Scatter
I'm a slow learner.
Sadly, I don't pick up on life's lessons just by observing.
I need to live them.
At times it's really frustrating, but for the most part, I'm thankful for the many opportunities to experience life's lessons in a very tangible, in-your-face, 2x4-to-the-head type o'way.
Thankfully, in my 37 years of life, I've picked up on a few great basics to get me by.
1) EVERYTHING we deal with in life should be looked at as an opportunity to grow!
2) If we can just keep trompin' on, and muck through the hard stuff, victory will follow!
3) God is good...all the time!
I've recently gone through a "season" of uncertainty -- being thrown into the thick of dissension or closely witnessing it.
I. LOATHE. FRICTION
I've had my turn in hell, and I've had to watch some of my best friends - beautiful, wonderful people - suffer through a type of hell at the hands of other people; at the hands of "friends." Even after we examine our conscience, repent and change the ugliness in ourselves that adds to these situations, the friction continues.
We're supposed to give it all to God, right!
Forgive and move on.
Sometimes it just feels impossible.
For me, it was due to lack of understanding and ability to properly discern.
When we clearly see the cause, we can finally give it to God.
This past week, I had a fun (ok, maybe not so fun) experience that finally opened my eyes and gave me a few answers. In fact, I spent a couple days awake due to frayed nerves!
I. LOATHE. FRICTION
I've had my turn in hell, and I've had to watch some of my best friends - beautiful, wonderful people - suffer through a type of hell at the hands of other people; at the hands of "friends." Even after we examine our conscience, repent and change the ugliness in ourselves that adds to these situations, the friction continues.
We're supposed to give it all to God, right!
Forgive and move on.
Sometimes it just feels impossible.
For me, it was due to lack of understanding and ability to properly discern.
When we clearly see the cause, we can finally give it to God.
This past week, I had a fun (ok, maybe not so fun) experience that finally opened my eyes and gave me a few answers. In fact, I spent a couple days awake due to frayed nerves!
I have such a desire to understand people and give them the benefit of the doubt, I fail to look beyond the person, to the spirit they walk in cooperation with. Even the most wonderful people can choose to cooperate with the wrong spirit.
Beauty, trust, friendship, hopefulness...
these can all cause
DECEPTION
so in a situation of uncertainty
I guess it's just necessary to look past the WHO
straight to the DO.
It's hard because it feels like judging, but the "do" should be examined and dealt with.
If it's malignant
it needs to be diagnosed and cured...definitely not fed!
How can I properly discern?
How can I separate the "who" from the "do" and deal with negativity?
My answer finally hit me.
(I promise, it's not extraordinary...it's another Kindergarten revelation)
I FINALLY found the visual I needed to set my "discernment radar" at ease.
Beauty, trust, friendship, hopefulness...
these can all cause
DECEPTION
so in a situation of uncertainty
I guess it's just necessary to look past the WHO
straight to the DO.
It's hard because it feels like judging, but the "do" should be examined and dealt with.
If it's malignant
it needs to be diagnosed and cured...definitely not fed!
How can I properly discern?
How can I separate the "who" from the "do" and deal with negativity?
My answer finally hit me.
(I promise, it's not extraordinary...it's another Kindergarten revelation)
I FINALLY found the visual I needed to set my "discernment radar" at ease.
BOWLING!
(I know it's kinda silly, but hey, it works for me! :)
Some people act like bowling balls, and others like pinsetters!
You know what I mean!?
There will be a pleasant little group of pins standing together all peaceful-like, harmoniously, serving their purpose...when along comes the big vicious ball!
WHAM-O!
Chaos, destruction, disorder!
That ball can be so gosh-darn beautiful and smooth,
you're just mesmerized by its appearance so
you'd never suspect it of being such a menace,
but the path of destruction can't be denied.
That ball can be so gosh-darn beautiful and smooth,
you're just mesmerized by its appearance so
you'd never suspect it of being such a menace,
but the path of destruction can't be denied.
Then there's the pinsetter,
waiting patiently to reach down and gather the pins after they've been scattered...
waiting to place them back in order as they belong.
waiting patiently to reach down and gather the pins after they've been scattered...
waiting to place them back in order as they belong.
Do you know what diablo means?
to scatter
And we all know what word comes from diablo!
to scatter
And we all know what word comes from diablo!
And of course, the Holy Spirit is the great gatherer!
So I guess my point is this...
No matter what pretty smiles are put on, what sweet voices are used, how many times "God" and "church" are used in a conversation,
we need to look at the pins!
Stop! Look around! Does stuff go flying every time we/they show up?!
we need to look at the pins!
Stop! Look around! Does stuff go flying every time we/they show up?!
Are we walking in the spirit of "diablo,"
breaking up lives, friendships, communities...
disrupting peace, pissing people off at every turn
or
are we reaching out, gathering, pulling people in, pulling them up
making peace, creating harmony...
in cooperation with The Holy Spirit.
My experience this week gave me a good reality check!
A big giant mirror!
A big giant fear of being on team diablo.
More importantly, an EVEN GREATER desire to walk hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit.
My experience this week gave me a good reality check!
A big giant mirror!
A big giant fear of being on team diablo.
More importantly, an EVEN GREATER desire to walk hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit.
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