God is so intimate in His dealings with us... He even leads us on different paths in the same home. GASP... like one year when He led us to put one child in public, one in private and one in home school.
His point was simple - come follow ME, get to know ME, trust ME, rest in ME! There is so much freedom when our faith is in Him, not in our feelings of safety or our ability to rely on our own wisdom.
When issues and opinions become the point, they separate people because we so quick to be "wise in our own eyes," which means... "I am right so you must be wrong." Yikes.
God designs and brings up situations where we must make decisions. He designs issues and we form our opinions. He does this so that we can recognize what is really important. HE is!
He brings situations and issues to us so that in each of them we can trust in Him with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding, acknowledge Him so we can see how He does direct our path!! It's all about becoming familiar with and trusting in His attributes.
So the issue is never really the issue!
Home, public or private school
To watch T.V., movies etc or not
What kind of music to listen to
To read this book or not, play this video game or not
Courting or dating
Dancing or not
Drinking or not
Disposable diapers or cloth
What kind or no birth control
Breast or bottle feeding
How many toys can a child have
Babies cry it out, kids sleep in parents bed or what...
Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic, Juicing, High or low this or that
Women working or staying at home
Buy a new or old car
Democrat vs Republican (seriously)
This government official or that one
What to do or not do at the border
Boycott this store or that...
God wants us to come away from every issue with a deeper understanding of who HE is, not with more passion about an issue! We should not be defined by issues. The goal is that we come away in awe of GOD and willing to do what ever He wants us to do, because we are filled with His peace that passes all human understanding.
It is a joy to spend time with someone who is passionate about God and often a great relief to get away from someone who is passionate about an issue.
Every year and sometimes mid-year, we asked God. where He wanted us to put "our" children for the school year! One year He led us to put two of our girls in public school we told their teachers that we were here to support and encourage them, because God choose them to teach the girls! It was a great year and we formed great relationships with their teachers!
"Good or bad" wasn't the point... GOD was! What a great blessing that time was to us! And we really appreciated those who supported us in obeying God and found it hard to be around those who just tried to get us to do what they thought was "best" for "our girls."
Colossians 3: 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love (a desire to please God), which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
WE were created for His glory - God will bring us into situations that would normally might cause division between people... but because our focus is on God's glory, not the issue, it brings us to UNITY not DIVISION!
Wow, so powerful! Which is why Satan's great desire is to keep Christian's from being unified -- if he can keep us focused on issues, not God then we will be a scattered mess.
Luke 11:17 ... “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
God doesn't want us all to agree on the issues... He wants us to agree on His attributes and join together in worshiping Him for who HE was, is and always will be!
Revelation 5: 12...“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Whenever people would ask me, "Why did you do or not do, this or that," my answer was always the same wonderful answer... "Because that is what God led us to do." I am so thankful that God cares and leads His children!
