It has been so long...but here it goes. It would seem that we have an enemy. Yes, his name is Satan. Oh,... have you lost interest already? You have heard it before, I know, but why do you and I keep forgetting? What starts off as a mantra gets replace with words like, "I am so tired!" It is a wonderful thing that our heavenly Father remembers that we are dust.This tree was struck by lightning and then caught fire.
A couple of weeks ago I went to a Gary Barkalow (thenobleheart.com) confrence in Cleveland, GA. I met with many other men seeking to understand what it means to "live the glory of their life." This is biblical and Gary made it clear that the only glory in us is Christ's glory flowing through us. And I have said it before, "It is a moment to moment relationship with God that he desires." Anyhow, back to the burned tree.
We broke up into groups and had projects to work on. One was to gather pictures that captures something in us. I absolutely dreaded doing this project. I felt like I was in grade school. I gathered about twenty-five pics, cut them out and taped them to a large piece of paper. I then had to title each one and group them together. Here is the kicker, the men in your group had to decipher, or psychoanalyze you. They had to explain why you were drawn to the photos you picked and if they really match with your thoughts.
This tree was titled, Survivor. I viewed myself as a survivor and burned terribly. However, they said, "Mike, where is the rest of the tree?" I said the picture was too big so I showed the burned part. They said, "Mike, the beauty is the part that shows the tree as a survivor...the flourishing part. Where is it?" They said I still viewed myself as the burned part or I thought others viewed me as the burned part. They were right! I had never thought about this. My new friends began to encourage me in so many ways as the flourishing tree. Later, I cried over their discovery. I am still in the process of changing how I view of myself and wrong agreements I have made that are not true.
Is your view of yourself wrong? Are there agreements or ideas you have made, with yourself, that need to be corrected? Confess your allegiance back to the One who has a great plan and purpose for your life. Trust Him! Listen to Him! Love God passionately and His glory will flow through you. This is the "living water" Christ talked about.
Believe our God has glory for your life where your burden will be light. Joy is the birthright of the believer. ~
