“When we feel overwhelmed with disappointment it often reveals something that has become too important.”

A thought by Kyle Idleman (2011-05-24) from his book, Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (p. 62). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Kyle gives an illustration that really emphasizes this point.

Let’s say you are taking your son fishing. He is going to be with you and he is so excited. But as the day goes by the fish aren’t biting and you slowly grow frustrated and disappointed. As you are going home you are quiet and clearly upset. Now what that shows is that catching fish not spending time with your son is clearly more important to you. That is clearly a wrong priority.

Now to the son, just being with his dad is exciting no matter how many fish he or his dad catches. His only disappointment possibly would be in realizing what was important to his dad, catching fish, not being with him.

What do your disappointments show is clearly a priority to you? Is it a misplaced or a correct priority? Now this is a great way to search out and refocus or reinforce your priorities and the beginning of a new year is a great time to do that.

It will take some time of contemplation, evaluation and questioning. Some of this can be alone and some of this can be done with someone who really knows you. Some of it can be with a disappointment comes. Just ask yourself, why you are disappointed? What does is say is the priority behind it? Is it a good one to be reinforced or is it one that needs to be scrapped, reworked? Is it relational oriented or selfish motivated? Does it show you to be outward or inward motivate? Not a lot of questions but just enough to see if it is a right disappointment, a right priority.

You see it is all based on your growing to be the positive person that you have the potential to become, the one that God created you to be.

So who do you really want to be?

Comments

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle? Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life. It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed. Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life. Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you. You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good. Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident. In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose. In other words you are not an accident. I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth. In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man. And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ” Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like? Like that characteristic is a curse or something. Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God. Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog