I think it is beginning to occur to us all that we may only have four months left here in China. As we enter this last term, it almost feels like we are back where we started. By that, I mean it feels like graduation is drawing near and we all need to make decisions about what to do next. I hate to admit it, but I have been allowing myself to be so absorbed in the quest for future that I've allowed myself to be a bit absent these past few days.
Perspective is an amazing thing. There are always a few views to everything but thinking of the view that you yourself have, I'd claim there are only two views - the before and after. It would do us all a lot of good to spend more time reflecting truthfully on past events or decisions we have made and note how we may do things differently now that we know the outcome. I'm only 22 and I have a number of things I would do differently, though I wouldn't call this regret nor do I believe that my ultimate outcome up until this point has been altered by poor decision making. Whenever I have the position in which I can look back over past decisions, I think, for a brief moment in time, God is giving us His view that He has even before we approach the decision. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for Him when He's way on the other side and sees all the details with perfection and we are just starting to see this new decision that must be made. How simple it would be if we truly believed that we could place it all in His hands and not worry because He has it all figured out. Well, guess what?
A group of us around these parts have been really studying over Romans and it's all amazing stuff, but chapter 8 in particular really hit me. To paraphrase a bit, Paul makes a statement that may lead one to assume that those people who think according to the Spirit don't have right and wrong decisions to make. God has given us a Spirit of discernment and the wrong never appears as an option (I would hope). Rather, we have options that deal with good, better and best...sometimes even bestest. That's a pretty special gift that we have - options. Though options can seem stressful, I have to go back to trust and know that all things will work according to the good of those who serve Him. I might also be so bold as to claim that it doesn't matter what I or you do next, so long as we pray and have the Kingdom in mind. All decisions must be to further His glory and I think that starting perspective alone can rule out a few decisions you thought you had otherwise. As a dear friend of mine recently told me, life is transition so get used to it.
Jared and I just recently returned from a little trip to visit several locations throughout the east coast of China and it was a true blessing to see more of this country and meet some different people. The other places were good and the people were nice, but the food in Harbin beats them all! Jared and I missed our Harbin friends more than ever and we returned here knowing that we are in a truly special place filled with unique people. I'm looking back right now and He has given me that brief moment of His perspective and yeah, He knew what He was doing all along.
~Johnny Young
Perspective is an amazing thing. There are always a few views to everything but thinking of the view that you yourself have, I'd claim there are only two views - the before and after. It would do us all a lot of good to spend more time reflecting truthfully on past events or decisions we have made and note how we may do things differently now that we know the outcome. I'm only 22 and I have a number of things I would do differently, though I wouldn't call this regret nor do I believe that my ultimate outcome up until this point has been altered by poor decision making. Whenever I have the position in which I can look back over past decisions, I think, for a brief moment in time, God is giving us His view that He has even before we approach the decision. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for Him when He's way on the other side and sees all the details with perfection and we are just starting to see this new decision that must be made. How simple it would be if we truly believed that we could place it all in His hands and not worry because He has it all figured out. Well, guess what?
A group of us around these parts have been really studying over Romans and it's all amazing stuff, but chapter 8 in particular really hit me. To paraphrase a bit, Paul makes a statement that may lead one to assume that those people who think according to the Spirit don't have right and wrong decisions to make. God has given us a Spirit of discernment and the wrong never appears as an option (I would hope). Rather, we have options that deal with good, better and best...sometimes even bestest. That's a pretty special gift that we have - options. Though options can seem stressful, I have to go back to trust and know that all things will work according to the good of those who serve Him. I might also be so bold as to claim that it doesn't matter what I or you do next, so long as we pray and have the Kingdom in mind. All decisions must be to further His glory and I think that starting perspective alone can rule out a few decisions you thought you had otherwise. As a dear friend of mine recently told me, life is transition so get used to it.
Jared and I just recently returned from a little trip to visit several locations throughout the east coast of China and it was a true blessing to see more of this country and meet some different people. The other places were good and the people were nice, but the food in Harbin beats them all! Jared and I missed our Harbin friends more than ever and we returned here knowing that we are in a truly special place filled with unique people. I'm looking back right now and He has given me that brief moment of His perspective and yeah, He knew what He was doing all along.
~Johnny Young