A Passionate Purpose:  "I'm investing"

LIFE (Living In Fellowship Everyday):  We are on a relational Journey--Greater connection with God and people.

Last week we explored how worry, fear, and anger can rob us of our time to make a difference in the kingdom of God.  Worry, fear, and anger snuffs out our passion and gets us off the path to our purpose.

Continued Study Goal:  We must learn to "invest" our time wisely:  the kingdom awaits.

Question:  As the clock ticks each day, do you invest your time in things that last?  Could you be playing into the hand of the enemy by wasting your time and energy in things that take you father from your purpose?

Prayer:  Lord, tonight, help us to properly place our passion and love for You.  Help us to understand and learn more this evening; how to invest our time wisely while pursing our passionate purpose.

READ:  Matthew 26:41 We need to be aware that temptation is ever present; temptation to get us off the path toward sin--out of God's will.  Jesus urges us to watch and pray.  These are ways we invest wisely.

• If you are going to be successful in possessing all that Jesus died to give you, you must continue to make progress.  Let's take a look at some things that CAN waste our time:

Guilt:  READ:  1 John 2:1   God desires to help us live in the power of His holiness.  We have Jesus as an Advocate  with the Father and His Spirit as a Guide in our daily lives.

• READ:  Leaving the City of Regret by Larry Harp
 I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly.  This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it.  I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip." 
 I got tickets to fly there on WISH I HAD airlines.  It was an extremely short flight.  I got my baggage, which I could not check.  I chose to carry it myself all the way.  It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been.  No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport.  I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.
 As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party.  I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion.  Many of the town's leading citizens would be there. 
 First, there would be the Done family--you know, Should Have Done, Would Have Done, and Could Have Done.  Then came the I Had family.  You probably know ole Wish I Had and his clan.  Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost.
 The biggest family would be the Yesterdays.  There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.
 Then Shattered Dreams would surely make an appearance.  And It's Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life.  Each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I couldn't Help It.
 Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so.  And, as usual, I became very depressed.  But, as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that the remainder of this trip and subsequent "pity parties" could be canceled by ME!  I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there.  I didn't have to be depressed.  One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.  I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging.  Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past?  Yes!  But there is no physical way to undo them.
 So if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now.  Instead, take a trip to Starting Again.  I like it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there.  My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts, are very helpful.  By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. 
 
• Guilt drains us; this is not the Way God calls us to live.
• We need to repent of our sins, by faith received God's forgiveness, then forgive ourselves.
• Give everything to God as only He can set you free in this life.

Complaining:   READ:  Phil 2:14-16 The Apostle Paul reminds us we should be shining the love of God like stars.
• Complaining is like testifying that God is not taking care of you.  Is that the message you desire to send to others?
• READ:  Numbers 11:1 (#3)  The Israelites did not want to cross over the Jordan and possess the land with Joshua/Caleb; instead they chose to begin the complaining process. It cost them!
• READ:  Number 11:4-6 (next page over from #3) The Israelites were not grateful for what they had; rather, they complained about what they did not have from God.
• READ: Numbers 21:4-7  The Israelites began to blame God and Moses for their problems; rather than take responsibility for where they found themselves.
• Life is not fair; but God is Good. 
• Saying:  Don't define the love of God by your circumstances, rather define your circumstances by the love of God. God is so much greater than your circumstances!

Ryan, my nephew who has brain cancer, has decided to celebrate his life, rather than complain about his cancer.  He is resting in the love of God for him.

Ryan's Recent Letter:
"Hello everyone! Please feel free to forward this to anyone who should get it and somehow is not on the mile long To: list - Thank You!"
 
"Because it had been awhile since I had anything medically new to let people know I have waited until now to send this. I did have an MRI and my first Hopkins appt since early May on Friday (June the 25th) and there is quite a bit of new information to be passed along at this point. I took an extra day to sit down and write this to make sure that I had personally processed as much of the new information as I could so that it would be easier to convey in an efficient manner to others."

"Before I wax poetic and probably long-windedly on the medical side of what is going on, let me say what an absolutely amazing time I had in Seattle with Michelle, Bella and my Mom."

Ryan goes on to tell about his trip to Seattle in great detail.
 
"And now, as we must, on to the Ryan's still got brain cancer part of the story. Unfortunately this is, not surprisingly, still the case. And since it is, my appt on Friday at Hopkins was both necessary and concluded with a treatment plan that will begin Tuesday of this coming week. (I'll put a tiny sarcastic (Yay) right here because that's just the kind of guy I am). That aside I am very, very grateful for all of the work that was done last week by the trio of ladies at Hopkins working on my case to insure that it was even possible for me to be considered for the clinical trial I will be starting this Tuesday. I will now address the question that some of you may be asking as I asked it when I said the words clinical trial in Dr. Blakely's office on Friday . . . "all Ryan says is how good he feels and that he is asymptomatic, why is he going to be in a clinical trial?" And I answer with the response I was given from the Doctor assigned to my case whom I trust with my life and well-being. "What Ryan says and how he feels does not jive with what I see on the MRI". Because the cancer is still active and growing I actually should have headaches, some lost sections of vision, and maybe some other negative side effects more related to cognition/mood/personality. I just don't; and there really isn't an explanation for why that is right now. It does now appear that my tumor has become bored of residing only on the right side of my head. It hasn't crossed over yet, but it obviously likes the neighborhood on the left side of the street and wants to look at available spaces there if given the chance.
 
The 2 medications I will be "taking" starting next week are tailored to specifically try and prevent this growth and house shopping from happening. I will be taking one of the medications orally everyday and the other is administered via an IV infusion twice a week. The potential side effects are fairly common with all cancer treatments and the main one to expect is fatigue. No surprises there.
 
All that being said, I still feel good, seem asymptomatic and am enjoying every minute to the fullest with my family and friends. And here, mercifully, is the end of this long, rambling note. God loves me. And I know in my heart that He is carrying me through this because it is just too big for me to handle on my own. I hope & pray everyone that takes the time to read this silly email of mine has found or finds the peace that I have. And it only comes from a relationship with Jesus that fills your heart with a desire to know Him more. I promise it's real and I love to talk with anyone about it who is willing to listen. He frees you from all the chains that would hold you down and keep you a prisoner to your circumstances, even brain cancer at 33.   ; )
 
My love to all of you.
Ryan

Ryan has found the Way to let God be God in his life.  He is passionate about His God and purposeful with his life in Christ.  He testifies to the fact that Jesus is the Bridge...Jesus is the Way!  Trust your life to Jesus Christ; God's love for you.

Prayer