He Gives Me Butterflies

When I need a perspective change....GOD hardly ever goes easy on me.  I am not saying that to start a complaint or file a grievance at all...well, maybe there is a little whine sometimes, but it's more like a relief and thankfulness...like when you have a best friend and they can be totally blunt with you just because they are who they are to you.

Some perspective changers are funny.....like the other night I decided to put in some time on my elliptical machine.....it is sad that I have to build up to 10 minutes, but that is the truth.  So, I think I had gone 5 minutes (not even a mile yet) and I was starting to complain about it when Brad decided he was going to watch The Good Lie about the Sudanese Refugees.  I'm panting while watching numbers like 436 miles walked....575 miles walked...flash across the TV screen. :)  Those are the, OKAY, GOD...I GET IT! moments when He exaggerates the already obvious point like only a best friend can....only HIS points always make several points at once.

Other perspective changers are much harder to take....like one He has been working on with me lately.  His WORD is clear in my mind and for that I am grateful...I guess things always get pretty dark for the caterpillar before he emerges, transformed....but, that is part of the process.  It is interesting when you are in the middle of some kind of change, how many things God will use to remind you He loves you, He's with you, and there is a purpose....sometimes, it is so obvious, I get butterflies.

I was blessed through an essay I read today as a part of my job processing applications.  Today was pretty busy as we were inundated with work from the Christmas and New Year's break, so I realized I was starting to skim a lot of the essays because there were so many.  I usually like to read them well, so I can let the Admissions Reps know if there are any that stand out from the rest.  After I realized I was starting to hurry through them, I slowed down for the next one....a girl was describing a hardship she and her family had experienced through a health issue and she described so beautifully how she had come to a point of complete surrender.  It is always thoroughly touching to read an essay like that from someone so young....amazing the insight God gives us through trials (even in our youth if we are willing to learn and not harden our hearts to the lessons).  God knew I needed to slow down for that one.  She followed up her essay with the verse, Romans 8:21.

...Because the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay 

and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.