Fall is my favorite season of the year. Only God could graffiti the world with His awesome artwork. Sadly, we are so busy looking down we fail to look up and see what He has done! God is both creative and contagious. God invented something out of nothing and yet values us (humans) as everything. Too often, we (me included) think too much of ourselves and very little of God.
Recently, this summer I returned to the beach briefly and I must admit that the beach and mountains sooth my soul like none other. Perhaps because of their sheer size has a calming effect on me. Whether its the crashing waves or the majestic mountains they both put things in their proper prospective. First, they remind me that only my BIG God could create that and secondly, they both remind me how small I really am. Honestly, I struggle with baking a cake, putting together an entertainment center, hooking up Playstation and praying my Redskins win. Who am I to think I bring much value to society. It is true: “Apart from God – I am nothing.”
But the beauty about this lesson is the moment I remember how “small” I am; I immediately recall how great God is. Perhaps like you, growing up I dropped the ball. Without question, I am far less than perfect and despite knowing I am forgiven even I have a hard time forgiving and forgetting some of my less than stellar moments. Yes, God is creative and contagious but He is also convicting. However, He loves me despite my past and reminds me of a future because of forgiveness found in faith in Christ and I can now enjoy peace in the present. How? Because I am walking with the Prince of Peace.
The colors on the trees this time of the year are SPECTACULAR! Ironically, they are never more beautiful than days before they die. It took time, but I am learning the quicker we die to self the faster we begin to live in life. Plus, when folks are selfless, humble and gracious they are also never more beautiful and fun to be around. More than ever, I am longing to emulate the fall foliage and example of Christ desiring to die daily. The Apostle Paul penned it and Ronald Reagan lived it: “I dye daily.” How else could a 70 year old man have dark hair with no hint of grey 🙂
A family friend who served 30 years with the United States Secret Service said: “The reason assassins are so successful is because they are willing to DIE in the process.” You will never be a success in life, business, sports or ministry until we implement on a daily basis the “art of dying.” Just because you are a minister in the ministry doesn’t mean you don’t have to die daily. We need to crucify the flesh so we can be catapulted by faith for God’s Glory. No death = no power.
In closing, people often ask me why I often spell my initials or name in small caps? I have learned the smaller I am the BIGGER God will use my life for His Glory. They say the only person God cannot use is the person full of himself. Today, pick out your spiritual casket, pause and have a mental funeral and die to ego, self and wordly pleasures and choose this day to live for our Lord like never before. Plus, the truth about being dead is you have no more feelings. Therefore, when insults and critics hurl criticism your way you cannot feel it. Why? Because when your dead to self you no longer take inventory of their lifeless remarks. Its amazing that by dying we live. You don’t need a 21 gun salute when all that matters is will the Lord salute you when its your time to come Home.
Fall isn’t about leaves falling but falling in love with God who by His death we live and us dying to self on a daily basis we enable Him to live through our life. Thank God for fall, faith and the foliage to remind this dummy that we are never more wise when we die to live.
Hi Frank, great post.one question, does it bother you when preachers rip Christians, especially people in ministry who get divorced?
Yes Jesus died for our sins! We must live by faith, so that we can die to our sins, and live with victory with God! If our heart is hardened with the reasons of men that seem to be good in our own eyes, we will have a hard time to die to our own flesh. We must walk with God everyday! We must walk the walk and talk the talk that is lined up with God… Read More’s desire. The Bible says, “Our flesh is contrary to the desire of the Spirit, and our Spirit is contrary to the desire of the flesh”.
We need to be willing to listen to the tugging of the Holy Spirit in us. Jesus was crucified on the cross for our sins. We must crucify our flesh so that we can live in faith before God. We will know if our flesh has died to our sins, our desires will become the desires of God. Fasting and prayer are good tools to humble our selves before the Lord, so that we may live in faith and die to our flesh. Good Post Frank! God bless you!
If God ever sees fit to bless me to make it “big” one day I can only pray my heart stays as humble as yours Frank…You are a daily example and inspiration to many..Thank you for your faithfulness
That is sooo true! Blessings to you and yours!
Great post….thank you! Lord, help me to continue crucifying the ol’ flesh ….it is still alive and well!
Isn’t that the truth!
To help us go we need to dedicate our life as they do. We sould live our life one day at a time with the aspect that we will show the world that without Christ there is no reason to live and to die with Him is better then to die without
Frank – if we think of the seasons, fall is of dying, winter is of death, spring is of rebirth, and summer is of living. interesting as christians we need to die of our sins, get reborn in His grace and live in the newness of it all. its sad that even the seasons show His grace for us and the unsaved dont see it
another great and pertinent post. there are so many wonderful truths and lessons God is teaching us through His amazing creation.
Thanks to your Beautiful wife for asking to repost! I have no doubt it is Gods way of reaching out to many! I just spoke to my best friend of 15 Yrs about this on the phone last night! Dying is indeed the best part of living! I told her not only do we have to die daily, but often die 5,6,7 times a day! Whatever the amount is, do it! Die to live through Christ, it is the only way we can be pleasing to the Eye of our beholder!