Growing Through Challenge - A Larger Perspective

April 3, 1978

How I desire a new perspective of Your Truth! If I could hear Your Voice today, what might You

say to me as to how I can recognize Truth on this very backward planet that we live on?

Perhaps you would say...

"Dear one, the recognition of Truth on a human level is relative to your perception of it, and is

tempered by My love for you and for all those who seek to have a greater understanding of it.

Your concepts of law should always be tempered by concepts of grace...

Concepts of justice should always be tempered by concepts of mercy...

Concepts of divine wrath should always be tempered by concepts of divine love...

And finally, your choices should be made in light of my provision.

As you grow and learn more about my love for you and the world you live in, so will your

perspective of my plans for you grow, and for all who seek a greater understanding of Truth."

January 1, 1982

I wonder what God's Indwelling Spirit might say to me if in fact I could actually hear His voice?

Would it be condemnation for my unfortunate errors and poor decisions? I don't think so, but I

wonder if He would admonish me to listen more to His guidance. I wonder if He would ask me

something like...

"Dear one, why do you not aid Me in the task of showing you the spiritual counterpart of all

these strenuous material efforts? Why do you not allow Me to strengthen you with the spiritual

truths of cosmic power while you wrestle with the temporal difficulties of creature existence?

Why do you not encourage Me to cheer you with the clear vision of the expanded outlook of

eternal life as you gaze in perplexity at the problems of the passing hour? Why do you refuse to

be enlightened and inspired by the eternal viewpoint while you toil amidst the handicaps of

time and founder in the maze of uncertainties which beset your mortal life journey? Why not

allow Me to spiritualize your thinking, even though your feet must tread the material paths of

earthly endeavor?"

If God did ask this of me, and if I would truly listen to that Voice, perhaps it would change my

perspective about the events of this hour.

March 31, 1982

"Oh Father, how my heart is burdened with so many things!

I yearn to seek the truth in every way, to be sincere beyond reproach, yet I am continually faced

with more questions than I have answers. Perhaps He would say...

"Dear one... my dear child... I see your struggles, I hear your grief-stricken words, and I feel

your wounded and damaged heart. Life is not fair. Error and loss is ever-present and

falsehood is always possible. I see how you have struggled, trying to interpret infinite truths

using limited, finite concepts. You have endeavored to teach loyalty, hope, honor, and

unselfishness to a world that has little time for such, and even less time for each other. You

strive for a level of ideal living that no human can reach, and look for the good in others, even

when they have not proven worthy of trust.

But herein lies a precious truth, a truth that you have glimpsed but hardly dared to believe... in

the very face of default... in the very face of all that is perverted and lost in the human race... in

the face of an endless stream of questions with no answers... in the very face of the pain and

sorrow of your life at this time... the "eye of the storm"... as it were, that would threaten your

very existence... in the face of this all comes a quiet whisper... a whisper so soft, so gentle that

you could miss it if you were not listening carefully... it is I, your God, your Friend, and your

ever-present help in the time of trouble. I would say to you, dear one... Hold on. Don't let go.

Don't give up.

Your questions will have answers, either now... or in eternity. The scale of life is balanced by

My love... everything will work out... because you are My dear child... because I love you... and

because I am at work behind the scenes in your behalf, in ways you cannot possibly see or

know."

May 12, 1982

What might The Indwelling Spirit of God be saying to me when I am overwhelmed with fear or

anxiety? When fear causes that tightness in my chest that causes my heart to hurt. What

might God want to say to me in this distress? Perhaps he would say...

"Dear one, rest in Me. Turn your fear into anticipation as you wait and watch Me overcome all

the obstacles! Don't forget what you already know... My strength is made perfect in your

weakness. Just be thankful for the all the gifts you now have, and remember that from

Eternity's viewpoint, what you go through of life's trials or blessings is not so important as how

you go through them. Will you learn and grow from your daily and hourly experiences or will

you waste them? Just work consistently and serve others... I will take care of the rest."

September 12, 1985

Father, I started thinking today about how very 'rich' I am... even when finances are

challenged... a lovely and faithful companion, wonderful children, many friends, good health,

loving parents, a healthy sense of self-image that delivers me from having to always 'prove

something' to the world, a positive ministry to so many, work that I enjoy, and an eternal

destiny that really brings purpose to my daily life... a destiny that is becoming more real every

day!

I am sorry for all of the times I forget to look at life from the perspective of my blessings.

August 24, 1987

Three thoughts... three questions... seem to be of most interest to me today...

1) How can I best do the Father's will this hour?

2) Whom can I serve this hour?

3) How can I savor the joy of doing both?

August 29, 1987

What might the Father say to me about my perspectives? Perhaps He would say...

"Dear one, stop worrying about doing something "significant" with your life. Nothing you could

do is insignificant. Remember that the "common moments" are truly not common at all. Every

person you interact with... every task you do... in fact, every moment of your day is loaded with

eternal significance. The ordinary moments are of everlasting importance... savor every one."

December 20, 1987

Looking back over my journal, I find so many places where I admonish myself to... 1) Not

worry about anything 2) Let no thoughts of the future or the past spoil any joy in the present

moment 3) Savor each never-to-be-repeated moment, leaving the future in my Heavenly

Father's hands.

I know these truths intellectually, but not yet in much experience. I choose to practice this

today... each day, one day at a time, until I develop these wonderful perspectives into my actual

experience. Take the leap of faith! What have I got to lose? Freedom awaits! Begin today!

March 25, 1990

"Dear one... don't look back, or at what you have lost... and take no thought for tomorrow. You

have been concerned much with seeing things from "My perspective." My viewpoint is much,

much larger than you have supposed. I see you as whole and complete because I see you from

the larger perspective of eternity. If you miss the eternal perspective, you miss the key piece of

information you need to rightly discern any situation or circumstance in your life. Remember...

health issues, financial issues, business concerns... these are earthly matters and they will all

pass away."

"What does it matter if all earthly things perish, to the God-knowing person with the

perspective of an eternity filled with opportunities for joyful service and abundant health and

happiness!"

March 15, 1991

I was thinking today that most of my life and opportunities were behind me. I felt God helped

me to catch a glimpse of my eternal future, and to realize, for the first time, that the best and

most of my life will never be behind me. Forever in time and eternity, what lies before me will

always be the best part of an eternal adventure with my Creator.

"The supreme purpose of life is the development of a majestic and well-balanced personality."

_anon.

July 28, 1992

Even though I am surrounded by temporary things, I choose to have the perspective of walking

with my Creator in the realm of the eternal. This can give a sense of expectancy to a seemingly

"common day."

July 24, 1995

Always remember...

"Every hour of every day the Father is at work behind the scenes, working in your behalf in

ways you could not possibly see or know."

July 30, 1995

Father I am sorry for comparing my life and abilities to others, rather than thanking You for all

the gifts, blessings, and abilities You have given to me.

"If I am not me, then who will be me?" _unknown

September 13, 1995

Dear Father, I notice that You have been giving me glimpses of how great any common moment

can feel, if I look out on it from a perspective of inner joy. Help me to begin making joy the

inner attitude of every moment of my life.

September 25, 1995

What could happen if I combine the concept of... "no common moments when viewed with joy",

with a very conscious and intentional choosing to have the involvement of my Heavenly Father

in every hour of each day? I suspect that such a conscious effort would leave us feeling the joy

and freedom of focus, rather than the frustration of fragmentation, and knowing the joy that

can only come from endeavoring to do His will, whatever else remains undone.

January 29, 1998

Dear Father, I read today how Your disciples so often missed the significance of what You were

about in so many circumstances. Please deepen my powers of observation and insight so that I

don't also miss the significance of the events, people... and most of all... Your hand, moving

through each moment of my day.

July 19, 1999

Since God, my Creator is infinite, and I am finite, it is foolish and very presumptuous to think I

could ever understand all of God and His universal ways and involvements in this short life.

As much as I may come to know of His majesty and workings... in this life and in eternity...

there will always be infinitely more of Him yet to discover. I should allow for... even expect

surprises as I view His incomprehensible workings, especially during this earthly adventure.

January 11, 2002

Dear Father, I have discovered that Your surprises are much better than the "illusion of

security" that we all try to pursue in this life. Thank you for this larger perspective, and for

constantly reminding me of what a wonderful adventure this life is as I trust the out-working of

each day into Your hands."

September 25, 2009

In 1959 I radically committed my life to pursue God and His will. He has been the first,

middle and last thought of basically everyday since. So I have been thinking lately that for

these past 50 years I have tried to “Practice the Presence of God”. It might help to just keep in

the back of my mind that the most prominate thing about each common moment, is that it is

not “common”… because (as Isaiah 41:10 reminds) the “Creator of the Universe has promised

to be here with me always… in everything and every moment. How Awesome! That

remembrance should bring great joy into every part of every day.

April 27, 2010

"Gary, everyday you and everyone you meet have losses that you could be grieving… and

blessings you could be celebrating. You each get to choose which attitude will be your

dominate perspective through which you view the events and circumstances of this day.

Think about it… on many levels and for many reasons, celebrating is most often the better

choice."

October 12, 2010

(Related to my Mother’s health needs and move.)

"Gary, in every troubling circumstance, no matter how dire it may seem, remember that the

biggest fact and truth about this moment is the I, your Creator and Father both indwell and

surround you with my loving overcare as well as more celestial help than you can begin to

imagine! This is why every moment, you can move into and through any circumstance with

calmness, hope, assuredness and peace… thus bringing inspiration both to yourself and

others."