The Act of Following the Simplest of a Rule and How it Drastically Changed How I Think

"Gerald and I have been taking a class at church called 'Starting Point' by Andy Stanley. Every week we are given a challenge.

Last week was to begin to take steps to reconcile a broken relationship. I believe that many of us thought about things and people, but are still processing and have not taken the step to completion to full reconciliation. I believe that takes more time.

BUT!!
Today's challenge for the week was about following God's rules for our lives. As odd as I thought it sounded our assignment is to 'obey all traffic laws to the exact letter of the law'. I thought it was a strange assignment, and my comment was in a very whining voice, "55 mph?" And knowing I had to drive 6 hours today, I wasn't a happy camper.

When I left home though, I was compelled to connect with God in this manner. Because it seemed such a bizarre assignment, I couldn't let go of the thought of trying it. And in God's perfect timing - he knew I had to drive 6 hours today.

The most amazing thing happened, I drove the exact speed limit 3 hours up and three hours back, fully stopped at all stop signs and as every mile went by I kept feeling a freedom building in me. And with every mile, the intensity to follow the rules increased. Something that seemed so odd to me was actually helping me recognize that I must attempt my best to follow the rules and in turn taught me such a powerful lesson.

What an amazing God we serve. And what an amazing lesson I learned today using something that I never would have thought of.

It is all a journey though, because at a couple of points I found myself saying out loud, things like; "What the heck are you thinking?" or "Get off my axx." And when only ten miles from home when I stopped at a T-road to turn right, I did not dim my lights. Even though I knew no one was coming, it still nudged in my spirit the truth, you are supposed to dim your lights at intersections.

Amazing....."

Point of Grace

A Confused Mind

I have been faced with a couple of incidences lately that baffle me and due to the fact that I can't figure them out, causes me some distress. I am usually quite perceptive when it comes to the human mind; but there are a couple of circumstances that I am not able to put my mind around.

I must not expect myself to understand all that goes on around us in life, but for some reason I haven't been able to let these go. I am a researcher and so very analytical that I want to dig until I can find out the reason why. Am I trying to fix something? No, not really, because it is certainly out of my control. Can I say anything? At this time, no. So I am left to think and pray and ask God for wisdom. But the fact of the matter is, that I may never know or understand.

The actions are so unbelievable and the deception so great that I am stunned. I guess I need to examine myself to make sure that I am not living my life in a manner that would have people wonder this about me.

 

 

My "Me Vacation"

 

 

Life goes around us so quickly that it is, at times a stressor that you just can't get away from. The demands put upon us seem insurmountable at times; and if our boundaries are like rubber bands, we tend to get caught up in the insanity of always 'doing' because we can't say no. I am learning to get better at this, but still have not quite learned how to do it without feeling some pangs of guilt.

 

I have learned over the years that I need time alone; so I planned a vacation for myself. It is a way that I relax, refocus and regenerate. I must admit that there were times prior to my departure that I become somewhat apprehensive, but I knew in my heart I needed this. After I was on the road and heading north, I began to feel the layers of stress dissipate and the anticipation of what was to come rise in my heart.

 

The 4 days I spent ended up to be different than I had planned, but yet I loved what I did. Adaptability was accepted and I went on my way experiencing the steps to refreshing my soul.

 

The ways of the world and the perception of another's being is often confusing in my mind as I focus on something I may have missed or not achieved in life. I met people from such different backgrounds and while I felt some anguish thinking I missed out on something, or that my life had been so deprived of an arena of life I could only imagine; I realized that my worth comes from God and God alone.

 

Was it envy or inquisitiveness to hear their stories? My story is so different, but it is not one where I would want a person to shelve me in the pity section of the book store. Such abandon to the world of the lowly shook me a tad, but at the same time I felt as though I was the hero. My work, my life, my world; failures and successes; have not all taken place for the world to see. My mind is the script and paper is my stage.

Thinking

Have you ever thought that the more facets a diamond has, the more valuable it is and brilliant? What I once thought were a great number of shattered pieces of myself, never again to become whole, laid scattered in the sand. And then God came along and picked up each piece and placed it where He designed. When He was done, He turned first to me and said all those shattered pieces have been placed by My hand. And then he turned me towards a mirror and introduced me to myself; and He smiled as the radiance of so many facets created a beauty that He sees in me.