Yesterday I wrote about the "Brothers Grimm" visit to my house in Shiner and all of my "nevers". The blog point was about submitting my life to God's will completely. Over the Christmas holidays, I was invited to attend a Bible study that takes place in the little church across the street from the home that I live in. Some women meet weekly on Monday nights to study, discuss, and pray. With the storm in my life and missing church yesterday, I decided that I really should attend tonight.
Was I even surprised when I walked in and found out what the study was about? The topic of the Bible study is "Interrupted lives". The author is Priscilla Shirer who states, "Whether with deliberate detail or inadvertent spontaneity, we each chart out a tidy yellow-brick road of goals for our lives. Without even realizing it, I've taken my life by the helm and asked God to conform to my flimsy timetable and arrangements." I had no idea what the Bible study was going to focus on. I almost didn't go because I was running late and was tired, but God had a different plan. He confirmed to me one more time that His hand is soundly on me.
I don't even know how to be amazed and in awe over another confirmation. I mostly just sat there through the lesson dumbfounded. I probably had a look of dazed confusion the entire time. I did manage to catch the meaning of the lesson and some key points that I heard the Holy Spirit saying loud and clear to me. My life has been interrupted, and God has a bigger than I can imagine plan. This opportunity with "the presence of God's hand on my life" is a privilege. I need to change my view of the interruption to see the opportunity. I need to quit grieving and start seizing every new moment. I need to be awake and alert in the today.
I am not a fatalist, but I do believe that we have to learn from the past. Maybe I spend too much time reflecting on it. I am a bit of a futurist; I get so caught up in the plans for tomorrow that I forget to enjoy the blessings of today. God only gives us one day at a time; yet, I spend so much thought time on the tomorrows and yesterdays.
I Corinthians 7: 29 -31
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
We are not guaranteed a tomorrow. We have today, and what are we doing with it? Each of us has a commission on our life. I am figuring mine out. Today, I got a call to interview for an elementary principal position in the school district that I work for. My life is God's for His use. He will either put me on that campus or not. He will work to direct me to write, or He won't. He will enable the publishing of Positude, or He won't. My life is His. It is freeing to give everything over to Him. He has called me to be in this moment. He has put me in the position that I am in today. He wants my life, and He wants yours.
Where are you today? Tomorrow? Wherever you are, be there. Be there mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. Be connected to the moment. Seize the day. God bless you and keep you. Stand firm, and Keep the Faith. If He puts me back on the front lines in a school, I'll be at peace. If He doesn't, I'll be at peace. My life is His life. Still dumbfounded and in awe of God's awesome grace at work in my life. I'm almost speechless...
Was I even surprised when I walked in and found out what the study was about? The topic of the Bible study is "Interrupted lives". The author is Priscilla Shirer who states, "Whether with deliberate detail or inadvertent spontaneity, we each chart out a tidy yellow-brick road of goals for our lives. Without even realizing it, I've taken my life by the helm and asked God to conform to my flimsy timetable and arrangements." I had no idea what the Bible study was going to focus on. I almost didn't go because I was running late and was tired, but God had a different plan. He confirmed to me one more time that His hand is soundly on me.
I don't even know how to be amazed and in awe over another confirmation. I mostly just sat there through the lesson dumbfounded. I probably had a look of dazed confusion the entire time. I did manage to catch the meaning of the lesson and some key points that I heard the Holy Spirit saying loud and clear to me. My life has been interrupted, and God has a bigger than I can imagine plan. This opportunity with "the presence of God's hand on my life" is a privilege. I need to change my view of the interruption to see the opportunity. I need to quit grieving and start seizing every new moment. I need to be awake and alert in the today.
I am not a fatalist, but I do believe that we have to learn from the past. Maybe I spend too much time reflecting on it. I am a bit of a futurist; I get so caught up in the plans for tomorrow that I forget to enjoy the blessings of today. God only gives us one day at a time; yet, I spend so much thought time on the tomorrows and yesterdays.
I Corinthians 7: 29 -31
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
We are not guaranteed a tomorrow. We have today, and what are we doing with it? Each of us has a commission on our life. I am figuring mine out. Today, I got a call to interview for an elementary principal position in the school district that I work for. My life is God's for His use. He will either put me on that campus or not. He will work to direct me to write, or He won't. He will enable the publishing of Positude, or He won't. My life is His. It is freeing to give everything over to Him. He has called me to be in this moment. He has put me in the position that I am in today. He wants my life, and He wants yours.
Where are you today? Tomorrow? Wherever you are, be there. Be there mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. Be connected to the moment. Seize the day. God bless you and keep you. Stand firm, and Keep the Faith. If He puts me back on the front lines in a school, I'll be at peace. If He doesn't, I'll be at peace. My life is His life. Still dumbfounded and in awe of God's awesome grace at work in my life. I'm almost speechless...
not to be a nit-picker, but "those who have wives should live as if they do not" seems at odds with the basics of christianity, or at least how I see it. A friend of mine (remember craig?) said to me once ïf the women are unhappy, everyone's unhappy"
ReplyDeleteIf you die to yourself and the world and focus on Christ, you will be free from concern. Christ will give you the knowledge and love to take care of everyone else. He will take the grief, the needs and desires, etc. He can give you freedom, but He has to be first! Hope and purpose have to come from Christ. Your lady will be taken care of if you put Christ first because He will direct you on how to love her the way He would. Our focus should be on the eternal and not the world.
ReplyDeleteBTW, was Craig the cute guy with the convertible? My memory fades...