What is pleasing to Him.

I've been grasping for that which I'm afraid to lose.  I torment myself trying to protect a circumstance, relationship, opportunity, status, object, moment, season, or chapter.  I manipulate, control, and influence to preserve whatever I am attempting to maintain.  

 

And somewhere along the way, I became enamored with the method instead of the mission.

 

I suspect you can relate.

 

We are called to be Christ.  But we neglect this mission when we become fixated on the current method for exhibiting Christ. Let me explain.

 

That which we strain to preserve--that circumstance, relationship, opportunity, status, object, moment, season, or chapter--was provided by and for the Lord.  These are resources--and often blessings--provided as platforms for Christ.  They are not ours.  Yet I became so attached to the current platform for God's purpose, that I became inflexible in response to God's purpose.  And sometimes God's purpose means changing the platform.

 

When we become married to the current conduit for God's glory, we risk missing God's glory.

 

If this seems redundant, it is.  But I find myself in this place far too often. 

 

I pray the Lord prompts us to release the method and to take hold of the mission--to know and be Christ.  I pray we have the courage to bend with God's glory--even if that means changing circumstances. I pray the Lord works in us what is pleasing to Him.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.  The world and all of its people belong to him."  Psalm 24:1 (NLT).

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows."  James 1:17 (NIV).

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."  Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV).

I've failed to update you on a very significant event in my life.

I said goodbye to the ox that carried me through law school and my first years of marriage:

 

And I said hello to rico suave--who also separately heats water, I might add (hubba hubba):

 

Needless to say, I've missed you dear friends.

Much love to you,

Paige