Compositions

A few months ago I was sitting in my church’s business class. The teacher had asked us a question – “What verse might best describe your purpose for starting a business?” As we went around the room, the answers ranged from verses on prosperity to verses on ministry to John 3:16 to the great commission. Since I was sitting near the back of the room I had a moment to think about my answer. The verse that kept coming to me was different than everyone else’s verse. I kept thinking of “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” (which turns out to be Proverbs 22:29). In a way, that surprised me. My purpose for starting my business was because I wanted to stand before Kings and priests?

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Read the rest of the article here at Tastyfresh : Excellence and Influence

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I used to chuckle at a Calvin & Hobbes comic that my mom kept on our refrigerator when I was a child. It had a picture of Calvin making a grumpy face with a caption that read, “God put us on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. At this point I am so far behind I will never die.” But somewhere along the line, one of my parents had crossed off “number of” so it read; “God put us on earth to accomplish certain things…” It was a silly little comic, but I never really forgot the concept behind it. As I began to get to know and love God on a personal level, I always kind of wondered how much truth was behind that. Did God really put us on earth to accomplish specific things? Did He really give each person only a part of the puzzle?

I began to figure out what I am best at. I figured that would be my strong point — my combo move so to speak – for me to accomplish the most for the Kingdom. Is it music? What about art? What about writing? And are there things I am specifically not good at? Sports for sure. Math and science probably a close second. So, those talents can be left up to someone else. They can be the puzzle piece that fits where I fall short.

It is interesting to think of the huge plan God has laid out. It includes all of us, and all of our talents. To think that He would fit all of us carefully into a place in history, with specific talents, to accomplish certain things so that it all lines up for His glory. And not only does He do that but He ups the ante with the Holy Spirit empowering our talents.

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Read this article in its entirety at Tastyfresh : Putting your gifts to use where God wants them.

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It was dark and raining harder by the minute. I was in the center lane of the freeway in a car that wasn’t mine. Usually I don’t mind freeway driving, but on this particular night the rain, the mist from a hundred tires and the glare from the street lights were making it nearly impossible to see the lines on the road. This may not have been a big deal if the highway was a straight shot, but this road was curving around the edge of the city and had numerous sweeping turns to navigate. In short, driving conditions were dangerous and I was driving an unfamiliar vehicle.

So, I did the only thing I really could do. I turned up my drum&bass CD, clamped my hands on the wheel, squinted through the rain and drove like a warrior. For the next twenty minutes I braved lane-drifting SUVs, road hogging semi trucks and the occasional slow driver who insisted on traveling in the fast lane. And since I couldn’t see the lines I had to navigate according to the brake lights of the car in front of me. It was crazy. I don’t know what was racing faster, my heart or my mind. When I finally pulled into the driveway and turned off the car I was feeling amazing. I was wide awake, hyped on adrenaline and in a completely different mood. I think I may have been glowing. I felt alive.

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Read the rest of this article at Tastyfresh : http://www.tastyfresh.com/articles/faith-a-ministry/387-life.html“>Life

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