Quote from class tonight...

Heard this tonight in class:

"God cannot use a person greatly until He has first hurt him deeply."

I don't know about you, but that's a lot to chew on. Initially I felt anger rising inside just thinking that God would chose to hurt me??!! What? Then, as I thought about it, I felt comfort (I know, wierd!) I don't know if I can even do ANY justice explaining it. I think Mr. Ferris said that one will never develop humility to God without subjection to pain. God allows pain at times and uses it to develop us. Also, a person cannot truly sympathize with another until you've walked in that persons shoes. (All of that is a summary of about 10 minutes of discussion - told you I wouldn't do it justice, but I think you get the idea! - or at least I hope you do). That is the comfort, knowing that any painful things I've walked through, God is gonna use that to help another person!

Going to get some "shut eye" now!

But quickly - As for the zebra picture, I think I love it because of several things. 1. We are a lot like Zebras. We want to be all white or pure, but we have this darkness or black stripe(s) that keeps streaking our white coat. Regardless of how dirty Mr. Z gets, his fur is still technically only either white or black when you wash him off. No variations. 2. Now, we are spiritually like that too. We are either emitting light or darkness everywhere we go. Clothes, jobs, hobbies, etc cannot hide the coat of stripes, the black or white. There is no middle ground or blending of the two. Every action's root is either good or bad. 3. That poor zebra is in a "grey" forest and he's trying to just blend in. We all do that in this world we live in today as Christians. We just keep trying to fit in. We must have compassion (but without compromise). 4. And to top it off, he's surrounded by trees that are full of thorns and has been ousted from his pack. He's just struggling. I'm a lot like that too at times. But I just keep pushing through.

God, my prayer is that I'll never forget the black stripes that You've washed out of my life. Thank You Father for loving me! Thanks for picking me up and teaching me Your purpose for my life every day! Lord, may I be pleasing to You! I want nothing less than You dear Lord. Nothing less!!! May I be successful in Your eyes and not the world's version of success. I love You Lord!