|
| The Dip of the Gospel |
|
| |
I find myself lacking in discipline sometimes where it matters the most. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Sometimes it makes so much sense and you can strive forward in living a life that's worthy. Yet other times you wonder why applying this mean struggling and pushing through it. It can go against every ounce of your body's natural inclination, almost every moment of the day, every day of the year. Seth Godin writes interesting concise books mostly about marketing. The Dip isn't about the Gospel or being a Christian. It's about why things that are most valuable in life require you to go through a dip to acheive it. And the more valuable and worthwhile what you are trying to acheive is, the longer the dip has to be. Why can't everyone make it through medical school, finish their PhD program, or climb Mount Everest? How come there are still people that light up a cigarrete, even after they've spent thousands of dollars trying to quit and know its detrimental to their health and the health of those around them? There's always a dip standing in the way of you and your goal. Even successful companies like Apple went through a long (some would've said endless) dip to now become one of the most successful hardware and software companies in the world. Many will quit some time during the dip and won't make it to their goal. This book made me think about my relationship with Christ, and living for the sake of the Gospel. It's hard. It's a long, hard, difficult, trecherous, journey of denying ones self. Not everyone will make it. Somewhere, sometime during their dip, people will give up. They'll find it's just easier to live for themselves. To live as if Christ didn't die for them or exist even at all. It's a sad truth that not everyone will make it through the dip to experience the joy of reaching the goal in Christ. But perhaps what we should focus on is that the longer the dip is, and the more you want to give up because pressing on is just too painful, the closer you actually are to reaching it. It's almost like the dip is there so you can show just how badly you want it. And when you do reach the goal and win the prize for the sake of the Gospel, it will be all the more worth it in the end. 1:7 for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. |
|
| To add a comment to "The Dip of the Gospel" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| December 07, 2008 |
 |
|
|
| Like saying trials are somehow a gift from God? Like saying difficult circumstances are actually an opportunity? Faith definitely sees things differently than our five senses do. Great blog Carebear!! |
|
|
| December 07, 2008 |
|
|
|
| Wonderful! I have been in just such a dip, but hold out hope that I am still useful to God in some way. I have learned so much in the dip, and am looking at the uphill and seeing possibilities. Was it Thyatira that God said their last works would be greater than their first works? I find that encouraging. I had a book on church planting that was different than the rest once. Many say that if you're over 45, forget it, you can't do it. This book disagreed vehemently with that fatalist attitude and gave wonderful examples of people in the 70's and beyond who were planting new churches. I love the stories of Ray Krok and Colonel Sanders who started McDonald's at 65 and KFC at 66. It's never too late to come out of a slump. Thank you for reminding us that we just must never give up. |
|
|
| December 08, 2008 |
|
|
|
Nice,
The monastics called it "Dark Night of the Soul". Although they were referring to a stronger, harder point in life, I think we can also see the same kind of response needed on a "dip". I have been in a "dip" this summer/fall. In many ways, maybe even for the last year or two. I'm looking toward a return to my first love to clear the air a bit. O have a month before I retire and start back to school, we'll see if that jump starts a really low "dip" this year.
Again, good timing, good thoughts. |
|
|
| December 08, 2008 |
|
|
|
| I just found that Timothy verse helpful here. Bless you guys for continuing and pressing on. You're an encouragement to me and many others I'm sure! |
|
|
| December 08, 2008 |
|
|
|
| I recently did a study and posted some blogs too on the valley experience, the desert experience, the wilderness experience, and am working on the moutain top experience, but what you are sharing is so true about anything that is a worth while endeavor! We will always be challenged in the acheivement of our goals and these obstacles and tests prepare us for our next great leap forward. I was listening to Ed Young teach about Joseph and "Life in the Pit" and his theme was God prepared Joseph for What God had prepared Joseph for. So these dips that we find ourselves in though are not pleasant are actually a blessing in disguise as God is preparing us for our purpose. Knowing that the dip is just that a dip that it will get better should be enough encouragement to keep pressing on. Excellent point for what you shared, the nice thing about our walk with God is that Holy Spirit keeps prodding us along so that we do experience that victory! Thanks and God Bless! |
|
|
| December 15, 2008 |
|
|
|
| I needed this, thank you very much. I am in my dip right now....(its been a long one) |
|
|
| December 16, 2008 |
|
|
|
Just a Really Great Blog !.....This is a very important Message to NOT Throw
in The Towel. |
|
|
| December 18, 2008 |
|
|
|
| This is great, Carol! |
|
|
| December 18, 2008 |
|
|
|
| Thanks :) |
|
|
| December 26, 2008 |
|
|
|
| Good word, sounds like a great book. |
|
|
| January 14, 2009 |
|
|
|
Hi Carol! Thanks for the reminder to persevere! I forwarded it to Larah immediately. I am praying and hoping that our post-dip season to come before the end of the year. A-J |
|
|
| January 14, 2009 |
|
|
|
| thank you for sharing this, Carebear! This is totally it! I've met the dip, got discouraged, gave up. Met it again. gave up. Met it again....gotta push through! And even when I look in the mirror...I see a dip! hehe Get it? Anyways, just some humor to add, but this post is really speaking to me. I hate sugar coated Gospel and this is the raw truth of it. |
|
|
| January 14, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Raw truth of the Gospel, that is.. |
|
|
| January 23, 2009 |
|
|
|
Not to be Debbie downer, but I really wish my dip would go away!! I have struggled for many years and then came to a life-shattering dip and have been there with many destructive dips enveloped in it, for 5 years now. Standing firm...but only in Christ. For my wings are tattered adn torn, it is only His love that holds me. We are going back to court for a trial in April, I am praying that is the day it is over.
Thanks for the encouragement lady, I needed it today!
xoxo |
|
|
| April 18, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Great word! Did you ever read The Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis)? He talks about the law of undulation and how our lives are full of peeks and troughs. It's the practice of the enemy when we're in a trough (or valley), to make us think that is where we will always be and that there is no other side, even though if we think back, the troughs have always ended. We need to be like David at Ziklag after the defeat of the Amalekites (I believe). He "encouraged himself in the Lord," remembering what God had already done for him and also what God had promised him. Praise His Marvelous Name that the troughs are not permanent, but that His Faithfulness is! |
|
|
| July 21, 2009 |
|
|
|
Thanks for your comment Beverly. I read part of Screwtape Letters many years ago. Will need to pick it up again and finish it this time :). |
|
|
| August 12, 2009 |
|
|
|
| A dip is a very encouraging way at looking at these situations we find this true at Ridglea where I serve. Every time we have a season of growth it is preceded by a lull, yet following the dip we set a new standard of attendance and more people being discipled for Christ so I guess its also true for the church. Great insight! Thanks |
|
|
Follow this blog
