Messiness of life

Today, we are in Breckenridge enjoying a few days away while Mindy is at Lions Camp. This is the highlight of the year for all three of us. It seems that our life is perfect during these times. Mindy really enjoys camp and we really enjoy a few days of quiet, restful, non-meeting, silent telephone, etc. All three of us are just about as happy as we can be!
This morning, during my time of reflection and daily meditation, I read a daily email from Os Hillman. Here is a copy.

Embracing the Mess
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

(you can subscribe at http://www.churchgrowthmail.org)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. - Proverbs 14:4My wife and I run together through a new home subdivision. Often we see the street filled with red clay from the land as bulldozers clear it to lay a foundation. The job site is littered with lumber, all sorts of trash from workers, and is generally a mess. The house looks ugly; it has all its insides exposed as it is being pieced together, yet this process is necessary to get to the finished product. When completed, the home is beautiful. The landscaping looks like it came out of a home-design magazine. Everything is clean and perfect in order for the new homeowner to move in.Our walk with God is much the same process. Often we must go through a messy period of our lives in which all aspects of it are in disarray. It is in these times that God builds a new structure. He might remove some structural timbers in our lives and replace them with new ones. He might even add on another room. And unless this process takes place, we will never see the end product. The goal is more Christlikeness. In order to achieve this in us, He requires a period of removing all that is not of Him. It can be a painful process.It would be impossible to keep oxen in a barn without having to clean up the mess from time to time. It just comes with the territory, but the result of the oxen is an abundant harvest. God may be allowing a mess in order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these times.

Father, thank you for reminding me that the external life is not the most important. The internal life - our desire and growth in Christlikeness - is just as important to you. Help me keep my eyes on both. Amen.