Kathy and I are in Joseph, OR with her family.  There is a reunion tomorrow of her mom’s family.  They are a very enjoyable group of people–most friendly.  Her mom was one of a dozen kids just like me.  There is something to be said about large families.  It is not seen much anymore, but there is support and love within a large family that isn’t know, nor could be known, outside of one.

In my devotions this morning I am now reading Ezra.  In this book the Israelites are given permission to go rebuild their temple.  Of course there is great turmoil and strife as they celebrate their opportunity to do so.  It makes me realize no matter what we do to celebrate spiritual growth in our own self or in anyone else, we are going to face turmoil and strife.  Life itself is selfish and Satan exacerbates this selfishness so that many times the steps of growth we take are thwarted just because we don’t like trials.  Before I began Celebrate Recovery I had resolved in my mind I would live my last years in peace–I would do all I could to maintain peacefulness.  There had just been all “I could handle” and I didn’t want anymore strife.  Little did I understand how much strife is simply interwoven into a day.  I was blinded to this or simply in denial of it.  I was hiding so much within that it caused my own immense inner turmoil so anymore from the outside took me over the edge.

In my last few years I’ve made a new resolve that I want to live life for God’s purposes.  Of course this will have strife and turmoil.  Have any of us seen anything done for God that isn’t countered by attack?  My past is in the open now and God is using it as a tool rather than a disease within me.  So, no matter the strife, I will serve the Lord and follow His lead.  To God be all Glory.