Beginnings part 1
My Bible case proudly proclaims, "God allows U-turns!" And I always like to add that He, in fact and in truth, encourages them. And I think this is important to Rant about because it seems to me that its easy... so very easy... to get stuck in a rut. To settle for things, no matter how (I'll just say it) horrible they are sometimes. It never ceases to amaze me the things that we humans are capable of putting up with. And, yes, I just did a whole Rant series about forbearing in love. Not just putting up with things (or people) but embracing them for what (and who) they are. But I tried to sprinkle in my belief that you should NEVER put, or keep, yourself in a bad situation. As my pastor always says, "a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out." So let me quote my memory verse. Zechariah 4:10 (NLT), "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.)" The Lord rejoices to see the work begin. He not only allows U-turns, He encourages them. Rejoices in them. Because its never too late. You're NOT stuck. And how does that old saying go? "Don't hold on to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it." You can do a lot more damage by holding on than by letting go. Think about holding on to a rope. The tighter you squeeze the more the rope burns you. But when you let go... it might feel like you're falling, but in reality you're free. And, by the way, that rope was never holding you up anyway. It was dragging you down even as you tried to drag it around with you. Hebrews 12:1 says it like this, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." See, we think overcoming means climbing the mountain. But, in truth, the way is straight and narrow. We just let things trip us up. We just get off that path sometimes. And then we think its best to just keep barreling ahead, rather than stopping and recalibrating. Starting over can seem like a daunting task. I get that. Everything we've done has led us to where we are. Ok. But just because we got lost and ended up here doesn't necessarily mean we BELONG here. "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21). The Word, by the way, which is Jesus--which is love. Love lights the way. So follow your heart. Walk by faith, not by sight. Don't settle. Don't ever settle. And don't be afraid to make a U-turn. Even if it takes baby steps. Baby steps are still steps in the right direction. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, right? So do not despise small beginnings. Everyone has to start somewhere. Even if that means starting over, right where you're at. You're story isn't written yet. Your past does not define you. Beginnings are awesome (as we're going to see). So don't think you're stuck. take that step. Follow your heart. Dream that dream. Be your best you. Live a life of love!