Well Done

    It is kind of crazy how it is the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas music is all over the place. As a matter of fact, I am listening to it as I write this. Of course that does not really help my point...but holiday cheer is forced so much more than it should be. The festive music is played to pretty much get people to open their wallets. We have all been through the fight of holidays not being about presents, and that is another issue in it's self. But let us hone in on the matter of timing. Next week as we all gather around the table with are family from all over we can smell the seasoned turkey soon brought out by our grandmothers, fathers, mothers which will soon fill the stomach's for a satisfying night with family. But let's all go back in time for a couple moments.

    Whoever is the designated meal preparer in your family for the holidays clearly has a lot of work and plan. My dad's side of the family four families alone plus friends of my grandparents that join for the dinner and my grandmother makes the majority of it happen. I couldn't imagine my mom's mom or my dad's mom never put in the turkey for the feast. When everyone would arrive we could have a whole spread of nice and yummy warm festive food but the center of the event wouldn't be ready. There would just be one cold turkey on Thanksgiving day. Of course our family members wouldn't go home and be upset for the rest of the holiday, but it sure wouldn't be the same without a turkey!

    Often we do this in life. Beyond the turkey analogy...this happens with our relationship with Christ daily. I'm sure you have heard the saying "In time God will give you to what he sees fit" or "Trust God he knows what he is doing." And I think a darn good majority of those around us including ourselves do not buy into this. There were so many people in the bible that waited for Christ to show his salvation. Sarah and Abraham waited several years for a child before God gave them their son. Joesph was in PRISON and remained faithful to Christ for 3 years! And even God himself endured the process of waiting until his death on the cross. I think the biggest mistake we make here is thinking that the actual thing we work towards is more important than the actually journey. Of course whatever you have earned has wonderful significance but how you got there describes all about it.

    Waiting is actually a wonderful thing because we learn and grow so much. In just about very journey there are steps in which we go through that can be exciting or just challenging. Aren't these the times that we grow the most? I mean really...think back to a time where you went through a challenge and waiting and then you got the thing you worked hard for. Through that time of waiting, did you grow more then approaching the thing you worked for? Or once you achieved? For me I found that I grew into someone new when I was going through any period of waiting. What God had shown me and what I showed myself changed the way I thought as well as acted. That change might come off as being a bad thing because we can change so drastically. But it was those times that I became ready to face what God so carefully put into my life.

    Just like the Thanksgiving turkey. If we never experience the waiting and struggles through our life we can never truly develop. In other words...we have to cook just right so we can be in the final stage for the potential we are made for. Of course it's hard and of course people will tell you it is worth it along the way. That is where the words faith, hope, and perseverance really come to life in our relationship with Christ. Things that really matter take time because they are done right. Have you ever cooked your Thanksgiving frozen turkey in a microwave? Of course not because it would never be done! As easy as things are to do the easy way doesn't pay off. You can do a lot more things when you go the easy way but why have a bunch of poorly done things than have a few things done right.

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."    ~Romans 8:24-30

     This week find the hope in which you were saved and account that into the relationship you have with Christ. Hope for things that you do not have already and God will see as it is fit to you. Embrace the waiting and know that great things come out of long enduring times. Let yourself grow and not hinder then take that to allow yourself to become more like Christ daily.


Word of the Day: "But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" 
                  ~1 Corinthians 2:9