Retrospection..........Introspection...............
Taking stock...all started yesterday when I read a blog post about living our real life. Meaning, as I read it, am I living the life God has designed for me? My first reaction was, "Yep...think so....pretty sure" Always leaving that little door open for the possibility of "nope...missed the mark...again"
How many of us have grown up under the umbrella of that wicked performance orientation? All about the doing and doing it RIGHT. I mean...who DOESN'T want that? But knowing it is not achievable...ever...not completely. The burden becomes unbearable. The vestiges of that are what constantly make me second guess...well...everything it seems. Have I followed Him where HE wants me to go? If I think I have done well (we all know THAT isn't possible, right?) I MUST look again because that can't be!
Or can it?
My husband and I have coffee together every morning on our 4 season porch. (#22) It is our time together before the day takes us both off in many divergent directions. It is our time to connect. Some mornings it is just a beautiful quiet time to just be in each others presence - and that is enough. Only a few mornings we try to solve problems facing us (those are not my favorite mornings by the way). I don't like starting my day off like that. But often we discuss deep meaningful things. Some verse, some happening, some event sparks a discussion of what that means in our life, how does that effect our daily walk with Abba, where are we involved in the big picture (and often the smaller picture - much closer to our heart-home)
This morning was one of the last mentioned ones. All sparked by that blog post and the following questioning.
We took a very long long look back over our life together, where we have been, where we went and how we got there. And I have to tell you...it was inspiring. Oh not because we are exceptional people but because we have an awesome and exceptional God. (#23)
Ever heard of a coracle? (I won't go into a long explanation here so I added the basic information on a separate page on this blog entitled Of Celtic Monks and Little Boats) I first learned about them in a study of Celtic Christianity. The minute my husband and I heard the description of a coracle we looked at each other and knew that was a story of our life. And it continues to be it seems. The important part of that for today is that we have come to many many points in our life where major decisions had to be made (and even some smaller decisions as well). After much prayer and discussion...decisions were made. VERY often those decisions didn't make "sense" to other people...seemed unwise or even downright wrong. But we made the best decisions we could with the information and guidance we had. Did we make mistakes....oh I figure that was a definite possibility. However, that is one of the things I find so awe-inspiring about Abba...even if we head a wrong direction, misunderstand His leading, or whatever, He is big enough to work with that to bring about His perfect will anyway (#24).
In the Old Testament they set up stones to remind them of all that God had done with them and for them. We visited many of those piles of stones this morning. Over and over again seeing the hand of a loving and powerful Abba leading and keeping us.(#25) Always amazed that even when by man's economy, we were not successful - all Abba taught us, began in us that we didn't even recognize at the time, was successful in HIS economy.(#26) He is faithful....always. He can't be unfaithful or forgetful of us. It is not His nature...ever.(#27)
So we take stock. Past and present. Am I living the life God designed for me today? I have to answer from the depths of my heart - and after much prayerful introspection and retrospection - yes, I believe I am. But only by His GRACE. His fingerprints are all over our life...my life.(#28) I see His imprint today as well. And only He knows what imprints He is leaving that I don't even recognize yet??!!
This beginning of my New Life....where will it lead? I have no idea. But I jump in the coracle and take off without fear...knowing Who is the rudder, Who is the current of the sea that moves and guides my little boat to wherever He knows I need to be. (#29)And in the audit of my life...I know the "success" of being loved by an amazing Love and forgiven by an amazing Grace and protected by powerful Strength.(#30)
And for me...that is success enough.
Audit complete for today. The books are balanced and all accounts are in order because of who HE is and His amazing grace and love. (#31)
Taking stock...all started yesterday when I read a blog post about living our real life. Meaning, as I read it, am I living the life God has designed for me? My first reaction was, "Yep...think so....pretty sure" Always leaving that little door open for the possibility of "nope...missed the mark...again"
How many of us have grown up under the umbrella of that wicked performance orientation? All about the doing and doing it RIGHT. I mean...who DOESN'T want that? But knowing it is not achievable...ever...not completely. The burden becomes unbearable. The vestiges of that are what constantly make me second guess...well...everything it seems. Have I followed Him where HE wants me to go? If I think I have done well (we all know THAT isn't possible, right?) I MUST look again because that can't be!
Or can it?
My husband and I have coffee together every morning on our 4 season porch. (#22) It is our time together before the day takes us both off in many divergent directions. It is our time to connect. Some mornings it is just a beautiful quiet time to just be in each others presence - and that is enough. Only a few mornings we try to solve problems facing us (those are not my favorite mornings by the way). I don't like starting my day off like that. But often we discuss deep meaningful things. Some verse, some happening, some event sparks a discussion of what that means in our life, how does that effect our daily walk with Abba, where are we involved in the big picture (and often the smaller picture - much closer to our heart-home)
This morning was one of the last mentioned ones. All sparked by that blog post and the following questioning.
We took a very long long look back over our life together, where we have been, where we went and how we got there. And I have to tell you...it was inspiring. Oh not because we are exceptional people but because we have an awesome and exceptional God. (#23)
Ever heard of a coracle? (I won't go into a long explanation here so I added the basic information on a separate page on this blog entitled Of Celtic Monks and Little Boats) I first learned about them in a study of Celtic Christianity. The minute my husband and I heard the description of a coracle we looked at each other and knew that was a story of our life. And it continues to be it seems. The important part of that for today is that we have come to many many points in our life where major decisions had to be made (and even some smaller decisions as well). After much prayer and discussion...decisions were made. VERY often those decisions didn't make "sense" to other people...seemed unwise or even downright wrong. But we made the best decisions we could with the information and guidance we had. Did we make mistakes....oh I figure that was a definite possibility. However, that is one of the things I find so awe-inspiring about Abba...even if we head a wrong direction, misunderstand His leading, or whatever, He is big enough to work with that to bring about His perfect will anyway (#24).
In the Old Testament they set up stones to remind them of all that God had done with them and for them. We visited many of those piles of stones this morning. Over and over again seeing the hand of a loving and powerful Abba leading and keeping us.(#25) Always amazed that even when by man's economy, we were not successful - all Abba taught us, began in us that we didn't even recognize at the time, was successful in HIS economy.(#26) He is faithful....always. He can't be unfaithful or forgetful of us. It is not His nature...ever.(#27)
So we take stock. Past and present. Am I living the life God designed for me today? I have to answer from the depths of my heart - and after much prayerful introspection and retrospection - yes, I believe I am. But only by His GRACE. His fingerprints are all over our life...my life.(#28) I see His imprint today as well. And only He knows what imprints He is leaving that I don't even recognize yet??!!
This beginning of my New Life....where will it lead? I have no idea. But I jump in the coracle and take off without fear...knowing Who is the rudder, Who is the current of the sea that moves and guides my little boat to wherever He knows I need to be. (#29)And in the audit of my life...I know the "success" of being loved by an amazing Love and forgiven by an amazing Grace and protected by powerful Strength.(#30)
And for me...that is success enough.
Audit complete for today. The books are balanced and all accounts are in order because of who HE is and His amazing grace and love. (#31)
Yes, I'd say that success (being loved and forgiven by amazing grace and protected by powerful strength) is absolutely enough. Not just for today. Our only real success is in how much we lean on Him, trust Him, abandon ourselves to Him. You are definitely a successful woman of God. Love you much.
ReplyDeleteHis grace is truly sufficient. Thanks so much for walking this journey with me. You know I love ya!
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