Skip to main content

“Whenever we take on a God-sized challenge, self-sufficiency is no longer an option.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Location 843). Kindle Edition.

That is one of the main reasons we are given the opportunity of taking on God-sized challenges, He wants us to depend on Him.  When we can do it on our own then we don’t need Him and someone else. We do that so we won’t share the credit and also many times so we won’t fail.  The need to not fail drives us more it seems than the need for faith.  But to Him without faith it is impossible to please Him.  To please Him or bring Him glory is the reason why we are alive.  Somehow we need to really get that into our life view and live it.

Now I know there is fear in faith but there is also fear in failing.  Failure takes something out of you and faith puts something in. 

I can point to many God-sized challenges in my life but I think that retirement has been one of the most challenging opportunities that God has ever given me.  For a while I wasn’t sure if I would find the reason for me to have made this drastic step in Margaret and my life but I’m finding it to be the most challenging and exciting period in our lives.  He has changed me and is adapting me to the task He has for me to do each and every day.  Living out this God-shaped adventure has been so very rewarding.  God is so good. 

This last year we have lived in Oceanside, New York, Seminole, Florida and now Pasadena, California.  If I wasn’t retired this life-adventure would never have happened and it isn’t over.  It is just beginning.  It is really hard to believe what He is doing in our life.  There is no way we could have done this without Him.

Understand, there is always a major risk in taking on a God-shaped challenge but it is so worth it.

So what is He challenging you to do?
Labels:

Comments

  1. Brett WilliamsMarch 15, 2013 at 8:51 PM

    What is God challenging me to do...hmmm...play it safe? stay where I am? keep doing what I'm doing? remain "comfortable", focus on security for me and my family?

    nah!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill WilliamsMarch 16, 2013 at 5:16 AM

    that is so true. you have an exciting, challenging adventure ahead. i'm glad i'm going to be a part of it!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“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...
Post a Comment
Read more

“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...
Post a Comment
Read more

“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...
Post a Comment
Read more