Where do I fit?

Here is a question for you. Have your ever wondered how "you fit" in all that surrounds you in your life? What is the purpose of any event, either positive and negative that happens, especially those things outside of our control? I think I may have an answer...which is pivotal for me (don't laugh.) Even though much of what we do continuously or habitually, is what makes us feel good, or accomplished, or garners praise from others, I think we do what we do, because we want to feel like we fit somewhere so badly. It is only when we read what scripture says in Romans 12:1&2, or John 3, or Psalms 23, or Jeremiah 29:11, that we understand that, life as we know it, was never meant to necessarily make us happy. In fact, christian or not, most is uncomfortable. Life loves to beat us up, figuratively speaking. We, as followers of Jesus, are repeatedly referred to as sheep, sojourners, unstable in all our ways, driven by the wind and tossed, sinners saved only by His grace, and in dire need of a Savior and saving. The list goes on and on. You're not painting a soothing picture, Bonnie. Pretty depressing, huh? So, the original question is not "do we fit," but maybe, "HOW can we possibly fit?" The christian out-of-the-box author, C.S. Lewis, speaks clearly here, "If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you'll find it quite intolerable; Think of it instead as a place of training and correction, and it's not so bad."

P. S. I have to laugh at myself here...I guess that God wanted me to be done while writing this last night. I hit the post button by mistake. Isn't that life though? So much of what we do is "by mistake," and then God in His infinite wisdom picks up our messes and turns them into something useful. So, this is how we fit. It's His puzzle, His plan, His purpose, but most of all we have to be His person! Happy Thanksgiving to each one of you. You fit into my life quite well and I'm very grateful.

A Shelter in the time of Storm...

It seems that on a daily basis I receive an email having to do with the state of the economy. Today one came that showed a list of about thirty well-known corporations that are shutting down stores or closing all together. If ever there was a time that we are feeling "out of control," this would be it...at least in my lifetime. I remember hearing my parents and grandparents speaking of the Depression, and because of my inability to relate to anything like that, I didn't really pay much attention to it. Now, I can understand, even though it hasn't become that bad YET, why people literally ended their lives during that time. Everyone has been, or will be touched by this current event. It will no doubt be put in our children's history books, and remembered by those of us that trudged through it as a challenging time in our own lifetimes.

I am discovering one thing, and that is to recognize that no matter how faithful we perceive ourselves to be, that it is not real or refined unless we have had to put actual "feet" to our faith. Does that make sense? One of the many things that I love about the Bible is that it gives us the opportunity to watch many men and women whose lives were changed, challenged, tried and tested. One of my favorites is Paul. How many times do we read his words that were written from a cold, dark prison cell, or a sinking boat. Paul was consistently putting the needs of others first and sharing His faith in God's sovereignty. I don't know anyone that has had to go through what Paul endured, not even now, but how easy it is for us to question our circumstances or the reason for them. How my own "mustard seed" faith has been brought into focus for me. My own weakness has been magnified and when I take the time to look, God's strength has become multiplied, or has the potential to if I will just get out of the way...IICor. 12:9 "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness ... so that others may see it is only the power of Christ working through me." In other words, there is a time that we all need to be stripped to our very core so that others don't see us, but Jesus living and working in and through us. That's painful at times, isn't it? Refining, pruning, shelving, and even removing is at times what is necessary to show that it is really God who is in control. I believe that these days are a time when we will have the opportunity to either take God at His Word and trust, or continue to refuse to let go and eventually fail. There are only two forces at work here, one is the god of this world, and the other is our heavenly Father. Putting blinders on or pretending that these things will just go away and return to "normal," is a dangerous thing to do. Denying that God is trying to get our attention puts us in a very precarious position, to say the least. No matter what we feel, or say, God never changes. He has an itinerary, and His track record shows that He will do what He says He will do. I will encourage each of my readers to look inward. Know that He loves you and that without His presence in your life there is no solid ground to stand on. We have to go about our lives and business giving our very best, remembering that it all is a gift from Him. I can't leave you without reminding you that the big picture is all good. We who know Jesus are safe and sheltered. There is nothing that can tear us from His arms of love. We are forever secure even though things look rocky. Our future is bright and eternal. Let's continue to encourage each other and fight the good fight. Security is knowing that we can depend on the One who knows us and loves us unconditionally.

Personal Parable of the Fresno Met

It has been a BIG & busy day! We just arrived home from a second trip today to the Fresno Metropolitan Museum. Whitney is working there now and because the Met has been completely refurbished after three years of rebuilding, they are having an open house for three consecutive days (& nights.) Quite an undertaking, but very impressive. If you live in the area, you should go...and take your family. This may seem a little far-fetched, but for some reason I have been reminded of the changes that I've been faced with this past year or so. Seeing the before's and after's of the home of the Met reminds me a little of me over these past months. Seems that when the redo was started they thought it would only take a year. Isn't that the way it always is. We look at something from the outside and determine what needs doing without any thought of what might be under the surface. More times than not it turns out to be "a real can of worms." I think it's a pretty accurate picture of us. God is primarily concerned about changing our hearts, ... and that's pretty deep, my friends. It wouldn't be nearly as painful if all He needed to do to make us His best, were to only include changing something on the surface, would it? Maybe we would like a different eye or hair color, weight, height, posture, or even deleting a personality glitch. It's not like He looks at us after the fact and says, "Oops! Better redo that part!" He's only concerned about the contents of our hearts, isn't He; and the result of a vital relationship with Him puts everything else not only in place, but in proper perspective of who we are in relationship to who He is. Crazy how God can use every single thing (even an old building with a facelift), and thought, and bring us to a place where we come full circle facing Him ... like it or not. I love that. He never lets go, never gives up on us, continues to teach and nurture us, even to the extent of "washing OUR feet." He consistently reminds us over and over again, that we belong to Him. Just can't get any better or any safer than this...at least until we see Him face to face.

How big is your Mountain...?

"Give God a chance to be God. Have faith in Him, God is good. He keeps His promises and He will not let you down." Yep, that's what my pastor said. Easy for him to say, too. Oswald Chambers, writer of My Utmost for His Highest, defines the Discernment Of Faith - "Faith as a grain of mustard seed..." Matthew 17:20. That would be small, small, small...but attainable. "Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust in God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in its actual working out has to go through spells of unsyllabled isolation. Never confound the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith in the inevitable result of being alive. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that contradicts Him-I will remain true to God's character whatever He may do. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him"-this is the most sublime utterance (bottom line) of faith in the whole of the Bible."
Do you ever have times where you know that God is obviously trying to tell you something? After hearing the pastor's quote, the question that came to my mind was, so "Which characteristic of God is the most difficult for me to grasp?" My immediate thought was, God's timing is difficult for me to grasp. What would your reaction to that question be? It is so hard to just trust and wait on God to make His move(s). Not feeling in control is so frustrating. I can be not only impatient with my circumstances, but at times find myself justifying my thoughts, and more sadly my actions, when I come to the edge of myself. I lack the ability to keep trusting that He knows what is best for me...in every situation.
Being uncomfortable, out of control, or just plain inconvenienced grates on my "good" nature most times. But knowing this confirms that my faith needs to spend more time in motion than parked where it's safe. I can only agree and aspire to be like the apostle Paul when he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished my course." Giving up or giving out isn't an option, except when we begin living as unto ourselves. A man by the name of Habakkuk whined to God, "Lord, how long do I have to call out for help? Why don't you listen to me? How long must I keep telling you that things are terrible? Why don't you save us?" Guess we haven't changed much. Still reacting like the freed children of Israel, who saw miracle after miracle with their own eyes. Maybe you, as I, see something you are challenged with right now a little differently. Hopefully and prayerfully, may we all continue to exercise that tiny mustard seed of faith and see the "mountains" moved, whatever they may be. Blessings...