Here is The Message version as it truly hits home in a language I understand more:
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."
"There is never a stopping place in your spiritual growth- God wants to take you onward. But you have to make the choice to believe." (Meyers, pg. 106).
"When God speaks to your heart- to your inner being- you need to learn to say without hesitation, "Let it be so, Lord." You have to learn to agree with whatever the Spirit of God says or wants." (pg. 106).
Satan will then twist that into doubt where you pray for understanding. God tells us to obey, and will tell us why if we He wants us to know.
"God doesn't have to explain anything to us." (pg. 107)
(I often tell this to my daughter- that we don't need to explain why we are telling her something.)
Because God already knows all that is wrong with us and all that will ever be wrong with us, and is willing to use us anyways- arguing with Him about it is simply a waste of time.
"God requires availability not ability" (pg. 107).
God wants us to choose to believe Him even if what He's asking us to do doesn't compute in our thoughts.
Prayer:
"Holy Spirit of God, help me always to believe Your promises, even when I don't understand Your purpose. I want to learn to trust You more, as I move forward in faith to accomplish what You have for me to do. Help me always to be obedient, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen"
************ My Thoughts ************
I have been having a lot of thoughts lately about how I would be so happy staying home and doing things like canning, planting a glorious garden, raising some pigs and cows, training our horses, keeping a clean house, couponing, to name just a few. When I am able to do some of those things: I am happy.
At work everyday, I am content. But I am unable to do things like assist with Girls on the Run (a great program), go on field trips, help out in the class rooms, pick the kids up on time, have dinner ready at a normal hour, again, to name just a few.
My passion is with my family and our little farm. If I could combine earning a paycheck with that, too, I so would.
For now, however, I am at a place I can't leave. So in whatever spare minutes is available in the evenings and the weekends, I engage in the passions of my heart- the passions that God granted to me.
The storms at work and even at home help me to grow to be a better person. I know that God is working on me and allowing me to go through certain things so maybe I can help others with it. Or perhaps to help open my eyes to different perspectives. I don't know. But I do know that God will never leave me through it. And for that, I am thankful.
And onto another thankful note....
Today is my Grandma's 75th Birthday!
It seemed like just yesterday we were celebrating her 50th! And if you were to look at her and her active lifestyle, you may never believe she is 75.
Grandma has been there for me in so many different areas of my life.
She drank a six-pack of beer in the wee hours of the morning when she found out I was born (I'm her first grandchild).
She worked her butt off as a waitress at a small town restaurant for several years where I also worked at and was proud to be able to say, "that's MY grandma!"
Every holiday as a child holds a cherished memory of her at the house on Gun Lake.
Her spirit of volunteering has spread into my soul.
She cried right along with me when I ran to her first to tell her my dad left my mom.
She has encouraged me to be a better person without saying a word because through all the hell she has been through, she has not only survived, but excelled at life.
Grandma has her faults, of course.
Who doesn't?
But everyday she actively lives her life loving God, her husband, her family, and friends without ever expecting anything in return,
and that is what I love most about my Grandma.
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