Finally a productive day.

Today I was able to practice, make reeds, study finance, cook a meal, AND do some house cleaning. How wonderful it feels to head to bed actually having completed almost all I set out to do (I really wanted to fit in some accounting problems in there too, but alas, it wasn't possible). I'm feeling considerably more healthy today too so all in all I'm in a much better place than last night!

I also got a fair amount of time to think today; I think it comes with being more relaxed and walking back and forth from home to campus a half-dozen times today. I think I am ready to start dating again even though I still catch myself in moments of "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo, you're only going to get hurt again!" moments. I think it's got to be one of those feelings that almost everyone will deal with after having a more serious relationship not work out. On November 10th, I read Philippians 3:13 - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. The commentary keeps spinning around and provides me hope;

The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your life is your past. If you came from a difficult home life, that will determine the direction of your life. If your culture was treated unfairly, that will dictate the condition of your life today. If you were hurt or abused or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent struggling with your past. The world is preoccupied with the past because it faces an uncertain future.

Christians, on the other hand, live in freedom because Christ has overcome our past. The "old things" have been done away with and "new things" have come (2 Cor. 5:17). God has so totally forgiven the Christian's sin that He chooses not to remember it (Isa. 43:25). Christians do not forget the past, but we are not controlled or motivated by it. The Christian looks to the future with hope.

The people of the world focus on what they are overcoming. Christians focus on what they are becoming. Christians know that the Holy Spirit is conforming them into the image of Christ. Christians know that ultimately they will stand before Christ to give an account of their actions and will spend an eternity in the presence of God. Christians know that eventually every injustice will be addressed and every hurt comforted. They know that Satan, and death itself, will finally be brought to an end. The Christian's future is so full and rich and exciting that it supersedes whatever happened in the past.

If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes to the incredible future that awaits you and begin, like Paul, to press on to what is ahead.

I hope that within the next few days, I'll have a clearer picture of what God has been showing me since first reading this on Nov. 10 so that I'll be able to share it with all of you. Until then though, I'd appreciate your continued prayer and support.