Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

It is a four letter word — “pain”.  That more than anything in my life has initiated change.  My pastor yesterday related the story of Noah and the flood and of course the ark.  He said the storm comes first, then the promises of God represented by the rainbow.  Another way of saying the same thing is that God will always take care of you.  The 23rd Psalm states, ‘I will walk you through the shadow of death’, — not around but through.  Ecclesiastes, the book in the Bible written by King Solomon says, ‘Bad things happen even to good people.’  Storms always come or trials which is another way of saying the same thing.  Then the rainbow follows, which represents the promises of God.  God never forsakes us.  You never are able to see the big picture:  ‘God has set eternity in our lives’ (Ecclesiastes, again).  Life does not always make sense nor is it always fair.  If you insist on all that, you will torture yourself unnecessarily.  Pain and trials always come.  If your life ran smoothly all the time not only would your life be boring but there would be no need to ever learn how to overcome problems.  And trials and pain and tragedy come to each person.  No one is exempt.  And again, life is never fair.  And that is how we learn.  Through those trials (and the accompanying pain that follows).

Tags: 'God has set eternity in our lives', 23rd Psalm, bad things happen to good people, Bible, change, Ecclesiastes, God, God never forsakes us, God will always take care of you, King Solomon, knowledge, learning, life is not always fair, Noah and the ark, overcome problems, pain, pastor, promises of God, shadow of death, storms or trials, the rainbow, trials
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It always makes a difference to you when you do not wear your watch:  my watch band broke.  The last two Sundays I went to church I did not have a watch on.  The time flowed differently.  I focused more fully on the service.  I did not get impatient.  I never forgot the comment of Gulliver in “Gulliver’s Travels” when he was asked by the Lilliputians (the little people) what that large ticking machine (referring to his watch) was and he replied, “It is my God.  I would not do anything without first consulting it.”  Too many people consult their watches way too frequently and lead their lives by the book and heavily regimented.  They never learn to flow with the moments they deem important.  It is an interesting experiment to leave your watch at home and learn to flow with your important moments.  God knows there are enough clocks around to keep your appointments on time.  Try it some time.  Take your watch off for a day or two or even a week.  See how that changes your perception of the events occurring around you and through you.

Tags: "Gulliver's Travels", balance, changes your perception, church, flow with the moments, God, knowledge, learning, Lilliputians, Sunday, time, time flowed differently, wear my watch
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The parable of Jesus (of the talents) illustrates how important it is to use our talents wisely.  Talents in biblical times referred to a sum of money.  I will let the scriptures speak for themselves.

Matthew 25:14-46

14   For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15   And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16   Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17   And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18   But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19   After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20   And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21   His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22   He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23   His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24   Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25   And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26   His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27   Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28   Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29   For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30   And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Tags: abundance, Bible, God, Jesus, joy of thy Lord, kingdom of heaven, money, parable of the talents, responsibility, scriptures, servant, the Lord, time, well done thou good and faithful servant, wisdom, your talents
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Less, again, is always more.  It is far easier to be satisfied with what you’ve got than to want more.  There is no end to more.  Riches are all relative.  It is far easier to cut your expenses controlling your desires of more material wealth than increasing your money coming in or simply not living within your means (which usually means using credit).  I do not know how many marriages were destroyed by poor money management.  Creating a reasonable budget and living within your means always creates peace.  Juggling bills and creditors is always stressful.  Putting money aside for emergencies (and they always come) is prudent.  God supplies everything but we are entrusted with using our money (and resources) prudently.  That is under our control.

Tags: balance, be satisfied with what you've got, budget, control your desires, cut your expenses, God, God supplies everything, less is more, living within your means, marriage, material wealth, money, money management, no end to more, our resources, peace, putting money aside, riches are relative, want more
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