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When We Dance With Change

Change marked our summer. On September 1st, I found myself writing the following words in my journal, “The summer that never happened is now over.”

The months of June, July, and August burst at the seams with demanding activity. Our house went on the market and sold in five days. Six weeks later, we packed and moved out of our home and into a nearby apartment. And on top of the real estate shuffle, Larry underwent a sophisticated heart procedure (Watchman Flx Pro Device). In this unusual context of change on steroids, I became a learner.

6 Observations of Change

  1. Change steps into our known, dances around, saunters out, and leaves us facing the unknown. In this space of unknown, we feel our greatest degree of humanness.

2. Change reminds us that we are not and never were in control.

3. Change is a reality and the more we resist the harder it will be to adapt; the sooner we accept the change, the more peaceful and productive will be our sphere.

4. Change is saturated with opportunities to learn new lessons and live out old ones.

5. God makes change a beautiful, lifegiving, energizing experience when we release our change into His kind, capable Hands, and ask Him to use it for His glory and our good.

6. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Only Jesus will bring stability in my change, through my change, and out of my change.

Perspectives that Help Navigate Change

Just like missteps on the dance floor can result in stumbles, so missteps in the context of change can lead to slips and falls. These perspectives offer balance.

  • Embrace change as an ongoing reality in life. Gently tell yourself, “So be it.”

  • Consider the view of Julian of Norwich — “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”

  • Find lifegiving routines to fit into your day, i. e. a devotional, a cup of coffee, a walk, a bath, a good book.

  • Seek out the company of fun people for refreshing fellowship.

  • Live in the promises of God. A hallmark verse for change is found in Psalm 84:5,7, “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. They go from strength to strength.” (Like wow! Bring it on!)

Prayer: “Lord, please let change change me for better, not for worse. When I want to resist, motivate me to release. When I want to fight, turn my chin to fix my gaze on Your Face. When I want to go back, give me eyes to see You leading me forward in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Amen.”

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

When was the last time you experienced a significant degree of change in your life? What brought it about?

Take a moment and describe how change affects you. Perhaps you feel like the elderly gentleman in the Hallmark movie who said, “Change! Most of the changes I’ve experienced in my life were not wanted.” Or maybe you are energized by the fresh opportunities change brings. What would you say?

What has God taught you as you walk with Him through change?

Mining for Contentment

That elusive word contentment dances like a butterfly right in front of our eyes and then, just when we think we have it captured, the lovely creature escapes. So it seems with contentment. Am I right?

If asked, “What is contentment and how do we achieve it?”, what would be your response? Some say that it is an overall sense of wellbeing; others believe that it is a circumstantial condition which results when the relationships and realities of our lives fuel us with peace and happiness. And, the Bible tells us that contentment is a companion to godliness and the two result in great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)

It is this picture of great gain that has me captivated.

Daily Strength for Daily Needs, a volume that sits on my nightstand, contains an entry which expands our horizon for this 11-letter word. So powerful is the presentation, I have chosen to commit the content to memory and, also, to share it with you. Please read.

If we wished to gain contentment, we might try such rules as these:

1. Allow thyself to complain of nothing, not even of the weather.

2. Never picture thyself to thyself under any circumstances in which thou art not.

3. Never compare thine own lot with that of another.

4. Never allow thyself to dwell on the wish that this or that had been, or were, otherwise than it was, or is. God Almighty loves thee better and more wisely than thou dost thyself.

5. Never dwell on the morrow. Remember that it is God’s, not thine. The heaviest part of sorrow often is to look forward to it. ‘The Lord will provide.’

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

Try to articulate your working definition of contentment.

What is the greatest robber of your contentment?

Which of the five statements above do you want to commit to memory?

Along with the rules suggested, these verses are highlighted: Hebrews 13: 5, “Be content with such things as you have,” and Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.”

How do possessions and circumstances tend to hold sway over our contentment?

Daily Strength for Daily Needs by Mary W. Tileston, E. B. Pusey, contributor

Summer Series, Part 3

Do You Love Me? Part 1 Do You Love Me? Part 2

In our final 3-part Summer Series, you and I return to the shores of Lake Galilee to listen in on a conversation between our Lord Jesus and Peter.

Divine Instruction

The simplicity of wisdom shakes the earth. From a question of four words, “Do you love Me?”, Jesus gives instruction with two words: Feed and Follow.

Peter’s focus and future—his holy homework assignment from Jesus—fell within those two words. It was as if our Lord told him, “Peter, I want you to shepherd My people and to follow your Shepherd. Keep company with the sheep and keep company with Me.”

And later, in the Spirit anointed writings of First and Second Peter, we feel deeply the apostle living out of those Directives.

Divine Destiny

The Greatest Question pairs with the Greatest Commandment to guide us to The Greatest Discovery: LOVE. Like Peter, our soul’s destiny, and our daily satisfaction rest within our response to the Question of Jesus: “Do you love Me?”

Do you love Me? (with all your heart)

Do you love Me? (with all your soul)

Do you love Me? (with all your mind)

Do you love Me? (with all your strength)

“Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”

May it be so, OH MAY IT BE SO!

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ

whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

Looking back on this 3-part series, what is one life application take away?

If Jesus asked you, “Do you love Me?”, how would you answer Him?

This content originated in Bob Tiede’s recent book, 340 Questions Jesus Asked, where it was my privilege to contribute Chapter 6.