True confession, we like board games. (Whew, glad that's off my chest!)
After being dominated in the aforementioned game last week, I took a minute to ponder the box cover.
I get it. The cover art is intended to draw in the buyer, or maybe the owner, to crack the lid and have a good time. The image above is a bit too small to see everything going on, but by my count, there are 7 life events portrayed: 6 positive, 1 neutral and 0 negative.The thought struck me, "Do I expect my life to follow that pattern?"
Maybe I'm not the norm here, but if I am honest, I do expect that. I mean, shouldn't my life be moving "up and to the right"? More experience, more opportunities, more exposure, more perks, more book deals, more money, etc.? How many of us honestly plan for less income, less health care (uh....forget that), less responsibility and more?
One of the reasons we become frustrated and angry is precisely because we do not adequately anticipate the "down turns" in our personal economy.
Jesus never promised me a comfortable life. He promised to never leave me nor forsake me. He promised the Holy Spirit would indwell me, would plead for me to the Father, would be filling me, empowering me and comforting me. No, not with more stuff! But with Himself.
It's so easy to look past God because of the stuff - even in His church. I enjoy meeting other believers, but how often do I treat them like they are part of 'my' church? I got the chance to do that yesterday. I received an erroneous e/mail to call a church in New England ( near Lake Winnipesaukee, Bob ). The Pastor picked up the phone, he explained the source of the email. Then he shared some personal challenges. Before long, we were praying together like we actually cared for each other. What a hoot! The challenges drew two believers together in the name of Jesus.
So...I wonder, how's life treatin' ya? Are you bringing your broken and contrite self to the living God, or are you fooling yourself into thinking that you are? Are you being conformed into Jesus' image even thru' the down times?
One day "...we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church...so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." - Eph 4.14-16
After being dominated in the aforementioned game last week, I took a minute to ponder the box cover.
I get it. The cover art is intended to draw in the buyer, or maybe the owner, to crack the lid and have a good time. The image above is a bit too small to see everything going on, but by my count, there are 7 life events portrayed: 6 positive, 1 neutral and 0 negative.The thought struck me, "Do I expect my life to follow that pattern?"
Maybe I'm not the norm here, but if I am honest, I do expect that. I mean, shouldn't my life be moving "up and to the right"? More experience, more opportunities, more exposure, more perks, more book deals, more money, etc.? How many of us honestly plan for less income, less health care (uh....forget that), less responsibility and more?
One of the reasons we become frustrated and angry is precisely because we do not adequately anticipate the "down turns" in our personal economy.
Jesus never promised me a comfortable life. He promised to never leave me nor forsake me. He promised the Holy Spirit would indwell me, would plead for me to the Father, would be filling me, empowering me and comforting me. No, not with more stuff! But with Himself.
It's so easy to look past God because of the stuff - even in His church. I enjoy meeting other believers, but how often do I treat them like they are part of 'my' church? I got the chance to do that yesterday. I received an erroneous e/mail to call a church in New England ( near Lake Winnipesaukee, Bob ). The Pastor picked up the phone, he explained the source of the email. Then he shared some personal challenges. Before long, we were praying together like we actually cared for each other. What a hoot! The challenges drew two believers together in the name of Jesus.
So...I wonder, how's life treatin' ya? Are you bringing your broken and contrite self to the living God, or are you fooling yourself into thinking that you are? Are you being conformed into Jesus' image even thru' the down times?
One day "...we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church...so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." - Eph 4.14-16