Echoes From the Campfire

Whatever a man does leaves a trail behind, and in his passing he leaves the indication of the manner of man he is, of his character, and even something of his plans.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (High Lonesome)

    “A sensible person sees danger and takes cover; the inexperienced keep going and are punished.”
              –Proverbs 27:12 (HCSB)
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Ever have a dream?  I means plans for your life, goals, aspirations?  Has God given you the desire to do something?  Then why are you not on your quest?  If it is from God, and if God is in charge, then why not dare to fulfill the desires of your heart?
If they are God-honoring and will bring Him glory, get started.
    People say I have to study and prepare myself for this task, for this quest that I have dreamed about.  Maybe that is part of the dream, but it might also just be an excuse.  Sometimes it just takes plain old simple faith.  If God is in charge then we need to know Him.
              “The LORD said to Abram:  Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
                     –Genesis 12:1-2 (HCSB)

Abraham would not have been blessed unless he acted upon what God told him to do.  He had to leave all behind.  It has been my experience in working with Christians, especially in the last several years that they will do what God wants as long as He leaves them where they are or where they want to go.  
    Sometimes there is a risk involved when we do what the Lord wants, but not really.  If He is in charge the risk is removed.  Sometimes Christians come up with crazy ideas and get fixed on them and then tells others that God told them to do it.  They will say they are risking for Jesus when in fact they are simply immature.  We risk only what God calls us to risk.  There are two problems here:
         1)  We don’t want to risk anything.
         2)  We feel guilty so we risk in areas where God has not called us.
    There is a time to take a risk.  Remember the old Sunday School song, “Dare to Be a Daniel”?  When is it all right to take a risk?
         1)  When the Bible is clear about it.  There are definitely times when the Scripture commands us to act.  We are to stand up and take a risk when it is to witness about Christ.
         2)  When Truth is violated.  
                   “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
                    Ye soldiers of the Cross…”.
We are to guard the Truth; that brings great responsibility, especially in regard to our children.  They must be taught the Truth.  Jesus is the “Truth…”.
         3)  When the issue is Love.  Love is a risk because it presupposes connection.  In this technical age it is easy to stay “connected” without any real relationship.  Love makes you feel what the other person is feeling.  It makes you vulnerable and there is danger.  
    We must be in the Word and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  We are to build walls when God says to, and tear down walls when He says.  What is most important to you?  Why do you fear risk?  Remember, pleasing God is of greater importance than pleasing the world.  If you are pleasing God you have nothing to lose.
         1)  You can’t lose your goods.  We place so much importance upon material goods.  In reality, we are simply stewards of those things as our treasure is in heaven.
         2)  You can’t lose your self-esteem.  Our identity is in Christ and is based on the fact that He loves us and we are joint-heirs with Him.  Remember, He died for us.
         3)  You can’t lose your sufficiency.  That is measures against eternity.  Really, self-sufficiency is a myth.  “I will do this, I will do that”; ha, only if the Lord allows it.  However, you can cope with whatever life gives, because your sufficiency is in Christ, and not in circumstances.
         4)  You can’t lose your life.  Fear of death often prevents risk.  Yet our hope is in Christ Jesus.
    Sorry, I went a little longer than normal this morning.  But take time to ponder what the Lord is wanting to do in your life and what He wants you to act upon.