small god...BIG GOD

Had an fun and awesome time at our church retreat this weekend. It had been many years (over 20) and miles of my journey with God since I had been to Falls Creek. For those of you who don't know, Falls Creek is a big church camp set in the Arbuckle Mountains (hills to some!) in southern Oklahoma.

It was kinda weird being back in that place after so long. Some things seemed familiar...much of it as foreign as if I had never visited. But it did bring back some memories for me. Times when, looking back, I know God was working on me and in me...but many times when it seemed to escape my grasp that there was so much more I could learn and do. Not that just going and enjoying myself is in and of itself a bad thing, but I guess it reeks of missed opportunities more than anything.

I talked a lot recently about regrets and not having any, so let me assure you that I'm not doubling back on myself here. Recognizing the missed opportunities is important because it helps us learn. To regret the things I did then would mean wishing I had a different life now, but I couldn't be happier and I understand that I had to go through that stuff to get where I am today...so no worries, no regrets.

The thing is...I think we do miss out on opportunities sometimes simply because we refuse to believe it's possible. I can honestly tell you that, looking back on my life, I have never been denied my heart's desire. Anytime I've truly given my heart to God I've ended up with exactly what I wanted...and many times so much more! When I've allowed God to be as big in my life as He needs to be...when I get out of God's way and just surrender, great things happen.

Those other times, and I'm sure you've had them too, it seems like we just can't quite believe that we're special enough to have an awesome marriage or that we can kick that nagging addiction that has defeated us time and again. We want so desperately to have great kids and to be great parents; to have money to spare; to be able to give more generously...we want so much for the things that are off in our lives to be better and yet we never really want to open up and trust God enough to let Him shoulder the load. So we turn GOD into...well, god. We minimize the significance of having the Creator on our side. No matter how great your Dad here on Earth is, how many more times better do you think our Father God is????

Whatever it is with you...I still struggle with things sometimes, we all do...put your focus on God. Retreat further and further into God's grace and love for you. There is nothing you can dream that He can't help you accomplish. He has given us all the gift of Jesus which means we are free to dream the impossible and, when we do, to watch that little god turn into BIG GOD...after all, with Him on your side how can you fail?