Consumed

When you hear the word consume or consumed what do you think of?  Food or drink being devoured?  The gas in your car being depleted?  Oil reserves used up?  For me, it generally defines something used until it is gone.

Can things in our lives consume us?  What does that mean?  Do we give ourselves so completely to our jobs or careers or our families or projects that they consume us?  What about fear?  What about worry or our thoughts?  What about the home we want to live in or the toys we can't live without?  Sounds dangerous to me now.

Recently I've been consumed with a basement remodel (or finishing our basement).  I've felt a ton of pressure over the course of a year plus now.  I think "consumed" is an accurate term for my behavior.  I've been so driven to just get it done that it takes up all my extra time, all my extra thought, all my extra energy and it's left little room for anything else.  I've missed out on time with my wife and son.   The project is nearly complete now - thankfully.  What are you consumed with, and at what cost has it come?

In Luke chapter 14:28-29 Jesus talks about counting the cost.  Here He talks about the financial cost, but perhaps we need to also consider the physical and emotional cost:

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you."

What happened to our soldier recently who paid such a high cost for being consumed by his role in battle that he lost his sanity, lost control and mentally snapped?  Innocent people died and a great controversy arose.  Was it worth it? I feel so badly for him.  I'm sure he didn't join the military with plans to one day snap and consequently take innocent lives.  What innocent lives are being affected by what you're consumed with?  Is there still time for you to change; to regain proper balance in your life?  Will you take a moment and examine yourself and ask that question?

When something is consumed, say a can of coca-cola, it's all gone and the can is left empty.  Don't allow circumstances or goals in your life to consume you to the point that you're empty too.

Jesus said later in chapter 14:33, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."

If anything in our lives besides God consumes us, it is all for nothing.  Don't let the world consume you and don't consume the world.  Ask our Father to show you what might be consuming your life and ask Him to help you.  When He consumes your life, you won't be left empty, but rather will be filled to overflowing in peace, in joy, and in love.

Lost and Found

What do you have when you lose it all?  Does that sound like a dumb question?

There is a plastic food wrap that shares a common problem with us.  Glad Cling Wrap.  Yes, it sticks to stuff and won't let go.

Are you a Glad Cling Wrap?  What are you clinging to for security?  Your job?  Your family?  Your health?  Your intellect?  Your skills?  Are you a warrior for your family?  Do you think they can't survive without you?

When all is lost, that is when all is found.  You fight to hang on, not realizing that letting go is the victory.

Our strengths can hide our Father.  When we let go, our Father can be seen.

We are fearful little kittens clinging on for life not realizing the fullness of life comes from our Father.  We see, but we don't see.  The end is the beginning.  Why do you cling to what you can see?  The truth comes when we can't see.  The Father's glory comes at our ends.  Only can we see when we can't see.

He makes a way when there is no way.  He makes a path when there is no path.  He is strength when there is no strength.  He is our Father when there is no father.

When all seems lost, then all can be found.

It's time to let go and trust Him.  The fight has made you tired; weary.  Weak.  The fight was in vain.  It wasn't your fight to fight.  It was His.  He is the victor.

When all is lost, then All will be found.

Riding a Bicycle

You are mysterious, we don't know your timing or you plans.  You allow us to suffer.  But why?  For your plans?  For your purpose?  Yes!  Will we allow our discomfort to get in the way?

I never cease to be amazed at how interesting our lives are.  I remember learning to ride a bicycle for the first time without training wheels.  It was in a gravel alley.  I made it maybe 50 feet before I crashed into a chain link fence.  Did it kill me?  No, but it gave me an opportunity to learn.  Maybe when you first learned to maintain balance on a bicycle you had a parent with you.  For me it was a trusted neighbor.  But the larger life lesson to gain from this is that I had someone there with me.  Watching.  Letting go.  Allowing me to learn.

Life is full of struggles and complications.  Often times we have scripture to look to and learn from.  Yes, this is a great way to learn.  I can't explain this so you will understand, but I have always felt my heavenly Father there with me and speaking to me.  I've never, ever, ever, truly felt alone.

Now, as life continues to unfold for me, I've gained a great confidence and a great calmness about me.  Life is not a walk in the park for any of us.  Our Father has been impressing on me that even when we experience pain, fear, or anxiety, He is never farther away from us than our next breath.  It can feel that way, that God is absent.  But if you learn nothing else from what I share with you here, please grab onto this truth:  your Father is always with you.  Sometimes He let's us ride off on the gravel roads of life "alone" just to see how we will do.  He hasn't left, He's just giving us an opportunity to learn and grow.

When I hit that chain link fence I admit I felt alone and felt I'd failed, but the truth is that I was being supervised. I had someone there that allowed me to try life out for myself, but who was never far away.  God, likewise, is never far away.  We feel like He's left us at times, but He hasn't.

Do you think my "bike riding teacher" would have left me alone to fail?  Would you do that to your child?  No, and God will never let you go so far that He isn't watching you.  He gives us times to learn on our own, but never leaves us and never allows us to go through anything that is more than we can handle.

We don't like to be uncomfortable.  We try very hard to never let that happen, but being comfortable might just mean we aren't growing.  There are times for comfort, but don't let it consume you.  Don't let it keep you from getting out there to try something new.  And, when we fall and when we fail, or when we experience discomfort, it is time to rejoice!  I'll say that again so you get it.  When you struggle, when you are afraid, when you feel anxious, it is time to realize that the one that created you is giving you a chance to grow!  Isn't that good news?

Will you take the opportunity to learn and grow?  Or, will you curse your Father?  If you hear what I'm saying tonight, you will take a different look at life and realize it is a test and that your Father has not left you, but rather is so confident in you that He is allowing you a time to grow!

Don't let the hardships of life get you down!  Instead, take this word from God and be encouraged.  Rejoice and thank Him for trusting you, and know He is right there with you.  Give it your best shot and do so with confidence!  We might fail, but, but failure is never the end.  It is just the beginning!

Our Father loves you!  He is with you right now, so don't give up.  Give life your very best shot and trust that He is watching you and will never leave you.