Are we there yet?
This question is the bane of every parent who has ever embarked on a long trip with kids in the car. We've heard it, this one, the "Stop touching me", the backseat squabbles over this or that. Technology has taken care of some of it. I used to put movies in a computer and let the kids watch them in the back seat on the way to Yellowstone. It made for a quiet trip up front.
I talk a lot these days about my faith in God, for two primary reasons. One, I want to do something good with my blog. If I can help someone by keeping them from making stupid choices like I made, then I've done something good. If I inspire someone to open a Bible in time of crisis, then I've shared the Good News! Two, I'm like a little kid these days, full of faith, hope, wonderment at the marvels that God does in my life. The biggest thing I have a problem with is patience. Like a little kid, some days I want to run down the path God has me on. I think Christians refer to their journey as a "walk" for a reason, though.
I think this last week was a progress check on where I am in my Walk. I talked a little bit about being tempted to do this or that. I realize that's always going to happen but it's so much easier to say no now than it ever has been for me. I had an interesting lesson in hearing what God says and so did a dear friend of mine. My friend's experience had a profound effect on me; something I'll remember vividly for the rest of my life. Someday, I'd hope to share that story with all y'all, (names changed, of course) but my friend was blessed to see God in action. I was just blown away by the story.
As I said, my friend was blessed and has some answers that I don't have and a promise that something good awaits. God makes that promise to all of us, but not all of us get to hear that first hand from the Holy Spirit as my friend did. I still have a bit of a problem with patience. I've never really not known before where I was headed or what I was doing and some days I have a very hard time with that.
On the one hand, it's interesting because I never know from one day to the next what I will learn. Some days, not much. Other days are full of knowledge and wisdom. On the other, I spent too many years in the military and it's been hard to let go of that not having a plan for everything. It's like letting someone else drive the car and it's taken a bit of getting used to, but in writing this, it seems to me that I'm a lot better at being a passenger than I was when I started on this new journey. After all, I saw what happened when I was driving, and so did many of you. I think we'd find common ground in agreeing that I'm much better off letting God give me some badly needed driving lessons before he gives me back the keys.
I learned not to ask God, "Are we there yet?", on Friday. When I get there, I'll know and in His time, not mine.
My little story for the day goes like this. I lost my keys in the pocket of the jacket I was wearing. I was going to be late for church, but I was headed there, ugly shirt and all (I still like that shirt). However...I heard a sermon on the radio that had a message about a topic I really wanted to hear. It turns out the sermon wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but it's one of a series that I can order on CD. I want the pastor to know I didn't blow off church for football, church just kind of came over the radio today and I'll be back where I'm supposed to be next Sunday.
Have a great week everyone. To my deployed friends, whatever corner of the world you're at, take care, have a good time, and thanks for what you do. My thoughts and prayers are always with you.
Coop
I talk a lot these days about my faith in God, for two primary reasons. One, I want to do something good with my blog. If I can help someone by keeping them from making stupid choices like I made, then I've done something good. If I inspire someone to open a Bible in time of crisis, then I've shared the Good News! Two, I'm like a little kid these days, full of faith, hope, wonderment at the marvels that God does in my life. The biggest thing I have a problem with is patience. Like a little kid, some days I want to run down the path God has me on. I think Christians refer to their journey as a "walk" for a reason, though.
I think this last week was a progress check on where I am in my Walk. I talked a little bit about being tempted to do this or that. I realize that's always going to happen but it's so much easier to say no now than it ever has been for me. I had an interesting lesson in hearing what God says and so did a dear friend of mine. My friend's experience had a profound effect on me; something I'll remember vividly for the rest of my life. Someday, I'd hope to share that story with all y'all, (names changed, of course) but my friend was blessed to see God in action. I was just blown away by the story.
As I said, my friend was blessed and has some answers that I don't have and a promise that something good awaits. God makes that promise to all of us, but not all of us get to hear that first hand from the Holy Spirit as my friend did. I still have a bit of a problem with patience. I've never really not known before where I was headed or what I was doing and some days I have a very hard time with that.
On the one hand, it's interesting because I never know from one day to the next what I will learn. Some days, not much. Other days are full of knowledge and wisdom. On the other, I spent too many years in the military and it's been hard to let go of that not having a plan for everything. It's like letting someone else drive the car and it's taken a bit of getting used to, but in writing this, it seems to me that I'm a lot better at being a passenger than I was when I started on this new journey. After all, I saw what happened when I was driving, and so did many of you. I think we'd find common ground in agreeing that I'm much better off letting God give me some badly needed driving lessons before he gives me back the keys.
I learned not to ask God, "Are we there yet?", on Friday. When I get there, I'll know and in His time, not mine.
My little story for the day goes like this. I lost my keys in the pocket of the jacket I was wearing. I was going to be late for church, but I was headed there, ugly shirt and all (I still like that shirt). However...I heard a sermon on the radio that had a message about a topic I really wanted to hear. It turns out the sermon wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but it's one of a series that I can order on CD. I want the pastor to know I didn't blow off church for football, church just kind of came over the radio today and I'll be back where I'm supposed to be next Sunday.
Have a great week everyone. To my deployed friends, whatever corner of the world you're at, take care, have a good time, and thanks for what you do. My thoughts and prayers are always with you.
Coop
Shortly after publishing today's blog, I opened my Bible to a random page and began reading. I'd like to share this with you from Proverbs 19:2 (NIV)
ReplyDelete"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way".
May God add His blessing to the reading of His holy word.
Coop
We missed you!
ReplyDeleteMy random story of the day goes like this: There is a program on the Bible Broadcasting Network (99.5 fm in Ogden) called "Songs in the Night" from the Moody Church in Chicago. As I walked back into the bedroom after watching the Packers hand Dallas the same whuppin that our Utes got from that other team in Dallas on Saturday, I turned on the radio. I caught just the tail end of the program, and in it, the pastor was talking about some of the suffering we go through as people, and the analogy he used was "are we there yet?" to make a point similar to what my blog was about.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, just maybe, I'm on the right track.
Just like I did. Maybe I'm really on the right track!