Monday, January 11, 2010

I am a work in progress

God's Redemptive Project

Your flourishing is never just about you. It is a "so that" kind of condition. God designed you to flourish "so that" you could be part of his redemptive project in ways that you otherwise could not. He wants you to flourish "so that" people can be encouraged, gardens can be planted, music can be written, sick people can be helped, or companies can thrive in ways they otherwise would not. When you fail to become the person God designed, all the rest of us miss out on the gift you were made to give.
Jesus once said that with God, all things are possible, and the great thing about life with God is that your next step is always possible. That step toward God is always waiting, no matter what you have done or how you have messed up your life. Jesus was hanging on a cross with a thief hanging next to him, and Jesus turned to him and said, "Today you will be with me in paradise."


I received this today and realized after reading it, I am a work in progress. Understanding this small portion of life, I have to agree with author Rick Warren when he explained in one of his books so clearly, even I got it.

The statement simply stated: It ain't all about you.

Boy howdy, ain't that the truth. Folks that think the universe revolves around them are in for a rude awakening one day. The short paragraph that started this posting is an excerpt from a book by John Ortberg, 'ME, The Me I Want to Be'.

All those casual encounters with people throughout your life, not to mention those that are still to happen even as early as tomorrow, were meant to be. You were destined to be a part of their life...OR maybe, bringing it down a notch and looking at it from right to left, that stranger you meet may just have been guided by our angels to intercept you along your path.

It could be their life is the cog in your gears to keep you going, "so that" you can grow and reach the level of importance that God has planned for you.

Just another slant on how small we really are in the grand scheme of things...but some day, you could mean the world to someone, the difference in how a person responds to a situation.

Thanks for stopping by.

3 comments:

  1. I really like to read Rick Warren. I do believe in destiny and love the way God always sends angels even when I think it's all about ME and I'm doing it all by myself. I am not ashamed to say that I am totally dependent on the Lord. I came to realize I am so small and insignificant and that's the truth. Fish on over at my pond Jake you will find out who I met next in N.Y.

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  2. I used to...I still do on occasion wonder the reasons I am on Earth. I often see life as being part of a traffic jam. There is always a reason for the slow car in front of you. God may have put it there to protect you from the danger coming up or to keep you from being the impending danger to another.

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  3. Wonderful post, Jake. I agree with Nancy--I mean, The Voice. We always see the slow car, the traffic jam, the cancelled interview, happening for a reason. God's plan--God's Time-table. He protects us in so many ways. And I love thinking that all those people who have passed through my life were meant to. Boy, did I screw up in the way I handled some of those relationships!! I enjoy your posts, Jake, and your observations. :) So glad you were one of the positives passing my way. Thanks!

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