The past few weeks have been filled with prayer, contemplation, assessment, and enlightenment. I think over time, I have allowed myself to become complacent in this life. Every thing was 'ok:' I was still giving thanks for the daily gifts, smiling at Jaiden through out the day as I usually would, greeting my husband at the door when he comes home, and casually enjoying each evening and weekend as a family. But being just nonchalant with what God has given me is not something I strive to accept.
I have no doubt that God's timing is perfect for me (notice I didn't say just "perfect"--things would come so much faster if it were up me!). In the midst of this routine I had going for myself I realized that it just wasn't right. I was doing things and agreeing to things and accepting whatever was coming my way without truly considering whether or not it was right for us (my family). And with doing so, I was giving up chances every day to create the lives God wants for us.-- That idea was proposed by Robin Mc Graw in her book Inside My Heart. It's so easy to do though, right? We get in our auto-drive mode and just roll with it.
Well, things weren't looking very good for my family and I just decided that I was going to do something about it. First, I decided that I need to figure out a couple of things. What can I do to make things great (good just is, well only good). What can I proactively do, what I can not do, etc. I started refreshing my mind with wonderful advice from some of my favorite people: Robin Mc Graw (yes, this is Dr.Phil's wife, but no, I'm not a fanatic of talk shows!), Greg Laurie, and the Apostles.
For example, Mc Graw reminds us that "(It is a) real privilege (to be) free to embrace the joyful aspects of life and reject the hurtful ones, to choose to do what's working, and to turn your back on what isn't. It's a privilege to have the right to take charge of your existence and be excited about your life." There have been some difficult choices in my life recently that I had to look closely to these words and grasp them, just as I let go of things and people that I had to realize were hurtful parts of my life. Not easy...but refreshing.
In my devotional Because by Greg Laurie, he also brought into the spotlight a very good point: "Just as a car going uphill will naturally roll backward if it's parked and shifted into neutral, we'll naturally go the wrong way if we shift our Christian lives into neutral and stop seeking to learn and grow as believers as we develop our 'new nature.'" That was it! I was doing just that. I was content, I was in neutral. He continues to reminds us that "growth in the Christian life isn't just about obeying commandments. It's about wanting to grow, wanting to please the Lord, and wanting to become more like Him. That's what keeps us moving." Well, that is precisely what I needed to hear (again, his timing is perfect for me).
From an earthly perspective, we have it all. We have a wonderful home, the knowledge and education to manage our home and finances effectively, a marriage, a healthy child, and live in a free country. That's wonderful, it really is. Laurie points out that "the world's version of (happiness) is quite different than the Bible's version. The happiness of this world depends largely on circumstances." So, from the earthly perspective we should be ecstatic, unless "someone cuts (us) off on the freeway or (we) get sick or (we) incur an unplanned major expense." I am just so glad we don't choose to compare our happiness to earth's standards, where our "happiness (would) always hinge on the given circumstances of the moment." Although I was starting to feel that way...
"According to Scripture, true happiness is never something to be sought directly; it always results from seeking something else." I know I was walking on the path that I have been so long, keeping 'in touch' with our Lord and reading, praying, etc... but I was at that crossroad where I was looking at the path that was laid out for me and glancing over at the road that the 'world' chooses just because it's what seems so easy sometimes.
Well, I know that "when we seek holiness, we'll find happiness." I have been doing what I think many of my brothers and sisters in Christ do. Daily readings, 'casual' prayer, and even the occasional plea for something! But I wasn't actively doing any thing about this life to get it from the 'good/normalcy' it was in and take it to the 'great' God has in store for us.
I had allowed myself to become drained and complacent. Mc Graw has such a strong emphasis on "choice" in her book. And she's so right. Everything we do is based on a choice. We can choose to do something or choose not to do something. Nonetheless, there is a choice being made. Just days ago, I chose to take the next step in making my (and my family's) life a bit happier. I chose to have a great attitude. I chose to put away problems that are so trivial they had just been blocking my view of what God had painted for me. I chose to address problems that have been buried for so long. I chose to put God back at the top of my priority list.---By far the best choice I've made thus far.
But the most amazing part of this revelation for me is this. There was a cloud over my eyes that didn't allow me to see that there is not one other person I would rather be or not one other thing I would rather be doing than what I am doing right now. I am an appreciated wife who is absolutely loved by my 2-year old daughter. I am blessed beyond description and not because we have this nice little home on the cul de sac and we have our goals laid out for the future. We would be just as blessed if we were still in a small apartment just up the road. And that is what is amazing.
"I have a healthy respect for the devil's ability; he's a powerful adversary. In our own strength, we're no match for him. So we don't want to venture out in this life depending only on our own abilities, because it will bring spiritual defeat." I think when I start feeling "normal" again, I am going to have to revisit this blog entry and be reminded that I just might be walking a fine line between God's plan and the earthly plan. "If ever there was a time to be walking closely with the Lord, it's now. This is not the time to be playing games with God. This is not the time to wander away."
In Genesis 3:9 God said to Adam, "Where are you?".. Have you ever stopped to consider that verse? Can you imagine God seeking us? That weighs heavy on my mind looking at my life the past few months and I can only imagine God doing that even though I have "visited" him regularly. I have done on the exterior what would be 'recommended' of me as a Christian, but on the interior, I never considered "if the Lord would say the same thing to some of us many times: 'Where are you? Where have you been? I have been looking for you. I wanted to speak with you. I want you to walk with Me---and I want to walk with you.' I wonder just how many times each day God wants to tell (me) something, but He can't get a word in edgewise?"
It's no surprise I was in some 'funk' for who knows how long. No wonder we have been just going through the motions and have been 'ok' to every one else. And of course I am going to smile at Jaiden as we spend our time together and of course, I'm going to be glad to see my husband when he walks through that door. But oh, what a change it has been to long to spend my day with Jaiden or long for Aden to come home from work. What a blessing the weekends are to get additional time in the Word. And more importantly, what a difference it makes when you don't walk casually with God, but desire to be with Him, as he desires to be with each of us.
I entitled this blog entry as "This Life." I have taken this life that God has given me and made the choice to make it all that God promised it could be. Each day is a new day and I have to remind myself on a daily basis that today is the day I will make the choice to have a great attitude, be grateful that I do have so much to be thankful for, be mindful that I could as easily lose it all just as quickly, but praise God for whatever does come of it. This life to others would be seemingly ordinary. I am going to strive to make it extraordinary. After all, isn't that how Christ lived this life?
I have no doubt that God's timing is perfect for me (notice I didn't say just "perfect"--things would come so much faster if it were up me!). In the midst of this routine I had going for myself I realized that it just wasn't right. I was doing things and agreeing to things and accepting whatever was coming my way without truly considering whether or not it was right for us (my family). And with doing so, I was giving up chances every day to create the lives God wants for us.-- That idea was proposed by Robin Mc Graw in her book Inside My Heart. It's so easy to do though, right? We get in our auto-drive mode and just roll with it.
Well, things weren't looking very good for my family and I just decided that I was going to do something about it. First, I decided that I need to figure out a couple of things. What can I do to make things great (good just is, well only good). What can I proactively do, what I can not do, etc. I started refreshing my mind with wonderful advice from some of my favorite people: Robin Mc Graw (yes, this is Dr.Phil's wife, but no, I'm not a fanatic of talk shows!), Greg Laurie, and the Apostles.
For example, Mc Graw reminds us that "(It is a) real privilege (to be) free to embrace the joyful aspects of life and reject the hurtful ones, to choose to do what's working, and to turn your back on what isn't. It's a privilege to have the right to take charge of your existence and be excited about your life." There have been some difficult choices in my life recently that I had to look closely to these words and grasp them, just as I let go of things and people that I had to realize were hurtful parts of my life. Not easy...but refreshing.
In my devotional Because by Greg Laurie, he also brought into the spotlight a very good point: "Just as a car going uphill will naturally roll backward if it's parked and shifted into neutral, we'll naturally go the wrong way if we shift our Christian lives into neutral and stop seeking to learn and grow as believers as we develop our 'new nature.'" That was it! I was doing just that. I was content, I was in neutral. He continues to reminds us that "growth in the Christian life isn't just about obeying commandments. It's about wanting to grow, wanting to please the Lord, and wanting to become more like Him. That's what keeps us moving." Well, that is precisely what I needed to hear (again, his timing is perfect for me).
From an earthly perspective, we have it all. We have a wonderful home, the knowledge and education to manage our home and finances effectively, a marriage, a healthy child, and live in a free country. That's wonderful, it really is. Laurie points out that "the world's version of (happiness) is quite different than the Bible's version. The happiness of this world depends largely on circumstances." So, from the earthly perspective we should be ecstatic, unless "someone cuts (us) off on the freeway or (we) get sick or (we) incur an unplanned major expense." I am just so glad we don't choose to compare our happiness to earth's standards, where our "happiness (would) always hinge on the given circumstances of the moment." Although I was starting to feel that way...
"According to Scripture, true happiness is never something to be sought directly; it always results from seeking something else." I know I was walking on the path that I have been so long, keeping 'in touch' with our Lord and reading, praying, etc... but I was at that crossroad where I was looking at the path that was laid out for me and glancing over at the road that the 'world' chooses just because it's what seems so easy sometimes.
Well, I know that "when we seek holiness, we'll find happiness." I have been doing what I think many of my brothers and sisters in Christ do. Daily readings, 'casual' prayer, and even the occasional plea for something! But I wasn't actively doing any thing about this life to get it from the 'good/normalcy' it was in and take it to the 'great' God has in store for us.
I had allowed myself to become drained and complacent. Mc Graw has such a strong emphasis on "choice" in her book. And she's so right. Everything we do is based on a choice. We can choose to do something or choose not to do something. Nonetheless, there is a choice being made. Just days ago, I chose to take the next step in making my (and my family's) life a bit happier. I chose to have a great attitude. I chose to put away problems that are so trivial they had just been blocking my view of what God had painted for me. I chose to address problems that have been buried for so long. I chose to put God back at the top of my priority list.---By far the best choice I've made thus far.
But the most amazing part of this revelation for me is this. There was a cloud over my eyes that didn't allow me to see that there is not one other person I would rather be or not one other thing I would rather be doing than what I am doing right now. I am an appreciated wife who is absolutely loved by my 2-year old daughter. I am blessed beyond description and not because we have this nice little home on the cul de sac and we have our goals laid out for the future. We would be just as blessed if we were still in a small apartment just up the road. And that is what is amazing.
"I have a healthy respect for the devil's ability; he's a powerful adversary. In our own strength, we're no match for him. So we don't want to venture out in this life depending only on our own abilities, because it will bring spiritual defeat." I think when I start feeling "normal" again, I am going to have to revisit this blog entry and be reminded that I just might be walking a fine line between God's plan and the earthly plan. "If ever there was a time to be walking closely with the Lord, it's now. This is not the time to be playing games with God. This is not the time to wander away."
In Genesis 3:9 God said to Adam, "Where are you?".. Have you ever stopped to consider that verse? Can you imagine God seeking us? That weighs heavy on my mind looking at my life the past few months and I can only imagine God doing that even though I have "visited" him regularly. I have done on the exterior what would be 'recommended' of me as a Christian, but on the interior, I never considered "if the Lord would say the same thing to some of us many times: 'Where are you? Where have you been? I have been looking for you. I wanted to speak with you. I want you to walk with Me---and I want to walk with you.' I wonder just how many times each day God wants to tell (me) something, but He can't get a word in edgewise?"
It's no surprise I was in some 'funk' for who knows how long. No wonder we have been just going through the motions and have been 'ok' to every one else. And of course I am going to smile at Jaiden as we spend our time together and of course, I'm going to be glad to see my husband when he walks through that door. But oh, what a change it has been to long to spend my day with Jaiden or long for Aden to come home from work. What a blessing the weekends are to get additional time in the Word. And more importantly, what a difference it makes when you don't walk casually with God, but desire to be with Him, as he desires to be with each of us.
I entitled this blog entry as "This Life." I have taken this life that God has given me and made the choice to make it all that God promised it could be. Each day is a new day and I have to remind myself on a daily basis that today is the day I will make the choice to have a great attitude, be grateful that I do have so much to be thankful for, be mindful that I could as easily lose it all just as quickly, but praise God for whatever does come of it. This life to others would be seemingly ordinary. I am going to strive to make it extraordinary. After all, isn't that how Christ lived this life?
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