Charles E. Maldon Jr: The Work of a Bridge Builder
Recently while coming back from travel, I crossed a bridge that caught my attention. This was not my first time crossing, but this particular time was different. I could see a glimpse below of endless deep blue water. I pondered not only the time spent on constructing this bridge, but also its strength. …
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Charles E. Maldon Jr: An “Uncut” Version of Me
We can add nothing to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ’s love. He accepts us enough to die to reclaim us, and redeem us from the effects of sin. …
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Charles E. Maldon Jr: Victory in the Trial
Do we consider the joyful attitude we must muster, as a key to enduring a trial, as James mentions? Our outlook determines the outcome, and our attitude determines the action. We must become more dependent upon the Lord, allowing Him to craft us into a beautiful masterpiece as we work through each trial. He teaches humility, compassion, self-control, peace, and faith as we walk through them. The more we surrender our mindset to Him, the more we can rest assured that a mighty work is happening in our lives, despite what we see on the surface. The hard truth is, we cannot expect everything to be problem-free all the time. Jesus tells us in the gospel of John that trials are inevitable.
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Charles E Maldon Jr : Boot Camp
Paul’s plan to Timothy for the church encourages him in a time when he is facing much suffering. It is inevitable. There is no way to get around it. Those who desire to be a registered, proven member of Christ’s army, will suffer. To endure suffering, it is necessary for us to embrace it. We must go through suffering if we want to experience growth and God’s anointing. We will not see oil until the olive is squeezed and pressed to produce that which is already inside. The Lord uses suffering with a purpose for His glory, but the key is not giving up. To endure is to suffer patiently; to experience without giving in; to undergo a tough situation.
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Charles Maldon Jr: The Fear Factor
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ~1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV Most of us are afraid of something, and often times we don’t want to face our fears. The very issues we fear can immobilize us. Oftentimes, what we are terrified of is not that big of a deal, but in our minds it is. The fear may be insignificant, except … Continue reading →
Charles E. Maldon, Jr.: Elevation Like Mount Everest
When climbing Mount Everest, there are various “oxygen levels” that we have. We could perish if we do not adapt to this new environment. The higher the elevation, the thinner the air is, which can cause suffocation for the climber without the proper equipment and training. No one can climb the mountain without the appropriate gear. Likewise, we can know God provides help in times of spiritual elevation. …
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Charles Maldon Jr: Hope in the “Try Again”
In the familiar text of Luke 5, Simon Peter has been fishing all night but he catches nothing. Being a fisherman by trade, every night counts. If he doesn’t catch fish, his livelihood diminishes. I can imagine Simon’s frustration as he sits in his boat, scouring an empty net again, cleaning it of debris, seaweed, and mud, but finding not even a single fish. He must have felt like a failure….
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Charles E. Maldon Jr: Buckets and Band-aids, or Restoration
I wouldn’t have noticed, except I saw the blood droplets trailing behind where I had mopped. I’ve conditioned myself to continue mopping regardless of difficulties, so I figured I’d deal with the wound later. I had to empty and fill the bucket with water continuously because the dirt and blood quickly changed the clean water dirty. To my detriment, the wound was worse than I thought. I ended up stopping to clean it and place a band-aid on my finger. Only then could I continue. …
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Charles E Maldon Jr: The Road Ahead
As important as the rearview mirror is, we cannot drive well if looking backwards is our total focus. Perhaps this is why the rearview mirror is so small compared to the windshield in front that is so much bigger. Even the early inventors knew that where we are going is more important than where we have been. I like to glance and see the progress I have made, and while nothing is wrong with this behavior, it is not beneficial to where I am going. I must keep my eyes on the road ahead, and only glance at the road behind. …
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Charles E. Maldon Jr: The Danger of an Uncontrolled Flame
In times past, when I was not walking with Jesus Christ, when I started a conversation with a woman, I did not necessarily think the interaction all the way through; I just thought about the moment. I never really counted the cost of igniting the flame with my conversation or friendly gestures. I hadn’t considered or taken the time to think what happens when…
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Charles Maldon Jr: F.O.C.U.S.
“Autofocus” was my new favorite feature…
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