Did It My Way

When I was two, the milkman left quart bottles of whatever my mom wanted. “Three white, one chocolate,” she said. The one chocolate was for me. The next week, I was out on the porch, waiting. I knew exactly what to tell the milkman when he arrived. “Three chocolate, one white,” I said. Slowly but surely after that, I had to learn that my way wasn’t always the best way.

Obviously, those who want to make their own, independent decisions about what is best for them cannot please God. — Romans 8:8

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

1. Being open and honest with people is impossible unless we have first learned to be open and honest with the Lord.
2. Wholehearted worship comes after our recognition of God’s greatness has made our pain and suffering seem insignificant.
3. Godliness with contentment is great gain when we count our blessings and no longer see any need to count our losses.
4. The battle is lost as soon as we quit fighting.
5. There is no quitting as long as we see value in the effort.
6. Passion without progress is a waste of energy.
7. The only way I can expect God to give me what I want is to want what he wants.
8. All my life, God has supplied my needs. And that includes some pain and suffering and a few spankings.
9. Forgiving an offense won’t meet God’s expectation. Jesus said we must love our enemies.
10. God can love me the way I am, because he has no plan to leave me the way I am.

Questions for Further Thought

• Why do you think people loved Frank Sinatra so much when he sang, “I did it my way”?
• What should we do when we don’t like the way God seems to be leading us? How can you tell when a deal is too good to be true?