The First 250 Steps

I have reached a bit of a milestone in my writing.

It was almost five years ago that I felt God leading me down this path.

I freely admit that I did not respond to it at first because, at the time, I failed to recognize it for what it was.

Fortunately for me, God was as patient with me as He was persistent.

Eventually I got the message, trusted His leading, and embarked upon the journey.

Now, 250 pieces later, I pause to look back on the journey and appreciate just how far He has brought me.

Very early on I learned two valuable lessons.

First, I learned that I would have to trust Him completely and without reservation.

I would have to count on Him to provide both inspiration and motivation week in and week out.

Second, I learned that I would have to set aside time every week specifically for this purpose.

Shortly after I began, I was invited to participate in a group effort.

I prayed about this and began alternating between the two sites.

In time, God blessed me as I learned that these offerings were of help to a few people along the way.

I was so grateful to learn that.

If I knew of a few that benefited then maybe, just maybe, there were others who have benefited that I will never know about in this world.

In April 2013, the monthly magazine that serves my church's denomination asked me to write a piece for the magazine.

This has turned into a regular monthly contribution.

I had to trust that if God would help me write four pieces per month, He would certainly help me with five.

Perhaps the greatest blessing God had in store for me was the number of Christian friends I was able to connect with from every corner of the world.

Proverbs 27:17 (NET) – As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.

I can truthfully say that together we definitely sharpen each other.

This ministry has also made me a both a better teacher and a better speaker.

These are just some of the things that have happened since I followed His leading.

What will come of this ministry in the future?

I cannot say.

Only God knows what He has in store for me and that, in and of itself, is sufficient.

Now, I am forced to ask myself one final question.

Would I continue to do this even if I thought that no one was reading them?

To this I would have to answer that I would for two reasons.

First, if I honestly feel as I do that God wants me to do this, then do this I will.

Second, through each piece I am also learning more about myself.

Each piece serves to remind me just how much I need Jesus Christ in my life.

Each piece also serves to remind me that I am very much a work in progress and still have far to go.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 3, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 10, 2014

Into All the World

I was recently reminded of one of those moments that had an impact on my life.

That moment occurred years ago when I drove past a new shopping center that was not clearly visible from the highway.

Being difficult to see, it was going to take some time before people learned about it and began shopping there.

Businesses, especially those that are not part of a chain, need customers.

One of these businesses paid an employee to stand by the highway with a sign pointing the way to their store.

I honestly felt sorry for this young man.

To begin with, it was a very hot summer day and he looked very uncomfortable in his uniform.

Drivers would speed by and honk their horns at him.

Some perhaps jeered at him as they passed or maybe even shouted obscenities at him.

He was subjected to the noise of the traffic and likely inhaled a good deal of exhaust as well.

Yes, I really felt sorry for this young man.

I remember telling myself how much I would dislike having his job.

Before I crested the next hill, I suddenly realized that, as a Christian, that is exactly the kind of job that I have.

I am to share the Good News with everyone I encounter no matter what I have to endure.

That realization had a profound impact on my life.

I was reminded of that moment as I drove home from work earlier this week.

I was on another stretch of highway and there was a large truck in front of me.

The driver was on his way to pick up a load and on the back of his cab a message was clearly visible.

There, painted in large white letters, was the message: “GOD IS GOOD!”

It was that message that reminded me.

This moment also struck me for a number of other reasons.

First, even without a load, the driver was delivering something valuable to everyone – the truth.

Second, he was delivering that same truth wherever his job required him to go.

Third, there were likely times he was unaware that he was delivering this message though he delivered it constantly.

This served to remind me that I should do the same.

First, I should deliver the truth that God is good and that He sent Jesus to save us!

Second, I should share that truth wherever life requires me to go.

Third, I should live in such a way that people should be able to notice this even if I am not verbally telling them so.

Yes, the road can be an excellent teacher.

Mark 16:15 (NET) – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 19, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 26, 2014