April 9, 2021 – Click here to listen
I think I accidentally misled some of you in yesterday’s post. I wasn’t talking about stopping writing Words for the Day, rather that I might quit sending it via Facebook due to Facebook being one of the most biased companies in the world.
Words for the Day is written to me as much as anyone else, how can I stop giving myself biblical advice and inspiration to do better in life by following Jesus. I experience both problems and have moments of unmitigated joy and I seek the Bible to help me understand how I should react in either case. I never plan what I’m going to write and rely on the holy Spirit to give me a topic and the words each day. Usually I just sit down and start typing. When I miss the mark, I suppose I’m not listening as well as I should and rely too much on me and not Him.
Last time I checked I have written millions of words. I’m coming up on 23 years of writing five posts per week and averaging over 1000 words per post. I’ve written it from all sorts of locations some of them 5 time zones away. I’ve had responses from readers in Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, Communist China, Canada, Barbados, Spain, etc. and all over the United States. Interesting that I only intended to write it for my employees to help them seek biblical solutions to the same problems I experience. Somehow the Lord wanted others to read it too and it just grew organically I guess by word of mouth without me ever trying to promote it.
My entire purpose in writing it is to help people. Some get angry and write nasty letters some get happy and write glowing letters and some get angry one day and happy the next and write angry and happy letters. I chalk it up to not every post appealing to everyone. Some folks really dislike me; that’s okay I don’t like everyone I meet either.
I’m not afraid of being cancelled, or boycotted, or getting threats, or going to jail for reiterating something the Bible states, or anything else. I figure I’ll keep on writing it as long as I can physically do it and I feel God wants me to do so.
And yes, sometimes it is difficult to write it, but most times it’s not. I think anyone who does anything to further the gospel experiences highs and lows. I can tell you that the wonderful, nice letters I’ve received from the best people one can imagine including strangers are worth more than their weight in gold. The love they express for the Lord far outweighs the few naysayers.
I’ve been involved with many ministries including prison ministry, building churches, founding the Jesus Alliance, speaking and offering my testimony from Anchorage to the Florida Keys, writing books, teaching bible study, and so on. I’ve also enjoyed huge success in business. And my family is just top notch. But as I look at it the things that have meant the most to me, I can assure you it was certainly not making money, achieving some fame and power, or significant achievements, but what has meant the most is doing what I can for the Lord.
I want to continue to fight the good fight and run the race until my tongue is hanging out and I cannot lift another foot or crawl. Serving Jesus inspires you to behave that way and I can unequivocally say that unless you have experienced that feeling of doing a job for the Lord and doing it with gusto, you have missed out on the greatest joy in life.
1 Samuel 12:24
Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!