On Being Authentic And God's Timing
I just started digging into Warren W. Wiersbe's "Be Authentic".
A couple of things jumped out at me right away.
1. "God is looking for authentic people who will dare to have firsthand spiritual experiences in life and not settle for the secondhand imitations that are promised if you listen to the right cassettes, watch the right videos, and attend the right meetings....[regarding authentic people]They struggle through life and let God make them the special individuals He planned them to be."
That's what I'm looking for. I want to be the person God intended me to be. I've got the struggling part down pat...now I just need to allow God to make me the special individual He planned me to be.
2. "Our times are in His Hands (Ps. 31:15), and His timing is never wrong."
Anyone who knows me knows that I have the patience of a new born, if that. I'm more than happy to let God drive the car...unless He's not going where I want Him to, or as the case is more often, not getting there fast enough. Then I take the wheel, and inevitably wind up in the ditch (or worse).
I'm going to have to keep this thought close for a while. I can see evidence of times when God was working, and at the end His timing was perfect.
A recent example would be my job search. I started looking for a new job in August of last year. I got close to a new job many times, but it never materialized.
I had interviewed for my current job in April, but they were hesitant to make me an offer because I was not local. So I kept interviewing. Finally I got turned down for yet another job, and I was totally frustrated. I was ready to quit looking. I basically told God "OK..I give up. This isn't working. If You want me to have a new job, You have to make it happen."
Ok..not the most politically correct thing to say to God, but we're blessed in that we can complain to God and not get in trouble (as long as we continue to obey).
Anyway, I'm digressing from my point. The next day I got a call, and an offer, for the job in LA.
Now, I'm not saying that it happened because I told God to, essentially, put up or shut up. I'm using this to illustrate the whole point of His timing being perfect.
I left Intel in May. My health benefits ended on May 31. My wife's health benefits kicked in on June 1. My wife's job will end sometime in September. My health benefits for my new company should kick in on September 1.
The road to a new job was long, frustrating and at many times seemingly pointless. But in the end I got a new job, that I thoroughly enjoy, that I am well positioned to be successful in, with a company that wants me and appreciates me. Myself and my family should have no health care lapse, and we'll be closer to my wife's family.
Had I gotten a new job sooner (as in, instantly), we may have had a gap in health care coverage. It may have turned out to be a job that's not good for me. Any number of things could have happened.
So there you have it, Pilgrims. God's timing is perfect.
It is awfully hard to remember that in the heart of the storm though. It often seems as if I leave one storm only to enter another.
I have yet to figure out what God's purpose for my current storm is. Though I'm beginning to think that it might be as simple (but very important) as getting me alone long enough to give me the opportunity to solidify and deepen my relationship with Him.
To become A-U-T-H-E-N-T-I-C.
Yes. I said give me the opportunity. He's not going to make me do anything. That would violate the free will He gave all of us. Of course, He's not above "encouraging" us to do what He knows is best for us. :) I just happen to be a little more thick-headed than the average bear.
Thick-Headed + Impatient = Lots of Grief.
Well, this kind of went a bit longer than I had intended, and I'm not entirely sure I stuck to the topic. But it was enjoyable to write, at least.
The purpose of this blog is to share my growth in my walk with Christ. That is my focus now, so I'll probably share more things along the way. Not everything, mind you. Only those things that a) apply directly to me and b) I'm comfortable sharing with whatever size audience I may or may not have.
That's right kiddos - it's all about me, me, ME :)
Well...me and God :)
Stay tuned.
A couple of things jumped out at me right away.
1. "God is looking for authentic people who will dare to have firsthand spiritual experiences in life and not settle for the secondhand imitations that are promised if you listen to the right cassettes, watch the right videos, and attend the right meetings....[regarding authentic people]They struggle through life and let God make them the special individuals He planned them to be."
That's what I'm looking for. I want to be the person God intended me to be. I've got the struggling part down pat...now I just need to allow God to make me the special individual He planned me to be.
2. "Our times are in His Hands (Ps. 31:15), and His timing is never wrong."
Anyone who knows me knows that I have the patience of a new born, if that. I'm more than happy to let God drive the car...unless He's not going where I want Him to, or as the case is more often, not getting there fast enough. Then I take the wheel, and inevitably wind up in the ditch (or worse).
I'm going to have to keep this thought close for a while. I can see evidence of times when God was working, and at the end His timing was perfect.
A recent example would be my job search. I started looking for a new job in August of last year. I got close to a new job many times, but it never materialized.
I had interviewed for my current job in April, but they were hesitant to make me an offer because I was not local. So I kept interviewing. Finally I got turned down for yet another job, and I was totally frustrated. I was ready to quit looking. I basically told God "OK..I give up. This isn't working. If You want me to have a new job, You have to make it happen."
Ok..not the most politically correct thing to say to God, but we're blessed in that we can complain to God and not get in trouble (as long as we continue to obey).
Anyway, I'm digressing from my point. The next day I got a call, and an offer, for the job in LA.
Now, I'm not saying that it happened because I told God to, essentially, put up or shut up. I'm using this to illustrate the whole point of His timing being perfect.
I left Intel in May. My health benefits ended on May 31. My wife's health benefits kicked in on June 1. My wife's job will end sometime in September. My health benefits for my new company should kick in on September 1.
The road to a new job was long, frustrating and at many times seemingly pointless. But in the end I got a new job, that I thoroughly enjoy, that I am well positioned to be successful in, with a company that wants me and appreciates me. Myself and my family should have no health care lapse, and we'll be closer to my wife's family.
Had I gotten a new job sooner (as in, instantly), we may have had a gap in health care coverage. It may have turned out to be a job that's not good for me. Any number of things could have happened.
So there you have it, Pilgrims. God's timing is perfect.
It is awfully hard to remember that in the heart of the storm though. It often seems as if I leave one storm only to enter another.
I have yet to figure out what God's purpose for my current storm is. Though I'm beginning to think that it might be as simple (but very important) as getting me alone long enough to give me the opportunity to solidify and deepen my relationship with Him.
To become A-U-T-H-E-N-T-I-C.
Yes. I said give me the opportunity. He's not going to make me do anything. That would violate the free will He gave all of us. Of course, He's not above "encouraging" us to do what He knows is best for us. :) I just happen to be a little more thick-headed than the average bear.
Thick-Headed + Impatient = Lots of Grief.
Well, this kind of went a bit longer than I had intended, and I'm not entirely sure I stuck to the topic. But it was enjoyable to write, at least.
The purpose of this blog is to share my growth in my walk with Christ. That is my focus now, so I'll probably share more things along the way. Not everything, mind you. Only those things that a) apply directly to me and b) I'm comfortable sharing with whatever size audience I may or may not have.
That's right kiddos - it's all about me, me, ME :)
Well...me and God :)
Stay tuned.
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