Things are just perfect here - NOT!

Excellent Sunday School lesson yesterday on sharing one's testimony.

Something we are all called to do, of course.

But what struck me was that no less than THREE people mentioned how intimidating our little community and even our church has been to them.

Because this small suburban city (which is, coincidentally FULL of actual Suburbans!), well, it's PRETTY.

And the people are pretty.

And everyone sure looks NICE and PUT TOGETHER.

Even at church.

ESPECIALLY at church.

And I suppose that this makes us all feel (I'll admit to having these sames feelings at moments) that everyone we see lives in a NEW, LARGE AND PERFECTLY DECORATED HOUSE and well, they know something about fashion.

Which I sure don't.


Funny thing, comparison.

The Bible has something to say about it:
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Cor. 10:12

You know what that says? We're STUPID.
(We don't allow that word at our house, but it fits this perfectly.)

Anyone who looks horizontally for a standard with which to measure themselves is STUPID.

Because here's another little gem of truth:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9)

We can't see people the way God does - inside their heart. And no matter how nice you LOOK or how organized or clean or caught-up-on-your-to-do-list you are, we all have the same problem.

We ALL need Jesus.

Even the pretty people.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Rom. 3:23)

And from experience (every now and then someone actually thinks I have my act together - HA!) I can tell you that even those who you look at and think, "Wow, they really have it all together and LOOK at those cute shoes", would tell you differently if they were honest and you had an ear to listen.

We all have difficulty in our lives. There's a lot of pain out there.

It keeps us focused heavenward.

Because truthfully, if life were perfect would we feel our NEED for God?

Or would we LONG for Heaven?

Hmmmm.

I hope you see that we DON'T have our act together here at the Troops.

But God has us.

And He gives us His amazing grace and strength each and every day to continue on and seek Him and give Him the glory for whatever good works we are able to do in His name.

That's what it's all about.

Not the shoes.