Published at November 5, 2007
in Devos.
Complete balance in life tends to be over-rated at times. It has been said that the only way to have complete balance in one’s life is to remain completely still and complacent.
Move forward. If you lose your balance and fall, get back up. Even if you do fall, you will fall closer to the place you were mean to be. Why? Because you decided to move forward….toward your destiny.
There is a balance that is achieved in motion, but it is a purposeful balance. Anyone can have a “balanced” busy status quo life meeting tasklists and to do lists. But what fun is that? Is that living? Is that growing?
Live a little, have purpose, grow and become.
A few days ago as I was driving home, I heard the words “Let me paint the picture for you”. I then started envisioning what my future would be and what I felt needed to happen to get there. You see, this has been a very confusing and frustrating time as I haven’t been able to make the forward progression to what and where I feel I need to be. I have always thought about where I would be and have wondered what it would look like, but it has always lacked total clarity and I have not been content in the shaping process. It has always been in my strength to create the future. But this was my fallacy. It is not in my strength to create or paint the picture of my future. I am not the artist. God is. My life is his artwork. God doesn’t create with brush strokes, he creates with direction and conversation. To become the priceless work of art, we have to be obedient to his will. The really cool thing about this type of art is that it is not inanimate, but organic, or better yet a relational art form. In other words, we can ask why the artist shaped us this or that way and communicate our desires to the creator. The relationship we have with Jesus allows us to be content in the shaping process and walk it out together as Father and child.
Published at October 3, 2007
in Devos.
As a child I used to wade through ponds and creeks in the woods frequently. Many times when I first came upon them they would have a lot of clarity as they had not been disturbed by anyone or anything, but as I started wading, the sediment was disturbed and at times made the water very murky. Well being the North Carolina boy I was, I knew that there could be many Snappin’ Turtles and possibly an alligator or two lurking around. I would start getting freaked out and would try to find the closest “out” to my problem and sometimes that would mean walking in even deeper water and getting in a worst situation.
Life can be like this at times. You are in situations that look pretty clear, and BOOM!, either you, someone else, something, or even God at times will start disturbing the situation. Instead of listening fully to God, we think we have the right direction to move to and then realize that it doesn’t exactly work out either. Life and direction becomes a bit Murky to say the least. Transition is difficult at times. We sometimes have to stop, focus, and “Let it settle” before we begin to move. You have to move though, you have no choice, so let God bring clarity to your steps.
Published at July 26, 2007
in Devos.
The last few weeks have been full of uncomfortable situations ranging from work related items, such as training and presenting in front of others, to social issues like mingling once again with people at a church I used to attend so that my son could go to VBS (Vacation Bible School). There were also a few occasions were some uncomfortable decisions needed to be made and people informed of the decisions as well. At times like these we feel alone, trapped, and defensive. Sometimes our anger comes out at people if we feel they are the reason for our being uncomfortable.
What I have learned, and continue to learn, is that I need and can walk above this. I have found that if I focus on God and who he sees me as, I can walk with confidence and integrity. When you are in those uncomfortable situations and you feel those sneering glances, walk in love and let it go. No one controls your future. Keep your head up and let God do the hard work for you.