Are you stuck at the trough?
Does the earth look the same to you as it does to a astronaut in space?
Do things look the same to you now as they did when you were 10 years old?
Please read Luke 15:20-24
Have you ever been so made at God that you would wave a middle finger in the air and scream and yell, “I HATE YOU, I HURT AND YOU DIDNT DO WHAT I ASKED?”
I have and that is the reason I ask.
Have you ever cursed someone because they seemed happy and content even in a bad situation, they were able to Love and show compassion?
I have, and that is the reason I ask.
Yes I could get stuck here talking about hurt and pain and I will share my testimony if you like through and email but I dont have any desire to compare scars. I will Love you and hold you through it but the only reason I am able to do that is because of getting past that middle finger and moving away from the trough. The trough taught me some lessons that I could not learn unless I was looking straight into the turds floating by and while the smell was beyond belief it would have been easy to get stuck there.
Are you stuck there?
Is the smell of that anger and hate and man made logic comfortable?
The trough can be comfortable! The way of legalistic, law abiding work your way to salvation mentality can be comfortable! As can the heat of anger that grows into the root of bitterness that keeps you from the Fathers Love just like legalism!
What if God was and is holding that 10 year old boy that just lost his father to cancer?
What if my perspective was on the Love and not the turd in the trough?
Vs. 20 “So he got up and went to his Father. But while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him and was filled with compassion for him: He ran to His son, threw His arms around him and kissed him.”
Even if you think you are still a long way off if you make the first move God will RUN TO YOU with Love and arms open wide! I know because He held a little 10 year old boy even while my middle finger was extended at Him, He held me.
I have found for me much of life is about perspective, isnt it?
Do I see the trough or do I see the Love that lights the way home?
Vs. 21 “The son said to Him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
Funny how brokenness can heal isn’t it? Once the son came to a place of needing the Love and seeing the alternative in the trough and understanding that everything else is just a turd in a trough, he could go home and Home came running to meet him.
Vs. 22 “But the Father said to His servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet….. Lets have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine that was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.”
Would you like to have a PARTY TO END ALL PARTIES??
Would you like to come to life from the death of bitterness and anger and hatred?
The clinical definition of depression is “anger turned inward” I know I was there but I made it to the party with a single step called Grace. The party is Love and God is the host- Care to join us?