I was listening to this today as I was getting ready for church and then in the car to Target. It was full of things I need to hear at this moment in life.
Here are a few quotes I wrote down:
"The vision for your life doesn't begin with you. It begins with God."
"God doesn't exist to read the lines that you and I write for our life."
"Accept the life that God has given you and do your best."
It is so easy to become depressed and frustrated with where I am in life when I compare myself with others.
I'm not married (and I want to be).
I haven't adopted any children (and I want to so badly).
I don't do anything exceptionally well, just lots of things mediocre.
I can't write or draw or sew or take photos or speak well.
All these things can drive me insane. I think of myself as very small and insignificant and just silly. My life here at camp seems very quaint and almost a waste. I get frustrated and bored and burnt out. Life turns very inward focused and oh, so dangerous.
I need that reminder that life isn't about me. It's about living a life that is pleasing to God. It's about honoring Him with the things He places before me and loving the life He has given. It's about comparing myself to a broke, homeless, betrayed, single guy who was murdered. Jesus.
And when I look at it that way, my life is full of joy. It is full of wonderful friends who love me. It is full of a warm home with a nice soft bed. It is full of the view of the river at sunset each night. It is full of a family that I adore. It is full of immense opportunities to share the love of Christ with 100's of children and dozens of college kids. It's full of chances to disciple people and love people and be outward focused.
I am blessed beyond measure in this life I live.
A great reminder lesson. Download the podcast (or read it). It's a great reminder of where our focus needs to be...
2 comments:
Excellent post. My list looks different than yours of course, but I too sometimes wonder what in the world I'm doing with my life :) Then I have to remember it's not about me and I can realize all the good things about my life again. Thanks for the reminder on this sunny afternoon while I'm STILL waiting for news about our next step in life.....the waiting is oh so frustrating...but in the end it's always going to be the same...my job is to do the best I can with what God has given me.
(but sometimes I really mourn not being "great" at something....I LOVE crafts...but sadly I'm really very very mediocre! Oh how I wish I was artistic!) In heaven April you and I will be fabulously talented :)
And you have many talents and gifts you don't realize but that everyone around you sees and appreciates very much!
oh, my goodness i miss you being in my life (aka right down the hall from me) on a daily basis. can we please live near each other one day even if we have to wait till heaven? i miss our long talks so much...
ps...you are THE best storyteller I have ever met. it's a gift. don't think just anyone can do that.
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