Just-in-time (JIT)

I listened to a sermon this past weekend that really got my attention. It started out with the concept of JIT, which means, just-in-time. JIT is an inventory strategy that improves the return on investment of a business. This is because you are reducing your inventory and the cost associated with storing it. In order to achieve JIT you must have signals of what is going on everywhere else within the process. When this process is successful you will increase your return on investment, quality, and efficiency. With the economy the way it is more and more companies are switching to this method. Now you may be wondering what does this have anything to do with being a Christian, with living life, and walking a path with Jesus. It has everything!!! Living life with Jesus is depending on Jesus in all times. Even when we are at our last straw. When we think life is to hard that we want to give up and throw in the towel Jesus comes in and provides a way out. Looking back in my past I see many ways Jesus has worked in my life to provide for me. Often I would question if Jesus was on my side. If he really cared for me. Or even how would I pay for my next month's rent. All these things Jesus provided for. In Exodus 16 the Lord tells the people that manna will fall from the sky. Each day the people were to go and gather up enough manna for that day, and only that day. They were not to gather more then they needed. If they did it would be full of maggots and smell the next morning. So each day the people would go out in the morning and gather enough just for the day. This is a great way for the Lord to show how he is providing each and every day for our needs. No matter how crazy life gets I know that Jesus' JIT strategy for my life is prefect and will allow me to be what he created me to be. To be completely dependent upon him!!!!

Crashing Down

As the waves of the world crash around me I stand firm! I throw up my arms and praise the Lord for the strength he has given me, for the love, for the freedom, and for the joys of the world. Standing there I embrace the waves that crash over the walls I've built in my life. As I watch the waves crash my walls to the ground I begin to dance with the Lord. Singing his praises and truly forgetting about the waves that are crashing around me. Becoming lost in his eyes, his word, and in his love. Truly trusting everything I am, in his hands.

We Need Each Other

A good friend of mine recommended a song to me the other day called 'We Need Each Other' by Sanctus Real. It's a great song to listen to when you feel like you are alone in the world with no where to turn. I used to hide who I was and what I thought because I didn't know how people would react. Then I started to think that I was support to guard my heart and only turn to God. However, I was wrong. One of the greatest things God gives us is our relationships with others. Even through they may break our hearts and leave us when we needed them most. We must forgive and grow from these times because the pains of not having friends to turn to is even worst then having an amazing friend who is human. So through the highs and lows I will not only turn to the Lord but I will also seek the friends that the Lord put into my life. So to you my friend, I thank you for blessing me and opening my eyes to the fact I need you, I need friends to turn to, and no matter what I need to learn to love, 'taking the good with the bad and the ugly.'

SANCTUS REAL - WE NEED EACH OTHER

I think I caught a glimpse of
Life without friends
Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely
We never meant to hurt each other
So Can’t we trust again
And take it as a chance
To keep on growing

I don’t know why it doesn’t come easy
But I know that we could be happy
If we’d only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
‘Coz no one’s meant to live alone

Life revolves around the need
Of having someone
Causing every complicated feeling
Oh and I don’t want to loose you
And there is nothing wrong with
Telling me what you need
To keep our love strong

It’s just a part of being a family
Taking the good with the bad and the ugly
If we could only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
‘Coz I don’t want to be alone

Oh Oh we need each other
Fathers and Mothers
Oh oh we need each other
All your sisters and brothers
Oh oh we need each other
We need friends and lovers
Oh Oh we need each other

Well I need you
You need me
‘Coz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
I don’t want to be alone

Well I need you
You need me
‘Coz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
I don’t want to be alone

New Pair of Shoes

Tonight, I stood at the foot of the cross and watched as my sins were nailed to it. The power and emotion that over came me was something I wasn't expecting. Freedom and peace was released from with in that was pushing to find a way out. My whole life I have always carried a pair of running shoes with me. Whenever life got hard or something didn't go my way I would just put on another mask and my running shoes and run. New places, new faces, and new opportunities to be someone different, and someone else. I never knew what this was doing to my heart tell I tried handing my shoes over when I gave my heart to Jesus. I didn't know a life with out them and what would happen if I took a wrong turn. There would be no way out. How could I keep my head above water with out them. I feared that exposing my true identity would leave me all alone and empty. But what I realized tonight was that by keeping my running shoes around they were creating a sense of emptiness and loneliness in my life. The desire to hand my running shoes over has became increasing powerful and tonight I made the decision to finally trade Jesus shoes. To hand over my running shoes for a brand new pair of shoes, dancing shoes. Not any type of shoes but hand crafted one-of-a-kind dancing shoes made just for me. So, I begin the new dance in my life, as I follow, may I learn to trust and truly lean on my leader and Savior, Jesus.

Chris Tomlin - I Will Rise
From the album Hello Love

I Will Rise - Chris Tomlin

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say, "it is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

Chorus:
I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God, fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart, "worthy is the Lamb"