Who Am I?
By Erik Neilson
Disclaimer: there is no quick fix, pat answer, trite solution, or universal fix offered in this article.
Who am I? I’ll give you a few clues. I don’t like talking about my feelings. I love a good firm handshake and can mostly do without hugs. I don’t naturally take to “sharing” or having people pry into my business. I like to talk when I feel like it and don’t like feeling obligated to talk if I don’t want to. I like the quiet and the stillness of the early weekday mornings when kids are still in beds and the slackers are sleeping in. I feel satisfied doing hard work and feeling my muscles ache the next day. I hate sitting in my office checking emails and answering the telephone. I don’t mind being rebuked if I have it coming, but get angry when I’m falsely accused. I love competing with other men, matching wits and skill and occasionally athletic skills (or the lack thereof). I happen to hate losing but not enough to quit trying. I like hearty food and enjoy the satisfying feeling of a full stomach. I like being alone but not always alone with my thoughts. I like doing noble deeds and sacrificing my time and resources for a cause. I love wrestling on the carpet with my son and hearing my daughter call me “daddy”. I like holding my wife in my arms and feeling the spark that we still have 13 years into this thing called marriage. I like Sunday afternoon naps. I don’t like whiners, and people that make lame excuses all the time. I like completing tasks and get frustrated when I’m stuck or at a standstill with something. I hate arguing with people, and don’t like when people are trying to tell me what to do or think. I struggle with doubts and often think back about mistakes I’ve made and regrets I have. Sometimes I’d like punch people when they…well sometimes I’d just like to punch people (I’ll leave it at that). I think that words like “proper” were invented by women who want men to act like sissies. I like being able to count on other people, and feeling like I can be counted on. Loyalty is the characteristic that I most respect and desire in friendships and disloyalty is a character flaw that’s hard for me to overlook or forgive. I respect people that have conviction even if I don’t share their convictions, and have trouble respecting people without conviction. I struggle with being selfish and have bouts with stupid pride. I almost always believe in people and cheer them on but am often disappointed when they quit or fail. I find little satisfaction when things are going right, get discouraged when they’re going wrong, and feel motivated when challenges are thrown my way. I wonder sometimes if God is proud of me, and some days wouldn’t blame him if he wasn’t. On those days I wonder if he made me the way I am or if it was some exposure to gamma rays or a radioactive spider bite that made me this way. I tend to beat myself up over sin and struggle to accept the grace I teach other people about.
So who am I? I am the me that nobody is allowed to see. I am the me that exists in my mind, the one no one else has access to. I am the private thoughts, opinions, observations and collected data that is contained between my two ears. Don’t get the wrong idea…I’m not living a secret life, and I’m no double agent switching identities when circumstances call for it. But we all have a bit of a split personality. We have the real person that we are inside and the one that we let everyone see. If I always acted how I felt, or said what was on my mind, I’d probably be in trouble a lot. I’d offend people more often than I already do, and probably wouldn’t be very pleasant to be around. For all of us it’s a wrestling match to be who we really are; to be true both in our private and our public lives.
If we wanted to we could really fool people. It happens all the time. You say something you don’t mean, or don’t say something that you really wanted to. You think things that you would never verbalize, and act in ways that are not really a reflection of what you are thinking. But who are you really fooling? They say you can fool some of the people most of the time, and most of the people some of the time, but if you’re trying to fool people you might just be a fool. I think I messed that up a little but here’s the point: You never fool God.
The real me is only known to me and one other but he knows every dirty detail. My Father knows the me inside my head. He sees what my mind sees, hears my secret thoughts, and knows the true desires of my heart. Psalm 139 says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know I’m going to say even before I say it, Lord. You place your hand of blessing on my head, such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”
I can’t say that I like God knowing all my thoughts. But if someone’s going to know them I’m glad it’s him because he isn’t loosed lipped. But what if the me that God sees and the one that others see could be the same? I’ll probably never have 100% consistency between the private and public me, but what if it was close, or closer than it is now? It’s not as preposterous as is sounds, it’s actually God’s plan. You see our inward person affects our outward person. Much of what’s going on inside is reflected on the outside. If you struggle with anger, jealously and insecurities inside, you’ll reflect those things outwardly. If you feel strong, and confident and assured you’ll reflect those things outwardly. When you’re struggling inside you’ll be more likely to be phony outside…because you don’t want people to know what’s going on. When you’re doing good inside you’ll act accordingly on the outside. And that’s what God wants.
God wants the you that you let people see be the real you. “If people saw who I really am they won’t like me” you might be thinking. Well fortunately God is willing to help with that problem. You see God’s primary focus is changing who you are on the inside. Scripture says he wants to give us a new heart, and new minds, and a new spirit. He wants to change us from the inside out. But some of us are trying to pull our phony self routine with God. That’s just not going to work. Looking God square in the eye and owning everything you are and are not has got to be the first step. If you do that I suspect he’ll take over from there.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Alone?
I was driving down 3rd St. this morning at 6am searching for coffee. It turns out no one else wants coffee at 6am so I had to wait an hour...I guess I'll live. The winds had moved in from the ocean, sweeping over the coastal hills and making McMinnville a rather blustery place. A few weak trees were knocked down over night, and leaves were spiraling around making the wind seem slightly visible. It was dark of course, and no one was around downtown. All the businesses were closed, there was no traffic to speak of, and frankly I felt alone.
Being alone is an interesting thing. Sometimes we say "you need to get alone with God", but others times we say "no one should be alone". Sometimes we shout "leave me alone!" and other times we say "I feel alone." As men, loneliness affords us peace and quiet which is something we seem to value. It offers us solitary freedom and we can do whatever we want to do. Being alone is something that we need from time to time and there is certainly nothing wrong that. But what about being alone in your walk with Christ?
It has occurred to me that many Christians go through life alone. I know, you're thinking single people, or people not in life2life groups. But those aren't the people I have in mind. I'm thinking of people that immerse themselves in the life of the church, that may even be surrounded by a family, or a great group of friends, but they're alone...spiritually.
What are the symptoms of this dangerous ailment? Let me ask a few questions to paint the scene. Is there anyone in your life whose opinion you respect more than your own? Is there anyone that you would listen to if they confronted you? If someone saw a deficit in your walk with God would you let them show it to you? If someone saw that an area of your life was out of whack would hear them out? Is what you want to do and what you care about the only thing that matters? Do you ever give up your wants/resources/time when it inconveniences you? Do you live life on your terms, free as a bird, or are their people with whom you share it?
You see, we men like our freedom. We like calling the shots, making our way, being our own man. And to be really honest it's fun that way...at least for a while.
Once or twice a year my wife and kids leave for a weekend to go and visit my inlaws. I rent movies, eat meat and ice cream every night, stay up too late, get up too early, work too many hours, and dress like a slob. It's truly a glorious thing! But after about 3 days of that I realize that I'm slowly fading into oblivion (or cardiac arrest) and I quit it. The truth is I know my wife is coming home and I've get the house cleaned, the dishes done, and take a shower so she doesn't catch me in my slovenly stupor. And that's exactly the point.
Knowing that their are other people, whom you've given the relational right to hold you accountable, keeps you on track. You can come to church every time the door is open, but if you don't listen to them you're all alone. You cannot afford to do life that way friend. It's unnatural, it's unspiritual, it's detrimental to your walk with God, and it's a setup for a bigtime fall.
Don't fall into the trap that so many men are already in. It's called pride. It's called selfishness. It's called egotism. It's called boneheadness (I'm trying to speak to all my readers here!) It's called sin. Don't do life alone under a streetlight on a dark blustery avenue with dead leaves. That's a good scene for a horror movie but it's no way to live. Invite people that you know to give you feedback about yourself from time to time. Identify people whose opinion you respect and listen when they talk. Take the time to dialogue with people about your frustrations, fears, and victories. It's 6:57 I've got to grab some coffee...with a friend who shoots me straight. And I'll try to listen!
Being alone is an interesting thing. Sometimes we say "you need to get alone with God", but others times we say "no one should be alone". Sometimes we shout "leave me alone!" and other times we say "I feel alone." As men, loneliness affords us peace and quiet which is something we seem to value. It offers us solitary freedom and we can do whatever we want to do. Being alone is something that we need from time to time and there is certainly nothing wrong that. But what about being alone in your walk with Christ?
It has occurred to me that many Christians go through life alone. I know, you're thinking single people, or people not in life2life groups. But those aren't the people I have in mind. I'm thinking of people that immerse themselves in the life of the church, that may even be surrounded by a family, or a great group of friends, but they're alone...spiritually.
What are the symptoms of this dangerous ailment? Let me ask a few questions to paint the scene. Is there anyone in your life whose opinion you respect more than your own? Is there anyone that you would listen to if they confronted you? If someone saw a deficit in your walk with God would you let them show it to you? If someone saw that an area of your life was out of whack would hear them out? Is what you want to do and what you care about the only thing that matters? Do you ever give up your wants/resources/time when it inconveniences you? Do you live life on your terms, free as a bird, or are their people with whom you share it?
You see, we men like our freedom. We like calling the shots, making our way, being our own man. And to be really honest it's fun that way...at least for a while.
Once or twice a year my wife and kids leave for a weekend to go and visit my inlaws. I rent movies, eat meat and ice cream every night, stay up too late, get up too early, work too many hours, and dress like a slob. It's truly a glorious thing! But after about 3 days of that I realize that I'm slowly fading into oblivion (or cardiac arrest) and I quit it. The truth is I know my wife is coming home and I've get the house cleaned, the dishes done, and take a shower so she doesn't catch me in my slovenly stupor. And that's exactly the point.
Knowing that their are other people, whom you've given the relational right to hold you accountable, keeps you on track. You can come to church every time the door is open, but if you don't listen to them you're all alone. You cannot afford to do life that way friend. It's unnatural, it's unspiritual, it's detrimental to your walk with God, and it's a setup for a bigtime fall.
Don't fall into the trap that so many men are already in. It's called pride. It's called selfishness. It's called egotism. It's called boneheadness (I'm trying to speak to all my readers here!) It's called sin. Don't do life alone under a streetlight on a dark blustery avenue with dead leaves. That's a good scene for a horror movie but it's no way to live. Invite people that you know to give you feedback about yourself from time to time. Identify people whose opinion you respect and listen when they talk. Take the time to dialogue with people about your frustrations, fears, and victories. It's 6:57 I've got to grab some coffee...with a friend who shoots me straight. And I'll try to listen!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
FAITH: Escape from Iraq
By Dave Urbanski
Truck driver Thomas Hamill took a job overseas to save the family farm. But his life took a nightmarish turn when he was kidnapped by insurgents. Here is his courageous story.
During his first several months in Iraq, Thomas Hamill regularly led his convoy of trucks through treacherous stretches of Iraqi highway with nicknames such as "Widow Maker" and "Sniper Alley"--dangerous asphalt corridors that were prime real estate for ambush-happy insurgents armed with caches of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.
A 44-year-old dairy farmer and trucker from Macon, Miss., struggling to make ends meet for his family, Hamill was halfway through a tax-free, $75,000 annual salary as a civilian truck driver aiding military efforts in Iraq--and for once in his adversity-filled life, he was sitting pretty.
"I was faced with bankruptcy and losing the farm," Hamill tells New Man. "It's tough for small farms now. But I didn't want to quit--I'm a third-generation dairy farmer. So ... I actually went to Iraq to relieve a little stress; I was under so much stress here that I figured Iraq couldn't be any worse."
But on April 9, 2004--Good Friday, as it happens--Iraq suddenly got worse for Hamill. A lot worse.
His convoy of fuel trucks was in the final stages of a 60-mile journey that was supposed to end at the Baghdad International Airport. Instead, Iraqi insurgents tore through Hamill's convoy, destroying equipment, killing five fellow workers and wounding and capturing Hamill.
"I knew when the cars started leaving the highway that something was fixin' to happen," Hamill recalls in his thick, Southern accent. "I'd heard roadside bombs go off before, but it's different when you're being shot at and wondering, 'Is that bullet headed for me?' ... I've seen war movies like Saving Private Ryan, and the day we were attacked was like storming Omaha Beach, just never-ending and loud. I didn't know from one second to the next what was going to happen."
More than likely, you saw the news footage on infinite repeat last spring of masked gunmen displaying Hamill's mustachioed face for video cameras from the backseat of a car on the first day of his captivity.
Thus began Hamill's imprisonment by Iraqi rebels--detailed in his New York Times best-selling book, Escape in Iraq: The Thomas Hamill Story--which happily ended a month after his capture, when Hamill made a daring, half-mile dash from his guarded farmhouse toward an Army National Guard convoy he heard passing nearby.
"I prayed a lot," Hamill recalls. "And I sure felt the prayers of this country and my town. I was at peace and had a calm demeanor. But you know, I'm human. I'm 8,000 miles away from my family. My wife can't help me. My mom and dad can't help me. Nobody can help me. A situation like that can overwhelm you, drive you crazy. But Jesus has been working in my life for a long time. Growing through Jesus Christ--that's what it's all about."
Hamill's faith in God has been a major focus of his story in both TV interviews and his book. He makes no bones about who had rescued him from the jaws of death. Surprisingly, this wasn't the first time God had saved his life.
"I should have been killed years before in a truck wreck. I've had other struggles, too, and I often wondered why God was keeping me alive," he says.
Now that Hamill's back home and has encouraged thousands of people at book signings, he continually sees his ordeal through fresh eyes.
"Like me, a lot of men have felt at times like they were at the bottom. Even though God says He doesn't put more on us than we can bear, I used to think I was taking more than I could bear already--until I was captured. I didn't realize how 'at the top' I'd been until then."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Urbanski is senior developmental editor for Youth Specialties and author of The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash, available at relevantbooks.com.
Truck driver Thomas Hamill took a job overseas to save the family farm. But his life took a nightmarish turn when he was kidnapped by insurgents. Here is his courageous story.
During his first several months in Iraq, Thomas Hamill regularly led his convoy of trucks through treacherous stretches of Iraqi highway with nicknames such as "Widow Maker" and "Sniper Alley"--dangerous asphalt corridors that were prime real estate for ambush-happy insurgents armed with caches of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.
A 44-year-old dairy farmer and trucker from Macon, Miss., struggling to make ends meet for his family, Hamill was halfway through a tax-free, $75,000 annual salary as a civilian truck driver aiding military efforts in Iraq--and for once in his adversity-filled life, he was sitting pretty.
"I was faced with bankruptcy and losing the farm," Hamill tells New Man. "It's tough for small farms now. But I didn't want to quit--I'm a third-generation dairy farmer. So ... I actually went to Iraq to relieve a little stress; I was under so much stress here that I figured Iraq couldn't be any worse."
But on April 9, 2004--Good Friday, as it happens--Iraq suddenly got worse for Hamill. A lot worse.
His convoy of fuel trucks was in the final stages of a 60-mile journey that was supposed to end at the Baghdad International Airport. Instead, Iraqi insurgents tore through Hamill's convoy, destroying equipment, killing five fellow workers and wounding and capturing Hamill.
"I knew when the cars started leaving the highway that something was fixin' to happen," Hamill recalls in his thick, Southern accent. "I'd heard roadside bombs go off before, but it's different when you're being shot at and wondering, 'Is that bullet headed for me?' ... I've seen war movies like Saving Private Ryan, and the day we were attacked was like storming Omaha Beach, just never-ending and loud. I didn't know from one second to the next what was going to happen."
More than likely, you saw the news footage on infinite repeat last spring of masked gunmen displaying Hamill's mustachioed face for video cameras from the backseat of a car on the first day of his captivity.
Thus began Hamill's imprisonment by Iraqi rebels--detailed in his New York Times best-selling book, Escape in Iraq: The Thomas Hamill Story--which happily ended a month after his capture, when Hamill made a daring, half-mile dash from his guarded farmhouse toward an Army National Guard convoy he heard passing nearby.
"I prayed a lot," Hamill recalls. "And I sure felt the prayers of this country and my town. I was at peace and had a calm demeanor. But you know, I'm human. I'm 8,000 miles away from my family. My wife can't help me. My mom and dad can't help me. Nobody can help me. A situation like that can overwhelm you, drive you crazy. But Jesus has been working in my life for a long time. Growing through Jesus Christ--that's what it's all about."
Hamill's faith in God has been a major focus of his story in both TV interviews and his book. He makes no bones about who had rescued him from the jaws of death. Surprisingly, this wasn't the first time God had saved his life.
"I should have been killed years before in a truck wreck. I've had other struggles, too, and I often wondered why God was keeping me alive," he says.
Now that Hamill's back home and has encouraged thousands of people at book signings, he continually sees his ordeal through fresh eyes.
"Like me, a lot of men have felt at times like they were at the bottom. Even though God says He doesn't put more on us than we can bear, I used to think I was taking more than I could bear already--until I was captured. I didn't realize how 'at the top' I'd been until then."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Urbanski is senior developmental editor for Youth Specialties and author of The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash, available at relevantbooks.com.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
SEASONS IN LIFE
I’ve been in a weird season lately. It seems that there are always seasons in life that take us into unknown territories. These seasons can offer us a respite, or can force us to change. Sometimes they force us to grow, other times they seem to slow us down and impede our progress. These new seasons usually offer us some type of new opportunity, but not usually without sacrifice. As new things come, old thing must go. In order for us to grow, we must change. If we want navigate the currents of change we must first pull up our anchor. It sounds really easy as I write this. It sounds poetic, or (dare I presume to say) profound to talk about these “seasons”. But the reality is they’re not always so fun and are often times difficult.
I’ve had a chance these past few years to meet with a group of church planters that work with the O.C.E.F. In that circle I is the man with the most church planting experience, which is not the usual for me at this stage in my life. In that group is a man who is 2½ years into his church plant, another who is 2 years in, another who just started, and one who will start this next Spring. It’s been very interesting to see the different stages they are in.
Mike is training and fund-raising. Ben is trying to put together a team of people to help build the church. Kirk is just got the church up past 100 and planning for the future. John’s church is becoming independent of the parent organization and is really feeling a financial burden. Its fun for me to say, “been there, done that” to each of those stages. While I can’t say that each of those stages were fun, I can say I learned something through each one. And I get to play the consultant for those guys and teach them what I’ve learned. One hour each month that I get to be the expert but the rest of the time I’m dealing with the new season that I find myself in.
Right now I’m pastoring a with around 240 people on the rosters and I’ve never done it before. Some things about it are easy, some are difficult. Some things are old hat, and some are completely new. As a church we’ve had some success thus far, but I don’t want it to stop. I want to keep building, keep growing, keep seeing how much God will bless us and allow us to accomplish. I’m sometimes scared to hit that invisible wall, to stop growing, to see our progress cease. And it’s not so much a fear of failure as it is a fear of complacency.
You see when we fail to navigate our current season we either regress or stagnate. I don’t want to be who I am now for the rest of my life. I don’t want our church to freeze in time and always be what we are now. I don’t want my personal growth to hit a ceiling, nor do I want that for our church. So what’s stopping me? What might prevent me from becoming what God’s wants me to be? Nothing too alarming. Just the usual culprits of laziness, fear, pride, selfishness, distractions, and temptations. But those are always waiting for a chance to rear their ugly heads.
The thing that seems to hinder us, and prevent us from going on, and growing up, and moving into the next season is attitude. I know that sounds simplistic. But as the saying goes, “attitude determines outcome.” At everyone of the church planting stages I had temptations to quit, to run, to find something easier, or to settle for second rate. Those temptations are still there. But God desires the warrior’s heart from me, and from the rest of you men. He wants men who will sacrifice for growth, stand for truth, and work tirelessly toward the goal. He wants men who take a shot on the chin and get back up. He wants men who can learn from defeats, grow through pain, and triumph through tragedies. He wasn’t men who don’t give up.
Now we’re at the heart of it. Some of you are in difficult seasons in your marriage. You’re not gearing up for a divorce, but you’ve given up. You’re just biding your time, doing what you must, and getting by. You’ve quit on your spouse and your marriage will never flourish while you reside in that place of bitterness. Some of you feel trapped in your jobs. You don’t like what you do anymore. You show up, do what’s required, go home and do it again the next day. You’ve quit on your job but you’re still getting paid. Some of you have quit on your walk with God. You think you already know it all, or you’re content with what you have. You’ve become very devout in your “churchianity” but you’ve become complacent in your friendship with Jesus Christ.
I’m sitting in Starbucks looking out the window at the wonderful colors on the trees. I really like the fall, it’s my favorite time of year but I don’t want it to stay fall forever. I’m ready for winter, and spring and summer. I like this season, but it can’t stay fall…it’s not natural and each season accomplishes something important before the next one can begin. So it goes with you and I. You might like the season you’re in or hate it. Or you may have just settled for one that’s tolerable. But that’s not where God wants you.
God allows us to go through these seasons to grow us up. He’s refining us, honing us, carving off the rough edges. Each season that passes find us stronger, leaner, more dependent on our Maker. Each season that awaits us hold challenges, opportunities and blessings. Wherever you find yourself today is where you start. Learn what this season has to teach you. Do what needs to be done to get to the next one. And if you’re having trouble working through this season in life, find someone to talk to. Someone who has been where you are and has come through it successfully; and one day you’ll become that person that others seek out for advice.
I’ve had a chance these past few years to meet with a group of church planters that work with the O.C.E.F. In that circle I is the man with the most church planting experience, which is not the usual for me at this stage in my life. In that group is a man who is 2½ years into his church plant, another who is 2 years in, another who just started, and one who will start this next Spring. It’s been very interesting to see the different stages they are in.
Mike is training and fund-raising. Ben is trying to put together a team of people to help build the church. Kirk is just got the church up past 100 and planning for the future. John’s church is becoming independent of the parent organization and is really feeling a financial burden. Its fun for me to say, “been there, done that” to each of those stages. While I can’t say that each of those stages were fun, I can say I learned something through each one. And I get to play the consultant for those guys and teach them what I’ve learned. One hour each month that I get to be the expert but the rest of the time I’m dealing with the new season that I find myself in.
Right now I’m pastoring a with around 240 people on the rosters and I’ve never done it before. Some things about it are easy, some are difficult. Some things are old hat, and some are completely new. As a church we’ve had some success thus far, but I don’t want it to stop. I want to keep building, keep growing, keep seeing how much God will bless us and allow us to accomplish. I’m sometimes scared to hit that invisible wall, to stop growing, to see our progress cease. And it’s not so much a fear of failure as it is a fear of complacency.
You see when we fail to navigate our current season we either regress or stagnate. I don’t want to be who I am now for the rest of my life. I don’t want our church to freeze in time and always be what we are now. I don’t want my personal growth to hit a ceiling, nor do I want that for our church. So what’s stopping me? What might prevent me from becoming what God’s wants me to be? Nothing too alarming. Just the usual culprits of laziness, fear, pride, selfishness, distractions, and temptations. But those are always waiting for a chance to rear their ugly heads.
The thing that seems to hinder us, and prevent us from going on, and growing up, and moving into the next season is attitude. I know that sounds simplistic. But as the saying goes, “attitude determines outcome.” At everyone of the church planting stages I had temptations to quit, to run, to find something easier, or to settle for second rate. Those temptations are still there. But God desires the warrior’s heart from me, and from the rest of you men. He wants men who will sacrifice for growth, stand for truth, and work tirelessly toward the goal. He wants men who take a shot on the chin and get back up. He wants men who can learn from defeats, grow through pain, and triumph through tragedies. He wasn’t men who don’t give up.
Now we’re at the heart of it. Some of you are in difficult seasons in your marriage. You’re not gearing up for a divorce, but you’ve given up. You’re just biding your time, doing what you must, and getting by. You’ve quit on your spouse and your marriage will never flourish while you reside in that place of bitterness. Some of you feel trapped in your jobs. You don’t like what you do anymore. You show up, do what’s required, go home and do it again the next day. You’ve quit on your job but you’re still getting paid. Some of you have quit on your walk with God. You think you already know it all, or you’re content with what you have. You’ve become very devout in your “churchianity” but you’ve become complacent in your friendship with Jesus Christ.
I’m sitting in Starbucks looking out the window at the wonderful colors on the trees. I really like the fall, it’s my favorite time of year but I don’t want it to stay fall forever. I’m ready for winter, and spring and summer. I like this season, but it can’t stay fall…it’s not natural and each season accomplishes something important before the next one can begin. So it goes with you and I. You might like the season you’re in or hate it. Or you may have just settled for one that’s tolerable. But that’s not where God wants you.
God allows us to go through these seasons to grow us up. He’s refining us, honing us, carving off the rough edges. Each season that passes find us stronger, leaner, more dependent on our Maker. Each season that awaits us hold challenges, opportunities and blessings. Wherever you find yourself today is where you start. Learn what this season has to teach you. Do what needs to be done to get to the next one. And if you’re having trouble working through this season in life, find someone to talk to. Someone who has been where you are and has come through it successfully; and one day you’ll become that person that others seek out for advice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
