In my last posting, I closed with the idea that God is at work in your life in many ways. I want to develop that idea a little further.
I mentioned the book, The Grand Weaver in which Ravi Zacharias shows throughout that the somewhat mundane events and circumstances of life are often used by God to not only shape us, but to impact and influence each of us. I am afraid I left you with the idea that God is content to remain in the shadows and in some benign way wait for us to recognize him in it. Nothing could be further from reality.
There is something that is clear throughout the scriptures and that is that God is not content to remain in the shadows. Now, he may for whatever reason choose to remain in shadows of some events, but that doesn't mean that He always does, or even will stay hidden.
In your life and in mine, so many things happen that we fail to understand and struggle to see any purpose or value that might derive from it, as it pertains to God's working in us. That is just the reality of our being finite beings. God can use "good" and "bad" to impact us and He does.
Now, what happens when God does decide to step out of the shadows? What happens when He decides that He wants to have a face to face with each of us? God often will attempt to gain our attention and to prod us in his direction in gentle and subtle ways. He is loving and kind and "full of mercy". But, there comes a time when if we fail to come to terms with his gentle persuasion activities that He steps right up into our face; letting us know that we will deal with him. When that happens, and it has happened to me on several occasions you will be faced with some serious consequences. Depending on your state, and just how determined you are to have your own way you will be faced with the bottom line of choosing God's way or your own way. Now, when this happens it is best to keep in mind that statement from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe about Asland... where C.S. Lewis, ask, "is he safe?" and the answer comes back, "no, he is not safe... but he is good". God is good enough and loving enough to step out of the shadows to grip our hearts, seize our minds; forcing us to recognize his presence, his passion and his plan for us. The consequences on either side of the equation are in your hands. You will choose and by your choice you will set in motion consequences that are not in your control... they will be the natural results of your willingness to submit your heart, your pride, your sin to the grace and kindness of God.
Now, the unique thing about when God decides to step out of the shadows it will more than likely be when you least expect it, and when you are not emotionally or mentally prepared with your normal defense mechanisms. It could be in the middle of the night while you are asleep. It could be in the middle of the day. It could be that you are alone. It could be when you are with your best friends. It could be that He will deal with you personally, alone and private. It could that He chooses to use a person to tell you what He wants to tell you. Either way, He is out of the shadows because He wants you to know He is involved in your life.
In December of 1980, God showed up at a party I was attending. Now, keep in mind, He (God) had not been invited. He stepped out of the shadows, straight up into my "grill" and even in an intoxicated state I knew who I was dealing with and that I was facing a serious choice. What followed was that left I that party, went to the house where I was staying and for hours God with great gentleness broke me of my pride and stubbornness. I spent 11 hours on my face and knees; a posture I was not used to finding myself in and in those hours I was changed.
Now, had God been at work in the shadows prior to that night of Dec 19th, 1980? YES! In hindsight I can map out times, events and even dreams that were part of God's work to influence me. But, I have never been one to be to sensitive to subtlety. I guess I am too dense to get subtle persuasion. I would suggest that you not follow my ways in that regard.
Be assured, that when and if God steps out of the shadows in your heart and life He is doing it for your good. He is not doing it to pound you into submission so you might be enslaved by him. He is doing it to break down your pride so you might be set free BY him.
Love,
Dad
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Three Men
You never know who will step into your life and leave permanent impressions. Long term impact often happens in the briefest period of time. Some would call it coincidence, while I am fully convinced that it is divine providence. It will happen to each of you as you walk through life; in fact, I know it is happening now, you just might not be fully aware of what God is up to, nor possibly willing to admit that he is involved at all.
I could make a long list of people that have left deep furrows in my heart and mind over the years. But, there is a particular group of three men that I would like to reminisce about for a few minutes. You will be able find there names in phone books but not history books. Terrel McBee, Jerry Peacock and Melvin Park left giant size impressions on me. At a time when I was alone, out of my element and attempting to get a grip on new life in Christ, these men, who had absolutely nothing in common with me made a choice to come alongside of me and befriend me, mentor me and love me.
Terrel is a tall, thin man who is as strong as a oak tree. Jerry is an outdoors man, an adventurer full of emotion and compassion. Melvin was the sage of the three. He would inject into every conversation tidbits of God's wisdom in down to earth language.
When I came into relationship with these three men we had nothing in common, at least nothing of this world. I had just come to faith in Christ in January of 1981. The circumstances of my conversion will have to be saved for another time, but suffice it to say that God chose these men to impact me and show me acceptance, when most Christians would have stayed in the background to see if my salvation "stuck". As you know I didn't come into the Christian life nice, pretty and cleaned up. My life was a mess and it was written all over me. I looked rough, mean and like an outcast, which is what I wanted at that time. Paul's words in Rom 5:20, "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" take me back to those early days when Christ was so new to me. These three men, who were typical cowboy types "took me under their wing" and without reservation began to share their lives with me.
Each of these men had their own challenges with family, jobs and all that made their lives function, and as I observed them, they faced each challenge in faith and strength. As our relationship developed each of them in their own way challenged me by telling me when I was wrong, challenging "wrongheadedness" (attitudes) and my own tendency to be judgemental. They were not slow to take the Bible in hand in let the words "in red" do there work too.
Had it not been for God's grace and these three men I am quite sure I would have turned back to my old life. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude for what they invested in me.
Ravi Zacharias' book, The Grand Weaver unfolds how God is always at work, maybe not notably, but definitely in the background of each life. Purposefully bringing things to pass in order to touch a life. God whether you realize it, recognize it or even want to acknowledge it, is at work in you life, even in the shadows. He will use people to write on the pages of your heart. He will use circumstance to direct your heart. Terrel, Jerry and Melvin were woven into the tapestry of my life, and in the lives of hundreds of others.
Caleb and Lacy... look around you and see who God has in the shadows. Look around you and see who is writing on the pages of your heart right now and lastly, ask yourself who are you impacting too. And what kind of influence are you having.
Love,
Dad
I could make a long list of people that have left deep furrows in my heart and mind over the years. But, there is a particular group of three men that I would like to reminisce about for a few minutes. You will be able find there names in phone books but not history books. Terrel McBee, Jerry Peacock and Melvin Park left giant size impressions on me. At a time when I was alone, out of my element and attempting to get a grip on new life in Christ, these men, who had absolutely nothing in common with me made a choice to come alongside of me and befriend me, mentor me and love me.
Terrel is a tall, thin man who is as strong as a oak tree. Jerry is an outdoors man, an adventurer full of emotion and compassion. Melvin was the sage of the three. He would inject into every conversation tidbits of God's wisdom in down to earth language.
When I came into relationship with these three men we had nothing in common, at least nothing of this world. I had just come to faith in Christ in January of 1981. The circumstances of my conversion will have to be saved for another time, but suffice it to say that God chose these men to impact me and show me acceptance, when most Christians would have stayed in the background to see if my salvation "stuck". As you know I didn't come into the Christian life nice, pretty and cleaned up. My life was a mess and it was written all over me. I looked rough, mean and like an outcast, which is what I wanted at that time. Paul's words in Rom 5:20, "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" take me back to those early days when Christ was so new to me. These three men, who were typical cowboy types "took me under their wing" and without reservation began to share their lives with me.
Each of these men had their own challenges with family, jobs and all that made their lives function, and as I observed them, they faced each challenge in faith and strength. As our relationship developed each of them in their own way challenged me by telling me when I was wrong, challenging "wrongheadedness" (attitudes) and my own tendency to be judgemental. They were not slow to take the Bible in hand in let the words "in red" do there work too.
Had it not been for God's grace and these three men I am quite sure I would have turned back to my old life. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude for what they invested in me.
Ravi Zacharias' book, The Grand Weaver unfolds how God is always at work, maybe not notably, but definitely in the background of each life. Purposefully bringing things to pass in order to touch a life. God whether you realize it, recognize it or even want to acknowledge it, is at work in you life, even in the shadows. He will use people to write on the pages of your heart. He will use circumstance to direct your heart. Terrel, Jerry and Melvin were woven into the tapestry of my life, and in the lives of hundreds of others.
Caleb and Lacy... look around you and see who God has in the shadows. Look around you and see who is writing on the pages of your heart right now and lastly, ask yourself who are you impacting too. And what kind of influence are you having.
Love,
Dad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)