Life is Full of Change

Life...it is a game and it is also what we live, day in and day out.  If we were to draw a line of our travel paths throughout any given day, we'd probably have the U.S. practically covered in a solid color.  Our paths cross someone else's many times in any given day.  If we were to write about our life, each day, it would be cool to see each person's perspective on a shopping trip, their response on a speech, their reaction to a movie, how their dining experience was, and the list could go on.  If each person told, in a real way, how their experiences were in each of those situations, we'd have quite a diverse set of experiences.

Life also changes and we have to be able to adapt to that change.  Change is always happening.  We need to be able to understand why the things we care about are changing.  We need to be willing to understand how that change is going to affect us and how we can adapt to the change.  The more we fight it, the more it will beat us up.  If we're willing to accept change then life will come a bit more easy to deal with.

I love quotes about change, and this one is no exception.  Here's this week's quote...

Life is known only by those who have found a way to be comfortable with change and the unknown. Given the nature of life, there may be no security, but only adventure.  - Rachel Naomi Remen

The unknown, after a change is introduced, is what makes life rough.  We can analyze things to death because of the "unknown".  As life hands you many unknowns, take an opportunity to flex your change muscles, even if they are a bit tight!

The more you stretch the more comfortable you'll be with the changes that may come about in your life!  Even if it is an issue where you just cannot change, which we all have those areas, if you are stretching your 'muscles' you may not change but you will have a mindset to not be so resistant to the idea of change.

Change and life are hard...trying to stretch...and hold...1-2-3-4..8-9-10....21-22-23-28-29-30! Whew!!!

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Stretched Out Love - I Peter 1:22b

"Stretch out and touch those toes...Now hold it...1, 2, 3,...Keep holding...c'mon, don't give up...27, 28, 29, 30, and stop."

For some of you there may have been a mental relapse from a time in your life you were involved in some sort of formal exercise class. You may have been straining to hold on for that entire time. It may have been an uncomfortable feeling. If you stayed with it, it may have become easier to stretch as you did it more frequently. Generally, this is the case for everyone. If we would just push ourselves past the uncomfortable stage, the end is worth it. As we looked yesterday at Peter's instruction to "love one another earnestly" we, too, are asked to stretch out our love to one another. Here are some applications to choose from to use in your life...

1. Peter challenged his readers, in the midst of major persecution, to be active in reaching out to their fellow brethren, wherever it was needed. Pray that you will be more and more willing to reach out your love to every brother and sister here. Regardless of any wrongdoings on their part, if you've been burned before, or if you just want to brush this instruction off to the side. If this is easy for you now, then pray a preventative prayer that will not hinder your spiritual relationships in the future.
   
2. Make a personal commitment that you will do whatever you can when a need is brought up. For example, that you will look at your schedule and see if you can put that off to help your spiritual family with their needs. Or you will see the need as trying something new and work through what may be uncomfortable to stretch yourself...who knows, it may become your new passion!
3. Pray for each person in our congregation, throughout a given time.
4. If reconciliation is needed, pray about it, and make a point to create an opportunity to mend fences.
5. Write a note of encouragement to each person, not just families, throughout a given time.

May we be "guy wires" for our fellow brother or sister as we are constantly stretching out our love to each other, regardless of what is given to us.

Have a great week!

Holding my own...