Dare to be Different
Food for Thought
An all-creatures.org Guide to Kingdom Living

© by Joyce C. Lock      

The more we discover who God is, the more we come to realize there is no opinion of value apart from God - in even the simplest of matters.      

For example:  How many times have we had a profound thought, considering it of no importance to write it down (keeping it until its' divine purpose is revealed)?  There is many a poet, song writer, or author whose gift God is trying to waken to use for Him ... God's effort being cheapened with low opinions of ourselves.      

I don't know of anyone who respects a writer, thinking him a loafer except he's actually been published.  Try to get a loan or a common job, listing occupation as "writer".  Apply for a writing position and the most likely question will be, "Where did you get your education or training?"  People snub male writers, thinking it a sick excuse to avoid society or work - unless they're already bringing in big bucks.      

If one keeps a diary, television tells us it will be full of dark secrets that will only come back to haunt us.  When a child finds pleasure in recording their thoughts, we sometimes impatiently await them outgrowing it.      

Knowing one who keeps meticulous books, records, and ledgers (except it be their job or directly benefiting us); we tend to think them a neat freak, obsessive, or weird.      

Where do we get these ideas of what's important or acceptable and what isn't?  How do we get the gall to look down on people not like us?  When did we start thinking God couldn't use people without degrees or that money is proof of God's calling?  And, who made our opinion the authority anyway?      

God is the author above all authors; who not only used ordinary people, of extra-ordinary faith, to write the Bible (the greatest collection of books ever written) - but keeps meticulous books, records, and ledgers in Heaven ... even a diary of memories (Ma. 3:16).  Compelling some of God's children with His creative ability to write; when we put them down, we put Him down.      

If God calls you out to be different, follow Him every step of the way and his purpose will be revealed.      

I'm convinced more and more, with each passing day, that we need to quit telling God what He believes and thinks in EVERY given matter.  Only then can we begin to know how He sees things. 

Go on to: Deuteronomy 8:2 Patience
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lamb-rightThe purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do otherwise is not Christian.