Stop Living Like You’re Missing Out

You know, I think of myself as a good guy. And maybe even a good Christian. And yet I have to ask myself What are you doing? What are you about?

Unfortunately, I don’t always know the answer to that question. I could say I’m all about my family and all about my God and all about my work, etc. – fill in the blank. And, probably, a portion of what I’m saying would be true. I am all about those things and more, but is there anything left? Is there anything I’ve held back?

Stop living like you’re missing out.

My reaction: Ew, what was that? God was right. And I was agreeing with him. Part of me was. Part of me desperately longed for Him to be right and therefor for the housecleaning that God would encourage for me to have follow.

This is huge to me. And something I didn’t really know how to put words to. I’d felt these sorts of feelings. Had these sorts of thoughts. But I couldn’t put into words the feeling or emotion or posture of my heart. But God could – and now I am able to ackowledge and process through this stumbling block in my life.

What does it mean to living a life “like you’re missing out”? I looks like non-commitment. A little bit like entitlement. It lacks trust. It wonders and dreams about things it shouldn’t wonder or dream about. It’s hardly thankful or only partially thankful. It lives two lives, or mostly one life and preparing for a second life. It’s not “here”, but “there” – where the grass is greener, the sky bluer and the weather nicer. It chases a life and worldview that doesn’t exist.

Ew.

That’s a lot of not very nice stuff. And all of that was/is in me (I’m at the early stages of processing this all, starting the journey last night on the way home from work). I’m not finished yet. And am so thankful and blessed to be able to say that.

What does it look like to stop living this way? It looks like maturity. Like becoming serious about life and the state of your life. It’s about not having the wool pulled over your eyes. It’s about knowing what’s really important. It’s about being thankful. It’s about seeing life as a gift and a blessing – something to enjoy, not “survive through”. It’s about seeing value in everything: life, time, people, work, travel, snow, wind, etc.

It’s really about being free. No more trying to balance between the “have” and the “have not” in our lives – it’s about freely enjoying the life – all of it, every dark corner, every tough challenge, all of it – with joy and vigor. Hm, “joy” – maybe that’s what this is.

It’s a journey, but I’m so blessed to have God helping me with this. Praise, God.

Guarding Your Heart is Your Job

It seems like the things I know, or think I know, often are the things which trip me up and keep me down. Basics, foundations, fundamentals.

Take the heart, for example. Hey, it’s your responsibility for how that thing is run. You’re holding the gun when the smoke clears.

God Knows You

One of the great things about God is that He isn’t judging. (If you think of God as a big meanie, waiting to judge … well, then I say to you, you need to revisit who you think God is.)

God is love. And God is merciful. And God is gracious.

Let My Love Motivate You, Son

I have to write this before I forget even the smallest detail. Especially how it impacted me. And I have to write it now so that I can later look back on it for motivation of my own. My heart melted just last night.

Christians are notorious for saying things like You can’t imagine the Father’s love until you have kids of your own. to which I used to say to myself, Aw, that’s too bad – why would God have made His love not reachable until this event in my life?

Living With a Broken Heart

Do you remember the story of Romeo and Juliet? Romeo, having assumed that his love was dead took his own life? What was the cost to Romeo to keep on without his love? Likewise, what was the cost to Juliet, after finding that Romeo was now dead? The cost to them of living was greater than the cost of death. Is this the price of a broken heart?

The Glimpse of Greatness

Have you ever gotten a glimpse of greatness? The idea that strikes you upside your head and makes you stop and think – and realize there’s more to you than what people see?

Something this great often falls into the “you have got to hear about this” category. And you’ve probably seen some (scam) ads that relay somewhat of the same message – “we have the greatest thing in the world and you can be the next to make a TON of money”.

Part of the draw is that they don’t say what it is that it is that will do … whatever. The mystery is what draws us, the unknown. Perhaps, another way of saying it is – the possibility.

A Way Which Seems Right To a Man

Proverbs is full of very practical, easy to use pieces of wisdom. The book is not about what you believe, necessarily, but about what you do. So, to have a book filled with pieces of information that help you to actually do things that will benefit your life at your fingertips is a huge blessing.

Imagine that, God’s wisdom within our reach!

Dealing with Shame

You know when you mess something up and you know you’ve messed something up and then you feel bad that you’ve messed up? And the feeling of wanting to hide away and not let anyone know what you’ve done, leave alone see you in this state?

This, my friends, is the emotion of “shame”. Webster defines shame as “a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety”. Doesn’t that just describe how we often feel? We feel like a rainy day, like a wet towel, a broken wheel, we just don’t feel right – because of something we’ve done.

But God’s love, grace and mercy can save us even from this.

Our Soul Life: God’s Desire

Something very interesting I realized about God and His relationship with us and could actually put into words (which isn’t always a given) — God desires our souls.

That’s pretty great. The soul is the “real you” part of you. The Bible talks about the flesh (dust of the earth), the soul (breath life) and about holy spirit — making a three part being. God isn’t concerned with our flesh (the dust) and God gave holy spirit… so what’s left for him to love? Our souls!

Full of Pride or Full of Hurt?

We know about the heart and how pride is an issue of the heart. Since what we see in a person’s life is the result of what’s in their heart, we are often keenly aware of when a person is being prideful and are quick to call them on it.

But what if they aren’t being prideful, but are just … hurt?