And if one man and a small group of men do not approve of where I am and what I do, does it prove I’ve missed success?  No; only one thing will determine that- whether this day I’m where the Lord of lords and King of kings wants me to be. To win as many as I can, to help strengthen the hands of those who fight unbelief in the historical setting in which they are placed, to know the reality of the “Lord is my song”, and to be committed to the Holy Spirit- that is what I wish I could know to be the reality of each day as it closes.

-Francis A. Schaeffer-

It’s easy to spend countless breaths and hours of contemplative thought or brooding as the case may be, discerning the course for life.  It is difficult to navigate an average lifespan of 75 years, to do so well, and to successfully make choices that are wise.

I have never seen so clearly as I have since parenting, the need for independence in thoughts.  Because every which-way that is turned someone, somewhere is choosing a different path.  And it is fear-causing and nail-biting to pay too much attention to the crowd.

What if I am wrong?

What if this ends in disaster?

What if this comprises our future?

Life lived before “an audience of one”.  The only One.   That is all that ultimately matters.  Success is not found in the outer accolades and the raises and the bonuses and the scholarships and fan-fare.  But it is found in the quiet places.  In the invisible places.  It is who we are and what we are making of our lives and our children when either no one is looking.  Or when they ARE looking and disapproving.

It matters that we pay attention to what God says, and then given human independence, what He also does NOT say.

It is tough to be gracious while being independent.  This is something I am learning, and I am learning to become better at it.  When decisive happens, often so does religiosity.  “My way or the highway” is the case more often than not. Slander the innocent, malign the unsuspecting so that:

ME, ME, ME and my large yet insecure ego is bettered.  Take others out with me, so that I am greater and they are less.

But God wants the opposite, doesn’t He?

He wants me to be less, so that He is greater.  And where I am less and He is greater, so are others.  Because love and kindness elevate, instead of crush and bruise.

My early riser. And hence, my devotional buddy:)

Love is the more excellent way.  Always, because the Bible says so.  And so far, Scripture has never been wrong on any point.

So today.  Am I where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords want me to be?

I hope so.  I pray so.  And if I am, I hope that He is glorified here.