Rear View Mirror Driving

I was driving with my Mom yesterday and a car behind me was just getting way too close for comfort.  I don’t even like to be followed almost bumper to bumper in town when we’re going 25 MPH, but out in the country (at approximately 55-60 MPH), I was feeling really cramped for space.

Trying to remember to just keep my eyes on how I was driving, I avoided looking into my rear view mirror every few seconds.

When the guy finally passed me, I couldn’t help but think of how many times, in my Christian walk, that I hadn’t avoided the mirror and kept my eyes glued to the past.

I sometimes view my day-to-day life with that of driving a vehicle.  Past mistakes come right up behind me and grab my attention to the point where I don’t focus on what is before me, but instead, on what I’ve done wrong in the past.

In a car, if I keep looking backwards, I could end up in a ditch or run into another vehicle.  As is in my spiritual walk with Christ, looking back, regretting things, and taking my eyes off of the One Whom I should be looking to, I could seriously hurt myself and others by making more wrong choices.

I’ve heard many pastors give this comparison before, but as with many other things, those words don’t “sink in” until I really start to think about it.  

I believe it’s ok to look back at the past sometimes, because then I remember that those decisions went sour and so I will not go there again.  However, I also believe that looking back is something to be careful about.  “Glancing” can be good; but “staring” draws our attention away from Christ and His perfect plan for us.

We can never get fulfillment by looking into the “mirrors” though, but we can if we keep our eyes on what lies before us and getting ready for the obstacles ahead.

I have already faced many obstacles before.  Now with Christ, I can keep looking straight ahead, because that’s what will keep me on the path that He has laid out for me.

Hebrews 12:2 “..looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Blessings,
Anna

Tagged

I was tagged many weeks ago by Elizabeth. Thanks, Liz! I really enjoyed writing out my answers. :)

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I needed somewhere to post my thoughts. I love writing and I had wanted to start a blog for a long time. I didn’t have a lot of time to write last school semester, but when I met Anna and asked her if we could do it together, I knew it would work. We both love writing, and because there are two of us, it is not as hard to keep up with posting. Thanks for posting with me, Anna. :) 

 2. Are you excited for summer? Why or why not?

Yes, I am. It will mean that I have finished my piano exam and high school. I will get to see many of my friends who live farther away and I will graduate at my church. I will also start studying for CollegePlus! again. Plus the weather is often nicer for outdoor activities. ;)

3. What would you like to see more of on my blog? What kind of posts are your favourite?

I’m not sure what else I’d like to read. You seem to have a good mix of everything. I love your posts where you tell how you have applied God’s Word to a situation in your life. Those are probably my favorite, but I like them all, really. ;)

4. Do you know a second language? If so, which one?

I know a little bit of Spanish as I took one high school year of it. I can read and understand it better than speaking it though.

5. What has God been teaching you lately?

Hmm…that’s a good question and it might be a long answer. ;) He has taught be so many things this year (as in school year). It has been perhaps my most difficult, yet, the most rewarding as I look back and see what He’s taught me. I will list things chronologically (for the most part). He taught me—or rather, showed me—that friends are invaluable, that relationships are worth fighting for, and that there actually are others out there who share similar convictions. Another thing He taught me was diligence and perseverance. There have been days when I have had absolutely no concentration for studying. I couldn’t sit and study; I couldn’t focus; I couldn’t remember things for tests. My lack of focus got really annoying after a while because I had done well academically in grade 11. But after realizing that I need to turn things off and just study, I basically forced myself to do better.  In some ways it worked, but a lot of it was only through God giving me that drive to do well again. There were many months when I could not have cared less what my grade results were. And, yes, grade averages aren’t the only important thing in this world (that’s also another lesson He taught me ;)), but I have a responsibility to do my best. That is what matters. Not the percentage I get. But, also, my school cannot get in the way of family relationships. I must cultivate those as well, even if that means that school will suffer. Perhaps it was rather ironic that family relationships came up after I started getting back into serious studying, I don’t know, but I learned there is a balance that is hard to find, sometimes. I have not found it completely, but I understand it better now. Another concept God taught and is teaching me this year was knowing the what and why of my beliefs, and believe me, I’m not finished, yet. ;) This is one thing I loved learning as it caused me to search the Scriptures, memorize more, and discuss things with other friends. More recently perhaps, I have learned that my relationship with God becomes closer when I am “in the valley”. Sure, I have a relationship with Him when life is great, but that’s not always when you learn the amazing characteristics of God: His love; His faithfulness; His joy. It was in the midst of confusing and conflicting circumstances that I learned the most. He is also still teaching me perseverance as I finish up high school. I can see the end now and impatience is setting in as I want to be finished. :P I also learned a lot about waiting this year. Waiting for answers; waiting for others; waiting for direction from God. Yes, I have learned much. Not outwardly so much, but definitely inwardly in my thinking.

6. How would you describe the perfect day?

On earth, there would be many perfect days for me if my dreams were fulfilled: meeting all the friends I have never met; getting married; raising children (yes, I realize that’s not just one single day); starting a business of breeding dogs; watching my sisters get married. Yes, those are just some of the “perfect” days that I would love to experience.

But.

Those are all nothing compared to the perfect day in heaven. When I pass from this sinful world to that of Christ’s glory, that will be perfect. When I enter the place He has prepared for me and see the angels about His throne constantly singing praises to Him, that will be perfect. When I see my risen Savior--the One who suffered, died, and rose again for me, the One who lives to intercede on my behalf, the One who carries me through life’s journeys--that will be perfect. When I hear my name read from the Lamb’s book of life and hear His “well done, thou good and faithful servant”, THAT will be perfect. Nothing else compares to all that.

7. Would you like to travel (now or in the future)? If yes, where would you go?

Perhaps I would, if I was with family or friends or going to visit family or friends. ;) I would love to visit more of Canada and the US. I have always wanted to. I would also maybe like to visit New Zealand.

8. What is your favourite book of the bible and why?

Well, I’m not sure I have a complete favorite, but I really love Philippians. Many of the verses I have clung to this year were in that book. Also parts of Isaiah, Deuteronomy, and 1 Thessalonians mean a lot to me. I have memorized several verses in each of those books, too, so that makes them a bit more “special”.  

9. Are you short, tall or average? What do you like and dislike about your height?

Oh boy. I better be careful what I say here. :P At 5’2’’, I am short. That is definitely true. I can fit into all different size clothing depending on the sizing because the length will always vary on me. However, I often will need to shorten skirts/dresses because they are too long (as in, dangerously long) or I just can’t buy them. :P I like being able to duck under things without hitting my head and my height is nice for some games so I can avoid being caught or hit. Oh, and I can climb counters and shelves if I need to reach  things. I like climbing so that’s a good part of being short. Things I dislike…I get teased about it (Although, that isn’t really a dislike, as such. It’s just something that comes along with being vertically challenged. :P). I can’t reach things right away if they’re up high. It’s a longer way to the ground if you’re jumping off something. And it’s harder to find clothing that’s the right length, sometimes. But other than that, I’m happy where I am. It would feel really weird to suddenly get taller after living at this height for most of my teen years.

10. Do you think coffee or tea is better? Or do you like either? Why?

I think tea is better, but I only drink herbal tea (or anything without the caffeine). I have never tried coffee, but I don’t want to, either. ;)

11. What are your plans for the future?

Haha, MY plans? Well, I would like to graduate, earn my BA through CP!, become a coach for CP!, help my sister with schooling, take over some of dad’s bookkeeping, raise dogs, get married, have a family, etc. But those are my plans. I don’t know what God has for my future currently, but He knows. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” That is my future. :)

"Seventy Times Seven"

Matthew 18:22 “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

I’ve found that I’m the type of person who finds it more difficult to forgive someone who has wronged me, than to ask for forgiveness. I just find it so much easier to admit that I was wrong, than to be stubborn and refuse to apologize. I don’t apologize for the beliefs and values that I hold. However, I want to make right for the way I might have said those things. Even if I could have won the argument, how I got my message across will either encourage the other person or drag them down farther.

Sometimes though, it’s turned around. I have to forgive someone else. This is tricky. When that person has hurt me so deeply, that I ache for weeks on end, I have the hardest time forgiving them. I know what it’s like being on the end where a friend says one thing to your face and find out later, that they said something completely different to someone else. Usually, another close friend. This hurts. I have an option though. I can either silently forgive that friend, if they don't apologize, or live in anger for the rest of my life.

Matthew 6:15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

God wants us to love one another, just as Christ loved us. In my opinion, it’s impossible to love someone and not forgive them.

When Jesus was on the cross, He asked God to forgive them, for they didn’t know what they were doing.” (Luke 23:34).

Though they crucified Him, He forgave them.

God loves us; that is why He forgives us when we ask Him. God could just let us wander around in the dark, but because He cares for us so much and wants us to love and care for others, we must also forgive them as we are called to be Christ-like in this world.

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Are we called to love and forgive those who are (intentionally or unintentionally) hurting us?
Are we supposed to forgive a person over and over again, even if they do the same things to us time after time?
Would Jesus forgive them?

I believe the answer to all three of them is “yes”. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)  God does not forgive us on occasion or when He feels like it. As humans though, forgiving a person who did us wrong, is sometimes what we would rather not do. It’s also not something that we can do on our own strength. God will give us that strength when we ask Him.
God encourages us to take a step forward and forgive..even if it means forgiving “..seventy times seven”.

God bless,
Anna

Proverbs 5:21

His Joy!

Sometimes life is crazy. So much to do. Studying. Family. Friends. Emails. Chores. Decisions. …..Life. And then I get into this routine of nothing. It’s like I just do everything automatically. Doing chores is like walking around the house in a dream. Talking to family is like communicating through a thick blanket where people have to enter into my world with “Hello, Kal. Are you there?”. Studying…that’s just black and white words on a page. :P Emails turn out to be diary epistles and chatting with friends is just fingers typing. Decisions are made logically with almost no feeling at all. There’s just a distance from everything. It’s when I get wrapped up in my own little world—thinking, remembering, re-playing too much.

And then there are those days when I remember why I love living. Studying the courses I have, I remember that I just love learning. I love studying and memorizing. Especially when I “get it”.  Family members made me laugh until my stomach hurts and siblings share inside jokes while the parents go cross-eyed. :P (Yes, we do explain to them  afterwards usually. :P) Friends are there to discuss the deep conversations that make me think and consider things in a new way. Emails and chatting become trivial as both sides wish for face-to-face conversations. Chores become enjoyable again and I am reminded that, yes, I do love cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry. Feelings return when I hold those little babies, and have that intense God-given desire for children of my own. That’s when I remember my purpose here on earth.

Yet, in both those kinds of days I have a choice. A choice that affects how I carry out anything else. A choice that affects my emotions, attitudes, responses, actions and everything else. It’s the choice to choose joy. The joy that exceeds any pain and turns it into rejoicing because He is our strength. (Neh.8:10) The joy that refocuses my thinking and turns me to the One who is the Giver of that joy.

God never promised that in this life

There’d be no struggle with inner strife.

Endless temptation on every side;

Evil desires and sinful pride.

Still he is with me to make me strong.

Keep me from fainting when days are long,

And in each trial give victory.

That’s what He’s promised me.

That’s what He’s promised me.

It is in His strength that I go through every single day of my life. Communicating with people, studying from books, working in my home. In His strength. Not mine. His strength and His joy takes each hasty response and turns it into a meek and quiet spirit. His strength shows me the joy of completing the mundane everyday chores. His joy that makes me love living in the place He has sent me to.

God’s joy also exceeds any of my happiness. The enjoyment I find in studying, in family time, in  writing, in talking is SO much less than the joy He can give me.  His joy is eternal and nothing can take it away. (Ps. 16:11) The happiness that I receive from meeting like-minded friends—a happiness I cannot describe—will be nothing compared to entering His heavenly glory and hearing His “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matt.25:21) I think that the joy His children will receive at that moment will be more than we could humanly handle. Yes, His joy is far greater than anything I could dream of, and I am willing to give up the happiness of this world to one day receive His joy—the kind that is only found in Jesus Christ. The joy that comes from knowing He is faithful. (1 Thess.5:24) The joy that comes from loving fellow believers, abiding in His love, and obeying His commandments. (John 5:10-11) The joy that comes from surrender and casting all your cares upon Him. (1 Peter 5:7)And the joy that comes from being a child of an ever-faithful, all-knowing Father, who holds us in the palm of His hand. Carrying us through each valley and over each mountain. Reaching the Promised Land. And then, finally, hearing His “Well done.” That is true joy. 

Today, may you all seek true joy in every circumstance and situation. Because His joy will surpass all of your pain, and any of your happiness. His joy is what will keep you going through the toughest and happiest of times because the joy of the Lord is your strength.