Voices from the Past

Living Exponentially is more than looking at your own life, but is learning to look beyond yourself and rejoice in what God is doing through those who from your past. Life truly is an amazing adventure. Mark Lowry, in one of his skits, says that his favorite Bible verse is, "It came to pass." This is a very prominent phrase in scripture, though not an actual verse of its own, and Mr. Lowry makes a powerful point. He uses humor to make that point that no matter what is going on in your life, it will end and something new will begin. This is an important principle in our Christian walk. With this concept, we need to remember something else. God uses everything we have been and experienced to create in us who He desires us to become. Romans 8:28-29, says, "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” (HCSB) In this verse, we see that God had a call on our lives before we were born. This also means that he new everything we would experience in this life and chose to use it all to shape us into whom we are today. One of the great joys in my life was when I realized that God was able to transform "all" my experiences to bring Him Glory. This was a difficult concept for me to accept and that failure prevented me from being everything God desired from me until I was able to do so. I have recently discovered a wonderful addition to this truth. When I surrendered to live my life fully for God, I chose to leave behind my old "friends" from my disobedient years. What a blessing to discover that several of my old "party" friends are now walking with the Lord. I would like to give a shout out to: Craig Hughes, who the last I heard was now working with youth on the California coast; to Eric Hughes, who is truly walking with the Lord, loosing his life in a motorcycle accident several years ago, but who had begun that walk before going home to heaven; to Chuck Smith, who is doing mission work all around the world; and finally, to Michael O’Malley, who speaks regularly to churches and recovery groups about how Jesus transformed his life. Thank you Lord for reminding me that it is not just the events of my past You are able to redeem, but of greater value are the people of my past that you redeem! You are truly the God of grace. May more discover Your great love and compassion found only in our Lord Jesus Christ!