Day 30 - The Final "Live and Learn"

Instead of going through every single lesson for the last "Live and Learn," I have decided that I am going to say what has really changed and what still needs work. Life within the past 30 days has changed; the life that I live has changed. The most prominent way that my life has changed is that I have grown closer to God. If nothing else has come from this journey, I can say that. However, much more has come from this journey. I am gaining more patience with my parents; I am able to not jump ignorantly into assumptions; I talk more about my faith than I did; I take my time and see the world for the beautiful place that it is; I truly see that difference in myself. I find that when I am happy or sad I praise God. I found that I have really never felt love as it was made to be; yet, I also found what love really is. I found that happiness is something that you will gain when you can be free from the guilt that we cause ourselves. We will be even happier when we are open, honest, forgiving, and humble before the people that we love. I've learned that I haven't put as much faith in the goodness of God as I thought I did. I seek the control that I don't have over my life. I found that competition has ruled me; and that I haven't really loved at all. I learned the true conduct of a Christian is not what I have seen in the churches that I have attended throughout my life. I learned that just because you abide by the laws of man, it does not mean that you are right in the laws of God. I learned that I have been living for my "dot" not the line of eternity. I have learned that I have also been among the hypocrites that I so resented. I finally figured out what can really lead to true love, and what it is.

Courage          ->     Honesty 

                             ↓                ↕

Forgiveness -> Freedom -> Love

On the other hand, I still need to work on my prayer life with God. I still need to work on justifying anything unless I'm writing a paper for school. I still have to give up control to Him; I still have to fully let it all go. I still need to work on my flight response, yet recognize that there is a third option (let it pass and trust in God). I still need to work on loving everyone for who they are, not what they do.

While the 30 day journey is complete, the destination is not yet reached. I will continue with the blog as it has been; however, I may not always put a "lesson #" in the title. It may be a poem, it may be nothing but quotes, it may be just thoughts about the world, it could be anything. But the journey that is the lessons of life will still be posted, just with other stuff too. I will still try to update daily as it is now a habit. Reading the Bible is now a habit!!!!

• Today! - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29: 11)
• "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40: 31)
• "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
• "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8: 31)
• "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39)
• "9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:9-13)
• "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

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"If I Had Never" - Donna Keevers Driver

If I had never seen darkness
would I have recognized the Light?
If I had never been wronged
would I have known what is right?

If I had never been lost
would I have been happy to be found?
If I had never been in the pit
would I appreciate Holy Ground?

If I had never been broken
would I have recognised love?
If I had never been knocked down
would I have ever looked up?

If I had never made mistakes
would I have learned to do what’s right?
If I had never longed for death
would I appreciate my life?

If I had never been bruised by religion
would I have appreciated grace?
If I had never been betrayed by man
Lord, would I have sought Your face?

If I had never been brought to my knees
through sin that is my own
Would I appreciate the love
that Jesus has shown?

And, Father, if I had been protected
from all that sin and man can do,
would I have ever known the beauty and love
that is found solely in You…?

Donna Keevers Driver

Nov 2007