I'm not telling you this to toot my own horn. Don't congratulate me on anything. I'm sharing this with you as a Praise to God. Talking to strangers isn't out of my comfort zone, but this was different. It was no accident that I wasn't working the sound board, that people were where we normally sit, or that I came out of kids church with my kids at the same time she was coming out of the nursery with her son. God planed all of that, all I had to do was act.
You are no accident
That's how Day two starts. I even underlined the Albert Einstein quote "God doesn't play dice". God left nothing to chance. I am exactly the person God needs me to be for His purpose. This goes along with yesterday's lesson, "I was made by Him and for Him." I believe that to be true, and if you look back at your life too, you just might see it.
God planned everything about my birth and my life. He planned who my parents would be, where I would live, the friends and jobs I would have, even the women I would date, and the one who I would eventually marry. (See, He made her just for me.) Everything I did made me the person I am today. At this moment, I am doing EXACTLY what God has planned for me. (And so are you!)
God's plan took into account human error and even sin.
I underlined that and had to read it a few times. God took into account that I would sin. Those sins helped shape who I am in Christ. I am human, sin is in my nature, and there is no way I could do the job God wants me to if I couldn't accept that and admit it to others. The Pharisees held themselves above the common man. They were hypocrites, and Jesus even called them on it. They were failing to do God's work because they saw themselves as more. Jesus said we need to be last if we want to be first.
Sin is the thing we all have in common. I struggle with it, and like my Pastor spoke about yesterday; because I know all the things I've done, I don't hold myself above anyone. I was asked if I would consider leading a small group on this book and although it was a huge compliment from someone I love and respect, I still feel like I am not a leader of men. But, I am a servant to God and will do what He asks when He asks. He will set everything into place and I will simply have to act.
If there was no God, we would all be "accidents", the result of astronomical random chance in the universe. . . There is a God who made you for a reason, and your life has profound meaning! We discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.
Our verse to remember comes from Isaiah:
This is what the LORD says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you(Is 44:2 NIV)
The question for day two is harder than yesterdays.
What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?
Now I have to be honest and pray that I won't scare anyone away. Self examination is hard to admit, and this is the internet, what I say will be here forever! I could list so many things that it would seem like I was incredibly petty and vain because I am aware of almost every part of myself that doesn't look like Jesus. Instead, I will focus on what is the one I think is most important one for me to accept.
My parents. Sorry Mom and Dad, it's been 25+ years and this is still the ghost that haunts me. I see my in laws and they are approaching 50 years together and I think how would I be different if. . . But there again is the lesson from today, God planned that I would be from a broken home. It makes up part of who I am.
I love both my parents and know now that every moment of my upbringing was scripted by God. I wouldn't want to change anything that would change who I am in Christ, but I can't wait to see His purpose fulfilled in me. Whatever He is planning I know is worth the cost. And the cost to me will ALWAYS be less than what it cost Him to save me.
Sorry, I have to walk away right now. I hope you all have a blessed day and remember, you were worth the Cross to Him!
This chapter hit home for me. I have always tried to live my life without regrets, because without the hardships, I wouldn't be me. Another, is EVERYTHING happens for a reason (good or bad), it is all part of God's plan. He would never give you a situation that you can't handle...you just have to dig deeper within yourself sometimes, and believe that there is a reason and a master plan for all of this...God's plan. I can honestly say that this way of thinking has pulled me out of some of the deepest ruts in the past, and I truly believe that I am exactly where I am suppose to be.
ReplyDeleteJoleen, We've had a few talks in our church about that phrase "God never gives you more than you can handle". In context, it's about Temptation. It comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13.
ReplyDeleteGod wants to give us more than we can handle when it comes to life. If we can just 'dig deeper' in ourselves then we haven't been brought to the point of being broken yet. When it comes to life struggles, we need to turn to Him for guidance and sometimes for the strength to push through. There is relief in just saying "God, I can't handle this anymore. I need you to come to my rescue." He wants to rescue us!
I love you and am so glad you are doing this with me. Please don't feel like I am preaching to you. I am simply offering my perspective on what you said. I think you're right where God wants you to be too.
I didnt get the book until this eve but today I went on line and read "The First Seven Chapters"
ReplyDelete-which has been published as "What on Erath am I here for?" There are three questions at the end...and much more probing first the question above: Body wieght-my self image of what I want it to be- I literally have been the same size since I was 14 - Dont you think thats exactly where I should be? Yea me too - it s the loose skin I struggle with. But I heard and have heard from my family and see some of them suffer from the extreme self imgine flaw to the point of illness on both ends of the weight issue. I really dislike this behavior from them, towardes anyone - and my son is hearing it and pick up on it. You are beautiful as you are - better yet its whats inside, its your actions and your heart that define your beauty.
Now a question from the other Chapter/Day 2 - What events or experiences in your life have hinted or suggetsed that maybe you were created for a specific purpose? Well I dont think its anything so profound or spectacular that my hints have been what they are..Im doing exactly what Im suppose to be doing, have I got it right or learned all the lessons - Oh hell no. I have cared for physically, emotionaly, more things, people and animals than I can lsit. And maybe its nothing spectacular,...I didnt raise any one out of desperation & dispair.. and theres been a few lost to the cause.. you have to let know when to let go. But maybe thats all Im suppose to be doing and thats perfectly ok by me.
Q2- Have you ever really felt Gods deep love for you? - Yes
Q3 - How would your life change if you began to live each day confident that God loves you deeply and has a purpose for your life? -
Wow if you could just love every situation and person that comes at you everyday with out all that built up baggae of aniexty, preconcived notions - and you could get the intentions and love of your heart to come out of your mouth and actions each time you spoke and moved. That would be about a perfect day eh?
Great thoughts John.
ReplyDeleteI can honestly say that this chapter has resonated with me for over 10 years...and is being culminated through my ministry right now.
I believe He works things IN you...and the more you discover, accept, and utilize the things He has worked in you...the more He gives you to do. And the next stage requires more...because it brings more out.
Each day brings a new challenge to surrendering my minutes to be used by Him...even if it is just a listening and shaping time.
My life has felt the most full when I felt God was included me in something a whole lot bigger than myself. All of a sudden my own thoughts about life become so small.
Glad we're on the journey.
Mike
Sherry, So glad you're here and got it working. I'm going to enjoy getting to know you better through your posts. I didn't even know there was an online version. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have bought this book for myself. But Teresa got it for me, and 11 years ago I made a commitment to better myself for her. So here we are. I love what you wrote at the end about loving every situation and person that comes at you.
ReplyDeleteMike, I've been feeling like this book and your sermons were linked. And now even other people are touching on it. How did you end Sunday's message? Could you see where someone is going and Love them there? I think God is trying to tell me something. (It usually takes three or four different people saying the same thing before I pick up on it.)
I think I will go out and get/read this book too. It might compliment on a different level what I am doing with the head drs. Accepting the past can be hard, especially when it is a difficult past like ours. Every time I go to the place of "what if" I remember that there was/is a plan for me. And
ReplyDelete"No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
ReplyDeleteAnd God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow."
This was something I really needed to hear. I have a hard time understanding why God allows somethings to happen and after reading that I became much more excepting of my past. I believe keeping this in mind through my days will help me become the man I am suppose to be.
I am the type of person who will look back at past circumstances and try to figure it all out. I can be analytical to a point where I start weighing the pros and cons when making decisions. After reading this chapter I realize that none of that matters. I may think that I have some sort of plan all figured out, but God has the master plan.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading:
"You were concieved in the mind of God."
and
"Everyday was recorded in your book."
Ultimately, it is not about the choices that I make, but about the purpose that God has for me. I have a hard time with giving over the control that I think I have. I want to be the one who's steering the ship, so to speak.
The aspect that I struggle with the most is that I am not that outgoing, extroverted person that I wish I could be. I tend to guard myself and it takes me some time to get to know someone. This sometimes makes it hard for me to make new friends. Most people do not want to commit the time to really getting to know someone. They take you at face value. The funny thing is that I usually gravitate towards those people who are outgoing, maybe hoping that it will rub off on me.