I Love My Life!

Hello, My Darlings! I hope you are all doing well! Things have been really crazy around here. But it's so cool to watch how God is always present in the midst of the most chaotic turmoil there is! I just love the fact that I can find Him & cling to Him & things become calm.  He brings order even in the midst of it all. And then, to put the icing on the cake (hmm cake), He shows me just exactly why He allowed the turmoil to happen to begin with. The older I get, the less I like change. I want to be comfortable, just bob along on my little raft of life on a calm, smooth river.  Oops, I'm sorry, Dear, but that's not what God intends for you. You were not saved from the fiery pits of Hell by the sacrifice of His Precious Son, to just float through life in comfort and without stress. If that's what you think being a Christian is about, you've got a big ole whoopin' coming your way! I know from experience that I surely don't want me one of them!  Uh uh!

So I always thought that as I got older this Christian walk would get easier, that I would learn these incredible life lessons, that God would etch all these experiences on my heart & that with great wisdom I would face the latter years of my life like some sort of  icon of the perfect mature woman in:

Titus 2:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

For a period of time I despaired of seeing the wrongs that were being perpetrated made right. I know that some would think that I am naive, but I still believe in the balance of good & evil and that the evil will come to light and that God works on our behalf even when we are not aware of it. He is always looking out for us, even though sometimes we don't want Him to. 

I am excited to see just exactly what He's got in mind. I have a feeling of expectancy that He is going to do all that He is able to do in abundance beyond anything I can even imagine. Exciting?? Shoot yeah.

I have also decided to take another quote from the Bible and those who are not for me, who are lukewarm to me, shall be spit out of my mouth. I'm tired of trying to get some people to love me, of jumping through their hoops in order to be a part of their lives. Love shouldn't be like that. It should be unconditional & returned. I will no longer accept the relationship on their terms. I have so many loving people in my life that I have no need to entertain those snobs any longer.  I know that sounds negative but the fact is that I don't wish them harm but I need to get rid of all that negativity in my life. Somehow or another I have had this crazy idea that I don't deserve better but I do.

The following is an excerpt from "Unshakable" by Carter Conlon. I found it to be extremely inspiring.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in that comfort God gives us. (2 Cor. 1:4-7, NLT) 

       These words of Paul reveal another truth about suffering: it fills individuals with something of Christ that enables them to reach people who might otherwise never understand the grace of the gospel. It grants them access into the deepest inner prisons of their generation-places no one else can go except those who have personally experienced God's comfort in the midst of their own trials. That means that if you are going to be able to comfort the sorrowing in the coming days, you yourself must first receive comfort from God. 

(End of Excerpt)

 Wow, that gives us a whole new perspective on exactly why we're here, doesn't it? It helps me to understand why I've had to suffer so much in my life. It's not about our ease & needs. Sometimes I think a lot of us come into this Christian life not fully understanding what it requires. We need to receive a job description. 

I hope this blog was as inspiring to you as it was to me. God woke me up early this morning to put these last few words down & post it.

I want to thank Marney, One Voice Director, for his insight last night at practice. His Spiritual leadership is invaluable.