All Things Work Together

My energy level was up today!  Sometimes I feel like I'm on a roller coaster with this project.

This evening a friend came over to visit.

It's so good to share the ups and downs of life with others who get it.  None of us are perfect.  All of us have done things for which we are ashamed.  But listening to the stories of others and sharing our stories with others helps us to see that we are not alone.

It reminds me of this video by the Skit Guys.

Every mistake that we make, God can and will redeem.  Which leads me to one of my favorite verses:

All things.

All things includes the good and the bad.  No God doesn't make the bad things happen, but He does use them...for good.

How can that be?  How can some of the rotten things that I've done ever be used for good?  

Just trust in Him and sit back and watch.  One day you'll see.

Seeing this over and over again in my life has proven to be a great comfort when facing loss, hurt, pain, shame, etc.  Knowing that God will redeem it all, as long as I am trusting in and living for Him, helps me see things from an eternal perspective (rather than my own limited self-abasing perspective).

We wonder...How could God love me after this?  I am undeserving.  I've done too many bad things.  

This brings me to my very favorite couple of verses which also come from Paul's letter to the people of Rome.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Nothing.

Follow Me

This was the first day I had a hard time keeping my britches up.  With another week and a half away from home, I may find myself doing some creative finagling with my clothes.  I am kind of scared to step on the scale when I get there.  After all, my stored energy needs to last a long time.  (Shamefully, I have had more than my share in the ol' storage shed.)

I have an internal debate going on about exercise.  It seems to me that it would be important to maintain muscle tone and aerobic activity to combat the fatigue.  I've been exercising and it feels good, but I'm aware that this is causing my body to burn the calories faster.  Should I just do weight training 2-3 days a week instead?  I guess I need to do some research.

Another issue that I haven't mentioned up until this point is heartburn.  This has been a surprising annoyance. But it has allowed me to enjoy my one "treat"--Tums.  (I still take medications, as needed.)  So why would I have heartburn when I only eat 1/2 cup of bland food at time?  Is this another sign that my body is getting getting rid of toxins?  Is this just part of the adjustment process?

It appears that I am coming to you with way more questions than answers this evening.

And that's okay.  We don't always need to know exactly what we're getting into before we jump in...before we're in the thick of it.  

I know twelve guys who were called to "Follow me."  Who just jumped right in.  And who helped change the world.

Was it always the best decision for their families?  Their careers?  Their health?  I think that many could make a good argument that it was not...especially when considering that each of them suffered an early and unpleasant demise. 

But I would hazard a guess that each of them would make that choice all over again.

I'm not saying they had no regrets.  Men from this group struggled with their pride in front of Christ, denied him, questioned him, disappointing him, abandoned him...and one even betrayed him.

Yes, even those chosen twelve made mistakes.  Even those chosen twelve needed grace.

Do not let your fears, your questions, keep you from following.