I drove by a church recently and was struck by the message on the sign in front of the building. It read "God can change your life". I've driven by this sign several times since I first saw it and every time I am hit with the same reaction. I believe the word choice is incorrect.
I suppose it's all a matter of the perspective you use to evaluate things with. On the surface the message of the sign is true. God is absolutely in the business of changing lives. I propose though that it is not a matter of whether of not He is able to change your life. There is no question about the power that God holds that will forever change your life. The point is God will change your life. There is no question about that fact. The question comes in whether or not you will allow that change to happen.
God has given us a free will. We have the choice to either respond to God or to reject him. The fact of the matter is that we have done absolutely nothing to deserve to have this choice. The truth of it all is that we are loved beyond belief by God who chose to send his son to earth to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life, be tried and found guilty of crimes he did not commit, and then sent to die on a cross bearing the wrath of God for all of our sins-- past, present, and future. That kind of love is hard to comprehend at times. It doesn't make sense that someone loves me in spite of all of the things I do that grieve His heart. That's what makes His love different. It was a choice on His part to give His son. It's a choice on our part to accept that gift freely. The consequences for rejection.... Far more steep than anything I would want to pay.
I say all of this to tell you one thing. Choose wisely. Choose carefully. Radical change will happen when you allow God to have control over your life. You will be able to do things you never imagined because they aren't being done in your strength or power. Take time and just look back and marvel at the things that God has done and watch expectantly for what is coming in the future. You won't be disappointed!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Heart's Desires
How often do you hear someone say I want this or that with all my heart? I wish for ----... There are millions of things that could go in that blank. We wish we were skinnier, prettier, richer... And the list goes on endlessly.
I am no different. I could fill that blank in with endless things. However if you really took time to examine that list how many of them are on that list for purely selfish reasons? I would be lying if I said there were no things in my list that aren't selfish. I want more time with my mom and dad-- just because I want to remember what their voices sound like and to feel them give me a hug again. There is nothing to be gained from this desire... Except to possibly bring a tear or two to my eyes and what benefit does that have truly?
In recent months, weeks, days, and even hours I find myself pondering on a lone thought. What are the deepest desires of my heart?
I can say without a doubt the two deepest desires of my heart are to get married and to learn the location where God has for me to be on the mission field. In looking at these desires I am forced to question myself... What is the motive in my heart behind these? If it is all about self and serving my wants then the likelihood of God allowing the blessing of those desires to happen is slim. If the intent of my heart is to serve, praise, and honor God then I truly believe that He will give me above and beyond anything my heart could desire. In saying that it is also about waiting for the right timing. Rushing God's timing is about as useful as trying to stop a ship from sinking using a teaspoon. It won't work. It only leads to frustration and anger.
So what's the solution? For me, for now, all I know is that I have to do everything I can to gather the knowledge that is waiting for me to glean from those people around me. I believe that there are things God is teaching and changing about me that would not have been as easy to accomplish if I was married. I have learned a lot about what I do and don't want out of a relationship. I've seen things that I want to remember to do when I am finally married. God has shown me things about that glorious day. I choose to keep most of them to myself because for now they are secret surprises that will be revealed when the time comes. For now I am filing things away that I'm learning and getting myself ready for that day when I meet the man that I am going to spend the rest of my life with. I can only control me and my life. My future husband is in God's hands and when we are both ready that's when things will fall into place. I've seen it happen with my own eyes... My prince is yet to come, but when he does... I want to be ready!
I am no different. I could fill that blank in with endless things. However if you really took time to examine that list how many of them are on that list for purely selfish reasons? I would be lying if I said there were no things in my list that aren't selfish. I want more time with my mom and dad-- just because I want to remember what their voices sound like and to feel them give me a hug again. There is nothing to be gained from this desire... Except to possibly bring a tear or two to my eyes and what benefit does that have truly?
In recent months, weeks, days, and even hours I find myself pondering on a lone thought. What are the deepest desires of my heart?
I can say without a doubt the two deepest desires of my heart are to get married and to learn the location where God has for me to be on the mission field. In looking at these desires I am forced to question myself... What is the motive in my heart behind these? If it is all about self and serving my wants then the likelihood of God allowing the blessing of those desires to happen is slim. If the intent of my heart is to serve, praise, and honor God then I truly believe that He will give me above and beyond anything my heart could desire. In saying that it is also about waiting for the right timing. Rushing God's timing is about as useful as trying to stop a ship from sinking using a teaspoon. It won't work. It only leads to frustration and anger.
So what's the solution? For me, for now, all I know is that I have to do everything I can to gather the knowledge that is waiting for me to glean from those people around me. I believe that there are things God is teaching and changing about me that would not have been as easy to accomplish if I was married. I have learned a lot about what I do and don't want out of a relationship. I've seen things that I want to remember to do when I am finally married. God has shown me things about that glorious day. I choose to keep most of them to myself because for now they are secret surprises that will be revealed when the time comes. For now I am filing things away that I'm learning and getting myself ready for that day when I meet the man that I am going to spend the rest of my life with. I can only control me and my life. My future husband is in God's hands and when we are both ready that's when things will fall into place. I've seen it happen with my own eyes... My prince is yet to come, but when he does... I want to be ready!
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