Tag Archives: christian life

Jars, pt. 3

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Have you ever been at the end of your rope? Has life beat you up and left you for dead? Mistakes are all too common in my life. We are messed up.

Following God can be tough. The problems don’t disappear when we get saved. And the stuff of life even make things more difficult at times!

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 gives me hope when I read it. So many times I feel all screwed up and confused. I have little motivation for God. Apathy is all to real. There are moments when I see Jesus and press on. When I pray, there is a real connection, not always but sometimes. But there are times when you or I are at the end of the rope.

 

end_of_rope

I have been writing about jars this month. Today is no different except that the jar is not something that I bring to God so He can fill it.

I am the jar. An earthen jar. A jar of clay.

 

Remember this: a jar is just there to hold something. You and I are the holders of something great!

This is verse 7 of the Corinthians passage: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Let this post be an encouragement to you. Sure, I get it that life sucks and we can make mistakes. But the Word says that “He gives more grace.” James 4:6

 

So be reminded that when you are the end of your rope, you are never out of Hope!

Jars, pt. 2

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Last week I started a series about jars. To catch up, I put the whole story in here.

1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:1-7

Verse 6 is a very revealing verse. There are some applications to be made.

1. “When all the jars were full…” The widow was obedient to the instruction given to her.

2. “Bring me another…” The widow was not content with what she had. There was more.

3. “There is not a jar left…” God had met here needs.

4. “Then the oil stopped flowing” No more jars meant no more oil.

This is what really struck me. God has “oil” for me. The Holy Spirit is that oil. God living in me. The power and grace I need to live everyday for Him is right here. So my job is to bring empty jars for God to fill.

The jar of my marriage.

The jar of my kids.

The jar of my church.

The jar of my fears.

The jar of my insecurities.

The jar of my mistakes.

The jar of my…

So as long as I keep bringing these jars, the oil will keep flowing.

What jars do you have for God today?

widow oil

Funnel or Bucket?

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Hello friends and family! It is December 2nd right now and I have been reflecting back on 2014 and also looking ahead to 2015.

2014…what a year! Here are few highlights;

  • I celebrated 14 years of marriage to my beautiful wife.
  • My kids are doing well in 1st and 4th grades.
  • I will have performed 50 wedding ceremonies in 2014.
  • In July, I gave the Invocation at the Packer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
  • Lastly, I started a blog.

I am sure I could list more but that is not the point.

 

SO….

the point 2

 

 

If I am not more like Jesus than I was in 2013 than my list of things I did in 2014 is pointless.

In 2015, I am setting goals and changing things in my life. All for one purpose, to be more like Jesus. If my life is a funnel, being like Jesus is the smallest part, the very tip of the funnel. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, must flow through that one little section. If I am not a funnel than I would probably be a bucket. I would fill up on whatever comes my way. I’d rather be a funnel than a bucket.

So expect some changes with my blog. There might even be times when I will ask for feedback. Feel free to comment when asked or even if you are not asked. I welcome your thoughts.

So get ready friends, 2015 will be full of change. Which one will you be?

funnel2   OR      bucket

To My Dad.

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Hello Friends!

You may not know this but I have been trying to post on the 1st and 15th of each month. There have been a few days when I missed that mark but for the most part, it has been steady. For October 15th, I was planning remembering my dad. He passed away on the 13th. With the world change I was going through and my computer being broken for a while, I am just getting to the post today. So without further delay…

My dad, Roger Allan Sorbo, was an awesome man. I would need many, many more “two minutes with Tim” to tell all there is to tell about him. I don’t but I can summarize. Here goes:

He was the piano man. With 12 years of classical lessons, my dad could play any song in any style. Give him a piano and let him roll! It was amazing how the music of his life was captured in only 88 keys! One of his favorite things in life was to play the piano. They must have pianos in heaven!?!?!? His music is on CD so if you want to hear it, contact me.

He was the practical man. My dad was a doctor. He had his PhD in Nuclear Chemistry. One does not get such a degree without being highly pragmatic! He drove the car with the best gas mileage. He would multi-task to save time. When we would work in the garden, we would talk about science stuff. So logical and analytical was my dad. We even joked that he didn’t have feelings because he was so practical.

He was the playing man. My dad was a gamer before it was popular. Because of his intelligence it was so hard to ever beat him. We could play Boggle until 2:00 in the morning! He also played golf and softball. My dad loved to play games. It must be genetic because I love to play games as well.

But the my dad was also a pure man. He lived his life for Jesus. At a young age, my dad gave his heart to the Lord. His sins were washed away. Despite having many difficulties later in life, his attitude always reflected his salvation. God saved him. And he knew it. My dad would always remind me that God is in control of his life so why worry. Just get up and do the right thing.

 

So as I think about my dad, I am sad. He always reviewed each blog before I posted it. Not this one though. Bummer, this one will be a favorite of mine.

Before I go, can I ask you a question? Is God in control of your life?

Thanks dad. I love you and miss you. See you in heaven someday. =-) dad

 

Again…and again…yet again.

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When I was a kid, I fell constantly. As an athletic boy, I was ALWAYS the messiest boy out there. Whether making a sliding tackle or sliding into second base, I was repeatedly getting dirty. The tops of my knees are permanently scarred from all of the scraps. It’s not that I was clumsy or uncoordinated, but rather, I played with passion. Baseball was my best sport. I played third base. Making a diving catch was the highlight reel that played over and over in my mind…and sometimes, it really happened!

Even now, in my forties, I play softball. I feel like I played my best when I can slide. Oh, and just in case you are wondering, I always slide head first. I have more fun that way. =-) In fact, I need to wear pants (as opposed to shorts) so that when I do slide, the wounds are much less severe.

The picture is Pete Rose, not me. Pete Rose and Roy Staiger

The other kind of falling down is the kind that is not so fun. In baseball, sometimes you strike out. In soccer, sometimes the other guy gets past you. Maybe you didn’t get that promotion for which you were hoping. It might have been the harsh words you had with your spouse. Or, if things are really bad, you lose a job because of some bad choices. The gambling problem eats away your savings account. The affair you thought you never would have has become reality. You fell down. Mistakes were made and you fell down.

Now you have a choice. Get up or stay down?

If I did not have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, I would say that getting up is stupid or useless. Just get another job. Just file bankruptcy. Divorce is so common these days. Move away to another state. Yea…just stay down.

But I do have an ongoing relationship with the Almighty God and so I say get up. Yes, I fell down. But I am playing with passion right? So I am going to get up and keep going.

Whether you are down because of your own doing or something that has happened to you, make the choice and allow God’s grace to help you back up on your feet.

Here is what God’s word says about us when we fall down, “for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10. When we fall, He is right there next to us.

He will help you get up. He is ready to brush off the dust. He will give you a pat on the back. He will tell you that He loves you. He will teach you something. He will remind you that His plan for you only works if you get up.

Take it from someone who has fallen way too many times to count, getting back up is always the best choice.