thinking about settling down...

I've been thinking a lot lately about what determines my success. This month I paid off my Jeep (3 months early) and created a new budget with a definite goal in mind. I want to be debt free and have a specific amount in savings by July 25. The goal is attainable and I'm already off to a great start. So if I reach the goal, does that make me successful. What if I only attain part of the goal and get out of debt? What if I completely fail and don't reach the goal at all?

There are several reasons for my goal-setting...not the least of which is being faithful with what I have been given. In fact, truth be told, being a good steward of what I have been trusted with is the main reason that I want to accomplish my goal. I've wasted almost everything in my possession; time, money, relationships...you name it, I've mishandled it. God has been trying for a while now to get me to acknowledge that I have excedingly more than I need and that I never give him credit for what I have. I've buried his talents and that's not good. So I'm going to stop avoiding his urging and finally listen to his voice. Please pray for me in this venture and remind and encourage me to be successful in my goals.

I've been trying to explain the hows and whys of my direction to a friend of mine, and I'm not sure he understands. In fact, his questioning of my goal and motives has made me search myself a lot more deeply than I had intended to do. Through our discussions recently, I've determined that he and I have completely different ideas of what it means to be successful. Now I'm not talking about right and wrong or even good or bad, just how we each define the end result of a life lived.

He asked me if I ever planned to "settle down and live in the moment"...and he has a point. I thought for a minute about what that question meant to me. Does that mean having a family? Maybe I should have been happy with one of the guys I've dated, overlooked his flaws and issues, happily accepted his baggage, and tried to just adjust to a life with him. What about a successful career that I enjoy? I loved teaching Middle School Math, but being an administrator at the Elementary Level means a lot more money and acclaim. Shouldn't I at least have a house of my own by now? Maybe I would be tied down to one place, but how often do I really move from one city to another?

To a lot of people, it seems that I'm always changing and focused on things ahead of me. And I would agree with that statement. I do seem to always be headed toward bigger and better things and at times I've wondered if that way of going through life has cost me something that I've not really begun to miss yet. I was questioning that tonight as we discussed what I would do once my goal had been reached...and that's when I realized the key word in his question. The one word that I think we can all agree never HAS and by the grace of God never WILL describe me. The one word in his honest and sincere question that will never be used as an adjective for me or my character. The word settle.

I cannot recall a time in my life when I have EVER really settled for something that I didn't believe was right for me. Have I made mistakes and lived in them un-apologetically... absolutely, but I've always worked through them to make them right. Have I compromised myself in all areas for (what I considered to be) the sake of another...without a doubt, but I've eventually reconciled this with Christ and made the hard choice to walk away from an unhealthy situation. Do I find myself in circumstances that are neither good nor spiritually nurturing...more times than not, but I never allow myself to stay there. I've done a lot of things in my life so far; some that I'm extremely proud to own and others that I pray only God and I will ever have to discuss. But the one thing that I get a lot of flack(and a lot of praise) for is that I have never settled.

I have been given ONE life, and I ALONE can determine whether or not it is a success. With Christ as my compass and yardstick, I will do my best to honor him and enjoy the time he has given me. To live my life to any measure less than "the fullest" would be the complete opposite of success. I will know success when I hear my father speak the two words that keep me moving forward remind me of why I will never settle..."well done." I vow to my Lord and Savior and to each of you reading this that although I may fail, I will do my best to honor what I have been given and to keep moving toward what he has for me to do...and I can say with all confidence, that means I will never settle!!

Give me a mission if I've still got the time,

Cause I'm open,Yeah I'm open!

Be my vision and I'll be your delight,

Cause I'm going wherever you're going!

Point of Grace "Day by Day"

Settling for Saul...

Have you ever stopped to think about or notice the similarities between Saul and David?
[1 and 2 Samuel]

Both were chosen by God to be King of Israel.
Both stood out in a crowd…though for different reasons.
Both were called and Anointed by God’s judge Samuel.
Both listened to God.
Both disobeyed God.
Both continued to communicate with God after they fell.
And still...

One was given complete grace and called “a man after God’s own heart”…while the other was cursed by God and utterly abandoned.
One spared the lives of people he had set out to kill, and was cursed… while the other committed both adultery and murder, yet was blessed.

Doesn’t seem quite fair does it?
Why would God favor one who showed mercy to his enemies over another who would kill to hide the truth? Why would he forgive murder, and turn his back on compassion?

The answer is simple...it all boils down to how they responded to God.

Saul chose to listen to God, BUT acted out fear. He lived his life concerned with how others viewed him and his leadership….afraid of “not being liked or respected by others.” His choices were made based on earthly standards and societal views.

David chose to listen to God THEN acted out of respect. He made mistakes in his life, and knew that God was to be obeyed in spite of how others would view him. His choices ultimately led him to repent of his sin and show remorse for what he had done.

What about you? How do you respond to God…BUT or THEN?
Does Christ view you more as a David or a Saul?

Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?