A strange growth

Have you ever had someone take something that you said out of context? They just heard a snippet of your conversation and were shocked, so you had to tell them about the portion of the conversation that they missed before and after the snippet and then they understood?

It's annoying isn't it?

This happens in politics all the time. A Republican/Democrat will take a couple of words out of the middle of a full quote and misrepresent what the person in the opposing party actually said.

Perhaps you have seen a picture and the image just doesn't make sense by itself. The image demands that there is more to the story.

When something is taken out of context, we are robbed of the full meaning of what is intended.

This is also true when it comes to our pain and suffering in this life. If we just look at the snapshot of our suffering and pain, we actually take it out of context. It looks unfair or unjust and we like to demand an explanation from God.

The reality is that when we look at our pain or suffering in the entire context, it makes sense.

You might be feeling like there is no way out of your pit. You might be going through Hell in your life right now, but trust me…God is using the pain to grow you. You always come through the fire more refined.

I love what James says:

“Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” James 1:2-4

I know it might look like there is no light at the end of your tunnel, and that these tough times are never going to pass, but in context you are being built up. God is refining you, and when years have past by and you are able to look at the big picture you will be able to appreciate your pain for what it truly is. Growth.

Get over your crap

There are times in my life when I think back to the person I used to be and it depresses me. I have made some bad decisions in the course of my life, and I am not just talking about small ones either. These are bad mistakes. Until recently a couple of my past sins have really haunted me. I would be fine for a while and everything would be going great and then all of a sudden I would be reminded of what I had done and it would cause me to regress.
It's as if Satan was saying, "Not so fast, Tom……remember when you……God must be really disappointed in you……He could never use you for anything with that in your past".
Recently I read this: Philippians 3:13
"……but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."
That is the Apostle Paul speaking. The former Christian killer. Do you think he had some regrets?
You bet he did.
So how did Paul manage to become one of the greatest Christians of all time with all of that baggage?
He forgot about his past. Look at the verse again…."forgetting what is behind".
Paul is saying that the junk from his past is over, he is not looking back. When Jesus died on the cross, he allowed Paul and me and you to bring all of our past junk and lay it down at the foot of the cross…….and be forgiven for it.
Satan is the father of lies. He would have us believe that our past has crippled us, and left us as damaged unusable goods.
Jesus would tell you however, you are a new creature in Him.
Don't let the sins of your past keep you from being the person Jesus wants you to be.
Get over your crap.
Jesus has.

One on one

My wife and I have 3 little kids, and our house moves at the pace of a blender. There is always something going on......

ALWAYS.

Today was an awesome day like most days here, but today was different. I got to spend time with one kid alone this afternoon. Then tonight some great friends took our boys sled riding, which left me alone with my daughter for a couple of hours this evening. For the first time since I can remember, I was not battling for my kids attention. I wasn't fighting the other elements (kids) to get my kid to look at me in the eyes without distraction. Sometimes my kids want to say something to me but with 2 other kids screaming for daddy, it is hard to get them to complete their sentence before running off with their sibling and forgetting all about what they were wanting to say to me. It was an awesome day. I told my wife, I am gonna start making some one on one time for each of them from this day on because of how much that time meant to me today. Tonight was great and I am now jealous for that kind of interaction from my children.

I now understand what the Bible means in Deuteronomy 4, when Moses wrote : "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God".

He hungers for our undivided attention. He hungers for a relationship with His children. We are quick to throw up a short prayer before a meal or while we are laying our children down at night, but are you getting One on one time with your Creator? From my experience today I can tell you this........There is nothing He wants more from you than that One on one time.

Spend some time this week withdrawn from the everyday hustle and bustle of your daily routines and get somewhere where you can look into your Fathers eyes and give Him your undivided attention. Just the two of you.....One on one.