A post from an earlier blog, Handy Dandy Man
Flashlight. Two schools of thought here: get one that you can set down and shine where you need it, great if your under sinks, etc. or one that you can hold in your teeth. Or do what I've done and get a few - one for each occasion.
Circuit Tester. If you plan to do electrical work, this is a must. You can get a simple two-pronged tester that you stick into an outlet to see if the outlet is hot or not for about $2-$3. Of course, I prefer something more like the Fluke 1-AC11 Volt Alert. This great little tester can sense a live line even through the wire insulation. Just touch the tip to a wire, outlet, etc. and it will alert you to a live line. Great for trying to figure out which wires are live when you have a bundle of lines.
Hacksaw. Essential for cutting metal plumbing pipes and cutting any kind of metal rod or channel. What matters more here is the blade you use. I prefer Lenox brand blades for my hacksaws.
Adjustable Utility Knife. There are many out there: ergonomically designed, quick blade changing features, etc. A good one will run you about $4-$6. No need to go nuts here. Just make sure it's decent quality and that your blades are very good. Dull or cheap blades won't cut, just adding to your frustration and the likely-hood you might have an accident with the knife. ALWAYS cut away from your body.
File and Rasp. I keep what's called a 4-in-hand 10" rasp that is flat on one side and rounded on the other- rough on one end and finer on the other. I may not use it often, but it's good to have around when you need to take off "just a little bit."
Awl. Great for starting screws, marking drill holes, and starting drill holes so the bit won't slide. Also good for digging at or chipping things when necessary.
Torpedo Level. At the very least, you should have torpedo level for being certain that pictures hang evenly, etc. I have 4 levels: * A torpedo level * 2' level * 4' level * Line level Buying tip: Spend the extra money to buy the aluminum level. Plastic levels can warp and twist, causing thelevel to become useless.
Try Square. Any time you need to draw a straight line that is square or to check square on a piece that has been cut, or to be certain a corner is square, you'll want to have a try square. If you have the budget, a framing square can be valuable as well.
Miter Box and Miter Saw. If you plan to do any mitered cuts- baseboard, corner round, any molding, or picture frames, etc., then a miterbox and a good miter saw is important to have. You don't need anything incredibly expensive, but solidly built with a decent saw.
Caulk Gun/Caulk. I use a hex-rod caulk gun with a tip cutter and a hole puncher. I also keep a tube or two of latex-based caulk with silicone in both white and clear, and several tubes of Liquid Nails on hand.
Collection of Fasteners. This includes some 6d nails, 1-1/4" coarse drywall screws, 2" x #10 pan-head metal screws, tacks, 4d brads, and a few 1/4" lag screws. I also have an assortment of #8-32 and #10-24 screws.
I recommend an assortment of drywall anchors. If you can find them, Toggler makes an assortment that I highly recommend.
Picture Hanging Hardware. My favorite is harware by OOK.
Duct Tape. If you can't fix it with duct tape, it can't be fixed. ;) Keep a roll on hand. Again, don't be tempted to buy the cheap stuff. If you can get it, Duck brand is good stuff.
Electrical Tape. A must for electrical work.
Teflon Tape (Plumbing). It's necessary to tape any joint where water will be running under pressure. This stuff is very inexpensive ($.50), so keep a roll or two on hand at all times.
A keyhole saw
3/8" Socket wrench and ratchet set.
Oh, and uh, a Toolbox. Make sure you get one large enough to accomodate all your tools. You may want to consider a tote of sorts in which you can carry a subset of your tools- just the ones you need for a particular job.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Getting Started - A Basic Toolbox: Part 2
A post from my earlier blog, The Handy Dandy Man.
Screwdrivers. Yes, that's right, plural. At the very least you will need two: a slotted screwdriver and a #2 Phillips-head screwdriver. I have over a dozen screwdrivers and could use more. At the very least, you should have the ones I've recommended here. I commonly use:
O.K., Here we go. Part 2 of putting together the basic toolbox.
Screwdrivers. Yes, that's right, plural. At the very least you will need two: a slotted screwdriver and a #2 Phillips-head screwdriver. I have over a dozen screwdrivers and could use more. At the very least, you should have the ones I've recommended here. I commonly use:
- 4" x 3/16" slotted driver (recommended)
- 4" x 1/4" slotted driver(recommended)
- Stubby 3/16" slotted driver
- 2" 3/32 slotted driver
- 4" #2 Phillips-head driver (recommended)
- 4" #1 Phillips-head driver (recommended)
- Stubby #2 Phillips-head driver
- 2" #0 Phillips-head driver
- A set of 6 jewelers screwdrivers: 4 slotted; 2 Phillips-head
Cordless Drill/Screwdriver. You will most likely use this tool more than you can imagine. If not, you're probably not using it for everything you could.
Get a good one. I have two. Thanks to my brother, I now own a Makita 18v Lithium-Ion 1/2" Driver Drill (BDF452HW). I'd be lost without this tool- the most-often used tool in my collection.
O.K., Here we go. Part 2 of putting together the basic toolbox.
Don't settle for less than professional on this tool. I recommend Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, or Rigid. Tools by Black & Decker, Ryobi, or Skil tend to be more affordable, but lack the same power and durability of the names I mentioned earlier.
Remember, if you buy an inexpensive tool designed for the homeowner who will use it only occassionaly, it may not last as long or perform as well as a more expensive tool designed for the professional. You may end up spending your money twice. Spend your money right the first time and buy a better tool. Trust me, you won't regret this decision.
For quick small jobs, I also own a small, inexpensive, 3-position, electric screwdriver (Black & Decker Model 9078).
Set of Drillbits and Drivers. Get a small set of drill bits- usually 1/16" through 3/8" is enough, but if you can, get a set that has a 1/2" with a 3/8" shaft. You may also want to consider a set of paddle bits for doing larger holes, up to 1" or more.
In regards to drivers, I have a "Speed-Lok" set of drivers and bits that allows me to quickly change between drill bits and screwdriver bits (Craftsman Model #26144).
Slip-joint or "alligator" pliers. These are essential for holding and gripping...whatever. They're ideal for tightening or loosening various sizes of nuts or other threaded connectors. They can also be used to grip and remove things, such as pulling out small nails, tacks, or staples. They are truly a multi-purpose tool that is essential to any toolbox.
Needle-nose pliers are essential for doing electrical work (bending wires to fit around the switch or duplex screws) and for getting into any tight space where you need to grip something. Some come with side cutters which are very convenient to have if doing a lot of wiring.
Tongue-and-groove pliers. Often called "Channellocks" after a popular manufacturer of the tool, these are great for doing plumbing work as they can often open wide enough to fit around 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" drain pipes. Again, though, this tool has many uses.
Adjustable Wrench. If you ever intend to turn nuts or similarly-shaped items (e.g. water and gas connectors), you gotta have at least one of these. I have a set of 4 - different sizes for different jobs. It's often difficult to get into a tight space with a large adjustable wrench, and smaller ones don't open wide enough to accomodate larger turning surfaces. I recommend at least two- a larger one and a smaller one.
Diagonal Cutters. Not just for electrical work, these can also be used to cut through small brads, nails, staples, etc. You will find ways to use these. They are ideal for pulling staples out after removing flooring or carpet.
Vise-Grips or locking pliers. If you need to hold something and wish you had that third hand- that's what locking pliers are for. While I don't use these often, a small set (usually 2 or three) will cover jsut about all of your needs.
Allen or hex wrench set. Seems you can't buy anything today that doesn't utilize an Allen or hex screw, especially ready-to-assemble furniture. A small set isn't all that expensive and you'll be glad you have them when the need arises. Here's a tip: Buy a set that is both SAE (Standard American Equivalent) and metric. Many of the RTA furniture makers are Asian or European and they tend to use metric fasteners.
Set of combination wrenches. There are times when having a closed or box wrench is just necessary. Where a plier or adjustable wrench is just too cumbersome or keeps slipping off the nut or hex bolt, nothing is better than a box wrench. An adequate set is about $25-$35.
Stay tuned for Part 3, Knives, Saws, Tapes, etc.
Getting Started – A Basic Toolbox: Part 1
A previous post on my blog, The Handy Dandy Man
Every homeowner who plans to tackle projects around the home should have a basic toolbox. Each homeowner's toolbox is likely to vary from one to the next based on the type and size of the projects you hope to take on.
There's a saying – one among many in the fix-it business – about having the right tool for the job. Nothing could be more vital to your success with home improvement projects than having the tools you need and knowing what tools or materials are available to help you succeed.
This isn't something you'll learn overnight. There are thousands of tools out there- variations on variations - and some are highly-specific in nature. Don't be scared off. Ninety percent of what you'll want to do around the house can be done with a modest set of tools that you can find in any good hardware store or home center.
Don't skimp on quality when buying tools. While you may not need the absolute best tool, you should buy a reliable tool that will last you a lifetime. Wherever possible, buy tools that carry a life-time warranty and are made with the best materials and crafmanship. In terms of hand tools, some of the brands you can trust are Stanley, Craftsman, True Value Master Mechanic Line, Irwin, and Channellock. If you can afford it, Snap-on and Mac are other great professional-quality tools.
Let's start with the tools every toolbox should have.
A Hammer. It doesn't get more basic than that. A good 16 oz. claw-hammer will do. The claw refers to the split, back-end of the hammer that is used to pull out nails. I prefer a one-piece all-metal drop forged hammer that has a rubber or leather grip. (I use an Estwing Model E16C leather grip hammer.)
There is an advantage to an all-metal hammer over a hammer with a wooden or fiberglass handle in that it will never break. It is possible to break a two-piece hammer if the handle is struck with force against a stationary object- which can happen if you swing and miss. And, I've seen poorly made wooden-handle hammers break under normal use. Again, don't skimp and buy cheap stuff.
Whatever you choose, most importantly, get a hammer that feels comfortable in your grip. Nothing can kill your DIY buzz like a hammer that hurts to use.
Safety Goggles. Everytime you use that hammer - or any tool that can result in flyng debris, like a saw, or chisel - wear those goggles.
25' Tape Measure. Another one of those sayings: Measure twice, cut once. Buy a reliable tape measure that has a nice stiff blade, one that will stand straight when extended to 8 or more feet. There are all kinds of tapes out there to choose from. Two features you might consider: a rubberized edge that won't cause any damage to marterials if it's dropped; a bright color so your tape is easily seen on the job site. You'd be surprised how many times I've looked for my tape and forgotten where I set it down. A bright yellow or orange tape is easy to see.
Check back soon for part 2 when we add screwdrivers and wrenches.
Every homeowner who plans to tackle projects around the home should have a basic toolbox. Each homeowner's toolbox is likely to vary from one to the next based on the type and size of the projects you hope to take on.
There's a saying – one among many in the fix-it business – about having the right tool for the job. Nothing could be more vital to your success with home improvement projects than having the tools you need and knowing what tools or materials are available to help you succeed.
This isn't something you'll learn overnight. There are thousands of tools out there- variations on variations - and some are highly-specific in nature. Don't be scared off. Ninety percent of what you'll want to do around the house can be done with a modest set of tools that you can find in any good hardware store or home center.
Don't skimp on quality when buying tools. While you may not need the absolute best tool, you should buy a reliable tool that will last you a lifetime. Wherever possible, buy tools that carry a life-time warranty and are made with the best materials and crafmanship. In terms of hand tools, some of the brands you can trust are Stanley, Craftsman, True Value Master Mechanic Line, Irwin, and Channellock. If you can afford it, Snap-on and Mac are other great professional-quality tools.
Let's start with the tools every toolbox should have.
A Hammer. It doesn't get more basic than that. A good 16 oz. claw-hammer will do. The claw refers to the split, back-end of the hammer that is used to pull out nails. I prefer a one-piece all-metal drop forged hammer that has a rubber or leather grip. (I use an Estwing Model E16C leather grip hammer.)
There is an advantage to an all-metal hammer over a hammer with a wooden or fiberglass handle in that it will never break. It is possible to break a two-piece hammer if the handle is struck with force against a stationary object- which can happen if you swing and miss. And, I've seen poorly made wooden-handle hammers break under normal use. Again, don't skimp and buy cheap stuff.
Whatever you choose, most importantly, get a hammer that feels comfortable in your grip. Nothing can kill your DIY buzz like a hammer that hurts to use.
Safety Goggles. Everytime you use that hammer - or any tool that can result in flyng debris, like a saw, or chisel - wear those goggles.
25' Tape Measure. Another one of those sayings: Measure twice, cut once. Buy a reliable tape measure that has a nice stiff blade, one that will stand straight when extended to 8 or more feet. There are all kinds of tapes out there to choose from. Two features you might consider: a rubberized edge that won't cause any damage to marterials if it's dropped; a bright color so your tape is easily seen on the job site. You'd be surprised how many times I've looked for my tape and forgotten where I set it down. A bright yellow or orange tape is easy to see.
Check back soon for part 2 when we add screwdrivers and wrenches.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Monuments and Milestones.
This post is from my previous blog, Ear to the Heavens. Enjoy.
I recently was asked by my 7-year old daughter what it meant to hear from God. She wanted to know what his voice sounded like. Could I actually hear his voice?
Let me say first, in all humility, that it is rare that I hear from God. His word is for me, as it is for most of His children, sufficient enough. The only time I really hear from the Lord is when, in my own stiff-neckedness, I have reached an impass and I need to hear His voice to nudge me beyond it.
So, I tried to explain to her that I don't actually hear a voice, but rather, deep inside, a thought comes to me in a small still voice that I recognize as not being my own. Usually it's only a few words, and with those words comes a deep and complete understanding of God's will in the issue.
I am humbled when I think about the prophets of the old testament and how often God spoke to them. Even moreso when I think about how little and rarely He spoke to some of them - for God to speak to me at all is amazing.
I was trying to provide my daughter with an example, and to my shame, I struggled to recall some of those moments. How could I not remember???
It was then that I recalled the monuments that the patriarchs laid to revisit and recall the great things that God had done. One, because we forget, and two, because the enemy seeks to distort the truth and will make us doubt that which we should be sure of because God as approved it with great and mighty acts.
When God has spoken to us, that event should be so great in our minds and so remembered that we never fall into the same trap we were in when He spoke to us.
So, with that in mind I have decided to start a record of the times and things God has shown me and spoken to me to reaffirm His will and His love.
I recently was asked by my 7-year old daughter what it meant to hear from God. She wanted to know what his voice sounded like. Could I actually hear his voice?
Let me say first, in all humility, that it is rare that I hear from God. His word is for me, as it is for most of His children, sufficient enough. The only time I really hear from the Lord is when, in my own stiff-neckedness, I have reached an impass and I need to hear His voice to nudge me beyond it.
So, I tried to explain to her that I don't actually hear a voice, but rather, deep inside, a thought comes to me in a small still voice that I recognize as not being my own. Usually it's only a few words, and with those words comes a deep and complete understanding of God's will in the issue.
I am humbled when I think about the prophets of the old testament and how often God spoke to them. Even moreso when I think about how little and rarely He spoke to some of them - for God to speak to me at all is amazing.
I was trying to provide my daughter with an example, and to my shame, I struggled to recall some of those moments. How could I not remember???
It was then that I recalled the monuments that the patriarchs laid to revisit and recall the great things that God had done. One, because we forget, and two, because the enemy seeks to distort the truth and will make us doubt that which we should be sure of because God as approved it with great and mighty acts.
When God has spoken to us, that event should be so great in our minds and so remembered that we never fall into the same trap we were in when He spoke to us.
So, with that in mind I have decided to start a record of the times and things God has shown me and spoken to me to reaffirm His will and His love.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Genesis 1:1... More thoughts: The implications of being the created and not the Creator.
This post is from my previous blog, Ear to the Heavens. Enjoy.
Being the Creator, God knows everything there is to know about His creation. He understands the detailed workings of our planet and the universe around us. He is the architect and has knowledge about the systems around us that we cannot begin to comprehend.
He understands us - mankind - better than we do ourselves. Not just the physical workings of our bodies, but the mechanics of our inner most selves- emotions, psychosis, fears, etc. He created us to emote, empathize, sympathize, and so on.
He even came and dwelt as one of us lest we ever doubt that He can't possibly relate to us or understand us, because we believe Him to be so distant and unavailable. He already understood- but just to prove it to us, He sacrificed it all to be one of us.
He also knows the end from the beginning. He is surprised by nothing and has anticipated everything. He exists outside the limits of our dimensionality and - as is proven in the creation - can manipulate the very cosmos at will.
So what does that mean to us? What are the implications of being the creature in the creation that was created by an infinite, omnipotent, omniscient God? (These aren't enough words to really describe Him, but you get the picture.)
Besides realizing that He is in charge and not us, what it should mean to us is this: There is no one greater that we can trust than the One who made us and made everything around us. His will WILL be done, so the most logical response we can have is to yield to Him and trust Him.
Kicking against the goads and rebelling against God merely shows that we have no real understanding of who He is, who we are, and how it all fits together. How can we, finite and incapable, ever hope to control our surroundings or our path in life? The world is spinning though space at thousands of miles an hour, on a path to... what? Trying to control one's surroundings, destiny, etc. can only lead to madness.
Obedience and trust in God is the only way of living that makes any sense. He made me, loves me, has a purpose for me, and knows my future. He knows the path that our world is on and is in total control of it.
To rest in Him is the only way one can have real peace.
Being the Creator, God knows everything there is to know about His creation. He understands the detailed workings of our planet and the universe around us. He is the architect and has knowledge about the systems around us that we cannot begin to comprehend.
He understands us - mankind - better than we do ourselves. Not just the physical workings of our bodies, but the mechanics of our inner most selves- emotions, psychosis, fears, etc. He created us to emote, empathize, sympathize, and so on.
He even came and dwelt as one of us lest we ever doubt that He can't possibly relate to us or understand us, because we believe Him to be so distant and unavailable. He already understood- but just to prove it to us, He sacrificed it all to be one of us.
He also knows the end from the beginning. He is surprised by nothing and has anticipated everything. He exists outside the limits of our dimensionality and - as is proven in the creation - can manipulate the very cosmos at will.
So what does that mean to us? What are the implications of being the creature in the creation that was created by an infinite, omnipotent, omniscient God? (These aren't enough words to really describe Him, but you get the picture.)
Besides realizing that He is in charge and not us, what it should mean to us is this: There is no one greater that we can trust than the One who made us and made everything around us. His will WILL be done, so the most logical response we can have is to yield to Him and trust Him.
Kicking against the goads and rebelling against God merely shows that we have no real understanding of who He is, who we are, and how it all fits together. How can we, finite and incapable, ever hope to control our surroundings or our path in life? The world is spinning though space at thousands of miles an hour, on a path to... what? Trying to control one's surroundings, destiny, etc. can only lead to madness.
Obedience and trust in God is the only way of living that makes any sense. He made me, loves me, has a purpose for me, and knows my future. He knows the path that our world is on and is in total control of it.
To rest in Him is the only way one can have real peace.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Genesis 1:1... In the Beginning
This post is from my previous blog, Ear to the Heavens. Enjoy.
"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
Heaven and earth is all-encompassing.
The Hebrew word for heaven is "shamayim" which is used for all three definitions of heaven or heavens: the sky and the earth's atmosphere; the stars and all the expanding universe; the dwelling place of God. So, when the scripture says that God created the heaven(s) it means pretty much everything the we imagine exists beyond our physical world: the stars, space dust, the other planets - including anything that exists on those planets - and so on. (I don't want to get too specific as we don't really know for certain what exists out there, but suffice it to say that there is a whole lotta stuff out there.)
In regards to the earth, that includes the animals, the plants, the land, the seas, the sky, all the elements, the electromagnetic fields that hold molecular structures together, and just about everything else you might think of, even man.
In a nutshell, God created everything we know, have yet to know, and ever will know. He alone is responsible for its creation (Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, Col 1:16), its ongoing existence (Col. 1:17), and ultimately, for its destruction (2Pet 3:10, Rev. 21:1).
God existed before He created anything. Everything He created belongs to Him. It is of, by, and for Him and He can do with it as He pleases. We are in no position to question God, to question His acts, or to question His motives. We are one more piece of His creation to do with as He pleases - completely subject to His will.
God owes us nothing.
He has given us everything.
It's important to gain perspective and remember that "I" am not in control. If anything, "I" should tremble in fear and awe of Him and His creation. This is the building block upon which everything I know and do should be built. Then, when I look at the way He desires to know me, to engage with me, to sacrifice for me, I am beyond words. I am silenced by His amazing mercy and unfathomable grace.
"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"- Psalm 8
"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
Heaven and earth is all-encompassing.
The Hebrew word for heaven is "shamayim" which is used for all three definitions of heaven or heavens: the sky and the earth's atmosphere; the stars and all the expanding universe; the dwelling place of God. So, when the scripture says that God created the heaven(s) it means pretty much everything the we imagine exists beyond our physical world: the stars, space dust, the other planets - including anything that exists on those planets - and so on. (I don't want to get too specific as we don't really know for certain what exists out there, but suffice it to say that there is a whole lotta stuff out there.)
In regards to the earth, that includes the animals, the plants, the land, the seas, the sky, all the elements, the electromagnetic fields that hold molecular structures together, and just about everything else you might think of, even man.
In a nutshell, God created everything we know, have yet to know, and ever will know. He alone is responsible for its creation (Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, Col 1:16), its ongoing existence (Col. 1:17), and ultimately, for its destruction (2Pet 3:10, Rev. 21:1).
God existed before He created anything. Everything He created belongs to Him. It is of, by, and for Him and He can do with it as He pleases. We are in no position to question God, to question His acts, or to question His motives. We are one more piece of His creation to do with as He pleases - completely subject to His will.
God owes us nothing.
He has given us everything.
It's important to gain perspective and remember that "I" am not in control. If anything, "I" should tremble in fear and awe of Him and His creation. This is the building block upon which everything I know and do should be built. Then, when I look at the way He desires to know me, to engage with me, to sacrifice for me, I am beyond words. I am silenced by His amazing mercy and unfathomable grace.
"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"- Psalm 8
Monday, June 26, 2006
Honor from men.
This post is from my previous blog, Ear to the Heavens. Enjoy.
"I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?" John 5:41-44
In our home fellowship, this is the passage we studied on Sunday. It was very timely for me.
Recently, I've been feeling defeated and overcome with disappointment. Several events have brought me to this, the details of which are not important. Let's just say, I'm feeling as though my life hasn't amounted to much, and when I look around me, I am frustrated because I feel that I could do as well, if not much better, than those around me who are "succeeding."
My wife, who is much more of a blessing than I generally understand, faithfully reminds me that success in the eyes of man is not the same as success in the eyes of God and that I should be thankful for God's many blessings and recognize the successes that I have had.
Jesus' words are very timely for me. Our lives are not about the rewards or accolades of men. Faithfulness to God is real success. I must seek His approval, not man's.
I abandoned writing this Blog a long time ago because I didn't think anyone was reading and that what I was writing was of no significance. Essentially, I believed that no one cared.
I was wrong.
If God has called me to write this Blog, then I need to do it regardless of the number of eyes that find it. If one person reads my words and is somehow led closer to God, then that is all that matters. If I am led closer to God in the writing, then it is a valid exercise. God has taught me that, sometimes, it is in the doing of a thing, and not the thing itself, that His will is made manifest.
So, starting today, with this article, I will be posting much more frequently. I wasn't sure that I would have a whole lot to write about - until the Lord gave me a great idea yesterday.
My next entry will be on Genesis 1:1. That will be followed by Genesis 1:2, and so on. Maybe some days will be more than 1 verse. All I know, is that I am beginning a journey and, if you read this, I hope that you'll join along the way.
Yours in Him,
Adopted Son.
"I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?" John 5:41-44
In our home fellowship, this is the passage we studied on Sunday. It was very timely for me.
Recently, I've been feeling defeated and overcome with disappointment. Several events have brought me to this, the details of which are not important. Let's just say, I'm feeling as though my life hasn't amounted to much, and when I look around me, I am frustrated because I feel that I could do as well, if not much better, than those around me who are "succeeding."
My wife, who is much more of a blessing than I generally understand, faithfully reminds me that success in the eyes of man is not the same as success in the eyes of God and that I should be thankful for God's many blessings and recognize the successes that I have had.
Jesus' words are very timely for me. Our lives are not about the rewards or accolades of men. Faithfulness to God is real success. I must seek His approval, not man's.
I abandoned writing this Blog a long time ago because I didn't think anyone was reading and that what I was writing was of no significance. Essentially, I believed that no one cared.
I was wrong.
If God has called me to write this Blog, then I need to do it regardless of the number of eyes that find it. If one person reads my words and is somehow led closer to God, then that is all that matters. If I am led closer to God in the writing, then it is a valid exercise. God has taught me that, sometimes, it is in the doing of a thing, and not the thing itself, that His will is made manifest.
So, starting today, with this article, I will be posting much more frequently. I wasn't sure that I would have a whole lot to write about - until the Lord gave me a great idea yesterday.
My next entry will be on Genesis 1:1. That will be followed by Genesis 1:2, and so on. Maybe some days will be more than 1 verse. All I know, is that I am beginning a journey and, if you read this, I hope that you'll join along the way.
Yours in Him,
Adopted Son.
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