Perspective

So my deep thought of the day came this morning when I was walking the dogs at work.

I'm outside thinking, it's pretty warm today. Even to the point of contemplating that I overdressed and I'm getting hot. So I check to see what the temperature is. 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Then it dawns on me. Less than two weeks ago I was in Guatemala. I had been there long enough that I was feeling cold when it was under 65 degrees Fahrenheit. That was pretty incredible as I was thinking about it. But we just went through a spell here where the temperature was below zero. We won't even discuss the wind chill.

So because my mind always heads this direction.... this is much like most people's relationship with God. It's all in their perspective. They don't do terrible things like their best friend's second cousin so they must be a pretty good person.

It's like perceived truth versus Absolute Truth. I mean I was happy with my job and pretty comfortable living to save as much money as I possibly could. Until this last trip to Guatemala, reading "Radical" and God giving me verse after verse after verse after verse confirming that He wants soooo much more. Then the chances that I had to see God work in powerful ways. Just because I was out of my comfortable American bubble and had to rely on Him. Now this all seems pointless and unappealing to me. It's really weird and something I can't really explain. So I just continue to pray.

So I was pondering how much our human perspective gets in the way of us allowing God to do what He wants to in our lives. Remember... He doesn't force us to serve Him. That's the cool thing about God. But why wouldn't you want someone with your best interest in mind to be in control of your life? And believe it or not, He doesn't take all the fun out of life. John 10:10 tells us just the opposite. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." AMEN!!!

I was also thinking about all of the people who try and justify their sinful actions. As I contemplated numerous conversations I have had over the years I noticed the same theme. It was because they were going off of their perspective. Rather than what GOD SAID.

Anyway... then I was done walking dogs and it started getting busier so my mind couldn't wander as much. So I'm sure it's a thought that hasn't completely played out in my mind. But this is all I have for now.

Though I guess I want to share the Our Daily Bread devotional from the other day. I don't know if it completely ties in with my thought of the day. But who cares, it's good and this is my blog :-D

Driving in the Dark

I’ve always thought that I could get through just about anything if the Lord would tell me what the outcome would be. I believe that “all things work together for good” in the end (Rom. 8:28), but I’d do a lot better in dark times if I knew exactly what the “good” would look like.

But God usually doesn’t show us where He is taking us. He just asks us to trust Him. It’s like driving a car at night. Our headlights never shine all the way to our destination; they illuminate only about 160 feet ahead. But that doesn’t deter us from moving forward. We trust our headlights. All we really need is enough light to keep moving forward.

God’s Word is like headlights in dark times. It is full of promises we need to keep us from driving our lives into the ditch of bitterness and despair. His Word promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). His Word assures us that He knows the plans He has for us, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give us “a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11). And He tells us that our trials are there to make us better, not bitter (James 1:2-4).

So the next time you feel as if you’re driving in the dark, remember to trust your headlights—God’s Word will light your way.

The Word of God provides the light
We need to see the way;
It shows us what we need to know
So we won’t go astray. —Sper

You won’t stumble in the dark
if you walk in the light of God’s Word.