Me? Are You Sure?

Philippians 4:13 (KJV) - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Someone once said that the only constant in the world is change.

There is a grain of truth in that.

As the new year approaches, I find my life in a state of flux.

I now find myself in a position of leadership in my church.

Many of my Christian friends have also informed me that their walk of faith is in a state of transition as well. They are experiencing changes in the ways they serve God.

As for me, I was approached in October 2010 to make this transition and I really had to prayerfully consider it.

This was not a position I had ever planned on accepting. In fact, I had turned others down when asked in years past. It was nothing personal. This time, things were different. I felt that this time God was leading me to accept this position.

I have always relied on that passage of scripture from Philippians in the past. This time, God led me with it and with two additional passages as well.

Hebrews 11:8 (KJV) - By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

I certainly could relate to that. If I were to accept this position, I would certainly be entering unfamiliar territory. If I honestly believed God were leading me in this direction, I too should obey His leading.

Then, there was a second passage of scripture that spoke volumes to me.

Luke 12:48b (KJV) - For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I acknowledge that any ability I have comes from God and that He expects me to use such ability in service to Him. That, coupled with the fact that my church has done so much for me in my spiritual growth, convinced me that it is now time for me to serve my church in ways I had not before considered.

Will this take me outside my comfort zone? Yes.

Is this going to be a learning experience for me? Undoubtedly.

Yet, that is how we as Christians both grow and mature.

I also realized that I was not going to be able to do all the things I had been doing and take on new responsibilities as well.

I was going to have to sit down and determine what roles I would continue to fill and what roles I would relinquish.

With His help I determined those functions which I originally felt Him calling me to do and decided to keep doing those things.

Although painful, I opted to step down from a committee on which I had served for four years.

As I stated before, many of my Christian friends tell me their spiritual walk is in a state of transition.

Yet, we must each trust that God is in charge and that He will put us exactly where He wants us to be doing exactly what He wants us to do. We can take comfort in the fact that He will walk with us each step of the way.

As we enter a new year, I encourage you to make yourself available to His leading.

Philippians 2:13 (KJV) - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of (His) good pleasure.


Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, January 7, 2011.

Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

I'll be back here on Friday, January 14, 2011.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

An Unforgettable Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time.

For me, the two most difficult times in my life occurred around my birthday and around Christmas.

I was my parents' only surviving child.

Father died many years ago and was laid to rest on my nineteenth birthday.

Birthdays seemed less special after that.

Mother was forty years old when I was born and because of the differences in our ages, I became her primary caregiver making sure she had everything she needed before I went to work each day.

She suffered from severe arthritis, but was otherwise in good health and mentally sharp as Christmas drew near a few years ago. In fact, we talked about our plans for Christmas during the last conversation we were to have.

Then suddenly, mere days before Christmas, she became critically ill and, as her only surviving child, the decision to take her off life support fell squarely on me.

If you have never had to make such a decision, I hope that you never have to. It is without doubt one of the most gut wrenching decisions that has to be made and knowing that it is the right thing to do is of little comfort.

If you have had to make that decision, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

I knew I could not make this decision alone.

I leaned harder on God that day than I ever leaned on Him before.

Looking back, I honestly believe that He wanted me to lean on Him.

God used those circumstances to both tear me down and then rebuild me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Though this was the most difficult decision I had ever faced, the difficulties continued.

I then began handling the arrangements for her services.

I had to call family and friends and break the news to them (most thought I was calling to wish them "Merry Christmas").

Some had already left town for the holidays and sadly a few did not find out until they returned.

When her funeral ended, I was absolutely exhausted.

That night, I slept the kind of sleep that my physical body had been craving for days.

When I awoke the next morning, the realization of what had transpired over the prior days was immediate.

There was also something else. There was also a deep sense of peace within me.

John 14:27 (KJV) - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I also felt His message in my heart...

"I just got you through the most difficult days of your lifetime. I will get you through others. All you need do is trust Me."

I will never forget what that felt like.

I also have no trouble sharing that with others.

In the years that have followed, I can honestly and confidently say that He has transformed my life.

I serve Him now in ways that I could neither have foreseen nor imagined.

One more thing...

In spite of the loss, I still love Christmas and celebrating the birth of my Savior.

Certainly, there are moments that are still painful.

There's that one song I hear during the holidays that always gets to me.

There's also that one Christmas movie that I can't through without tears.

Last year, it was a particular aroma coming from my host's kitchen that did it.

These and other things remind me of the special relationship I had with Mother.

Yet, I know that it is okay for me to miss her.

As a believer, I know I can still love her.

In the end, love is what Christmas is all about.

It is not about how we try to reach up to God.

Rather, Christmas is about how God loved us so much that He reached down to us through Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 (KJV) - For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


In loving memory of "Mom" Pokorny (as she was known by many) I wish you a Merry Christmas,













Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, December 17, 2010.

Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

I'll be back here on Friday, December 24, 2010.