Yesterday morning as I was clocking in to work an analogy came to me about God and a timeclock. His forgiveness and grace and a timeclock adjustment sheet. To give some background, the day before I'd forgotten to clock out for lunch. I didn't realize it until I was getting ready to "clock-in" from lunch. Next to the timeclock is a paper timeclock adjustment sheet. Needless to say this is the sheet that we use to make adjustments to our time. So, I filled it out noting the correct time as well as the wrong time. I was grateful that I could go to the the timeclock sheet and get my time straightened out. But what if I didn't know about that sheet? What if I didn't know that if I messed up I could correct the action? If I hadn't known, I could have spent the whole day working and went the rest of the day and week without clocking in or out all because I'd made a mistake therefore missing out on several days pay.

That's how many of us are when it comes to sin and mistakes. We mess up and instead of looking to God and confessing and asking for forgiveness we walk around thinking there's nothing we can do. We blew it. The sad thing is that many people don't even know about Gods forgiveness and grace and so they never ask. Some people go the entire week not clocking in or out because they don't know how to correct the action. They stop going to church, fellowshipping with other believers all because they messed up and feel bad or unworthy. But God is like that timeclock adjustment sheet. He's always there right next to us where we need Him so that when the mistakes happen (and they will) we can go to God and ask for forgiveness. Then He covers us with His grace so that we don't go any further and miss out on the blessings He has for us.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I feel like I've been having "one of those days" everyday lately. Needless to say, my everyday job situation doesn't do much to help my mood. I feel like calling in sick almost everyday. So, I know you're probably saying to yourself, "This sure doesn't sound like good news." It's not but the good news lies not in the situation or the circumstance but the promise of things getting better. It lies in the fact that although I really, really, really wanted to call in sick today, I realize that there is someone who couldn't do much of anything this morning because of an illness. I'm grateful I'm not sick today and I don't want to take it for granted. I realize that there was someone who needed me more than I realized today. We never really know how our thoughts and actions affect other people but when I take the time to be still I feel the Spirit revealing things to me concerning the word and about others that I couldn't possibly know without Him. It's just about being obedient to the Spirit and acting on His word even when I don't feel like it.

No, I didn't win $35 million nor am I giving $35 million away. I am taking a class at church from the Crown Financial Ministries. It focuses on finances from a biblical perspective. One of the chapters we just finished in our workbook is entitled "Perspective". There was a point made in the chapter that success is meaningless apart from serving God. As I read on, they mentioned King Solomon, who is the author of Ecclesiates. It made mention to the fact that King Solomon had an annual income of more than $35 million. My mind began to wonder. $35 million a year. What could I do with that? I guess the real question would be what couldn't I do? I read on, the author noted what Solomon concluded of his riches: "Vanity of all vanites...all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 12:8)" The author goes on to state that NOTHING can replace the value of our relationship with the Lord.

I was reminded of a conversation that'd taken place during one of the classes, about how there was a guy who tithed 90% of his income and lived off of the remaining 10%. I did the math of tithing 90% of $35 million. There'd still be more than 3 million dollars a year left to live on! But for some people that still wouldn't be good enough. I still think it's crazy when I see people spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on cars, clothes.... I mean seriously, there are kids who aren't eating. People struggling. How could I justify a hundred thousand dollar car even if I could afford it? To each his own but I'm saying. There are so many other things more important than what type of car I drive. My Mom says that if I ever had that much money, a hundred thousand dollar car wouldn't be a thing. Who knows?

So, basically, that brings me to my next point which was also mentioned in the workbook. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows exactly how much he can entrust to us at anytime without it harming us. This also ties into learning to be content with what I have. I say $35 million wouldn't change me, that my fellowship with the Lord wouldn't be affected but I don't really know that. I'm still human and with $35 million there are going to be some human moments for sure. God knows this too. Sometimes, we think we can fool Him by making claims we won't change or by promising that we'll do this or that with the money "for the kingdom". He knows whether we will or won't. I'm really grateful that he doesn't give me everything I want.

I started thinking about that $35 million and I started to picture myself walking with the Lord. He's showing me what my life would be like, right now, if he were to give me those millions and explains why he hasn't. Not to say that he won't someday but he knows that right now I'm still growing in faith and would not be ready to handle that kind of responsibilty. If I can't show that I'm a good steward over the things that I have right now why would I be any better with more? These are things that I sometimes overlook and it helps put things back into perspective. $35 million would be nice right about now but not if it's going to cost me eternity.

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been over here which is a bad on my part cause a lot of wonderful things have been happening. So, much so that there wouldn't be enough space or time for me to tell it all. But I will share one of the many ways that God has found to keep me sane.

Last weekend we sang a song during church service that says "Like the dew in the morning, gently rest upon my heart..." Yesterday morning I woke up singing that song but then this morning I started singing "You're All I Need To Get By" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. I sang the first line of the song and I had to smile when I got to the part that begins, "Like sweet morning dew..." I wondered why I was filled with this urge to sing songs with the word dew. Then I realized that I've been so preoccupied with the cares of life and worries and concerns that I haven't been resting, in the spiritual sense, but it's amazing to me that God can use something as simple as dew to make me smile and renew my strength and my faith. I looked up the definition for dew this morning and was amazed at one of its meanings. It said that dew is, "something moist, fresh, pure, or renewing". Not typically a meaning I would associate with dew, well, except the moist part. I see now how much like dew God really is (without the moisture of course). Needless to say, after today, I'll never see dew the same way.