January 31, 2014 - "He Knew Me First"

Well, after several days of being snowed in, it's back to work today and on some level I am happy about that. I do better with a routine. Also, it's very difficult for me to not wander into the kitchen for the next "something" while working from home. Last night I had to give myself a "high five" for sticking to the journey amidst all the meals I cooked. Sipping coffee with flavored creamers abundantly topped with whipped cream while munching on a warm cinnamon roll was a dream I had to rebuke. In my perfect scenario - this would have all occurred while watching the snow flakes fall rapidly and cover the yard to provide a new playground for my grands. BUT NO - fruit, unsweetened almond milk, steamed vegetables and warm tea were my reality. This morning the scale rewarded me for fighting for my new, snow-bound normal. YEA! I have started my prep work for the Super Bowl party. Hope you are planning ahead too. I know many times we feel we found God. Throughout the Bible we read that actually God knew us first. This morning while reading Galatians 1 again, the Apostle Paul reminded me of this truth. Paul was one of the "bad guys gone right" people in the Bible who really encourages me. Many of you know of Paul's dramatic conversion experience and how God spoke to him rocking his world and changing his course. God was less concerned with changing Paul's character and more concerned with bringing Paul into a love relationship with Himself. Remember God asked Paul, "Saul, Saul...why do you persecute me?" Isn't it interesting that God never asked why Saul was persecuting the church? God desires to bring us into His story FIRST that He can use for His glory. Galatians 1:15 reminds us that when God revealed Jesus in Paul, then Paul could impact others. I don't know about you, but I need God to reveal the Son in me daily so that I can reveal the Son to others daily. I am asking God to keep me focused on eternal things and to allow me to quickly understand those issues of non-eternal value. Sometimes I get SO STRESSED with issues that are here today and gone tomorrow. They simply serve as a distraction to my real, God-given purpose. God had a plan for my life first. He orders and arranges the steps of the righteous. I need to begin each day with asking for my assignments and seeing the eternal value in each one. Let's be grateful today that it pleased God to reveal His Son to each of us. That gives me perspective for today. Have a great one, PK