Wednesday, July 16, 2014

raining in your heart

Here we are in the middle of July, in central Oklahoma, and it's raining and the temperature is below 70!  I've got to say that this is very unusual.  In fact, the weatherman has assured us, for the past several days, that we will break some records this week.  It may be strange weather, but I have not heard anyone complaining.

Too bad that our lives, in general, can't be this uncomplicated.  You know...just go-with-the-flow.  Think about it...if we could wake up in the middle of circumstances that we were not expecting at all, and just say, "Wow! What a great day this is going to be."  But instead, sadly, we usually throw a fit.  We complain bitterly about how unfair everything is and that this is not what we bargained for.  Wait a minute!  Hold that thought!

"...What we bargained for..."  that's an interesting phrase, isn't it?  So, just exactly, what did we bargain for in this life?  Let's take just a few minutes and really think about this.  You go ahead and get comfortable, and I'll get a cup of coffee, and we'll just sit a spell and visit on this cool and rainy morning.

Clearly, I can't speak for anyone other than myself, so that's what I'll do, I'll speak for myself!  I am reminded of the country song from the seventies that Lynn Anderson crooned, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden..."

Well, that's certainly true: God never once promised that everything would be just perfect all the time just because we loved Him and agreed to serve Him with our lives.  And what about that?  Have we ever, truly, offered up our entire lives to Him?  Well, that's a subject for another day.

Going further with this thought (what we bargained for), let's remember what James taught us,
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3 - NIV)  That's a perplexing thought: How are we supposed to be joyful over a circumstance that is making us uncomfortable?  Well, I have learned that "when the going gets tough," as it often does, then I must be doing something right, or there would not be so much opposition from the enemy. Right?!  And when I am doing something, anything, right, that's reason enough to be joyful.

Now let's get another point of view:
"Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."  (John 15:20 - NIV, Jesus speaking)

There are many other passages that remind us that the chosen life is not an easy one; sometimes it's downright HARD, oh! but the retirement fund is awesome...in fact, you might say, "It's out of this world."

So, let's also think about what Peter taught us about our response to the tough times that we encounter.
(I Peter 3 : 8,9 - NIV)
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

So there we have it, no rose gardens other than the ones your own heart perceives!  You were called to be a blessing to others, so that God might BLESS YOU!!!!

Raining and cool or hot and dry, like the uncertain weather, circumstances should not cause us to waver.  We must continually bless each other, and live with blissful hearts that are filled to the brim with all of the Father's goodness toward us.  Don't worry...be happy, and be a blessing!