All About Him

A friend's adorable daughter.

PERSPECTIVE

There are times I need a reminder. Maybe we all do. Job says that as surely as sparks fly upward we will have times of trial in this life. It is just common to man.

I love David's response under pressure. Psalm 39:3 states that David's heart burned within him. You know that anxious, in the thick of it feeling? Here, in Psalm 39, we get to peek in on David-- right there in the thick of it.

And what is his response? To go to the Lord. To take his eyes off of his circumstances and shift them to the Creator of all.

He makes a request-- not for relief from trial as one might suspect-- but for a right perspective:

"Lord, make me to know my end,

and what is the measure of my days,

that I may know how frail I am.

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreaths,

and my age is nothing before You;

certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor.

Selah."

~ Psalm 39:4

These precious kids came to bless us with their amazing talent a couple

of weeks ago and teach a jumprope camp.

David continues in this Psalm with a reminder that the things that were pressuring him were not all that important after all. The most significant issue was his standing before the Lord. He was waiting on God- and remembering that his trial was from God alone (Psalm 39:7-9).

Doesn't God's sovereignty bring such comfort in times of trial?

Never sure who is having more fun in the pool- Uncle Sven or the kids!

I ran into a dear and long time friend this weekend who has truly had her share of trial the past few years. She shared that Romans 8:28-29 were such a comfort to her:

"And we know that all things work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are the called

according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew,

He also predestined to be conformed to the image

of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among

many brethren. "

~ Romans 8:28-29

She said that the very fact the she knew God was using trial to conform her into the image of God's Son was such an encouragement that she was able to have peace in great trial.

Next door cousins who are 10 months and several inches apart right now!

NOT ABOUT US

There are certainly things that can tempt us to get it backward~ to forget that we are just "decorated dust" and a vapor on this earth.

But the truth continues to be that it's not about us.

They make it look easy. Trust us-- it's not!

It's about Him. Well, not this him... although he is incredibly cute. Of course, I am talking about the capitalized Him.

It's all about God.

Off the charts cuteness!

Maybe you have read Francis Chan's analogy about a movie extra who is SO excited to see his two-fifths of a second on screen- even if it is only the back of his head- that he rents an entire movie theatre so everyone can see this movie that is all about him.

That would be crazy, right? I mean, which extra in a film would really think the movie was all about him?

Aren't they amazing? That fun upside-down kid belongs to Deborah Wuehler. Oh, talent in that family...

Francis makes the point that often Christians do exactly that. And he asks us to consider the movie of life:

"God creates the world. (Were you alive then?

Was God talking to you when He proclaimed

"It is good" about all He had made?)

Then people rebel against God

(who, if you haven't realized it yet, is the

main character in this movie),

and God floods the earth to rid it of the mess people made of it.

Several generations later, God singles out

a ninety-nine-year-old-man called Abram

and makes him the father of a nation

(did you have anything to do with this?)

Later, along come Joseph and Moses and many other

ordinary and inadequate people that the movie is not about.

God is the one who picks them and directs them

and works miracles through them..."

Francis Chan, Crazy Love, p. 43

Sweet big girl with a contagious smile!

And-- well, we get the picture. From the time of creation, all the way to the throne room of God, this movie is not really about us.

It's about God.

It highlights His creative genius. His holiness. His mercy. His power and patience. His love.

Oh those eyes~ prepare to be sucked in!

"From start to finish, this movie is obviously about God. He is the main character. How is it possible that we live as though it is about us?"

~Francis Chan

Francis makes the point that we have only our tw0-fifths-of-second-long scene to live. I want mine to be about God, don't you?

I want my life and my words to join the chorus of believing saints who have lived faithfully before me-- and those who will live faithfully after me. Though our lives are but a vapor I want to join that continual stream of pilgrims, tied together by a common service and love.

A remnant.

Sweet play mate.

So, that means if things are going great-- and all is well-- we can praise Him! Our identity is found in Christ.

We can demonstrate that the things of this earth are nothing compared to the knowledge of God.

That we value the Pearl of great price, and not the pearls of this earth.

Precious Mama and her cute boy.

So, that means if things are NOT going great-- in times of trial-- we can praise Him! Because, if we are in Christ we have already received far better than we deserve!

It's really not about our best life now.

It is about our best life in eternity.

Love.

We can be a living testimony that it is all about Him.

Our 5 year old Lydia~ who is hooked on jumping rope~ or at least carrying one.

A visit with Arizona friends.

A sweet big boy after running and playing ball with the kids.

Some of our fun summer moments.

Perspective makes all the difference. Remind me of that if I am tempted to forget, okay?

Blessings to you as you make life all about Him!

________________________

Photos: Summer = Time with friends, produce from the garden, crafts, school planning and lovely flowers! Hope you are enjoying as well.