Showing posts with label Conversations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conversations. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A Question for God

Why is spiritual discipline so much harder than physical?

That's the question on deck this morning as I prepare for a long day at work and pack for the gym time I'll fit in afterward - when I'm tired and want to just sleep.  I've already touched on my food-related self control issues in a previous post, but outside of that, my self-discipline is, well, satisfactory. Physically.  I'll get up at 5am for a workout, push out the extra few reps at the gym, train like an athlete (even when I'm not competing) all under my own discipline. I know the goal and I'm willing to work for it.  Somehow though, when a much larger, significantly more substantial reward is at stake (see: salvation), remaining disciplined is waaaayyyy harder.



Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT)



This blog is about my growth. This is an area in which I need to grow.....I need to spiritually grow the heck up. It's not that I don't want to be the most spiritually disciplined chick on the block, it's just a constant struggle to purpose every single step.  Only through prayer and grace....

~gg~

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Conversations with God


I was angry with God last week. 

"Why?" you may ask. Well....in short, because I asked Him for something and He gave it to me. Then I realized I didn't really want it. So I was mad. Should've been at myself, but......work in progress. Here's how it went down:
** names have been changed to protect he innocent :) **


Me: Dear Heavenly Father, please show me Jerky McNice-Guy's true colours.

God: Okay.


(Time elapses)


Me: Dear Dad, I don't understand why Jerky McNice-Guy is being so much jerkier to me all of a sudden.

God: Uh, remember that conversation we had a little while back? Well, there you go - true colours, as promised. 

Me: Noooo!! That's not what I meant.  What I meant was, "Please make Jerky McNice-Guy into Friendly McCool-Dude!!"

God: Yeah.....that's not what you said at all. Trust me, this way is better. Love you!



So, I was mad at God. Even though He gave me what I had asked and confirmed what I already suspected. My comfort came in knowing that He knows better than I do. So, it's all working for my good. An early heads up is appreciated.....

....but it took a minute for me to appreciate it. 

Thanks God.

~gg~

Monday, October 11, 2010

Independent Woman

I was trying to find a balance
But with so many conflicting viewpoints, achieving it was quite a challenge.
I wanted to exist somewhere between being Miss Independent and doing my own thing
And allowing myself to want the man who'd dress my finger with a ring.
And, here's the thing:
Yeah, the piece of jewelery is nice,
But my heart's desire has really always been to be a wife,
To commit myself to someone else until the end of life
As a building block in a family I'd praise God for every night.
But somewhere in between Beyonce and Sex and the City reruns,
My thoughts of a husband got replaced by the thought that I didn't need one.
As a woman in today's world, I'm taught that I don't need none.
Except a couple guys on speed dial that I could call so we can have fun.

And so Hubby got demoted to 'accessory' like some Lou Bous.
See, independent women get to focus their energy into new shoes,
Handbags, hairstyles and name brands. We gotta stay fly
Becuase even though we don't need husbands, we still like to attract guys.
But not all my energy was supposed to go into my ouside.
See, the Independent Women Club does have some guidelines.
Club rule #2: Finish school.
But the key is to do it by yourself.
So, I got busy, got down to work and put God up on the shelf
So I could finish my degree and start my carrer,
Then create a life that meant I'd never come near to uttering the words independent women fear:

"I can't do this by myself...."

You get evicted swiftly from the club if independent women hear
"I cant' do this by myself...."

Your net worth heads south
And suddenly you're left only with the clothes you've flaunted,
An empty home and no man to even watch you flaunt them.
Becuase, really, what man goes where he isn't wanted?
What man goes where he isn't needed?
And even if that's not the case, you've lead him to believe it.
Paraded self-reliance so long, he can't believe you'd leave it -
That life you've built that suits just one...he wants to know where he fits
In your independent world.

So, lonely and confused, I prayed to God and read his Word.
His response:
Stop marketing yourself as an independent girl
That's not how I designed you.
And if you don't let me in your life,  I won't let your husband find you.
See, I've got one of my sons preparing especially to guide you.
To love you like he loves himself and lead your family in my truth.
But you've got work to do, too - 
You're not read to be lead.
Take instruction from my written word, commit it to your head.
Commit it to your life and turn your focus back to me
And use this time of singleness to understand what I've purposed your life to be.

Ever since that talk with God, my attitude's been different.
Single ladies on the radio and I ain't even with it.
My former motto: "I don't need anyone" is both destructive and worthless
Because fellowship with believers has helped me walk into my purpose.
And sometimes I still ask God when hubby's coming. I'm not perfect,
But when you let God do what He does best, the wait is always worth it.

~gg~