I need to admit something, I have been hanging out with some
men lately in a place where I should not go… first you need to know something about the men...
One guy was really handsome and brave. He’s quite an amazing
guy! I love to hear his life story, and he’s got so many adventures. And he has
a soft side too! He has a poet’s soul. He
so passionate about everything. He wows me!! But he’s been known to get a
little depressed, and gripe and complain about life when it wasn’t going
exactly as he planned or wanted.
Another guy -- his walk with the Lord drew me in – it’s usually
incredible. He’s so obedient! I admire that. He took on a bunch of
non-believing guys and he boldly showed them that Our God is the only real God.
Many of those non-believers even confessed with their mouth that our God was
indeed the only true God!! So he is a pretty great guy!! Until he started negative talking and feeling
sorry for himself. God used him in such a huge way and then he started with the
self-pity and even acted like a coward.
I have to admit there was one more guy & recently I have
been spending a lot of time with him. He’s not exactly
attractive and I learned he was quite disobedient. So why hang with him?
Actually he has taught me a lot. I will defend him a little…his disobedience is
understandable. God asked him to do something really really hard. So, he chose
not to do it – at first. Thankfully he did eventually obey God. He just took an
interesting detour before he obeyed completely. After he obeyed God (and God
used him to change a whole city!), then God provided him with shade and rest.
I’m sure you are on to me & my little story. These men are okay guys to hang out with because these are huge men of the Bible -- David, Elijah, and Jonah. Spending time "with" these guys is not the problem ... but it's more about WHERE I've been meeting with them, not really who they are. I love reading and studying about them because I can learn so much about God, myself, and life when I spend time "hanging out" in the lives of these guys. ;) WHERE have I've been meeting with them? Standing in line in the complaint department of life! Ugh!! David & Elijah spent time there, and so did Jonah. He stood with a dried up vine in his hand. So I took my turn & stepped in line. David, Elijah, and Jonah and me all spent time griping and complaining.
My life is great – God is in control. He’s blessed me in a million ways. So why the negative stuff? Why spend precious time thinking up complaints and dwelling on negative stuff?? I don’t know!! But with God’s help I’m running from that magnet that pulls me to think like that.
This morning I chose (with God’s help!!) to run from
these men. Well at least to run from copying their bad attitudes. Great men, but I can learn from them without
imitating them. So I’m crawling out from under the gourd vine with Jonah and
I’m embracing the beauty that is my life. J
GOD.IS.TOO.GOOD. for me to hang out in complaint department
– even if it was with a bunch of good guys.
Audios!!
