You and God’s Turkey...

Ni hao & Hola!
Wow. It's been around three months since the last posting. Trip to Asia, Family Vacation, & Trip to Puerto Rico. Well those items will be shared for an upcoming blog. But for now, here's a little glimpse into what I'm currently learning on the journey:)
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It is truly amazing how we project onto God all too often assumptions based upon our life’s experiences. Sometimes it’s the form of thoughts such as “God would never do that or this” because of our feel-good view of Him instead of a recognition of His holiness. Or maybe the thoughts turn toward even a cry of desperation such as “I can’t believe you are letting this happen to me God”.
Learn today from Scripture, a minister, and a little unlikely story that God is faithful to His children. ALL things at ALL times are for their good & His glory. He always is working to sanctify us and not to sever us. He embodies faithfulness to us when we embody faithlessness.

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“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” A.W. Tozer

Writer Flannery O’Connor tells a short story about a young boy named Ruller. He is different than other kids and his own parents have told him he is unusual. He feels he has to prove himself to everyone, including God.
In his desperation, one day he decides he must chase and catch a wild wounded turkey that he comes across to bring home to his family. Maybe then he will prove himself to them.

He actually catches the turkey and is so excited He believes that it must be a sign from God himself. He even declares that He wants to do something for God. He believes that it is “he and God’s turkey”.

The story takes a turn when Ruller meets some other kids on the way home. He kindly offers to show them the turkey and one of the boys slings the bird over his own shoulder hitting Ruller in the face. Those boys run away with God’s turkey!

The story ends in this disheartening way by saying that as Ruller “turned up the road to his house, his heart was running as fast as his legs and he was certain that Something Awful was tearing behind him”.
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Author Brennan Manning adds this insight to that Story about Ruller:
“a lot of us think what Ruller thinks about God. The God we believe in is someone who gives a Turkey with one hand and takes it away with the other...”. Manning goes on to explain that in contrast, SCRIPTURE clearly teaches us that for all who are in Christ “God won’t stop working on us until the job is complete AND God doesn’t hold back his love because there is evil in us. Not now, not ever...It breaks God’s heart that we are afraid of Him, afraid of Life, afraid of each other, afraid of ourselves...It breaks God’s heart that we run from him instead of to him when we fail”

-- selected passages from book Posers, Fakers, and Wanabees
by Brennan Manning (pages 17-22)

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you...the one who calls you is Faithful and He will do it” 1 Thessalonians 1:23a and 24