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

Turn It Off

Last weekend I happily attended my aunt's birthday party.

Both my parents came from large families so I grew up with many uncles and aunts.

That was long ago.

Of all those uncles and aunts only this one remains.

It was wonderful celebrating this special day with her.

It was also very nice to be surrounded by family.

I took many photographs and look forward to giving them to her.

I was especially glad to see everybody spending some quality time with her.

I took my turn as well.

I also enjoyed spending time with my cousins and their families.

We talked about how much things have changed since we were young.

After several such conversations, I began to wonder.

Have times changed forcing us to cope with them?

Or, have we changed forcing the times to accommodate us?

Frankly, I think it is a combination of both.

Certainly technology has changed.

But these advances were supposed to make our lives simpler and better.

But have they really?

It seems that we are all doing more but accomplishing less.

We are bombarded with information but know so very little.

Then there is the element that concerns me most of all.

We spend so much time with our phones and devices that we interact with others less and less every day.

I recall an evening when I went to a restaurant and a young couple came in and sat at a nearby table.

They were on a date but the first thing each did when seated was get out their phones and began texting.

I will admit that the thought of them texting others and ignoring each other bothered me.

One thought bothered me more.

Could they actually be texting each other?

Is this the future of human relationships?

This reminded me of a conversation I had with a cousin at the party about time.

I think most everyone agrees that as we get older time seems to go by faster.

Frankly, I do not think time goes by any faster but rather our perception of its passing changes.

Isn't it possible that this is part of God's plans for our lives.

If we do not know Jesus as we should doesn't it make sense that God would put this mechanism in place to heighten our sense of urgency to know Him?

If we do know Him, doesn't it then follow that we experience a similar sense of urgency to share Him with others?

While it is all well and good to use technology to share our faith we must not forget the importance of personal, face to face encounters.

Such opportunities present themselves all the time.

That is when we need do is turn off our devices and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The Great Commission still apples.

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 5, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 12, 2014

One Now at a Time

The events of the last week reminded me of one of my mother's favorite songs.

Many times I would hear her either singing or humming One Day At a Time.

There is a tremendous amount of wisdom in those words.

When you get down to it, life is best lived that way.

As human beings, we go about our lives traveling along a perceived time line.

Speaking along such a line, we divide time into three components.

The first component of time is the past.

The past is not only confined to our lives but includes everything that preceded it.

All of recorded history lies in the past.

The past is something from which we should be able to learn yet human beings have a tendency to repeat mistakes.

We repeat not only our mistakes but those of previous generations as well.

The second component is the present.

This is the most fleeting component of all.

Try saying the word "Now".

By the time you have finished saying this tiny word, the moment in which you said it has already slipped into the past.

That leaves us with the third and final component, what we call the future.

As human beings, we have little idea what lies in store for us in this mysterious realm.

We may plan for certain events.

We even fill our calendars with appointments and special events.

We even make long term plans for ourselves.

But, in the final analysis, we cannot say with absolute certainty what will occur in the future.

To further complicate matters, we do not just how each appointment, event or plan will ultimately turn out if they do manage to materialize on time.

Will we like the outcome?

Or, will we dislike it maybe to the point of wishing it had never occurred?

We simply will not know until the moment unfolds.

There is something we can count on.

God is not confined to the time line to which we have attached our lives.

He is outside time.

It may be difficult for us to comprehend, but God is already in tomorrow.

God is with us now, but He is also awaiting us in the tomorrow in which we have yet to see.

Whatever tomorrow brings, God already knows about it and will see us through it.

That is something in which we can take great comfort.

We cannot change the past.

We can only imagine the future.

All we truly have is the ever fleeting "now".

So, take one "now" at a time and use it in a way that glorifies Him.

Romans 15:5-6 (NET) - Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 15, 2014.
I’All be back here on Friday, August 8, 2014

You Give Them Something to Eat

The feeding of the 5,000 has occupied my thoughts a great deal lately.

This is the only one of the many miracles of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels.

Matthew's account is in chapter 14.

Mark records this in chapter 6.

Luke documents this in chapter 9.

Finally, John describes this miracle in chapter 6.

All four accounts are remarkably similar.

Jesus ministers to a very large crowd.

Feeling compassion for them, He heals their sick.

His followers then want to send them away so they can buy food for themselves.

Jesus surprises His followers and says to them, "You give them something to eat."

His followers protest and reply, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."

John's gospel states that these were barley loaves and belonged to a boy as did the two fish.

It is reasonable to assume that these loaves were probably more like buns and the two fish were not very large.

In other words, this was probably the boy's lunch and surely not enough to feed thousands of adults.

Jesus instructs His followers to bring the loaves and the fish to Him.

He then tells His followers to have the people sit down.

Before anything else happens, Jesus gives thanks!

He then distributes the food to the masses and all 5,000 eat their fill.

Jesus then instructs His followers to collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.

The leftovers are collected and fill twelve baskets.

This miracle must have made a great impression upon Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as each included it in his gospel.

In reflecting upon it, three things stand out in my mind.

The first is that before the multitude was fed, Jesus gave thanks.

The second is that Jesus initially told His followers, "You give them something to eat."

Everything we have belongs to God.

Whenever we give we are, in essence, giving back to God what already belongs to Him.

Jesus reminded His followers that the poor would always be among us.

John 12:8 (NET) - "For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me!"

This is still the case and the words of Jesus ring truer than ever.

"You give them something to eat."

When we do, we should first give thanks and remember that what we give belongs to God already.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NET) - Each of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.

What is the third thing?

As abundant as His blessing was, He wanted none of it wasted.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 1, 2014.
I’All be back here on Friday, August 8, 2014

Just As I Have Loved You

In the second half of Luke chapter 8, Jesus makes three individuals with three very different issues whole again in very quick succession.

Beginning in verse 27, we read of a man who was possessed by many demons.

This man wore no clothes and lived among the tombs away from people.

Luke tells us that this man was often chained and placed under guard.

But whenever the demons took hold of him he broke his bonds and was driven by them to deserted places.

The demons begged Jesus not to be sent into the abyss but rather into a herd of pigs.

Jesus granted this request and the demons entered the pigs.

The pigs immediately rushed into the lake and drowned.

As word had spread what Jesus had done, the people who lived nearby became so afraid of Jesus that they asked Him to leave.

When Jesus returned a large crowd was already on hand and a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus pleaded with Jesus to heal his twelve year old daughter.

As they departed the crowd pressed upon Jesus.

Among them was a woman who had suffered from a bleeding disease for twelve years.

She spent all she had on physicians but still had not been cured.

She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of His cloak and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Jesus stopped and asked who touched Him because He felt that power had gone out from Him.

The woman knew the truth would come out, so she fell before Jesus and in front of the entire throng of people explained why she did what she did and told Jesus that she had been healed on the spot.

Jesus reminded her that her faith made her well and told her to go in peace.

As this was going on, someone from the house of Jairus arrived and informed Jairus that his daughter had died and that there was no longer any need to trouble Jesus.

Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid; he had only to believe.

When they arrived at the house, mourners had already gathered and were wailing and mourning.

Jesus told them to stop weeping as the girl was not dead but asleep.

At this, the mourners began laughing at Him.

Jesus went into the house, gently took the girl by the hand and said, "Child, get up."

Her spirit returned to her and she got up.

Three distinct miracles.

Three very different people relieved by Jesus from very different issues ranging from possession to illness to death.

There were also three distinct ways that people reacted.

In the case of the demon possessed man, people reacted to Jesus with fear.

In the case of the woman with the bleeding disease, physicians were willing to treat her as long as she had money to spend on them.

In the case of the daughter of Jairus, the mourners showed their true colors when they laughed at Jesus.

Despite the reactions of people, there is one thing that each of these miracles had in common.

Jesus treated each of those in need and He did so with love.

Treating others with love is precisely what he wants and expects from people like you and me.

This is especially true when it comes to those in need.

John 15:12 (NET) - My commandment is this - to love one another just as I have loved you.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 18, 2014.
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 25, 2014

As We Forgive Those

Forgiveness is something we struggle with.

One reason is that we have been conditioned from childhood to look out for ourselves.

For another, we have been taught not to let others take advantage of us.

There are without a doubt many more reasons and excuses we could cite.

When someone wrongs us our first response is not forgiveness.

We might be tempted to retaliate.

If we overcome that hurdle then the temptation to dwell upon it arises.

This is the temptation that we normally give into.

Dwelling upon the injustice accomplishes nothing.

It distracts us from what we could and should otherwise be doing.

It can even keep us awake at night as we replay the event over and over in our minds.

But that is not what Jesus wants for us.

Jesus tells us that we must forgive.

This is not an option nor is it just good advice.

When Jesus taught us to pray, He was very clear about this.

We are to pray "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us".

That is from the Lord's Prayer and that is the way forgiveness works.

It is, in essence, a two way street.

If we wish to be forgiven, we must forgive others as well.

Yet forgiveness does not come easy to us because of our human nature and weakness.

That is why we have to rely on God's strength rather than our own.

When we do that then the task of forgiveness becomes much easier to accomplish.

Once we forgive, something truly remarkable happens.

We are liberated.

We cease to carry around a completely unnecessary burden that interferes with the kind of life He wants us to experience,

Think of your life as a ship and the unwillingness to forgive as an anchor.

While anchored, our lives are stagnant.

No progress is possible.

But true forgiveness is not merely the act of pulling up the anchor and taking it with you.

True forgiveness is severing the line and completely leaving the anchor behind.

We then have complete freedom to sail to the next destination He has planned for us.

Jesus told us more.

Matthew 5:7-8 (NET) - Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

When we truly forgive we are being merciful to others and have taken a big step in purifying our hearts.

The best part is that we do not have to do this alone.

We can ask for His help.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 4, 2014.
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 11, 2014