Walking With Jesus-This Works Best For Me

The phrase, "This works best for me," has had a major impact on my life the last six months.  It was taught to me by a wise counsellor I trust.

I am legally blind, which brings about many challenges. Many times it brings me into embarrassing situations which I try to avoid or mask.  I definitely do not talk about them, especially on a blog, what am I doing?

Once on a field trip with my daughter I was put in charge of 5 fifth graders in downtown Grand Rapids looking at the Artprize exhibits.  Because of my eyesight I am really bad and uncomfortable with directions.  I have trouble reading signs.  I have trouble reading maps.  I got us lost.  The kids had a good time, because I have learned how to fake my way through these situations.  They didn't even notice we were lost (I don't think).  This situation left me very upset and frustrated.

I talked this over with someone.  During that conversation, "This works best for me," was born.  I should have been honest with the teacher and told him leading in downtown Grand Rapids does "Not Work Best For Me."  I should have brought my GPS, I can follow that well.  The GPS, "Works best for me."

In any situation I have to find, "What works best for me."  I do not do this out of selfishness.  I do this out of my limitations and many times personal preferences.  I do take the other persons point of view into consideration when figuring out, "What works best for me."  If it does not, "Work best for them," I will have to compromise or we will have to do something else or not at all.

If I do not figure out, "What works best for me," the situation deteriorates.  I do not have fun, others do not, and nothing is accomplished, except stress.

So the way God has made me, with my talents, limitations, gifts, calling, preferences, surrendered to Jesus, I ask, "What works best for me?"

Mark 1:35-39 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus even knew, "What worked best for him."

How about you?  Have you done things in the past out of guilt, embarrassment,  or just to please someone and you knew that you were not doing, "What was best for you?"

How can you use the phrase, "This works best for me, " to walk with Jesus in the future?  What gifts, limitations, calling, and talents has He given you?  What works best for you?


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Walking With Jesus-Be Yourself

I am Todd. Nobody else is.  Nobody else wants to be.  I am Todd and that is enough.  That is good enough.  Nobody else does the things I do, feels the way I feel, has had the experiences I have had.  

I am me and that is good enough.  I do not have to be like someone else.   I do not have to hide the person that I am. 

Many times I do hide the person that I am.  I am going to let you in on a secret, I do not like contemporary Christian music.  I think it all sounds the same, it is marketed to a certain audience to make money, it is not very original, not many of the musicians have slaved over their craft, the lyrics are very kitsch, and the music is generic.  I would rather listen to  Johnny Cash or the Beatles any day.  I have always felt like that is something I must hide in the world I live in.  From Bible college to other pastors,  listening to music other than contemporary Christians was looked down upon.  But I am Todd, so I will listen to John, Paul, George, and Ringo.  At the same time I will not looked down on others for listening to contemporary Christian music which I have a very strong opinion about.

I have things I don't like about me, and things I do.  I wish I hadn't got my grandfather's hairline, but his tenderness in prayer I am glad I received.  I also got his eyes, which have been a challenge, but also have shaped me as well.  I can draw a little, lift weights a little, read a lot, love being a husband, father, son, brother, pastor.  I am Todd

I want to be like Jesus.  I have discovered in a mysterious way the more I become like Jesus, the more I become my true self.  Selah.


Andrew McCutchen, the centerfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is good at imitating other batters mannerisms.  But he could never bat like them in a game, nor does he need to.  He is great just being himself.

So I just want to be Todd.

What about you?  Are you an imitation or are you yourself?  







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Song Of The Day- For What It's Worth

Us vs them.  Bad lines we draw.  We are us and we are not them.  We put them in our sights.

Hooray for our side.  Curse their side because they are not on our side.  

These thoughts are killing us.

Jesus~ "Love your enemies."  "Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing."




There's something happening here 
What it is ain't exactly clear 
There's a man with a gun over there 
Telling me I got to beware 

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down 

There's battle lines being drawn 
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong 
Young people speaking their minds 
Getting so much resistance from behind 

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down 

What a field-day for the heat 
A thousand people in the street 
Singing songs and carrying signs 
Mostly say, hooray for our side 

It's s time we stop, hey, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down 

Paranoia strikes deep 
Into your life it will creep 
It starts when you're always afraid 
You step out of line, the man come and take you away 

We better stop, hey, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down 
Stop, hey, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down 
Stop, now, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down 
Stop, children, what's that sound 
Everybody look what's going down





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