"Big Fifth Grader"

Repeating a grade.  Nobody likes it, but sometimes it is necessary.  The learning, growth, and development that was supposed to take place during this time period just simply didn't happen.  And if the child did advance to the next grade, they would not have the skills required to succeed at this level.

As a parent, this can be a tough decision to make.  On one hand, you want your child to be in their "right" grade, not get teased for "sticking", and stay with friends they have went to school with since kinder garden.  On the other hand, you want what's best for your child in the long run.  And you don't want your child to constantly struggle through the years ahead.

If the decision to repeat a grade is made, many times the child is upset.  This is understandable.  A lot of times, they will have the same teachers, same classes, and same tests.  Their friends and peers go on and leave them to the next level of education.

I was thinking about this idea of "sticking" when it comes to our spiritual lives.  A lot of us are frustrated with being on the same level spiritually that we have been on for years.

God desires to have a closer relationship with us and take us to higher levels of faith, knowledge, and  revelation of Him and His kingdom.   We have bigger "kingdom assignments" to accomplish in our lifetime, but many of us are stuck taking the same tests of years ago.

As a result, we have become a population with a lot of "big fifth graders", in a spiritual sense.   A lot of us have been saved, going to church, and have had a relationship with Christ for 10, 20, 30 years, but still spiritually immature.

Some of us even have the nerve to be angry at the people who have advanced to new levels, dimensions, and realms of faith.   This anger, jealously, and also guilt are the very stumbling blocks that prevent spiritual growth.

We have to realize that in order to advance in the Kingdom of God, their must be times of testing, trials, and hardships.  These are the training grounds for advancement in the Kingdom.  Out of ignorance, frustration, and the lack of perseverance that we quit, fail, or drop out of the very things that were sent to help us.

This scripture sums this up the best:  All this is evidence that God's judgement is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
2 Thessalonians 1:5   

 We are kingdom citizens, and the kingdom of God rises under pressure.  Let us be mindful of this as we go through the tests, trials, and hardships in life.  Nobody likes to be the "big fifth grader"!

"Our Dreams Are Worth It!"

 

At one time or another everybody has, will have, or has had a dream. A dream is a goal, a plan, or a vision of what you would like to have, be, or achieve in your life.

I have always been a dreamer. For as long as I can remember, I could always close my eyes and imagine what the future could hold for my life.

Now some people think that having a dream is a waste of time, or something that can never be obtained. Many because of difficulties, discouragements, and obstacles have even given up on their dreams.

But in the back of our heads, no matter how far or distant that dream my now seem, it still exists. And every now and then a picture, a commercial, or conversation reminds us of our dream.

We often ask ourselves the question, "what would my life be like if I would have done that?" Or make statements like, "I used to want to be that".

Is your dream worth pursuing? Is it worth the time to even consider in this time period and present state of the economy? Will people "get" your dream? With everything that has happened in your life, is it really worth it?

Let me tell you about my dream. My dream will allow me to do what I love, and to love what I do. My dream will allow me to provide for my wife and children, and their children. My dream will help the world live a better quality of life on a daily basis. My dream will teach, motivate, and inspire others to pursue and reach their dreams.

I have determined and decided that my dream is worth it. Our dreams are always worth it. Contrary to popular belief, we are not the product of our circumstances. No circumstance is never enough to give up on our dreams.

Today, let us put one foot in front of the other and see our dreams. We are worth it!

"The Incredible Edible Egg"

"The Incredible Edible Egg"

The incredible edible egg is hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Its inner contents are very valuable and beneficial. One egg has 13 essential vitamins and minerals, as well as a high quality source of protein.

The incredible edible egg is protected by its outer shell. Often that shell is placed in a package to protect is delicate contents. The egg is eaten, and enjoyed by many people everyday. It can be scrambled, boiled, or even eaten raw. This valuable source of food can be added with many other ingredients to make many things.

One of the most famous uses of the egg is during Easter. During this holiday people color, dye, and decorate eggs. They put them in baskets, and have Easter egg hunts with them.

My favorite egg is the hard boiled egg. A boiled egg is placed in hot boiling water until its inner contents become hard. When this happens, then the outer shell is cracked, peeled off, and is eaten.
People are like eggs. We need to come out of our shells and feed the world with what is on the inside of us. All of us have gifts, talents, and abilities on the inside of us. We have greatness on the inside of us. But we are afraid to come out of our shells. Our shells are our outer appearance, our jobs, and our associations. Our shells are our apprehensions and our places of comfort ability.

Our "boiling water" is the trials, difficulties, and discouragements we face in life. This boiling water is producing a product on the inside that would not be, if not placed in this position.

You see, the world is waiting to "eat" or receive the gifts, talents, and abilities that are on the inside of us. Solutions, cures, and inventions are on the inside of us. In our shells are great businesses, books, songs, and many more great things.

But many are afraid to come out of their shells. Scared to expose what is on the inside. So they hide behind the color of insecurity, the dye of mediocrity, and the decorations of the temporal things.
Come out of your shell today. The world is starving for what is on the inside of you. We are incredible edible eggs.