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| God sanctified me some more, wish he'd warn me first! |
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Reading Mike's blog on "Starting Small" reminded me of an experience I had this past week:
Mike wrote: "So as I strive to adopt the spiritual mind of Paul, I resolve to joyfully prepare the toothe paste tube to insure that there's enough paste at the top of the tube for my wife to easily dispense onto her brush each morning."
Oh. My. God!
Just this week I realized God had done more housecleaning in my mind without telling me. On the elevator ride up to my floor (the 9th), I used to be annoyed that the majority of people would stop on a floor below me, thus slowing me down getting to where I need to go (the building has 13 floors).
But sometime this week I had the most natural, reasonable thought in the world, as if I've always thought this: "I'm glad I'm on a floor above them, so I don't slow them down!"
HUH?!?! Where did that thought come from?! I was totally cool with that thought; I really mean it! 14:8 "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; 14:9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 14:11 For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The last time God changed some files in my head without telling me was soon after I came to Christ. Before I was a Christian I was "pro-choice" (a deceitful phrase, as "choice" is normally a good thing). I was thinking logical economics -- the more fetuses we killed, the more food and space and stuff there'd be for for the rest of us. Logical. I came to that conclusion while in high school and filed away my answer in a drawer in my head. I'd occasionally pull it out, inspect it, and put it back. Well, soon after accepting Christ, I pulled that file out again and was shocked to find God had changed it to "pro-life." And a double-shock: I agreed with the change! There was no debate, there was no reasoning, there was no rationalizing. My stance had been changed silently and painlessly -- and without any warning at all. Now I'm wary about what else God changed. And this week he changed something else in my head without telling me. I wish He'd send a memo. :)
Praise God! More evidence that God is real and is actively working in this world!
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| To add a comment to "God sanctified me some more, wish he'd warn me first!" |
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| August 03, 2007 |
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| I was all set to go lights out, when I noticed you posted a new blog. HAD to check it out. And saw you quoted me! (I'm truly flattered, my good friend.) Even better, I saw that something I wrote actually described a little bitsy change God had wrought in your thinking -- how WAY COOL is that? You're "starting small" Eric, awesome!! ~God bless, mike |
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| August 05, 2007 |
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Hi Eric and Mike, I know what you mean... That happened to me recently as well and I was in amazement at my sudden change in thinking. Explanation... I am no longer with my ex who I have a beautiful girl with. Well, that relationship had a very bitter ending and left me very hurt and heart broken. I slowly moved on and found a wonderful man who I am now married to and have a beautiful 9 month old baby girl with. But even though I moved on... I still carried this resentment and anger and sadness towards my ex. I didn't get along with his present girlfriend and had a few falling outs with her in the past. She is now pregnant with his child and for some crazy reason I was alittle bothered by it. I don't want to feel that way but that is the first reaction I had to the news. BUT then here is the amazing thing... One day I was online responding to an offer that friend of mine offered me. She had some baby clothing she wanted to give me but it was too small for my kids. Instead of just telling her thanks and to offer if to someone else. The most surprising thoughts and words popped in my head and out my mouth!!! I started thinking... "Who do I know that needs baby girl clothing?" Then all of a sudden my ex and his girlfriend popped in my head and I told me friend that I would take it and give it to him since they are about to have a baby girl. I WAS IN UTTER SHOCK at what I had just said!!! I even had to stop for a moment and make sure that really happened. Normally I would have never thought of helping them after all the things he put me through and is still putting me through and all the mean things she said to me. But it was as if God was telling me to just forgive them and show them the loving ways of God in me. I think my ex was even in shock when I offered them to him. Then a few weeks later the same thing happened when I stopped off at McDonald's to get my daughter a happy meal before dropping her off to see her dad. I realized as I was at the drive thru that his girlfriend also has a 4 year old and I felt bad that my daughter would be enjoying her happy meal in front of the other little girl so I purchased 2 happy meals and gave one to her daughter. Again, I was in shock at my actions. Before I would have never done that! Even my 5 year old was surprised by my actions and she made me feel good cause she said, "Mommy, are you doing nice things for Jesus, Because we should be nice to everybody?" I told her yes and my heart melted. Sorry for writing so much, I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone and that God has changed me as well without even warning me first and before I could even realize what I was saying or doing. But I thank Him for that because I have prayed that He would change me and mold me into a better person and more like Him. |
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| August 05, 2007 |
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By the way thanks for your prayers and reply to my blog.
God Bless,
Diana |
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| August 06, 2007 |
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| Diana, I am SO GLAD you wrote all that. Thanks for sharing. Brought a little tear to my eye and a BIG FAT GRIN. Praise Jesus! Only He can truly change us. |
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| August 06, 2007 |
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| Awww Thanks Eric. I didn't mean to make you cry. =) J/K But seriously, isn't it a wonderful thing when He changes us like that. =) |
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| August 06, 2007 |
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| By the way... I keep trying to add a star and it won't go through. I tried 3 times already. Hmm I wonder what is up. I am using aol maybe I need to switch and try with internet explorer. lol |
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| August 10, 2007 |
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| Good stuff, Eric! |
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