Your Past Has Passed

Most people I know are really good at looking into the past.

Seeing what’s happened in their life,
seeing what they’ve accomplished,
seeing how they’ve failed,
remembering past experiences.

While it’s definitely never wrong for us to look in the past to celebrate what’s happened and thank God for His faithfulness, I’ve noticed something…

It’s kinda rare that we look into the past and just look on the good stuff.

We often drift to past hurts,
past sins,
past mistakes,
past failures.

So, while we’re busy dwelling on the negative of the past, we often miss the opportunities of the present.

It’s important for us to keep moving forward,
to keep looking to the future and living for all that today is worth.

Don’t miss out on the hope of the future because of the horror of the past.

Feelin Around In The Dark

A few nights ago I had trouble going to sleep. After an hour of tossing and turning, I decided just to get up for a few minutes and try again later. Like every person awake well after their bedtime, I decided I needed something to eat. So, I grabbed the bag of M&M’s on the counter and started eating.

As I was pouring the second handful, I dropped an M&M. Knowing that chocolate isn’t good for dogs, I decided that I better not just try to kick it under the counter, but better pick it up. As I felt around in the dark, I couldn’t find it. I rubbed my hand across the floor all over, but couldn’t find it for anything.

Eventually, I had an idea…

I turned the light on. I found the M&M about 10 feet from the spot I was looking. Apparently that sucker rolled a while after I dropped it.

Aside from being a pitiful illustration, this taught me a lesson.

Don’t feel around blindly for something that can be easily seen in the light.

We all do it…

• We jump from job to job looking for something to make us happy.
• We chase goal after goal looking for purpose.
• We try method after method looking for satisfaction.
• We strive for perfection looking for acceptance.

The entire time, we’re just feeling around in the dark.

We seldom take the time to turn the light on – talk to God, listen to God, and obey God.

The truth is,

• God does want us to be happy.
• He does have a purpose for us.
• He does offer satisfaction.
• He already accepts us.

And He’s waiting to tell us.
He’s waiting to direct us.

Our first instinct is often just to feel around in the dark.

Turn the light on and turn the world UPSIDE down.

Snow Day. No Way.

Yesterday, a snow storm hit the south east.

Here in Orangeburg, we didn’t get the worst of it, but we did get enough.
Yesterday afternoon, Melissa and I began to get a little stir crazy and talked about getting out of the house.
While we were trying to decide if we wanted to brave the weather (we don’t get snow often enough to fully know how to handle it), I mentioned to her that it’s crazy that something that looks so pretty can be so dangerous.

Later, I thought about how true that is in other parts of  life as well…

• We like what we see in others, so we try to be just like them instead of being who God called US to be.
• We see what someone else has and think we need to have it too, so we go into more and more debt to get it.
• That sin looks so tempting, but has great consequences down the road.
• We can blame others for what we should take responsibility for, but we ultimately made the decision and pulled the trigger on the plan.

Sometimes, things may look really good in appearance, but have dangerous consequences.

Sure, we can choose to ignore the consequences and chase after the attraction, but it may do SERIOUS damage to us and those around us.

Choose wisely.