Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I Thought This Was Supposed To Be Fun.

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Ingredients:
1 year old boy 
plenty of sunshine
warm weather
park
baby swing
push
Procedure:
Gather all ingredients.  Insert boy into swing.  Push gently while smiling and exclaiming what fun it is to swing.  This should elicit giggles and happiness from boy.
I had all the ingredients.  I followed the recipe.  
Chico cried.
What went wrong?  It was supposed to be fun!  That’s what swings are made for, so that little boys can enjoy them on sunny days.  
Have you ever felt like Chico?  Following the world’s recipe for the good life and ending up in tears?  Following someone’s method for spiritual growth and feeling farther and farther away from the Lover of your soul?  Following the church’s strategy for prosperity and wondering why you don’t have what others do?
The more I get to know the Lord, the more I realize that his plan for me is different than his plan for you.  While the truth in his Word is the same for everyone, the way it plays out and the place it takes each person is different.  
When it comes to methods, procedures, recipes, etc., the focus is always on the end result.  Where we want to be.  What we want to have.  
When it comes to living life with Jesus the focus is on the process.  Our walk with Him.  Our relationship with Him.  
And I find that the work He does in me along the way is of much greater value than anything promised by the methods, recipes and strategies out there.
Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.  The way to life-to God!-is vigorous and requires total attention.
Matthew 7:13-14 (The Message)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

26 comments:

  1. So good and full of truth! I totally feel like that sometimes! But it's crazy because our God is such a personal God, why would we expect every journey to look the same?

    Thanks for the encouraging scriptures!

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  2. Oh such a sweet post. I love your header photo!
    Thanks for sharing.

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  3. SO, SO, Sooooooo good...
    This one just hit me in the heart...truly a Word I needed to hear today!

    peace,
    lori

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  4. Great post and great picture to go with it - poor little guy :( Yes - I've been there!
    Keep walking with the King!
    Courtney

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  5. OH, so true! "his plan for me is different than his plan for you." My son wanted to take a short cut while walking up stairs at a waterfall last week...I told him it was best to stay on the path...to listen to Mommy's wisdom because I had tried that on Pike's Peak....and learned the meaning truly of staying on the path! LOVE this post!

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  6. Oh how true! What a great lesson for us all.

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  7. Yessssss!!!!! beutiful analogy.

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  8. Great post! This is something that I have become so aware of in the last decade. Which means I am growing in Him!! The process of a life lived as a disciple, a follower, a lover of Jesus, is as unique as our fingerprints! Blessings as you continue to trust and surrender to Him.

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  9. I posted Matthew 6:33 in my post today too! You are so right that God's plan and purpose for each of us is different. I am gradually beginning to accept that the journey, the process, is what we're here for: to be transformed into the image of Christ! I want to allow God to do His perfect work in me so I'll be ready for my eternal Home.

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  10. Such a good post and a much needed word for me! Thank you for sharing.

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  11. A clear reminder of where our focus should be. Great post!

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  12. Hilarious picture...great post, thanks for the reminder!

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  13. Love the picture! And it brings up a good point -- following the world's recipe doesn't bring true joy. You are so right, God's plans for each of us are different. We are each made uniquely, but all fit beautifully into His plan!

    Blessings!

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  14. Love this oh so much! I too have learned that my walk is so different to anyone else's. When I follow someone else's formula for happiness or success I end up miserable. But I I listen to His whisper in my heart and follow the plans he has for me as an individual, I flourish.

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  15. Love this! Too many Christians are trying to conform to the pattern that has been cut for them. But God's plan is the only way to follow.

    Thanks for linking up at the Grace Cafe today!

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  16. How true this is! God wants our focus to be Him and not methodology and the desires of this world. He wants to be our portion, our everything. He wired us each with our own personality, so how I relate to Him will be different than how you relate to Him. I love His richness and diversity!

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  17. Hi,
    Ive felt like Chico at times.
    Said the right words, prayed the right prayers, but it wasn't right for me....
    God wants a personal relationship with each of us. So true
    I have been on holiday for a month and I'm enjoying catching up with L.A.C.E friends ....new and old
    God Bless
    Barb from Australia

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  18. Joining you from lace, I love this post and you are so right, I am sure we would all benefit from less programs and procedures and more personal intimate relations with God. It is refreshing to hear this message from others. Thank you and may God continue to bless you abundantly.
    Nell

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  19. Oh dear!
    Yes indeed - we can all relate to your sweet boy!
    Thanks for linking up to Simple Joys.
    blessings..Trish

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  20. Lovely story! Following the recipe in my own life has certainly ended up with many tears. Learning to lean on Him and what His desire is for our life.

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  21. I feel his pain :). This is such a truth that needs told over and over. We are all different. Our good God wants to meet with each one of us. What brings one person into His presence may be very different from the next. Poor little Chico. I guess swinging is not his favorite spiritual practice :).

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  22. I really like this. I do think God grows each of us differently. If He changed us all at once, our heads would pop off! Thanks for sharing. Visiting from The Wellspring.

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  23. Oh, this is just the best! As I read it, I felt like Chico and knew exactly that cringe as I tried to do it every which way but God's!
    Thank you for this exceptionally insightful moment!
    May your day be filled with smiles.
    ~ linda

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  24. What a wonderful post. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Following from Family Time Tuesday!

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  25. oh
    my
    gosh
    that face you would think you were pushing him in and out of a fire!?
    funny.
    T

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  26. Poor little guy . . . how COULD a mama be so mean? ;)

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