Feb 5, 2018 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

 

 

Jerolyn and I recently lived near a park with a running/walking path around it. It was good to get out to experience both exercise and fresh air.

With plenty of trees and a small stream there were a plethora of squirrels. When I wasn’t focused on breathing, surviving (yes, there was an attempt at running on this path:-) God taught me a lesson. These squirrels were working hard — gathering, running, climbing, and sure some playing. God had provided them with much, but here’s the catch, they had to go get it!

God is indeed our Provider. We are experiencing this “foot in the River, faith-filled, God-sized, immeasurably more adventure” like never before. AND loving it! God continues to open doors on our behalf and provide opportunities. It is truly amazing to watch Him work on our behalf, but the squirrels reminded me that we have to go get it. We continue to connect, reach out, train, study, learn, prepare our talks/workshops, work on our writing (see what I am doing here:-), and much more.

God is providing but He expects us to go get it. To work for it. To gather. To prepare when we receive invitations and opportunities. So, like the squirrels we don’t just sit at home; we still need to work. We have borrowed the phrase, “Work hungry.” We need to “build the business before we build the house.”

A current personal story to illustrate this: We have chosen to wait on purchasing a home again to see where best to live and launch. But even more than purchasing a house, what is God going to provide for us in this journey as we seek Him, work hard, build and grow that we could limit if we “jump” too soon? We have sacrificed the security and “comfort” of a home for now as we build the business and work hungry!

God is providing but He expects us to go get it.

These thoughts simply come from watching squirrels work hard in preparation and provision. God has provided and takes care of them; He really does provide the same for us. But we are still expected to work. God will provide but not literally drop it in our laps as we sit on the sofa.

Since we moved from this location, I’ve been meditating on this then recently read a devotional from Tim and Kathy Keller on Proverbs. “Go to the ant you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest…A little sleep, a little slumber, and a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” Prov. 6:6-11 NIV

Now, overworking is a problem. Many of us have experienced, justified, and continued to live that way for much of our life. That is legitimately an issue and not the best way to live. So if you’re problem is more in this area, then you need a different discussion but for many it is just the opposite. The devotional states, “For what used to be thought of as good, reasonable jobs are now seen as demanding unreasonable standards. Many are immune to ‘hard work.”

How are you working? God provides but we are expected to earn it, not be entitled to it. We are to work hard and be like the squirrels, or ants, and be intrinsically motivated to work, gather, produce, and go get it.

How to Work Better:

• Evaluate your work habits — Do you lean towards workaholic, industrious, just get by, or lazy?
• Develop a dependence on God for providing, but an attitude of going to gather.
• We all know there is a difference between busy and productive. The adage is true, “work smarter,  not harder.” What is your assessment of how you are doing in this area? What alignments need to be made?
• Always take time to reflect and rest.

Trust God, watch Him work on your behalf, but be obedient to “gather” what He has provided, and prepare for those opportunities. The squirrels working hard, darting, climbing, running, and ultimately gathering food reminded me again of my dependence on God, but also that although he has provided, I am expected to go get it.

~ Jim and Jerolyn

 

God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs. Tim and Karen Keller (Pgs. 12)

read more

When You Wonder “Why?”

Dec 24, 2017 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

During this advent season, Jim and I went to church and heard a sermon on God shining his light into our lives. However, as He so often does, there was a different part of the sermon that made an impact on me. (I guess that was how God chose to shine His light for me that day.)

Our pastor pointed out how confusing Christ’s birth must have been for Mary. Here she was:

• a virgin
• close to being married
• giving birth in a stable of all places
• and visited by shepherds – some of the lowest of the low in society

And then he asked this question for Mary:

Why did God choose to do it this way?

Theologically, I can answer that question. But at the time, it hit me personally.

You see, over the past months, Jim and I have been going through a major life change. After we sensed God calling us to leave our church of 17 years and move out of our community of 22 years and start a new business, we set out on an adventure. Not sure where we should live, we have been “trying out” an area. (Currently, Indianapolis, Indiana) Over the past nine months we have lived for 2 months with my brother and sister-in-law, 4 months in a furnished one bedroom apartment, and just finishing up 3 months in an Air BNB house. Next we will be living in another house in another state for the first 2 months of the year and then we don’t know exactly where we are going.

At the same time, we are working to build a business which has ups and downs of its own.

Now here me, I’m not depressed or discouraged. If fact, I enjoy living a faith-filled life out on a limb. Let us say that we are thankful for the contracts and work we have received for 2018 and are truly enjoying the adventure. We are genuinely excited with anticipation for what is to come. God continues to deliver on His promises and is working on our behalf.

But some days I do ask God, why did you choose to do it this way? This whole process could have been a lot smoother. He could have told us exactly where to live, and we could have contracts overflowing in our inbox.

But I was reminded on Saturday night, God doesn’t always provide an easy way, but He does provide a way, and He does it for a very specific reason. God doesn’t make mistakes. And if He chose to send His one and only Son to earth in such a difficult and unusual way, then who am I to expect to have everything handed to me on a silver platter?

God doesn’t always provide an easy way, but He does provide a way,

and He does it for a very specific reason.

Maybe you are going through some questions of your own where you can’t understand why God would choose to do it this way.

• You don’t have employment or are stuck in a dead-end, unfulfilling job;
• You have a wayward child who can’t seem to find their way;
• Your relationship is on rocky ground;
• You don’t know what your next step is;
• You’ve been trying and trying, but seem to go no where;
• You’ve lost a loved one and are feeling lost and broken.

Maybe, you simply need to see this from a heavenly perspective rather than from where you are.

God’s way is right – always (Jesus had to be born of a virgin so there was no doubt of Him being divinely conceived.)

We are not promised all our wants – only all our needs (The Christ-child still had shelter. It was not in a palace or even in an inn. But Mary and the child found warmth and protection in a humble stable.) In Isaiah God does promise, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the wasteland.” We claim this to be true even now as we walk in faith.

He came to earth for all mankind – that is what is important. (Shepherds were the lowest of the low. But God chose to reveal His gift to mankind to them first. Our focus should be on the eternal Kingdom, not on our earth-bound perspective.)

So what can we do about our circumstances?

Live thankful. No matter your circumstance, there is always something to be thankful for. I’m amazed at how some people who are in the worst situations of life find ways to be thankful and joyful.

Stay Positive. You can choose to accept the negatives and lean into the positives. Then you can tackle your circumstances from a position above them rather than below.

Serve Others. True significance is lived out in serving others and helping lift their life in some way.

God may not be moving in your life the way you anticipated that He would, but He is at work. You can still remain present and active in that journey.

Merry Christmas and Live a Legacy!

~ Jerolyn and Jim

read more