Skip to main content

I'm a work in progress!

Don't you love it when God reminds us we are a work in progress? Sometimes it seems like life is just moving along and we think everything is going smooth.  We may even think we have 'arrived' and have this Christian life all figured out.  Then WHAM!!! something unexpected happens! 

Someone or something absolutely pulls the rug out from under us and we realize we still have soooo far to go!  I had a week like that... and I had to make a decision.  Would I allow myself to embrace the change and let God show me what He was trying to teach me?

Recently I read that forgiveness means letting go of the right to be offended.  Oh ouch!  It is so much more natural to hold on to offense and fight for our rights.  In my Sunday school class, we are studying Lisa Bevere's book "Out of Control and Loving It."  This week we were discussing the things we have learned so far and one of my ladies said "It is so hard because it goes against my nature not to fight back."  Another wise lady responded "It is against your nature... your sin nature!"  Ouch but wow!

The truth is that no matter how hard I fight I have no control of the actions of another person.  I have to keep myself in line with Christ and let Him worry about others.  When we humble ourselves and let Him be our defender, we are simply recognizing that we are not in control. If someone wants to believe bad of you, no matter what you say or how many times you say it, they will still believe the bad.  Our witness and character should be our best defense.  What a great opportunity to reflect on what witness we have created!  So instead of that being a negative thing, we have a Father who loves us enough to allow these things in our life to grow us into His image!  It sure is enough to keep us humble and on our knees; which is exactly where we are strongest!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Loving You

Today is my awesome Husband's 49th birthday!! We have been together forever! He has been with me through my very worst and is truly God's greatest gift to my life.  He LOVES when I write him poetry. Below is his birthday poem! Before I knew what love was,                                       You saw me. Before we ever held hands,                                       You knew me. My soul- Your soul  forming together So near, completely unaware…. Unaware that God had a master plan.           In shaping me, He thought of you…. He gave me eye...
Post a Comment
Read more

The courage to jump

I remember taking swimming lessons as a small child. To graduate from the class we had to jump off the diving board. I stood on the edge every day. I knew I could swim. I had made friends with my lifeguards and knew they would not let me drown..... but I could not take that step. At night I would think about my lesson time the next day. I would imagine myself jumping off the board and swimming to the side. The next day I would be frozen... on the edge. On the final day of class, one of the lifeguards offered to jump with me. She came behind me and wrapped her arms around me and we jumped together. She gained nothing for her efforts but a chipped tooth (true story!) but I had gained the courage to jump into the water. Even though I am now in my thirties, I MAKE myself jump off the diving board at least once every time I go swimming. Not because I am a great athlete or in great shape, but because I don't want to lose my nerve. I know how easily you can get frozen on the edge of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Be careful who you tell your dreams to!

I went with my son recently to see a production of Joseph and the Amazing Coat at a local community college. As I sat in the dark theater and watched the young men in the production, one of the lessons in the first part of the story hit me fresh and clear. Joseph told his dream to the wrong people at the wrong time. In his naivity, he thought his brothers would rejoice with him when he shared his dreams with them. Instead, it caused their jealous to turn to hatred of him and the favor of the father on his life. Many times in my own life, I have been too quick to share what God is showing me about the future with others. The truth is not everyone is called to share your dreams. There are circumstances and life issues people deal with that get in the way of their ability to 'rejoice with those who rejoice'. Just because you are there for other people does not mean they are capable of being there for you. Wisdom teaches us to wait and be careful about our conversation and 'the...
4 comments
Read more