winning and losing
Today's post is going to be an odd one because it's going to tie up a whole bunch of loose ends in the story of my life. Whether or not I am winning or losing is irrelevant. It's not about me; something I'm learning to understand on a much deeper level.
The topic of losing was on the radio last night. It's not lost on me that the program is called "Running to Win", by the way, but the pastor pointed out that even in losing, we can bring God glory. There are lots of people that didn't win in the Bible and yet, God was glorified even when they themselves lost.
Losing is nothing new to me. In fact, I'd earlier had to explain to Cindy what losing looked like from my vantage point. She sent me a text on Sunday about me not wishing her a happy birthday. I explained that because she chose Bob (you gotta laugh at that!) over me, I didn't get to wish her a happy birthday, call to just check in on her, or send her an e-mail every time my heart was heavy over the way things turned out. She had a choice to make and she chose me. I chose to show grace and answer her the best way I could about why I'm not speaking to her. I told her to be happy. She equated that because I didn't wish her happy birthday that she "didn't mean anything to you" (meaning me of course). I further explained that whatever she meant to me was in the past and best left there. I admitted defeat, chose to show grace, and now she has an understanding of how I feel. I wasn't a jerk. I tactfully explained that I don't mess with what's not mine.
It's the golden rule. I don't know Bob but I'm treating Bob the way I wish Bob would have treated me. I didn't see it in that light, but it brings glory to God when I live out His word. Sometimes I do it without even knowing it.
A man I go to church with lost his wife recently. It was an unexpected death and how this man dealt with it really showed me something about faith. He could have been furious with God for taking her but the day after her funeral, he was in church, serving God. He taught me a lot about being a Christian.
Losing and bringing God glory seems to be a recurring theme. The thing is that I'm grateful for what I went through because the things I did, I did because of a faith that God was leading me through them. It didn't guarantee the outcome, but the journey changed me. I wouldn't be who I am today without going through everything I have. That's God's glory and mercy and grace shown in one big six foot four inch tall lump!
The point is this: Sometimes losing isn't in the long run, but being able to show grace in the midst of losing is a precious gift from God. To Him be the Glory, now and forever more!
The topic of losing was on the radio last night. It's not lost on me that the program is called "Running to Win", by the way, but the pastor pointed out that even in losing, we can bring God glory. There are lots of people that didn't win in the Bible and yet, God was glorified even when they themselves lost.
Losing is nothing new to me. In fact, I'd earlier had to explain to Cindy what losing looked like from my vantage point. She sent me a text on Sunday about me not wishing her a happy birthday. I explained that because she chose Bob (you gotta laugh at that!) over me, I didn't get to wish her a happy birthday, call to just check in on her, or send her an e-mail every time my heart was heavy over the way things turned out. She had a choice to make and she chose me. I chose to show grace and answer her the best way I could about why I'm not speaking to her. I told her to be happy. She equated that because I didn't wish her happy birthday that she "didn't mean anything to you" (meaning me of course). I further explained that whatever she meant to me was in the past and best left there. I admitted defeat, chose to show grace, and now she has an understanding of how I feel. I wasn't a jerk. I tactfully explained that I don't mess with what's not mine.
It's the golden rule. I don't know Bob but I'm treating Bob the way I wish Bob would have treated me. I didn't see it in that light, but it brings glory to God when I live out His word. Sometimes I do it without even knowing it.
A man I go to church with lost his wife recently. It was an unexpected death and how this man dealt with it really showed me something about faith. He could have been furious with God for taking her but the day after her funeral, he was in church, serving God. He taught me a lot about being a Christian.
Losing and bringing God glory seems to be a recurring theme. The thing is that I'm grateful for what I went through because the things I did, I did because of a faith that God was leading me through them. It didn't guarantee the outcome, but the journey changed me. I wouldn't be who I am today without going through everything I have. That's God's glory and mercy and grace shown in one big six foot four inch tall lump!
The point is this: Sometimes losing isn't in the long run, but being able to show grace in the midst of losing is a precious gift from God. To Him be the Glory, now and forever more!
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