Take A Stand

    "Hey, I have a question," stated the man who works in the same office building as I do. "What's that," I asked happily after sorting through his accent for what he was saying. He preceded to ask me why I parked my car all the way on the other side of the parking lot. I've never seen this man before so I was really surprised that he even noticed that the car was mine. Honestly, this was not the first time I was asked this. I was walking into the office a few weeks prior when these two men were standing by the door having their morning cigarette. I see one of these men almost every morning so he and I normally exchange a casual "good morning" as I rush into work, but that day he asked me that same question the man with the accent later had asked. 

    It's a very anti-climatic answer, but the doctor had told me to get more exercise because I don't have good circulation. I sit at a desk all day which makes it very hard to do any cardio so I decided to park all the way across the parking lot. I noticed as I did this not only did those men notice, but three other cars started parking all the way across the parking lot by my car and it's always the same three cars. This really got me thinking because I'm one of those people who look at simple situations like this one and somehow apply something of spiritual significance to try to turn it into an interesting story when I write on my blog...ha ha.

    I'm definitely no Einstein or C.S. Lewis, but if something so small can affect other people then think about how something so great like standing for a holy God can affect the world. Think about how something like shining your "little" light into the world can affect darkness. It takes one person to take a stand to have people notice. If it is one person who notices and changes because of you then think about the others who will notice and change because of them. It's a domino effect! Okay, so now you know how it affects others. How does this affect you?

    When the mild season of fall turns into the famous Michigan brisk winter we have I wonder how many people are going to continue to park their cars across the parking lot. I even wonder if I'll end up parking closer. But as Christians do we ponder and ask ourselves what our attitudes will be like when we start to go through persecution? Are we going to think only about ourselves and forget how our attitude can affect those around us? So when you reach a rough season in your life will you still be taking a stand for God or will you just be getting by? Will you choose to say, "I confidently trust in JESUS to get me through this" or will you just wait to grow until the storm passes by? Will YOU be that one to take a stand?

Psalm 31:15 - "My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me."

Psalm 20:7 - "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God."

Psalm 25:1-2 - "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me."

Psalm 40:4 - "How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood."