At the end of the day...

Jesus’ speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus.
So Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave me too?”

 Simon Peter answered Jesus,
“Lord, to what person could we go?..."

John 6: 66-68

There are days the cost seems to be too much, the cross is too heavy, and I want to walk away, but where would I go...

Who else but God would take me in with all my faults and shortcomings?

Who else corrects without condemnation?  Forgives AND forgets?

Who else opens closed doors and allows our enemies to be our footstools?
Who else can we place our trust with the guarantee of "no let down"?

I've done life on my own and it wasn't much of a life. I have no interest in going back to the life I LED before.
So, at the end of the day...Where else would I go, Lord, but to you.

Wanting More

Zechariah 4: 10 (NLT)Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin,...”

There is nothing wrong with wanting more.

We should all want more, but when we don't do what we've been called to do in this (right here, right now) season, our "more" is not aligned with God's will. It's about us. So often we despise where we are for where we want to be because it's too "small". Our culture leads us to bypass humble beginnings to attain worldly heights. There are some higher levels you cannot fully appreciate and function in without the small starts.

If David hadn't been a shepherd in the field, I wonder how he would've survived the cave dwellings that led to his reign as king. If he hadn't been in a position to get dirty and defend his sheep...if he hadn't been in a position of persecution and ridicule, I wonder how much of a warrior he would've been. God was working some things within him while he was sweating in the fields, laying under the stars, caring for the flock, and writing poetry. What about Ruth? She easily could have left Naomi to fend for herself, but she was in the fields picking up what others left behind when Boaz spotted her. What if she had decided someone "owed" her something or she was too good to work in the fields with the other women? While handling her small amount, she displayed servant-hood, humility, grace, and mercy.

Be an imitator of God where you are until...

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!

Matthew 25: 21

The struggle

I've been thinking a great deal about the requirements of obedience...
There seems to be nothing more dramatic than giving our hearts to the Lord.  It wouldn't seem to be, but somehow, it is.  Something about obedience makes us extremely uncomfortable.  We give ourselves...our hearts to people, jobs, and causes, yet not to He who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Not only do we struggle with giving our hearts, but we have been fooled into believing it must be a death-defying feat to "count". 

We immerse ourselves in people, places, and projects to impress God when all He wants is our hearts...our obedience.  Why is it so hard to give our hearts to God?  People leave, places are subject to change, and projects tend to be dependent upon our abilities.  None of those things are true about God, He will never leave nor forsake.  He is the same yesterday, today and always.  His "success" is not dependent upon us. 
Yet, we struggle...

Through...

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched,
nor will the flame kindle upon you.
Isaiah 43: 2

It does not say we won't experience threats, but promises we will go "through" them.  Going through has a starting AND ending point, most times the object going through maintains its form.  God not only promises
a start and an end to our trials, but we can also depend on knowing we will not be alone, overwhelmed, burned, scorched, nor will we be consumed. 

Water has the potential to drown and fire to burn, but God...
We find ourselves in deep water, but God...
We feel the heat, but God...
God is the difference between our entry and our exit.

Hills were meant to be climbed

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 28-31


God will empower you to soar, run, or walk the hills of life.  The only thing standing in your way is where you have placed your hope.

Beautifully Shattered

I am currently reading a book entitled, "anything..." by Jennie Allen.  Of the MANY quotes I have highlighted, the following is my favorite (for now),

"Something about Jesus changes everything - shatters what we thought we were going to do with our lives."

I like the word "shatters" because it indicates something broken or weakened.  Our will must be shattered in order to bring God glory.  Why?  We are selfish people; comfort is our desire.  Jesus was a giver, even before He gave His life for us; He gave.  He gave time, hope, power, forgiveness, and incomprehensible love.  When we get to know Jesus WE break, but He restores us.  We become beautifully shattered held together by His love.

"Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand." 

Proverbs 19: 21

     

Rain is inevitable

 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 

Hebrews 6: 7-8

Rain is inevitable.
Something will grow, but what?

I randomly (so I thought) read the above verses about ten years ago and felt as though God was asking me a question. 
"What will grow from this season of rain you have been in?"
I wasn't exactly sure what He wanted, but I was clear it was not bitterness.  I knew He wanted me to look for Him in the pain and hurt I'd felt.  So, I did...

Rain is inevitable.
Are you willing to allow a useful crop to grow or are you content with nurturing thorns and thistles?

What is a stone in the river?

I read this online...

Weathering is a process of breaking up rock materials under the influence of air and water. It designs the Earth's surface by shaping it through different physical and chemical processes. Each of these processes has a different effect on rocks and their minerals, and different rocks react differently to weathering, depending on their structure.

What effects have the processes of life had on you and what has been your reaction?
I imagine our answers depend on our structure, how we are built. Our structure is the difference between life's processes making us brittle or polished.