(Remember, this blog post will have more meaning if you CLICK HERE to get the rest of the story before you read the end!)
Can you smell the aroma of our 'Deliciously Satisfying Life' cake yet? Listen to this little section of Scripture from The Message. 'Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent (definition-fragrant or sweet smelling) with life.' 2 Corinthians 2
Not only will our life be 'deliciously satisfying' to us but we'll give enjoyment just from the aroma of our life to our God and others as well! Bonus!
Well, a sweet smelling aroma isn't the ingredient we're stirring into our cake today. That was just a 'by the way'. :)
TIME - is our last ingredient. I found out something through my whole knee surgery adventure – muscles don’t gain their strength overnight when they have been inactive for months and months! I was quite surprised after my first therapy session with Lily when she said 'we'll have another treatment in two days' and then after that another one in two more days and another and another!
I finally asked her about 4 or 5 sessions later, “How many more sessions do you think I will need before I am better.” She gave that cute little laugh of hers and said in order to do this properly we need to take it slow and it will require quite a few more sessions.
Many of us feel the same way I did in the process of healing from our 'hurts, habits and hang-ups'. Now that we know 'why' we are experiencing emotional pain in our life we think we should recover from them overnight. But the facts are that we've usually been struggling for many years and its going to take more than a few days, weeks or even months to gain emotional/spiritual strength to heal. These unrealistic expectations can cause discouragement and disappointment.
The apostle Paul understood this and helps us with perspective on the healing process.
He said, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14 MSG
Thank you Paul! That makes me feel better! Our growth toward wholeness and maturity -- a 'Deliciously Satisfying Life' -- is a journey which we won't complete fully until we join the Lord in heaven. But let's not have be stunted and superficial in our growth by not 'stirring' in all five ingredients..............HONESTY, AFFIRMING RELATIONSHIPS, RIGHT THINKING, HOLY SPIRIT POWER, TIME!
TODAY'S QUESTION is the same one I asked at the beginning of this series........... Which of the ingredients do you need to focus on to be able to better 'taste and see that the Lord is good'? Maybe now that we've explored them more fully you would like to ask God to help you in that area towards a more 'Deliciously Satisfying Life'. MMMMMMMMMM! I call smell your fragrant aroma already!
Can you smell the aroma of our 'Deliciously Satisfying Life' cake yet? Listen to this little section of Scripture from The Message. 'Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent (definition-fragrant or sweet smelling) with life.' 2 Corinthians 2
Not only will our life be 'deliciously satisfying' to us but we'll give enjoyment just from the aroma of our life to our God and others as well! Bonus!
Well, a sweet smelling aroma isn't the ingredient we're stirring into our cake today. That was just a 'by the way'. :)
TIME - is our last ingredient. I found out something through my whole knee surgery adventure – muscles don’t gain their strength overnight when they have been inactive for months and months! I was quite surprised after my first therapy session with Lily when she said 'we'll have another treatment in two days' and then after that another one in two more days and another and another!
I finally asked her about 4 or 5 sessions later, “How many more sessions do you think I will need before I am better.” She gave that cute little laugh of hers and said in order to do this properly we need to take it slow and it will require quite a few more sessions.
Many of us feel the same way I did in the process of healing from our 'hurts, habits and hang-ups'. Now that we know 'why' we are experiencing emotional pain in our life we think we should recover from them overnight. But the facts are that we've usually been struggling for many years and its going to take more than a few days, weeks or even months to gain emotional/spiritual strength to heal. These unrealistic expectations can cause discouragement and disappointment.
The apostle Paul understood this and helps us with perspective on the healing process.
He said, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14 MSG
Thank you Paul! That makes me feel better! Our growth toward wholeness and maturity -- a 'Deliciously Satisfying Life' -- is a journey which we won't complete fully until we join the Lord in heaven. But let's not have be stunted and superficial in our growth by not 'stirring' in all five ingredients..............HONESTY, AFFIRMING RELATIONSHIPS, RIGHT THINKING, HOLY SPIRIT POWER, TIME!
TODAY'S QUESTION is the same one I asked at the beginning of this series........... Which of the ingredients do you need to focus on to be able to better 'taste and see that the Lord is good'? Maybe now that we've explored them more fully you would like to ask God to help you in that area towards a more 'Deliciously Satisfying Life'. MMMMMMMMMM! I call smell your fragrant aroma already!
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