Sunday, October 19, 2014

Renewing The Mind in the Middle of Change


God was very wise when He created seasons.  They remind us that change is an inevitable part of life and that we must pass through them.

Some change feels positive, feels good, is welcomed, but that is not always the case.  We all have stories of coping with uncontrollable changing circumstances that we could share.  A loss of a job, a divorce, a broken friendship, moving to a different state because of your spouse's promotion, contracting a serious illness or injury...

One of the most powerful books I have ever read was about a father/spouse/son who lost his mother, his wife and a daughter in one single car accident...three generations.  Jerry Sittster goes to the places others dare to admit they go when wrestling with such a life alteration event in his book, A Grace Disguised.

I don't know what you may be going through today, but I do that there's always a greater plan...one we may see or one we may never know until the other side of eternity.

I think of a verse that has helped me through the tough stuff over the years...
But He knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.  Job 23:10 (ESV) 
but the challenge for me has been to get out of thinking about me to renew what I know about my Lord and Savior's character and that my purpose is to bring Him glory.  And sometimes it is monumental in helping others, as was the case in Joseph's predicament, which we will talk about tomorrow.

God so desires that we not worship power and control, but fall on Him for the meeting of those needs.  At times, He uses some life-altering circumstances to remind us.

Until tomorrow...



8 comments:

  1. Thank you for the inspiration you always offer.

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    1. I think there is power in our stories that we so easily dismiss. Thanks, Diana!

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  2. Denise, this is so real for me as I watch my beautiful young 23 year-old daughter's quality of life decline after 2+ years of chronic, debilitating pain . I watch as, one by one, the 'parts' of her life - the things most people her age take for granted - are taken from her or destroyed. I believe, as you do, and trust that something good will come of all this (I look to The Cross for inspiration) and I take comfort in the arms of Jesus. But she abandoned her faith several years ago, even before this current health crisis. I pray daily that she might one day return to God, but until then...
    I checked out the link and it sounds really good. I am currently reading When God Interrupts by M.Craig Barnes. I try to pass along to her what I have learned (I have actually learned more from her in all this) but the faith thing is a barrier...it's like making bricks without straw. Fortunately, we are very close and have a good rapport in spite of that. :)

    xoxo

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    1. Cindy - I think of you and pray for you often as I recall private things we have shared. My mother's favorite song went like this, "If we could see beyond today as God can see..." That's why we must throw down our idols of power and control and allow him to control it all.

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  3. Great post! I'm going to have to check out that book.

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    1. Tara - It is a MOVING book...especially after I lost my dad. It was like the author was in my head!

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  4. Wow, that verse in Job hit me right in the heart. Thank you for the encouragement and I think I own that book, not sure if that is the one I am thinking of, I guess I need to actually read it. lol

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    1. Tobi - I love that verse! Thanks for stopping by!

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