I would like to take you on a journey from a different perspective and hopefully help you to see how valuable a role you play in this journey called life.
The birth of Jesus
Do you remember the story of the Magi that were looking for the newborn baby, The King of the Jews?
They were following a Star.
The Star was a sign to them and was pointing them in the right direction.
You too are a Star my friend. You are a sign pointing people in the right direction.
I want to relate this to a story from the past. It involved a movie and the Star character of that movie. It also reveals a little about me. I love comedy movies. I just like to laugh. Many of the ones I love and have seen a million times are also what many would call silly, stupid humor.
The movie I’m talking about is Joe Dirt.
It’s about a guy who’s lived his whole life down on his luck and being mistreated but never let it change him. He kept his good attitude and never changed. It was an endearing quality.
I used this Joe Dirt picture as my profile pic on Facebook many years ago. My youngest daughter even told me once that her cousins really thought it was me just wearing a funny wig.
I still tease my wife to this day that mullets are making a comeback, to her absolute horror. 😁
The reason I used that profile pic was symbolic to me. I liked the movie but it was more than that.
The Bible says we come from dust and will return to dust. My life on this earth is limited and my days have already been numbered. I used that pic to remind me of that and spur conversation as an opportunity to share my faith.
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”
Psalms 103:13-19 NIV
I’m just a Joe Dirt on the journey of life choosing to make the most of this short life trying to encourage people and point them in the right direction. I’m trying to be a Star. You can be too.
I’d like to talk about another movie I love.
I’m often inspired by great lines from movies as motivation for my faith as I’m sure many are.
One that really motivated me was a line by Andy Dufresne to his friend Red while in prison in the movie Shawshank Redemption.
“It’s a simple question. You better get busy living or get busy dying.”
It’s such a great line and it’s so powerful.
Have you ever realized that from your very first breath you were already dying?
““Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.”
Psalms 39:4-5 NIV
With my dad’s recent passing I was reminded of how precious life is and how little time I have. It’s a simple question. Am I gonna get busy living or get busy dying.
Join me my friends. The world is full of people searching for meaning. Searching for love, searching for hope and help.
Many just need to be pointed in the right direction. They need a Star to point the way. The darker the night the brighter the Star can shine and light the way.
It’s just about loving people right where they are. Not just the easy ones but the one’s who don’t expect or anticipate your love.
The ones who are undeserving, like me.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalms 103:8-12 NIV
I am the leper that asked Jesus if He was willing to make me clean. He was willing and touched my heart.
I’m the beggar sitting at the gate called Beautiful that was healed so I could walk again.
I am also the blind man who was healed and can now see.
The world is full of people like me, who need to be cleansed, be able to walk again and see spirituality for the first time.
“I was blind but now I see.”
A long time ago after attending several funerals I was struck by a thought. I’ve been to several funerals and it’s been a privilege to attend and a privilege to have been a part of their lives. The thought I had was this.
When I die will there be a single person that says something like this?
“One thing I know about Joe is that he loves Jesus.”
If nobody knows that then I’ve wasted my life.
Get busy living or get busy dying. Time is short.
Be the Jesus in peoples lives. Be the one that loves them when they need it most. Be the one who helps them in their time of need as a gift. Be the one who shows compassion. Be the one who offers forgiveness and mercy. Be the one who lives a life to redeem others.
Be a Star.
Be encouraged my friends.
Thank you for all your prayers in my time of need. You all show me Jesus love in action. It means everything.
Blessings friends
A Star Is Born
Let me be the first to offer you my thanks. My firstborn, a son, was born 39 years ago today. He’s a fine example of a disciple of Christ( as are you, dear brother) to his 9 younger siblings, his 4 children, wife, our grandchildren and all who meet, know and interact with them. You would love and connect with him. My heart is full of mother’s love today, and your article appeared 💙
My wife got some serious rev today. I believe we are in a Fear of the Lord moment! We all need to be in reverential fear. We are close brethren. 
Habakkuk 3. The whole chapter. Wow.