOZsb6c4ODeG0uRsZgamabvtEGEXOprDGCgybEFnx34exoLN9TV2RkqelUuJxnQpLkIUZDaIQf2ljbPl0UiVHN7lPN6BA8HrVJPgd_tQOM9m9G5Mq2X/w320-h320/pexels-zachariah-garrison-1640613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">It's not an easy thing to admit you've been doing it wrong for decades. But I realized at some point that I was doing it wrong. The reason I was always paddling against a current was because I'd set the course. I'd set the course, and then I jumped in the canoe and proceeded to spend a good part of my life trying to get to the destination I'd selected. </span></span><p></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">What I should have done a long time ago was to figure out what God's plan was for me. Let God decide the course of my life. It took me fifty years to figure that out, but it is never too late.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">When we let God decide the destination, we don't have to paddle so hard. In fact, we don't have to paddle at all. Instead of thinking of yourself in a canoe, imagine instead your a leaf floating down a creek. There will be difficulties and losses along the way--no life is without pain. But you are never alone when God has planned your journey.<br /></span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">Trust that God will take you where He wants you to go, and you may be surprised where you wind up.</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-25">~Todd E. Creason <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1"><br /><span class="text Prov-29-25"><br /></span></span></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-24205072223239397572023-01-26T14:41:00.001-06:002023-01-26T14:41:36.875-06:00Is It Time To Say Goodbye To Social Media?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUwfAIp07OHBB3pay917p80VonRJesLT9oPXH9cnVIUsYhL_2pYzIF3ibU41dYl5o1jDKAtaDCoffCIDq-tFAbYyAveaezLHkATaMyt2YCbxASw_j7_TmcIEMGXz8aahmS3d7_Le3yg3iU4PSEb8aN66Ois2SJSnwOI_hlKcnHQO8m9rw2-eaiQUq/s3993/pexels-lisa-fotios-1092644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3993" data-original-width="3993" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUwfAIp07OHBB3pay917p80VonRJesLT9oPXH9cnVIUsYhL_2pYzIF3ibU41dYl5o1jDKAtaDCoffCIDq-tFAbYyAveaezLHkATaMyt2YCbxASw_j7_TmcIEMGXz8aahmS3d7_Le3yg3iU4PSEb8aN66Ois2SJSnwOI_hlKcnHQO8m9rw2-eaiQUq/w400-h400/pexels-lisa-fotios-1092644.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This week in the news, we're seeing some problems coming up with social media. There have been some big layoffs on social media platforms, driven by a decline in usage. People are leaving social media. I think there's a weariness that's set in. And mistrust. And privacy concerns. And more and more people are realizing they don't really need it. And they're closing their accounts.<br /><p></p><p>Over the last six months, I've really been thinking a great deal about this device in my pocket. This endless source of convenience on one hand and a constant source of distraction on the other. My main focus over the last few months has been the amount of time I spent distracted by it, and working to establish some limits. </p><p>But last week, my focus shifted. I got a notification (again) that my information had been compromised by one of these platforms that I'm on. Of course criminals can use that information in all kinds of nasty ways. And it bothered me. And I spent several hours that evening trying to lock down anything thieves could use this information contained in this security breach to get into and mess around with. And it was more than I thought. </p><p>All is well, but it made me really look at what I'm doing online. And I've spent a couple hours every evening this week closing down accounts I don't use. I closed more than twenty accounts. Some were social media. Some retailers. Some were app related. A few I hadn't used in years. I'm down to just a handful of online apps, and services I use. <br /></p><p>And only one social media account. One. Facebook. And I'm honestly thinking about closing that one too. What do I get from it? Is it more positive or negative? About all I do is post pictures of my dogs. And I like to keep up with what my friends are doing. But on the downside, I see a lot of garbage. I have privacy concerns. I have concerns about the honest and integrity of many of these companies and how they're using our attention, and how the information they're harvesting from our online activity is being used. But primarily, my concerns are about what kind of return I'm getting from the investment of my time.</p><p>I've decided to wait a couple weeks. Think about it. Cool off from my last brush with identify theft. But I think my online friends could probably live without the daily pictures of my dogs. </p><p>Would it be such a terrible thing to live out here in the real world like we used to? Think about that. Many people are it seems. Might not be a bad idea to do what I did, and have a look at what you've got open out there, and start pruning away at what you don't use or don't need.<br /></p><p> ~Todd E. Creason <br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-88191656532420484602023-01-01T18:20:00.002-06:002023-01-01T18:26:30.848-06:002023: A New Beginning?<div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHW5MXuBPv5cwwtQYSD5sFWJSiQE4FL4tV7h8BEe13F9Q_rHzYMC82m1PDcYg7G3ZB1FnICR7etHr8GZnAjX2vsLt7jqrwzsm12pLHsK9PQ33bMVvoKJS4oA3ujPZX6pM_s4xnWF_LHaRV9nf-Ipz7XpqgSF3YGtT-Pj5YosPHe2OwPyvjzJ5sobl/s1100/resolutions.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1100" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHW5MXuBPv5cwwtQYSD5sFWJSiQE4FL4tV7h8BEe13F9Q_rHzYMC82m1PDcYg7G3ZB1FnICR7etHr8GZnAjX2vsLt7jqrwzsm12pLHsK9PQ33bMVvoKJS4oA3ujPZX6pM_s4xnWF_LHaRV9nf-Ipz7XpqgSF3YGtT-Pj5YosPHe2OwPyvjzJ5sobl/w400-h300/resolutions.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."</b></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Jeremiah 29:11 </i></p><p>We always have a tendency at the end of the year to look back at what we've done and realize we didn't accomplish as much as we wanted to--or intended to. And so we sit down and maybe we write a couple things down that we want to do this year. Now I can tell you from experience that this list doesn't change very much from year to year. But for some reason we think we'll be able to get done in the next 12 month what we failed to accomplish in the last 12 months, or maybe it's 24 months . . . or 36? </p><p>We fail because we're making our own plans usually. We're relying on our own ability and our own will power and our own resolve to lose the weigh, and get in shape, and have better relationships at work, and be more productive.</p><p>Instead of working our own plan in 2023, what if we resolved this year to try and discover what God's plan is for us instead? What if we spent some time really talking to God this year? What if we spent a little less time scrolling our phones and instead spent that time reading the Bible. Instead of sleeping in on Sunday mornings, what if we got up and went to church . . . actually went? Maybe make some new friends, and hear somebody preach the Word. </p><p>God has a lot better plan for our life than we do. Too often our plan and God's plan aren't in harmony with each other. That's why we so often feel discouraged, or out of step. That's why sometimes life can seem like a real drag--it's because we're not on the right path. We're not working God's plan!</p><p>So what's God's plan for you?</p><p>Well that's the hard part. You're going to have to ask Him! You're going to have to listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance. You're going to have to work on your relationship with God, and God will start showing you what you need to do. Where you're succeeding, and where you're falling short. </p><p>When you get your life plan in harmony with God's, you'll find that those things that have held you back will disappear. And that path you find you're on may lead you places you never thought you'd go. <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-30474961041911319882022-11-19T12:54:00.001-06:002022-11-19T12:58:21.123-06:00Let The Holiday Fights Begin!<p><b><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305"><sup></sup></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSdtRoX4cl08bs5VBPkAiooXEdGqnHR4e6ZFE9z2nG01_buxPKo7wgyXVIgFkhatKYSMkWaCSwK45d-H293ZxTCQ-qAmU2-25t_VnWqVaGvW9_6XJyS4TPupVclQSevAdrW6h9KJ0A73f4APmQsCQKWVMJ_1Ycb8mZlg_YpfLcD9vsTN3LCCzbCyE/s634/fighting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="634" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSdtRoX4cl08bs5VBPkAiooXEdGqnHR4e6ZFE9z2nG01_buxPKo7wgyXVIgFkhatKYSMkWaCSwK45d-H293ZxTCQ-qAmU2-25t_VnWqVaGvW9_6XJyS4TPupVclQSevAdrW6h9KJ0A73f4APmQsCQKWVMJ_1Ycb8mZlg_YpfLcD9vsTN3LCCzbCyE/w400-h284/fighting.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305"><sup>"</sup>Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, </span><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">just as in Christ God forgave you."</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">~Ephesians 4:32</span></i><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305"> </span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">I said in a message I delivered last week that the Bible talks so much about forgiveness because unforgiveness is so toxic to us. It's true, and you'll never see a better example than around the holidays for many families. <br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">The holidays can be a very stressful time of the year. Often we find ourselves together around the table with friends and family members that we don't get along with very well. I used to dread seeing these people every year. The vitriolic remarks. The condescending tone. The attempts to bait me into a debate. And too often, I'd fall for it. <br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">We make that decision whether we're going be dragged into a conflict or not. Whether we're going to allow somebody that will never be our biggest fan to continue to steal our peace year after year is completely up to us. When you learn to truly forgive, you will find peace. People will not have the power to steal your joy anymore.</span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">When you learn to forgive, you can accept people the way they are. You understand that people that can't let go of their hurt and carry grudges year after year are prisoners. They are prisoners of unforgiveness. They are in pain. They are unhappy. It's not about you, it's about them. They want to share that unhappiness with you, because in their mind you contributed to it.<br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">How we react says a lot about us. If we're still allowing ourselves to be pulled into these debates, it means that we're still carrying some of that upset with us still, also. That we may think we've let it go, but there's still something there that hurts when somebody pokes at it--something that we need to pray about because it is still there.<br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">We just weren't built to carry this burden. It eats at us. It steals our peace. Pray about it. Ask God for help with it. Pray for the person that hates you. Pray for peace. Listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit when you're faced with these difficulties. <br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">Let it go. Forgive. Accept that not everyone is going to love you. Learn to disregard the caustic remarks and hostile behavior, and as Jesus taught "turn the other cheek." </span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">Forgiveness is rarely mutual. They don't have to forgive you in order for you to forgive them. And forgiveness isn't conditional. They don't have to apologize or acknowledge what they've done was wrong. Forgiveness is simply saying, I'm not going to live with this turmoil in my life anymore. It's done and can't be undone, and I'm going to live with what's happened in the past. And even if this person continues to treat me the same way for the rest of my life, I'm going to forgive them, and I'm going to pray for them. <br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">If you're a person that dreads these holiday gatherings because of quarrels and difficulties with family, just know that there's a choice. And it's yours. You can fall to their level, or you can live by the example Christ set.<br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305">~Todd E. Creason<br /></span></p><p><span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305"> </span> <br /></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206990298528575226.post-16399833560213590692022-11-15T05:00:00.012-06:002022-11-15T05:00:00.207-06:00Part 4: Never Say Never . . . <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn138GLyB77EPYu1qJrUjDh_KGflpvFTrrqOQISsBzHVs8hp_RyZuTimc4bbZGWzcEUwx3DHNAdS2je0rD8cdV-mf6ZU3JpC6Xeo9M-rxFkiBs0nbIkdvRd1vw9dl8vx0UW0LPfhznG4oKZygx5Vvcr3kCiL200S35jI1NpyWRr4nin-UIWMNJHfM/s1215/Todd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn138GLyB77EPYu1qJrUjDh_KGflpvFTrrqOQISsBzHVs8hp_RyZuTimc4bbZGWzcEUwx3DHNAdS2je0rD8cdV-mf6ZU3JpC6Xeo9M-rxFkiBs0nbIkdvRd1vw9dl8vx0UW0LPfhznG4oKZygx5Vvcr3kCiL200S35jI1NpyWRr4nin-UIWMNJHfM/w400-h400/Todd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the <span class="sc">Lord</span> that will stand. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>~Proverbs 19:21</i><br /></p><p>(continued from Part 3) I've preached many times since that first time. In fact, I preach every Wednesday night at our mid-week service, and fill in regularly on Sunday mornings. One thing that changed is I don't get nervous anymore. That is gone completely.<br /></p><p>I'm not suggesting God gave me a wink that first morning when I preached, but what I do know is that coincidence caught my attention and shifted my perspective. It certainly made me wonder. It made me question whose decision it really was what kind of ministry I was going to be involved in--it's not my ministry at all, it belongs to God. It reminded me that I've spent far too much time in my life depending on my own understanding. I've spent far too much time planning out my own life, and what I was missing was truly understanding and accepting that my life is just a very small part of God's larger plan. </p><p>When I got the call to ministry, I'd made the promise that if God opened a door, I'd walk through it. I'd tried to push a few doors open on my own that remained stubbornly closed. But the door that finally opened first, and completely on its own, was that first opportunity to preach. The last door I would have chosen for myself. And since it was painfully obvious to me that wasn't my plan, I realized in that moment it must be God's plan for me. </p><p>I'd been looking for that path. What does God want me to do? Where does God want me to go? How does God want me to serve? But I hadn't found those answers or even seen a glimpse of that path, because I was looking for a path heading in the direction I wanted to go. When I finally saw the path ahead clearly, and knew it was the path God intended for me to take, I recognized it because it was the path I would have never chosen myself.<br /></p><p>Sometimes the things we push back against the hardest are the things God intends for us to do. Sometimes God will force us to face our fears, deal with challenges we want to ignore, and do the things we really don't want to do. But God has a plan for us, and through all these challenges he builds us for His purpose. We grow stronger as we face those things that frighten us the most. Our Christian character grows when we do what we know God would have us do whether we want to do them or not. </p><p>What you should never say . . . is never! <br /></p><p>~Todd E. Creason<br /></p><p> This is the last installment of this series. You can read the entire series by following this link: <a href="https://toddecreason.blogspot.com/search/label/Never%20Say%20Never%20Series">Never Say Never Series</a></p>Todd E. Creasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12966451416841599132noreply@blogger.com0