Most of our life story hasn't been written yet, but the ending is up to you!

In Jesus Christ God gives us our identity, our purpose and our meaning in this life and in the life to come.1 Peter1:1-12

 

Found this sign when visiting a friend in Wisconsin...Larry Alsum

 When facing a new project, a few questions you might want to ask yourself:

Is this part of the larger purpose to which I am committed?

Will it really matter if it isn't done?

If it must be done, must I be the one to do it?

Short note of "Priorities"

How am I going to spend my time?

Time, energy and resources.

What's the larger picture?

What is the Lord's direction for my life?  Let ideas season!

What do I do with the opportunities that come my way?

●"The Lord created each of us individually with different Spiritual Gifts, Passions, Abilities, strengths and a unique personality with different experiences.  I'm sure or hope that as we get nearer to the end of our lives...whenever that is...that we would like to finish our lives well and leave a legacy that gives glory to the LORD so when we stand before Him one day, we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."​ 

That will be a good ending to our story!

Hope some of this will be of benefit to you!

Have a great day!

 Richard

 My "Tweets" today 

 

End of an era: Topsoil Removal

Literally standing in the middle and on the top of my "field"...as I took these pictures!

 

  If you purchased a load of topsoil in the early 70's, you have a piece of our farm!

 

Interesting how a small piece of our farm may have been a benefit to so many people in the Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin area. 

 

 

William Liesner Soils

Aerial view of our farm in 1954 from 1000 feet. 

Taken with my first 35 MM Camera: Kodak Retina Reflex 

Trade Press Media building is in upper left corner now. They have same address 2100 West Florist Avenue that we had!

 

 

 

Prior to topsoil removal: Our lettuce field 

 

Why did we go out of business? Not by choice!

●   As a result of economic expansion of the City of Glendale, and installation of sewer and water to our property, and with high taxes, we were forced out of business.  Developed farm into Industrial Park.

I was so focused on what I was passionate about at the time...growing lettuce that I didn't see what was coming: Economic expansion of the City of Glendale! Could  have sold the farm several years earlier without all the development costs and been alot better off financially. Also, could have kept in business for a few more years...But then I have a strong feeling that I wouldn't be writing this now. The LORD had other plans! So thankful!

 

The beginning of the end.

 

Found an old clipping from the local Glendale newspaper. Our neighbor sold his topsoil from his 10 acre farm which caused a potential disaster to our lettuce crop. They put up a short plastic fence next to our property which stopped the wind blown soil to a great extent..when there was a strong Westerly wind. Two years later, we sold our topsoil to the same company! 

    "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.  

 

 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

 

Looking back on on my Gallup Strengthsfinder 2.0 Analysis, I can see how my top "Strengths" " Connectedness", "Belief" and "Achievement", but especially "Connectedness" shows how the LORD has worked and been working in my life to give me peace and contentment in all the events at that time and up to this time.

In Jesus Christ God gives us our identity, our purpose and our meaning in this life and in the life to come.1 Peter1:1-12

 

 

Some prior thoughts on our work and our calling

 

 

Description of prior Lettuce growing business. 

 

More pictures of the topsoil removal from our farm.

 Farm  house. Southwest corner of property.  Trade Press Media building at this site now. Johnson Controls across street. This is corner of Florist and Baker Rd.

Florist Avenue 

 

Northwest Corner of property: Now location of Batteries Plus Warehouse

Northeast corner of property. Batteries Plus warehouse now.

Batteries Plus Warehouse now. Looking South

Liesner Soils is still in business: Liesner Soils

Benefits of bloomng where you are planted!

 Bloom where you are planted! We have all heard this phrase so many times that maybe we don't understand what it really means. Google the phrase...you will see what I mean. Some very good secular or worldly advice.

Be "rooted", "grounded" and "grow" and so rise to the top of your "field"...and "bloom" where you are "planted" ...using the "Abilities", "gifts" and "Strengths" God has endowed you with.

By doing the above...we potentially can rise to the top of our "field". 
But WHY should we Bloom Where We Are Planted?

As a believer in Jesus Christ and desiring to be a good steward and a faithful "follower" of Jesus on our way to glory...we can be a light for others to see the Truth. 

 ●"The Lord created each of us individually with different Spiritual Gifts, Passions, Abilities, strengths and a unique personality with different experiences.  Helping each other put the pieces of the seeming puzzle together so we each can be most effective in our families, church, community and the world and finish our lives well and leave a legacy that gives glory to the LORD so when we stand before Him one day, we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Isn't that what we would like to hear one day?

"God has created each of us with a unique contribution to make in our world and our times. No other person has our same abilities, motivations, network of friends and relationships, perspectives, ideas, or experiences. When we, like misplaced puzzle pieces, fail to show up, the overall picture is diminished."   Richard Stearns: President of World Vision U.S.
Quote from his book: The Hole in our Gospel 

  We are Jesus's hands and feet in the world. 

  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

A few pictures of field grown pansies...from our farm many years ago.

 

Bloom Where You are Planted 

 

The individual beautiful pansy plants grew well in the field where they were planted for the allotted time they were there. They were seeded in the field for a purpose...The  next year they were individually dug up, put in containers and sold to people who then transplanted them to their gardens to be viewed.

 

 Isn't this what life is all about? 

God, the master gardener created each of us unique...plants us here for a short time...for a specific purpose...and cares for us. "Lord, open our eyes and heart".  "Come Holy Spirit, Come, you are welcome here" 

More later: Come back soon!

Field grown pansies from our farm

View another post on the story how these pansies were grown in Wisconsin

Monday morning: Our work and our calling.

It's Monday morning...and some of us are off to work or are we?

Someone once said that if we are doing what we are passionate about...it's not work!

Sunday and Monday...any connection?

Our work: How important is it to us?

Are we worshiping our work and working at our worship? 

 Are we finding joy and peace in our everyday work?

Is this talk about finding peace confusing? 

How to find peace with God!

 

We are called to God first and then to our secondary calling…which may be our job, business or what we do in “retirement”

 A word from The Call by Os Guinness

"Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service" P. 29

 The Lord created each of us individually with different Spiritual Gifts, Passions, Abilities, Strengths and a unique Personality with different Experiences. When we know what they are and how they work together then we can be most effective in our families, church, community and the world.  When we serve according to our SHAPE, we leave a legacy that gives glory to the LORD so when we stand before Him one day, we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 

 S.H.A.P.E   Spiritual gifts, Heart or passion, Abilities, Personality and Experiences. 

Read a good book recently:

 Answering the Call: The Doctor Who Made Africa His Life.

From “The One-Talent People.” Christian Herald. Sept 1949. P. 64  

“Always keep your eyes open for the little task, because it is the little task that is important to Jesus Christ.  The future of the Kingdom of God does not depend on the enthusiasm of this or that powerful person; those great ones are necessary too, but it is equally necessary to have a great number of little people who will do a little thing in the service of Christ.” 

            “The great flowing rivers represent only a small part of all the water that is necessary to nourish and sustain the earth. Beside the flowing river there is the water in the earth-the subterranean water-and there are the little streams which continually enter the river and feed it and prevent it from sinking into the earth. Without these other waters-the silent hidden subterranean waters and the trickling streams-the great river could no longer flow. Thus it is with the little tasks to be fulfilled by us all.”

Some excerpts from:  God’s Best for My Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie 

“What are we daring to attempt which could not be accomplished without His strength and intervention? So often we plan our lives around what we could do without Him on our own.  A sure sign that we are in communion with the Lord is that we are attempting what only He can do? Can you identify that in your life?”

How to find peace with God!

Where the Cross Meets The Street- In the city!

•   Read a good book recently, Where The Cross Meets The Street ...What happens to the neighborhood when God is at the center. Author Noel Castellanos.

   

       Neil spoke at the "2017 State of Milwaukee" event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 24, 2017

   

   Noel is CEO of the Christian Community Development Association.

   

  https://youtu.be/Eoybroe_p2c

   

    http://www.ccda.org/about

  
  

   

    Noel spoke at the "2017 State of Milwaukee" event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 24, 2017

   

   A few hi lites of Noel's presentation:

   

  When people better themselves...and move out of the "hood"...and then do not come back to help others...this is what happens: 

  
  Problem is that those communities become depleted when the strong leaders & families (churches) move out!
  
   The alternative is to become present in our neighborhoods and be agents of change! Especially  our churches
  
    God gives our communities the gift of people with talent, passion, and resources. But they can't do it alone.
  
   We're not there to help "those people" from a safe distance, but to engage and help my neighborhood.
  
   Churches, audit your compassion ministries: are they empowering, or creating dependency and attitudes of entitlement?
  
  Are we helping inner city churches or harming them? 
  
  Compassion ministries that create dependency/entitlement are toxic & harmful. We can help, but in new ways!  
  
  Look to the story of Nehemiah and Ezra. There can be no spiritual revival without neighborhood restoration.
  
   There's a need for leadership that looks at the neighborhood and says "it can be better!" Not just pastors, but everyone!
  
   When you do development from inside out,you restore neighborhoods for the people that live there not gentrification for the rich.
  
  "Community development is biblical to the core!"  
  
  

  #povertysymposium2017     On TWITTER 

   

  Go to the people Just like Jesus did! Incarnational ministry!

  Live among them

  Learn from them

  Love them

  Start with what they know

  Build on what they have:

  But of the best leaders When their task is done

  The people will remark "We have done it ourselves."

  [Ancient Chinese Proverb]
  
  
  
  
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The Key to Joy!

As my good friend Ron says, "It's all about relationships".

With "social media"...it's about "friends", "connections" and "followers".

Over the course of time, I have added, "Yes, and it's all about Communication."
Communication, Communication, Communication.

All about Relationships: Yes, with Jesus through God our Father...and then relationship with each other.

To develop any relationship, we need to listen and to communicate.
So it's all about Communication, Communication Communication.

With God, we communicate through Prayer.

With each other, we communicate in many ways.

But in any relationship...even with the best of Relationship and Communication, we mess up. It's called sin.

With God we can repent and ask for forgiveness.

So to complete the circle...I have added yes, and it's all about Forgiveness.
Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Forgiveness.

 

Just as we can have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ and with each other...We can communicate our love  and needs to Him and also to other...but in the process we have a tendency to mess up. But again, we can ask God for forgiveness...and as He has made His forgiveness available to us, we then also need to forgive each other.

As Eugene H. Peterson says in The Message: Matthew 6: "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." 

So how can we NOT forgive others?

As we experience God's forgiveness and grace, it's then pretty easy to forgive other!

When we do that...we can truly have JOY!

Also, don't forget to forgive yourself...But that's another story...for another time.

With all the relationships we have..."Friends", "Connections", "Followers"...

best to start with God.

Finding true peace with God 

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