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by Buzz Dahlen Editor's note: Even though Buzz has left Cottonwood for Western Washington, he would still like to contribute his column to the Chronicle. If you have ever made a major move, you know what I mean when I wonder if I will ever get all of the boxes unpacked and the stuff put away. It just seems like I go to bed sore every night. I mean really sore, all over; feet, knees, and hips, back; even my elbows and hands are sore. There are so many boxes… On top of all that, where do I pout all of the stuff? I am thankful that we have a two-car garage, not to put the cars in but so we can store stuff until I can figure out where it is and then where to put it. Will it ever end? I have to say there is a plus side to all of this. First, its like everyday is Christmas. I have no idea what is in each box. When I open one up, I am surprised to find what I find. The hard part is, my memory is not what it used to be and I forget what was in the box and where I put it. The other nice thing is watching the garage space increase. I wonder, which is the positive way to look at it? “The garage is half full or the garage is half empty.” Today, while I was unpacking, I was blessed with a little reminder that God is right there with me as I go through this season in my life. There have been times when I need to re-pack something into a smaller box, sometimes I need the box, and sometimes I need the space. At any rate, you get going on a project and two or three smaller projects pop up along the way. At one point, I needed a small Phillips screwdriver. I knew just where one was and got up to get it. When I had finished with it, I realized that I had one in my pocket all the time. Later, when I was breaking down some boxes, the screwdriver came in handy to cut the tape. I also needed it later when I needed to make some small holes. I cannot tell you how many times I used that small screwdriver. I also cannot tell you how it got into my pocket. It must have been in a box and I took it to put into another box… The blessing was the reminder that God provides all that we need, before we need it. Peter writes: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:2-3 His divine power has given us everything that we need for life… Wow, what a great promise! I know that there are times that I have gotten down, felt real low, when something has happened and I wonder how I am going to get through this time. Naturally, I start to look for the solution, but typically, I find that I had what I needed all the time. My problem is, I forget, that God has provided in advance. I face a challenge and get frustrated because it looks like I don’t have what I need to get through it, but God has provided and I just need to draw from His provision. I have said to people many times, “I have never been stuck! If I had been stuck, I would still be there.” Too often, we see our momentary delays as being stuck. Think back to al the times you thought you were stuck, some how you must have gotten unstuck, otherwise you would still be stuck. Why does God allow us to get into “sticky situations?” I think it is because He wants us to remember that we have been given all that we need and use it. Peter goes on to write: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4-8 If you have given your life to Christ, He has given you everything that you need, its up to you to use it. |
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