Outside the Box

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10

It was great to be on a few days vacation, away from the hustle and bustle of home. What did I want to do? I was enjoying just contemplating the question.

"Go outside", was the answer I found myself saying to my own question. I had to laugh at the answer! It reminded me of when I was young, and all I ever wanted to do was go outside.

Outside. What a wonderful place. You never knew what might happen outside. Who you'd see, what you might do. It didn't matter. Just getting outside was the important thing, I knew it would be good. It would be fun.

In the 4th chapter of 1 Chronicles, in the Bible, there's a story about a man named Jabez. The whole story is related in just 2 brief verses, but it says a lot. In the amplified version, the word "territory" is translated as "border". Kind of like the lines around a box, the border.

John 10:10 talks about that 'zoe' abundant life that God wants to give us. So think outside the box. Certainly God is bigger than any box I might have put Him in. Color outside the lines, swim upstream. Open up to more of God. It's a good thing.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
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The most important Book of all time.

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Sally I. Kennedy is the author of Irish Thursdays, Words from the Heart, and 52 Little Parables from Ireland. She lives in south Florida with her husband Ben, and her children and nine grandchildren. Please visit her website, at sallyikennedy.com, or email Sally at, sallyikennedy@bellsouth.net