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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

It's Okay To Be Where You Are At, It's Not Okay To Stay There*

I remember growing up and attending Sunday School and hearing all the wonderful stories about the mighty men of God and thinking Wow, if only I could be like them.  These mighty men of faith we were taught about in Sunday School, they sure did leave us with such a high standard to live up to.........or did they?

I'll admit that I never really read my Bible, all of it....Old and New Testament.  Sure I read a book here and a book there, a chapter here and a chapter there, but I had never really sat down and read it cover to cover until about 5 or 6 years ago.  I started with the New Testament, because well, I knew that would be "easier" for me to read then all those "old" books.  And it was when I was reading those "old" books that I realized all those years in Sunday School I had been lied to. Stay with me, don't start yelling at me yet.

I had heard about Abraham and what a great man of faith he was, the father of many nations; Samson and his great strength;  Moses and the leading of the Jews out of Egypt and many, many more.  It wasn't until I started reading the Old Testament, really reading it, that I realized what flawed men they really were.  They weren't perfect and made a lot of mistakes, yet God still used them, called them and blessed them.

Abraham, the "Father of Faith", willing to sacrifice his own son, was scared and lied.....

Samson was arrogant, prideful and really not very smart.....

Moses stuttered, was timid and even dared to question God using him......

So, what is my point in this?  It's this NEVER think you are too much of sinner for God to love you, to call you, to bless you.  There was only one perfect man to ever walk this earth and God knows this.  He knows where you are, what you've done, what you've said and what you haven't said or done, but He still loves you.

We are ALL flawed human beings, but we should be striving daily to do what is right.  We may fail and fail badly, but tomorrow brings a new day and a new chance to try again.  It's not important how many times you fail, but that you keep trying.  It's okay to be where you are at, it's not okay to stay there!*


*Title credit goes to Bill Putnam