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In the river of God's word

… rivers of living water will flow from within them (John 7:38)

I have often heard the analogy of the Holy Spirit flowing through (and using) us to that of a common garden hose. We connect it to the faucet, which contains life giving water. The faucet is switched on, the flow of life giving water. The garden hose is put near the plants and the life giving water flows onto the plants. This is such an amazing analogy that I had to share it. I was reminded of it when I was reading a devotional by Kathleen Dillard entitled "You in the River, the River in you". She makes such great resources that I cannot encourage you enough to follow her content. You can find the devotional here: You in the River, the River in you.

Read more of Kathleen Dillard here: Kathleen Dillard

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Have you ever been camping?

Daily Prompt from Wordpress.com

Camping, the smells, the quiet early mornings, getting up with the sun blazing on the tent canopy. These are things that make my heart soar. (not sour like I wrote the first time! :-D )

Coffee around a camp fire on a chilly morning, bacon sizzling in the pan, the light smoke from a smoldering fire. Yes, I have good memories. Since becoming a parent, and raising (now double-digit year old) kids, I have realized that not everyone enjoys camping.

These kids of mine like some aspects of camping, but not others. Sleeping in a tent, eating outdoors, lighting fires and some aspects they enjoy, but no electronics, nothing to do ("walking again??"), and no air conditioning are definite downsides to them. If you've ever been camping with friends who just didn't want to be there, you can imagine what it's like to drag along kids, who … just don't wan't to be there.

All things come to those who wait and either my kids will enjoy camping again, and desire to go, or they'll leave home, and I'll take my wife to some nicer "glamping" places around so that we can enjoy the good parts of being together, outdoors.

Follow my blog here: sophoservices.com/blog

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How heavy are your burdens?

Each day can seem hard, like you’re walking a long way, carrying a crazy, heavy burden. That’s how I have felt in my journey as a parent. It feels like no matter have hard you try, the world just seems bigger, scarier, and more uncertain than you can possibly comprehend.

What can we do in a world that is bigger, scarier, and more uncertain than you? The only thing I have found is to know a God who is bigger, stronger, and more certain than the world! Our God knows us, our needs, and our struggles and He welcomes us with open arms, hears our concerns, and carries our troubles. He will give you the peace and sustenance you need. Ask, … He is waiting.

Inspired by KathleenDillard.com

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a new flag

Frank stood back and admired his new "open" flag. It was standing proudly outside his store in downtown Manhattan. "The white letters really stand out against the blue background", he thought.

Frank headed back into his store and sat down behind the counter. His sales had been low the past few months and he was hoping for a turn around now that the spring had come. It generally happened this way, retail had a way of having seasonal ups and downs.

As he was sipping his luke warm coffee, Frank heard the front door open as a customer stepped inside.

"Hey, didn't know you opened a store here" the customer said. "Are you new?"

Frank bit his lip… "Only been here for 15 years" he replied politely.

The customer took his time looking around and spent his money. Frank had hopes that business would soon be picking up.

Image is sourced from Vista Flags

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A Path to Forgiveness: Discovering a Powerful Online Resource

In my previous post, "Rebooting Our Hearts: The Power of Forgiveness in the Workplace," I shared about the importance of forgiveness in our personal and professional lives. As a Christian computer programmer, I've learned that forgiveness is not always easy, but it's essential for our well-being and our witness.

Recently, I stumbled upon a website that has been a game-changer for me in my journey towards forgiveness. I'm excited to share this resource with you, and I hope it will be as impactful for you as it has been for me.

The website, kathleendillard.com/journeyofforgiveness/, offers a series of daily devotionals specifically designed to help you walk through the process of forgiveness. Each devotional is brief, yet powerful, and includes scripture, reflection, and prayer.

The devotionals are structured to take you on a 30-day journey towards forgiveness. Each day, you'll receive a a reminder in your inbox, or you can access them directly on the website. The devotionals are designed to be flexible, so you can start and stop at any time, and pick up where you left off.

I've been using this resource for a few weeks now, and I've seen a significant shift in my heart. The daily devotionals have helped me to process my emotions, let go of bitterness, and develop empathy.

I highly recommend Journey of Forgiveness to anyone struggling with forgiveness as it is Biblically based and is so practical.

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Rebooting Our Hearts: The Power of Forgiveness in the Workplace

As a Christian computer programmer, I've spent countless hours staring at lines of code, debugging errors, and collaborating with colleagues to bring projects to life. But despite the technical nature of my work, I've come to realize that the greatest challenges I face aren't related to syntax or algorithms, but to the human heart. Specifically, the struggle with bitterness and the need for forgiveness in the workplace.

We've all been there - a coworker takes credit for our idea, a project is unfairly criticized, or a promotion is denied. The natural response is to feel hurt, angry, and resentful. But when these emotions linger, they can simmer into bitterness, poisoning our relationships and hindering our productivity.

As Christians, we know that bitterness is not only unhealthy but also unbiblical. Ephesians 4:32 reminds us to "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Yet, in the heat of the moment, it's easy to forget this truth and let bitterness take hold.

Forgiveness is not always easy, but it's essential for our well-being and our witness in the workplace. When we choose to forgive, we're not condoning the offense or excusing the perpetrator; we're releasing the hold they have on us and freeing ourselves from the toxic effects of bitterness.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). This is not just a prayer; it's a principle for living. When we forgive others, we're not only obeying God's command but also opening ourselves up to His forgiveness and healing.

Steps

So, how do we apply this principle in the workplace? Here are a few practical steps:

Acknowledge the hurt: Recognize the pain and acknowledge it to yourself and, if necessary, to the person who hurt you.

Let go of the need for justice: Release the need to see the other person punished or corrected. This is not our responsibility; it's God's.

Choose to forgive: Make a conscious decision to forgive, even if the other person doesn't apologize or change.

Pray for the person: Pray for the person who hurt you, asking God to bless and transform them.

Seek support: Share your struggles with a trusted friend, mentor, or counselor, and ask for their support and guidance.

Rebooting Our Hearts

In the world of computer programming, a reboot is a simple yet powerful solution to many problems. When our systems freeze or malfunction, a reboot can restore function and revive productivity.

In the same way, forgiveness is a reboot for our hearts. When we choose to forgive, we're not only releasing the hold of bitterness but also revitalizing our relationships, our work, and our witness.

As Christian computer programmers, we have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the power of forgiveness in the workplace. Let's not waste this chance. Let's reboot our hearts, choose forgiveness, and experience the freedom and joy that comes with it.