It's not mine

As I continue reading It's Not About Me, by Max Lucado, I keep realizing the truth about life. The chapter I was reading today reminded that everything that I have, that I call mine, isn't really mine. What I have, came from HIM. What is currently in my posession, is from HIS hand, given to me. Why has it been given to me? So that I can give Him all the glory for it.

Then why do I have pain? Same reason. If we are healed, it showcases HIS power. If we suffer for HIS sake, it highlights HIS sovereignty. If we show the joy of the LORD, even in our sufferings, take on HIS peace, we point to heaven and shout, "HE is LORD above all, through all, and in all!"

Looking back, I see the greatest example of this in my own life. My dad passed away four years ago, a victim of Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). You may have heard of this before, or you may have only become aware of it now that some more well known have been diagnosed with it. (Bill Bright and Jerry Lewis are the two that come to mind.) But through it all, my dad's faith remained firm. He knew he was assured of glory. He was frustrated with the disease, but never cursed God for it (as Job was asked to do by his "friends"). The thing he said that made the biggest impact to me was related to me by my mother as he left Mayo Clinic after being told the chances of his survival of the disease: "Well, you have to die from something."

Even now, writing those words, I see that GOD's peace was in my dad. He didn't argue, didn't complain. He accepted what would later prove to be correct. But he attended church each Sunday, and prayed and read GOD's word every day. He glorified GOD even unto his death. Unfortunately, I didn't realize what he was showing me until recently, looking back. It wasn't about him. He wasn't cursing GOD at his death. He never lost his faith. And heaven was rejoicing when he finaly was home with his LORD.

With that image in mind, I go out and thank GOD that I live this life for HIM, and hope that I seldom forget that.

Peace to you all.