It's Time - The Perfect Storm is coming

I'm sitting here in the wee morning hours with thoughts of transparency running through my brain.  When writing something for the whole world to see, how transparent to I go?

When thinking about transparency in the realm of my walk with God, it's VERY personal.  What I am sharing are things God has used to help me understand Him and His Kingdom in simple human form. And I need to share this personal, intimate time because it opens up a world of understanding about how I have struggles like everyone else but have found a solid rock to stand on in the midst of a storm.  How I've walked through poverty, prosperity, death, a wild life, a serene life, the ups and downs with children, marriages (yes, I'm in a second marriage), work, friends, etc.  How being a Christian didn't change who I was, it just helped me define who I am - honed me and directed my path with clearer vision.  It's like I took Clariton and I can now see clearly!

When I started my walk with God, it was out of desperation.  I NEEDED to know He was real.  The choices I had made in life had driven me to my knees - life was spinning out of control and I needed to know there was a place I could go for help.  I was in a 911 state - I HAD to have help......NOW. 

But there were barriers in place that made it hard for me to initially turn to God.  You see, the "God" I understood before searching out my own answers were the beliefs of others through osmosis of being around them - parents, churches, friends of parents, etc.  I sometimes didn't like what I saw - hypocrisy, judgement, fear, anger, lust, poverty - and I wondered why do I need Jesus to condemn me when Christians did that for me and seemed to have the same issues as everyone else, they were just burdened with the task of trying to be good.  If I couldn't get it exactly right, I might as well live it up and enjoy life.  Who needed all that condemnation?

After searching all of the world's offerings for help (that list is extensive!), I decided to try Jesus.  And because He proves Himself to be faithful (which took me a bit of testing to make sure - I wanted to be "safe"), Jesus is the only answer.  Quite frankly, without Him, who knows where I'd be today.  But because of Him, I'm in the best marriage God could ever provide with a soul mate to help me move through this course called life.

So, back to transparency - like the boat pictured at the top.....Transparency can be a cool thing.  Imagine going out on that boat in the shallow waters.  How cool to see the sandy bottom and little minnows (or whatever you see in the shallow waters!).  It's harmless and, well, shallow!

However, when you start moving out into the deeper waters, bigger, scarier creatures are able to be seen and all you have is a thin layer of plexiglass between it and you!  If you don't SEE that creature, it's better because you can't be afraid of something you don't see.  Bigger waves and scarier storms can come along and have the potential to capsize your boat if you aren't experienced to maneuver your boat in the deeper waters.

Hence the parallelism with life:  when we are shallow in life, it seems to be really simple.  There aren't many things to see and life stays seemingly calm.  When you move into the depths of your heart, tho, it can get really scary.  The hurts or the feelings of inadequacy.  The feeling of drowning in sorrow, grief, or sadness.

This is where real transparency with God is necessary.  Without it, we continue to go back to shallow waters and hop back in a boat that you can't see through.   Then, we can just ignore the problem and it goes away, right?  Rrrrriiiiiiiiggggggghhhhht!  (and I say that with rolling eyes!)  I've lived that life, too.  The problems are never gone until put to death.  You will either choose to stay in the shallow waters and be a shallow person or you will choose to learn how to maneuver that boat in the deeper waters and become the real person God created you to be.  Yes, you were created for a purpose.  It's just most people choose not to go into the deep waters to find out what that purpose is.

God has helped me go WAY out in the clear-bottomed boat.  I've rowed the rough seas, I've capsized a few times, I've been snapped at by many big creatures of the sea (even bitten a time or two!), I've swallowed the salty water and I've put to death MANY problems through walking with Jesus.  Because I've been there, I can turn a lending hand to help others be bold and venture from the shallow waters.

It's time - we don't have time to mess around!  I don't care where you are - shallow or deep waters - you can feel the storm coming.  This is a perfect storm and we MUST be prepared!  Become the experienced captain of your boat and let me help you.

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