Friday, June 10, 2011

FROM WITHIN

 HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD ANY OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS? 

~I CANT WAIT TO GET OUT OF THIS TOWN.
~I HATE LIVING HERE
~IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF I HAD SOMETHING TO DO
~I DO IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO AROUND HERE

I HAVE EITHER HEARD OR SAID EACH ONE OF THESE STATEMENTS COUNTLESS TIMES.  ONCE AGAIN, A FACEBOOK FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME INSPIRATION THIS MORNING.  THIS TIME, MY INSPIRATION CAME FROM HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD, SOUTH AFRICA TO BE EXACT.  HER WORDS WERE CONFIRMATION TO ME IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.  THE WORD OF GOD REMAINS THE SAME NO MATTER WHERE WE HAPPEN TO CAMP OUT ON THIS GLOBE AND THE CONCEPT OF CHANGE IS UNIVERSAL AS WELL.  BUT, BEFORE WE EXPERIENCE CHANGE IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIFE, IT MUST FIRST COME FROM WITHIN. 

I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN.  GETTING IN TROUBLE SEEMS TO BE A VERY EASY THING TO DO.  IT IS QUITE OFTEN THAT I HEAR PEOPLE SAY, "I CANT WAIT TO GET OUT OF OAKDALE" OR "IF I EVER LEAVE THIS TOWN, I WILL NEVER BE BACK."  I WASNT RAISED HERE AND I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS IS WHERE I WOULD END UP.  BUT, HERE I SIT TODAY.  I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALOT.  I HAVE SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW FOR HAPPINESS.  LET ME TELL YOU A SECRET....NO MATTER WHERE I WENT, I TOOK ME WITH ME.....THINGS ALWAYS ENDED UP THE SAME.  I CREATED MY OWN MISERY.  I CAUSED MY OWN PROBLEMS.  I WAS MY OWN WORST ENEMY.

ROMANS 12:2 TELLS US TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS.  I FINALLY LEARNED TO LISTEN.  I AM STILL FAR FROM PERFECT, AND I REALIZE THAT I NEVER WILL BE, BUT MY LIFE HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY THESE DAYS.  I AM PERFECTLY CONTENT TO LIVE HERE IN THIS SMALL TOWN.  I HAVE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF BECOMING ROOTED AND GROUNDED.  THE LORD CONTINUALLY SHOWS ME THE IMPORTANCE OF A FIRM FOUNDATION BY LIVING MY LIFE ACCORDING TO HIS WORD IN THE BEST WAY THAT I KNOW HOW.  IT IS SO FULFILLING TO SIT BACK AND RELY UPON THE DIRECTION OF THE LORD.  I AM SO THANKFUL FOR HIS GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION.  THESE ARE THE THINGS I WAS MISSING.  HE FILLED IN THE GAPS WHICH THREATENED TO DESTROY MY LIFE.  AND FOR THIS, I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. 

THE NEXT TIME YOU BECOME DISCOURAGED AND FEEL THE URGE TO RUN, LISTEN FOR THAT STILL, SMALL VOICE OF THE LORD.  HE WILL LEAD AND GUIDE YOU.  HE WILL SET YOUR FEET ON SOLID GROUND.  IF HE DID IT FOR ME, HE CAN AND HE WILL SURELY DO IT FOR YOU!!!!

THANKS FOR READING MY "NOTE"
LOVE,
M

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