The Blended Life

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28 (Amplified Bible)

If left up to me, I would dissect my life (even my days) removing that which was painful, uncomfortable, or troublesome and live out of only the things that brought me pleasure, satisfaction, and joy. While I think that would be a good thing, it would actually be a disaster. It would stunt my growth physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What God wants me to understand and embrace with enthusiasm is that it takes ALL the elements to grow me up in Him. That is the idea behind the phrase “work together.” I like to think of it in terms of mixing together…much like a baker mixes the ingredients for a cake. If he were to use only the sweet ingredients or only the bitter ingredients there would be no edible result. No good would come of it. He must use it all!

When I take a bath or a shower, I use both hot and cold water in an effort to get a comfortable temperature. God uses both the hot and cold situations of my life to bring about His plans and purposes for me. I see that so clearly. My difficulty comes when I forget that He also uses a blend of my strengths and weakness, the availability and unavailability of friends, the tears and the laughter in a day, my moments of rest and moments of activity, books as well as music, and so forth. He will do that whether I am aware of it or not. My part is to trust Him in the process and to not worry that I am some how going to mess things up for Him.

Because I am a visual person, God often uses tangible things to make the pictures clearer to me. Hence, He shows Himself in Scripture as a Potter and a Vinedresser. He is a ‘hands on’ God who is involved in every area of my life. He knows when to mold and when to prune. He knows when to work my spiritual muscles and when to massage them. He knows when to call me aside and when to send me out.

I have often cringed at mistakes I made in past relationships. God says, “I used it all and will continue to do so.” He wants me to stop looking at them as pass/fail tests and just see them as life that has been lived and His faithfulness to do the blending of experiences. Who I am today has been built upon the blending of all my yesterdays. Every decision, every step, every moment, every success, every failure, every triumph, and every trial. All means all!

Father, I take it all because I know that You use it all. I trust You to continue to gift me with a well blended life. Amen.

Your Grace Still Amazes Me - Phillips, Craig & Dean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNClAJO2tnQ

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.