For many people their daily lives are filled with regrets. Shadows of what might have been and the ever present could have, should have, would have seem to dominate our thoughts. While we are supposed to learn from our mistakes and missed opportunities, we are by no means supposed to dwell on them so much that they become permanent fixtures in our lives and our decision making.
Every single person in the world has at some point in their life made a mistake or missed an opportunity. There you go. Now you can breathe. The pressure is off. You don't have to be perfect. We place so much effort on perfection. I remember sitting the the recording studio tracking a bass line. I found every little thing to criticize. I spent almost an hour on one track. The more I compared it to my last track, the more I wanted to redo it. Finally the engineer made me move on. The project released without a hitch.
All you need to do is read the scriptures and you will see that the imperfection of humanity is exactly what God wants to use. If we did it in our strength, we would brag about it and become arrogant. God does want us to get better and use the past to make better decisions but the greatest promise I think I have found in scripture is simply this.
What is to come is greater than what has passed.
God has destined us for great things. Understand that your definition of great and God's definition of great might be two very different things. We often over use Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord...You know the rest but understand that God does know the plans he has for you. They are not plans to destroy you but rather to do greater things than you have done in the past.
In the spiritual sense, we are all late bloomers. No matter how many great things you have done in your life, your future is greater than your past. The lyrics of Chris Tomlin's God Of This City are very true. Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done where you are. Don't get hung up in your past. With Christ every day is a new day. We just need to recognize that and live our lives like he is directing us to live them.
Showing posts with label shamrock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shamrock. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
No Luck Required
Most of us have heard people say "I was lucky" or "good luck". It is a pretty common saying. Not to long ago I was actually listening to a group of people talk about the certainty of heaven and one of them said "with God's help and a little luck we'll make it". I chuckled and got a strange look from the group of people. I looked at them and said I don't need luck to know for certain that I will be in heaven when my time here is done. Jesus Christ is a sure thing not a random series of events acted upon by an outside force.
I don't want to sound arrogant or self-righteous. I get what the guy was saying but it started a thought in my head. How many people feel like their relationship with God or it's failure hinges on one mess up or failure. To have that sort of view is so against what we read in scripture about the character and nature of God. Look at the disciples. Peter outright denied Jesus just like he was told he was going to do. Paul was constantly in rebuke and teaching mode but was quick to speak of God's mercy.
I have always said I don't believe in luck. I think random things happen and people benefit from them or are effected negatively by them. What seems so foreign to me is that when it works for us, we call it luck. When it fails for us we call it fate or life. When does the Lord actually get credit for doing special things for his people. The question then becomes, what about those random things that just seem to happen? Every good and perfect thing comes from above. So, if you nail that last second 3 pt shot thank God for it. If you miss it just roll with it and don't blame God for your lack of aim. If you win that election thank God for it. If you lose, thank God for the opportunity that is coming because he has great things planned for you.
No offense to Saint Patrick or slighting the four leaf clover, but luck is not required to walk with certainty with Jesus Christ. It is a simple matter of your heart. If you accept his free gift to you, salvation is there. His grace and mercy are with you every step of the way. From now until eternity he is there guiding you and loving you.
Happy Saint Patricks Day
I don't want to sound arrogant or self-righteous. I get what the guy was saying but it started a thought in my head. How many people feel like their relationship with God or it's failure hinges on one mess up or failure. To have that sort of view is so against what we read in scripture about the character and nature of God. Look at the disciples. Peter outright denied Jesus just like he was told he was going to do. Paul was constantly in rebuke and teaching mode but was quick to speak of God's mercy.
I have always said I don't believe in luck. I think random things happen and people benefit from them or are effected negatively by them. What seems so foreign to me is that when it works for us, we call it luck. When it fails for us we call it fate or life. When does the Lord actually get credit for doing special things for his people. The question then becomes, what about those random things that just seem to happen? Every good and perfect thing comes from above. So, if you nail that last second 3 pt shot thank God for it. If you miss it just roll with it and don't blame God for your lack of aim. If you win that election thank God for it. If you lose, thank God for the opportunity that is coming because he has great things planned for you.
No offense to Saint Patrick or slighting the four leaf clover, but luck is not required to walk with certainty with Jesus Christ. It is a simple matter of your heart. If you accept his free gift to you, salvation is there. His grace and mercy are with you every step of the way. From now until eternity he is there guiding you and loving you.
Happy Saint Patricks Day
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