Uncomfortable?

My family dynamics have changed over the last year... Empty nest has a whole new meaning.

My son is away in college. My house is quiet. Our meals are simplier...cereal is an easy one to fix...

I've struggled this year... During this transition...

Lost in the unfamiliar.....

With lots of time on my hands to think about those changes...and to be honest.... I've not done as well as I wish I had...at this point.

Change.... I do not do it well.

But, I'm trying.

Trying to find my place....finding my purpose...my self.

Sometimes we hold onto the old because it is comfortable.....familiar....and secure...

But there will be times in our lives that we are forced to change direction......and in those times.....we experience growing pains.

I think we will all go through times of major life changes.

Births, deaths, kids leaving home, marriage stresses, personal battles..and such.

It's in these times we are pulled to and fro that in the midst of the caios we find who we are as an individual...what we stand for, who we depend on, who we really ARE.

I'm learning to be comfortable with my new life...my new role, my new purpose.

I know the plans I have for you..... Jeremiah 29:11.

So glad I have a Savior to lead me there....

Thorns among the Roses...

You ever wanted your life to be a bed of roses?

2 Corinthians 12

EVER HAD A THORN?

A SITUATION- A PAIN- A PROBLEM- A TEMPTATION-
A NEED- A SICKNESS- A PERSON- A BURDEN

Life is not about walking among the ROSES............... but learning to appreciate their beauty, while dodging their thorns.

Carefully handled        Closely guarded          Gently held

because of the THORNS.

If God didn't allow pain in your life, would you be dependent on him? Would pride take over? Would our own value be so elevated that we wouldn't need anyone else...because we got it all.......on our own. We wouldn't need comfort. We wouldn't need direction. We wouldn't long for something better, easier, less hurtful.

Where would I be if I had such a sense of ENTITLEMENT- ELITISM? Would I need a Jesus? Would I need a S A V I O R ?

2 Corn. 12 7-10

⁷ Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Do I know that the thorn is there because God is teaching me to be dependent on HIM ALONE...his Grace. His Power. I can BEG for the thorn to be removed...............but the THORN keeps me closer to HIM. 

If we could see the end all, the "big picture", the PLAN.............. would I really want that thorn removed? If the END IS HEAVEN OR HELL, I think anything that keeps me leaning on Jesus.... is more of a blessing than a hindrance.

And perhaps, I should praise him for the thorns......