I was inspired today as I was eating lunch on our sundeck to write this blog. France is so utterly beautiful in the spring, it's hard to take it all in. Every yard is blooming with flowers (poppies, roses, irises, daffodils, etc.). The French really like their jardins (gardens). The mountains are covered with thick foliage of every kind, with a variety of shades of green. Waterfalls come cascading down the mountains from all the snow starting to melt. The sky is as blue as can be, with little wispy clouds covering the tops of the highest mountains. It truly is a wonderland. There is one particular tree (don't know the name of it) that grows a kind of fuzzy flower. When the wind picks up, the fuzz flies into the air and it almost looks like snow. As I was eating my salad this phenomenon occurred. At first, I thought, how pretty! It's snowing in the spring! Until all the little fuzzy stuff started heading toward my salad, and I had to make a beeline for the interior.
This got me to thinking about our life with the Father. Things may look on the outside like everything is fine, but He and we know what is really going on. (It might look like snow, but it's not). Sometimes we put people on pedestals and think, what a super Christian, they must pray for 2 hours every morning. Or we observe a couple and think, they have it all together, they must have a wonderful marriage. But these people know the truth. I have had people send me notes saying what a "super" Christian I am to be taking this on. They think I'm some kind of special Christian because I'm going oversees to serve the Lord. Let me just clear that up right now. I am just like every other believer, who sins, struggles, gets sad or depressed at times. We are all on the same journey no matter where God has called us to serve. Just this weekend, I felt so lonely. I was missing my family and friends so much, and felt angry angry with God for calling me to this life. Well, thankfully, those feelings didn't last long, because He dealt with me quickly in His word. I was reading in I Timothy, when chapter 6, verse 6 jumped out at me..." Now godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." The root of my problem was lack of contentment and thankfulness for the life God has called me to. I was definitely not content, as I was arguing with God that this was too hard, I missed my kids and grandkids too much. So, in repentance, I apologized to Him and started thanking Him for all the blessings in my life. This really is an amazing journey He has me on, and I need to be thankful. Thankfulness is a sure cure for the blues!
So, I guess the moral of this story is, things aren't always as they appear. There are no "super" Christians. We are all still sinners, who need his grace and mercy. I am thankful that He extends this to me whenever I ask Him. And I think I will go back outside and enjoy some more of this French spring time beauty before class resumes. Signing off, Sandie
I think you hit the nail on the head as it were, in that we are good people who God has has chosen to do good things, yet we are not being elevated or relegated. God knows our heart like no one else does. You have been blessed to have been called for this mission. All of us have struggles but when we lay them upon our Lord and Savior those tasks become more manageable!
ReplyDeleteThank you Gene for the encouragement!
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