Blogger Edie has been much on my friends' blogs these days. I was excited about her blog, which invites readers to answer a posed question on Fridays. I wanted to join in, too. (Nice to meet you, Edie!)
This may sound like a strange answer, but I think God has given me a heart for always seeing the "big picture" and for encouraging others to see it as well.
As I writer, I do love details. I love interesting facts, remembered trivia, crazy references, definitions, origins and parallels. Analogies? I sometimes go so deep into one that my readers can't get themselves back to the surface. (Not good writing!!) It's the rich details that make writing exciting, funny, poignant and personal.
But, without having a big picture in mind, the details are as snowflakes on the ground--pretty in and of themselves, but without structure, as they lie waiting to melt away or to turn the surrounding dirt into mud.
Our details--our little things--are often the subject of our undoing. We are obsessed with the small stuff. We get so worked up over the small stuff and perfecting it that we can't remember why it's important in the first place. (Are we making a snowman or an igloo? What do you mean it's a snowball figh-- !)
We need to have a big picture!
Sometimes, we pick apart our lives the way we pick off all the turkey meat from the bones at Thanksgiving. Not a pretty picture, is it?
We hold up our lives to the Scriptures and see how terribly short we fall. If we believe what we read, we know our lives aren't perfect and we want to change. All that is great. But how often do we get so obsessed over trying to re-right our shortcomings that we lose sight of the big picture of Christ's saving work on the cross? The Holy Spirit's constant counseling presence? God's Word? God's love, protection and covenant with His people?
I'm not saying we should all walk around with our small stuff dangling around our necks like some kind of fashionable bling or T-shirt slogan ("This is my sin and I'm working on it!"). We all have small stuff. It's a given. It's in the Book.
But, when I remember that there is a bigger picture, a bigger plan, for me and for everyone else in this world--and that I am not in control of any of that--then I can put my small stuff into a better, bigger perspective.
God has also given me a new passion for digging deep into His Word and for really wanting to understand the Truth, for which I am grateful beyond words I can write here.
What's your passion or passions? What has God given you a heart for or about?
How is it revealed in your life?
How is it revealed in your life?
This may sound like a strange answer, but I think God has given me a heart for always seeing the "big picture" and for encouraging others to see it as well.
As I writer, I do love details. I love interesting facts, remembered trivia, crazy references, definitions, origins and parallels. Analogies? I sometimes go so deep into one that my readers can't get themselves back to the surface. (Not good writing!!) It's the rich details that make writing exciting, funny, poignant and personal.
But, without having a big picture in mind, the details are as snowflakes on the ground--pretty in and of themselves, but without structure, as they lie waiting to melt away or to turn the surrounding dirt into mud.
Our details--our little things--are often the subject of our undoing. We are obsessed with the small stuff. We get so worked up over the small stuff and perfecting it that we can't remember why it's important in the first place. (Are we making a snowman or an igloo? What do you mean it's a snowball figh-- !)
We need to have a big picture!
Sometimes, we pick apart our lives the way we pick off all the turkey meat from the bones at Thanksgiving. Not a pretty picture, is it?
We hold up our lives to the Scriptures and see how terribly short we fall. If we believe what we read, we know our lives aren't perfect and we want to change. All that is great. But how often do we get so obsessed over trying to re-right our shortcomings that we lose sight of the big picture of Christ's saving work on the cross? The Holy Spirit's constant counseling presence? God's Word? God's love, protection and covenant with His people?
I'm not saying we should all walk around with our small stuff dangling around our necks like some kind of fashionable bling or T-shirt slogan ("This is my sin and I'm working on it!"). We all have small stuff. It's a given. It's in the Book.
But, when I remember that there is a bigger picture, a bigger plan, for me and for everyone else in this world--and that I am not in control of any of that--then I can put my small stuff into a better, bigger perspective.
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:16&17
"'I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.'" Isaiah 44:22
"...'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness'.... God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:26&31
"The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.'" Jeremiah 31:3
Comments
I love how you took the pictures and showed me it's not always what I see but it's only part of the plan.
Encouragment is a great gift,your gift to encourage helps people like me to past the 'little' stuff.
And I LOVE the pics!!
I so relate getting bogged down in the little details. Story of my life. Thanks for the inspiration.
Actually He is interested in every detail, even the hairs on our head are numbered, but He doesn't fret over them. He knows what they will turn into. :)
We should learn to rest in Him and trust His goodness more often.
Thanks for this today.
Love,
Sonya
And what a great revelation to focus on Christ's redemptive work instead of all of our sinful imperfections. We can see the big picture and know it's all going to be okay in the end. I think it also helps us to see the big picture in other people's lives instead of focusing in on all of their faults. Lately, I'm learning a lot about forgiveness and loving people as they are so this really helps. Thanks.