What Else Is There?

The most over-used question heard is – “What do you want to ‘be’ when you grow up?” As a senior in high school and in college the question is, “What are you going majori in?” The word ‘be” could be the physical world, or it could be the spiritual essence of one’s inner self.

It is an easier question to answer when you are young, because your life isn’t set in cement! It is scary to choose. What if a person chooses the wrong thing, is there a ‘do-over’? I always played it safe – for me it was multiple choice. An opera singer, a missionary, or a secretary. Children always have an answer. I watched a five year old boy gazing with rapture as a bass player strummed his guitar. I asked the ‘be’ question. The young man looked at me with large sky-blue eyes and without a hesitation said, “I’m going to be a cop!”

Never did I imagine my life as it turned out, yet I can see that God led me all the way.I know that my life could have been very different at different points if I had made decisions.

As I read about Moses, I was amused, wondering how Moses would have answered the ‘be question at different points of his life. I could hear him saying, “There I was in my cradle, and suddenly I am in a basket taken to live in Pharaoh’s House – didn’t see that coming. Why was I compelled to kill the man who was beating on one of my own people? Was there a purpose for running away and talking to a burning bush in the wilderness? Oh, yes. Then I returned to Egypt on purpose where I could have been killed? Did I realize I would soon be taking a long walk in the wilderness with a stiff-necked people whose favorite occupation is’ grumping up’ life? That is not the life I envisioned.” Moses was a man of incredible faith, spiritual strength and courage.

How many of us know what God has in mind for us or what is just around the corner in our lives? How can we make our decisions God’s will and not just our own? All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25;10

Would I have made different choices? It seems that as time passes, I learn more and more and see the choices I could have made. But there is one more longing that I have. It isn’t a goal with how-to steps to achieve. It is a deeper relationship and a closer walk with God.

God made us individuals – each different – like snowflakes and finger prints – from the inside out. Our personality is our driving force, and analytic thoughtful person, an amiable go-with-the- flow person, or an expressive person who never stops or sees the need to stop talking. Why are we so different? What purpose is there in the different-nesses?

It comes back to the fact that we are God’s plan. He wants us to tell others about Him. He wants a relationship with us. What avenues to know God has He given us change our hearts? He has given us His Word to read, He has given us the promise of listening to our prayers. He has promised to be our Father, and in return we are God’s children. He ‘fathers’ us and we ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ Him. (The quotes denote that fathers, son and daughter are verbs – not a static understanding but heart-felt faith awareness. Taken from Walking in Heaven by Mike Mason)

We go through times when wrong seems right, when evil is honor and when dark is light. When our lives have no balance – no stability, we become hard hearted and turn our back on God. Yet God still loves us. He has told us Who He is…Isaiah 43:11 – I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.

Have you ever had a close relationship with someone? You long to talk, you long to know the person, you long to be with them every moment of the day. The presence of God – that is what we all yearn for, whether we know it or not. A few weeks before my Mom died, she asked me, “Do you see Jesus sitting in the corner by my bed?” I attributed her question to pain medication. And as I remember this, I know that she did see Jesus.

Recently I read from the notes from Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God, who was born in 1610. He was injured and suffered pain throughout his life, and yet his desire was to practice the presence of God by continually conversing with Him. He gave himself up to trusting in God in faithfulness. Brother Lawrence experienced a relationship with God that was constant. He spoke to God in simplicity, plainly, as a Child of God to His Abba Father. Brother Lawrence said, “The shortest way straight to God is by continued exercise (active) of love and doing all things for His sake!

Colossians 3:16 – 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.

Colossians 2:6-7 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Philippians 4:1 – Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Daniel 12:3 – Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Psalm 9:9 – The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Isaiah 48:17-18 – This is what the LORD says your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 
“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, 
who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, 
your well-being like the waves of the sea.

Luke 6:31,35 – Do to others as you would have them do to you. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.