ON YOUR BUS
First, I would like to thank all of you who have been here for me and understood my absence during this time. I have felt your presence through your text, your love, and your prayers.
This writing piece I wrote one night while I sat with my mom in the hospital, but since then, I have changed it a bit.
Have you ever thought about who is riding on your bus? Who would you ask? Who would get on? Who is on for the ride and not getting off? Who is there for the good, the bad, and the ugly? Who is on the bus and knows when to be there? They aren’t late.
Thinking about my mom and the characteristics of a mom, a mom is always on your bus. She is the one who can get upset with you but still love you. You can get upset with her, but she still loves you. She forgives you when you really shouldn’t be forgiven. The bottom line is she loves you unconditional, and she asks for nothing in return. Did you know that research states that mothers are so important to a child’s upbringing that it is better to have a bad mother than no mother at all?
Your mother is always on your bus!
When I was the literacy director for our school district, I had our teachers read a book called THE ENERGY BUS by John Gordan. It is awesome. It is about a man named George. One morning he woke up, got ready for the day, and went out to his car to head to the office only to find that he had a flat tire. Not only did he have a flat tire, but his spare was also flat. He asked his wife to take him to work, and she said, “NO!” You see, George had been having some issues with being positive. He had turned into a negative Nancy. The only choice George had was to ride the bus. He arrived at the bus stop, and the bus pulled up. He got on, and the bus driver named JOY was very energetic and excited to see him, not just him but everyone that was riding with her. Joy had ten lessons that she taught everyone on her bus.
1. You Are The Driver
2. Desire, vision, and focus move your bus in the right direction
3. Fuel Your Ride With Positive Energy
4. Invite Those On Your Bus and share your vision for the road ahead
5. Don’t Waste Your Energy On Those That Don’t Get On Your Bus
6. No Energy Vampires, Only Positive People
7. Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride
8. Love Those On Your Bus
9. Drive With Purpose
10. Have Fun And Enjoy The Ride
DIVE INTO SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 6:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” [a]
God is always on your bus! He watches over His children, He guides His children, and He leads His children. God is continuously shepherding us like a parent guides a child. He doesn’t judge us; He doesn’t condemn us. Throughout history, God was a father to his people, from leading the Israelites out of Egypt to sending Jesus to die for us on the cross. Like a parent, He is selfless. He asks for nothing in return. What our parents want is for us as their child to be successful in life, to be forgiving of others, to be capable adults, and to become mature like Christ. God wants the same.
The Energy Bus and Scripture
There are several of JonGordan steps that I want to dissect. #1 I want to change. First, God is the driver of the bus. He has the wheel, and you can turn it, but we should turn in the direction that he leads. Just as #2 states focusing moving your bus in the right direction. It is when we focus on Him, allow Him to drive, and we are obedient that we will move in the right direction.
Psalm 46:10 “[a]Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the [b]nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
John 15:5-7 “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Hebrews 12:2 we must focus on Jesus the source and goal of our faith
Next, let’s look at 3,4,5,6. Be careful who and what you fuel your ride with, invite people on your bus, invite-only those that will share your vision, don’t waste your time with those that don’t want to step on your bus, and if someone isn’t positive don’t let them on.
When people show you that they don’t want to be on your bus, it is ok. Only invite those that want to ride with you. Don’t waste your time on those that don’t want to take the step. Make time for those you are that want to sit down, buckle their seatbelt, and hang on for the ride. Remember, the most crucial person is already on your bus- God.
When Paul was Saul, no one would have wanted to invite him on the bus. He would have been someone we wouldn’t have wasted time on. But then Saul was converted, and Paul was born.
After the conversion of Paul, the disciples still weren’t sure about him. They questioned whether they needed Paul on their bus. Barnabas believed in Paul, and he persuaded the disciples to let Paul fellowship with them. (Acts 9:26). This is the type of person that rides on your bus, the ones that believe in you. They know all about you and love you just the same.
Because of this, Barnabas and Paul had a great friendship. They traveled together and ministered to many. On the first mission, John Mark was with them. John Mark, however, decided not to finish the journey and returned home. When it was time for the second journey, Barnabas asked Paul if John Mark could come along as a helper. Paul wasn’t for this idea. For some reason, they were no longer on the same bus, so they left each other and went their own way. No details are given; however, Paul kept his bus going and invited those whose goals were the same as his to hop on for the ride.
We aren’t sure what happened to Paul and Barnabas, but the friendship was severed, and Barnabas wasn’t invited back on the bus. Paul did find another that was ready to step on, and that was Timothy. Timothy became one of Paul’s most trusted assistants. Their relationship lasted over 20 years.
When someone is ready to get off the bus, let them! You need your bus to be fueled by God first and then by those that are filling your cup with good Godly gas.
The last four in Gordan’s list deal with being positive, loving others, having a purpose, and enjoying life. When we cease to live life alone and realize that God is our loving parent and on our bus, for the right reason, we begin to see our life shift for the better. It is time for us to give up driving our bus and let God.
In the Hebrew language, the phrase cease striving indicates giving up by letting our hands down. When we relinquish control and realize who is really in charge of driving our bus, we are more at peace; we can be more content. We find our purpose, we can find joy in everything, and we enjoy the ride.
Challenges of the Week:
- Keep your daily appointment with Christ
- Dive deep into scripture
- Look at your bus- who you are allowing to drive it and ride on it, what are you fueling your bus with
- Fill your cup with Christ
RESOURCES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVNp6avC1Ig The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqACk9zuR0 Jon Gordan A True Story about the Energy Bus
https://bible.org/seriespage/2-model-parent
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+6%3A18&version=NIV
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