The other day I went to the store to buy some jeans. I admit I hate jeans, I think they are uncomfortable. However, I was in need of a pair, and I was in a hurry. I get to the store and they are sized weird, so I found a sales lady who measured me and told me where to start.
I started with a seven and made my way down to a four. When I got to the five, the lady said, oh yes, I forgot to tell you, you want the pants to be skin tight, they adjust to you and will be the most comfortable things you have ever wore as you begin to move around in them. Honestly, I was thinking she was nuts and that I hate tight clothes. But I was in a hurry, I tried them on and I bought the jeans. I must say the jeans were everything the sales lady said they would be. Those jeans reminded me of our walk with God.
So many times in my life, I have asked God to deliver me from a problem, instead of giving me comfort as I go through it. In the midst of problems I will hear Him saying "Be still my child and know that I am God. I am in control, and you will make it through this." I admit that it is sometimes hard to listen to that voice over the waves crashing in around me, but when I take the time to - I always find his comfort. I am sure that if I took time to get rest in His comfort I would see it expand and grow as more of my will is submitted to God.
Like that favorite pair of jeans that you put on at the beginning of the day and they just feel so restrictive, but as you move around and start to live, they just kind of loosen up and expand into comfort. I think that is how God is.
We first have to chose to put on the things that He gives us. Just as we put on a pair of jeans, we must put on God. I can remember being so uncomfortable in jeans that I did the bear minimum I needed to do just so I wouldn't have to move around. We can take the minimum God has and live for Him, but never feel the total comfort that we can have in Him.
And just like when you first start moving around in a pair of tight jeans, it can be unpleasant. Sometimes we decide to change because we want immediate comfort. In our walk with Christ, we feel that little bit of unpleasantness as we start to move, and we become immobilized and never go any farther. Or we decide that it must not be right, so we change what we were doing even though God didn't tell us too.
But when you decide to stay in your jeans, by the end of the journey, it is as if they were taylor made and the most comfortable thing you own. So it is, if we chose to live our life, despite the circumstances surrounding us, in God's perfect will. We find a comfort that surpasses everything. We can chose to have the attitude that God will never take us where his grace can not keep us and begin to live in the comfort that is afforded to us through the sacrifice that Christ paid.
So put on God, move past the pain, and just live in His comfort!
Written Nov 8, 2008.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
First
Yesterday my pastor, Robert Day preached an interesting message. Genesis 1:1 the first 4 words. The first message of the new year, and very fitting. "In the beginning - God" Unfortunately I am not the best at staying focused if I am not taking notes, but God was speaking to me and reminding me of another message I heard by an evangelist named Chris Jackson. On "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God." So this is what God was speaking to me during the message and reminding me about. I think they are a combination of the two messages intertwined with my own revelations.
As the new year starts where is God in your life? Is he first? Last? Not even on the radar?
Is He first in your finances? He gave us everything we own, the first 10% belongs to Him. Are you stealing from God first thing this year or honoring Him with your obedience. He always gives back more than we can ever imagine when we are obedient, "pressed down, shaken together and running over."
Is He first in your interests? In a world so full of knowledge at our fingertips and so many things that catch our attention - is He one of them? God never said that Christians can't have fun, but are your interests in line with His? Is it easier to tell a dirty joke than it is to tell your bestie about God's love. Are the things you see, hear, do, and say things you would do in God's presence - remember He knows all, sees all, and is everywhere at all times. He is always with you for His word promises "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
Is He first in your relationships? Are your relationship Christ centered or I centered? Do you think about your long-term future when you are checking out that hottie, or just how awesome they would look by your side knowing that their reputation alone could ruin yours? Do you build your friends up, or steal their reputation by talking trash about them when they are not around? What about those people "no one likes" how do you treat them? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - pretty great advice if you respect yourself. Of you don't then you should work on that first and God can certainly change how you view yourself - you were made in His image - remember so were all the other people too.
Is God first in your Stuff? Is it more important to get than to give? Do you think of others or just yourself? Is that new ... whatever you want this week really that important in the larger picture? Is it worth the battle, the cost - whether financially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or socially? There are so many that have nothing and still are happier than the richest person. 80% of the world's wealth is held by 20% of the population - and the sad thing is no matter how much you have - you can never take it with you. It is not wrong to have nice things, but they shouldn't own you.
Is He first in your Time. There are 168 hours in a week. How many do you give to God? Is daily prayer, bible reading and devotion to much to ask? Two Sunday services and a midweek? Some day we will all stand before God and give an account for how we spend our time - what will your calendar look like?
I realize the more you put God first, the more people will expect you to be a Christian- talk like one, walk like one, dress like one - and the world is watching seeing if you have what they need. They are looking, searching for the answer - will they find God in the beginning of your life? Will they see Him when they watch you? Or will they even know that you know Him?
Remember - you were first on His mind, when He was on the Cross.
As the new year starts where is God in your life? Is he first? Last? Not even on the radar?
Is He first in your finances? He gave us everything we own, the first 10% belongs to Him. Are you stealing from God first thing this year or honoring Him with your obedience. He always gives back more than we can ever imagine when we are obedient, "pressed down, shaken together and running over."
Is He first in your interests? In a world so full of knowledge at our fingertips and so many things that catch our attention - is He one of them? God never said that Christians can't have fun, but are your interests in line with His? Is it easier to tell a dirty joke than it is to tell your bestie about God's love. Are the things you see, hear, do, and say things you would do in God's presence - remember He knows all, sees all, and is everywhere at all times. He is always with you for His word promises "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
Is He first in your relationships? Are your relationship Christ centered or I centered? Do you think about your long-term future when you are checking out that hottie, or just how awesome they would look by your side knowing that their reputation alone could ruin yours? Do you build your friends up, or steal their reputation by talking trash about them when they are not around? What about those people "no one likes" how do you treat them? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - pretty great advice if you respect yourself. Of you don't then you should work on that first and God can certainly change how you view yourself - you were made in His image - remember so were all the other people too.
Is God first in your Stuff? Is it more important to get than to give? Do you think of others or just yourself? Is that new ... whatever you want this week really that important in the larger picture? Is it worth the battle, the cost - whether financially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or socially? There are so many that have nothing and still are happier than the richest person. 80% of the world's wealth is held by 20% of the population - and the sad thing is no matter how much you have - you can never take it with you. It is not wrong to have nice things, but they shouldn't own you.
Is He first in your Time. There are 168 hours in a week. How many do you give to God? Is daily prayer, bible reading and devotion to much to ask? Two Sunday services and a midweek? Some day we will all stand before God and give an account for how we spend our time - what will your calendar look like?
I realize the more you put God first, the more people will expect you to be a Christian- talk like one, walk like one, dress like one - and the world is watching seeing if you have what they need. They are looking, searching for the answer - will they find God in the beginning of your life? Will they see Him when they watch you? Or will they even know that you know Him?
Remember - you were first on His mind, when He was on the Cross.
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