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July 24, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Where Do I Go from Here?, by Tom Norvell
Life sometimes throws us a curve. You thought you had it figured out.
You thought you had done it all right. You thought you knew where you
were headed. Then, seemingly out of the blue, something comes along
that changes everything and causes you to question people, faith, and
the very foundations of life. So, you ask, "Now what? Where do I go
from here?"
You have worked so hard to get to this point in life. Made wise
decisions. Did not make too many really foolish mistakes. You saved and
didn't squander what you had. Then, the shocker! The illness.
Everything changes. You ask, "Now what? Where do I go from here?"
You prayed to be good parents. You did it all right. You read
everything James Dobson ever wrote. You went to conferences. You
attended seminars. You asked the wisest people you knew for advice, and
you followed it. Then your child reveals plans that contradict
everything you believe. You ask, "Now what? Where do I go from here?"
You gave your life to the company. You sacrificed your personal life.
You sacrificed your family. You sacrificed your health. You assumed,
"They will take care of me." Then one day you get the news, "We're
downsizing. Sorry, but you are out." You are stunned. You had no idea
this was coming. You thought your job was secure. You ask, "Now what?
Where do I go from here?"
Being single was never an option for you. Divorce was never in your
vocabulary. You loved your life. That all changed one day when you
discovered your spouse had been having an affair. When confronted, they
admit it and say things like, "I haven't loved you for years. I've been
unhappy for too long. I'm not sure I ever loved you." Then, they are
gone. You are alone. You ask, "Now what? Where do I go from here?"
You have been "going to church" longer than you remember. Your parents
took you with them the first Sunday after you were born. Church is all
you've known. It's been your life. You were involved in the children's
programs. You were active in the youth group. When you went to college
you found a group that encouraged spiritual growth. But, one day you
have a faith crisis. Things happen that seem wrong and make no sense.
You begin to question everything you've been taught. The questions
scare you. You ask, "Now what? Where do we go from here?"
"Now what? Where do I go from here?" A haunting question! It is a
frightening place to be. No answers. Everything is uncertain. Where do
you go from here?
There is an answer. There is a place.
The disciples of Jesus found themselves in a similar position:
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard
teaching. Who can accept it?"
Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to
them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend
to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for
nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are
life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had
known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who
would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that
no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
"You have the words of eternal life."
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer
followed him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy
One of God"
(John 6:60-69 NIV).
Peter's statement is key when life falls apart. "Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you
are the Holy One of God." That faith is what enabled Peter to recover
after his failure. That faith enabled Peter to speak of Jesus against
the strongest of opposition. That faith enabled Peter to write to us
about standing firm in a hostile world. That faith enabled Peter to
give his life for Jesus.
When life caves in on us we must believe what Peter believed: "Lord, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and
know that you are the Holy One of God." That faith is what will sustain
us when life falls apart, when people disappoint us, when people hurt
us, when church fails us, and when we make horrible mistakes.
If you find yourself asking, "Now what? Where do I go from here?" The
answer is this, "Lord, You have the words of eternal life. I believe
and know that you are the Holy One of God. I will go with You!"
Go to the One who has the words of eternal life. Go to the Holy One of
God. Go to Jesus.
---------
(c) 2008 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!
RELATED LINKS:
* How to Survive a Bear Attack!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200806/20080623_bearattack.html
* Where to Find the Help of a Friend
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200607/20060731_helpoffriend.html
* I Did It For You!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200712/20071218_foryou.html
* A Norvell Note
http://www.anorvellnote.com
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200807/20080724_wherego.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE, by Rick Warren
Takes the message of The Purpose-Driven Church and shows us how to
apply it to our individual lives.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?222
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