The Disappointment of Rejection

Recently someone I really admire stepped out in faith trying to make a difference in the world. This person decided to open their home to a member of their family who came from lesser circumstances and offered them a new way of life. This nephew was provided with free room and board, a credit card of his own, a new car, a sizable monthy allowance for spending money, all in a surban environment to finish their high school years in a 4 star school system. Now the nephew was asked to sign a contract of sorts. The agreement was that he had to maintain a certain GPA, have some daily tasks within the household like lawn mowing and putting away his own laundry. Suffice it to say it wasn't a "free ride" but it was a chance to hone his self-discipline skills and excape some of the entitlement mentality he'd been raised with. Additionally, my friend even made the incentive offer that upon graduation with a successful GPA, he would pay for the first 2 years of college! This seems like too good of an offer to be true doesn't it!

Now let me take you to the end of the story. The nephew has moved out and rejected the lifestyle (and its ammenities) that were offered to him. Why is that? Because the discipline it required was too great and his pension for immediate pleasure trumped the perceived benefits of the offer made to him. Witnessing the disappointment of my friend is really disturbing. He was trying to do right and make a difference, but someone told him "no" to his offer.

Why am I even talking about this here? Well it was a great spiritual application for me.

1. On one level, how many people have rejected the life-giving gift of Jesus and all the rewards that come along with it. And how must God feel when His children reject his gift? I'm sure He's much more heartbroken than my friend - as it's not just a lifestyle decision, it truly is a life or death decision His children are making. When He was willing to give it all - and pay for our life - not just college - how disappointed He must feel when we arrogantly say no because of immediate pleasure seeking.
2. On a second level, how many times have I rejected God's daily offer to help me or to lead me? My arrogance of believing I can do it all myself leads me into daily disappointment. When my task list remains at the end of the day I'm disappointed because I'm not productive as I planned. And even when it is completely checked off, I may have never accomplished a single thing that God wanted me to that day. How disappointing is this?

If you have never accepted God's gift or if you have blatantly rejected it... I urge you to realize you - like my friend's nephew - may be passing up on the deal of a lifetime... literally.

Secondly, if you have already accepted this gift, join me in realizing every day is set aside with the perfect amount of time to accomplish what God instructs us to... but maybe if you find your self out of time... you (like I) may have rejected God's offer to help us order our days.

Either way... you can avoid being a disappointment... will you?

Day 88 - Nearly the End!

OK... so I haven't been good about posting as I'm reading but I am nearly finished with this 90 day reading schedule and have nearly completed the Bible in 90 days! It has been amazing and fast. I must admit I don't enjoy this rate of consumption and it has occasionally given me indigestion. I need to slow down, to chew on it and sometimes return to it several times before I officially feel full.

After reading the Bible cover to cover I don't presume to be able to summarize everything God has taught me... but here are a few.

• HE can always be trusted.
• HE will always provide for my needs (but not always my wants).
• ALL things work together for His purposes... ALL Things!
• HE is always speaking to me... it is me who chooses to listen (or not!)
• I really stink at relational prayer with God... though I'm quite good at giving him my list of demands!
• Though the world seems out of control right now... HE is always in control.
• I need Him... now, today and every day!

One of the disciplines I've enjoyed from this experience is the process of journaling on-line. This blog has been an accountability tool (Thanks Dr. Matt for keeping me honest and on track) as well as a self-reflection exercise. I've always been told to speak as if you're being recorded and write as if it may be published... in some regards this is the purpose of this journal. I am being recorded and published and most importantly I'm pouring my thoughts out to God and his image(s) here on Earth - which is YOU!

For that reason, I've changed the name of my blog.... You'll notice it is not called "Hearing God's Voice." The 90 days may have ended... but God has so much more to say... Stay Tuned. He's only just begun.