Move the Log.

Tonight, I read an interesting analogy.  It is a metaphor in the life of many people.

If you have a yard, and there is a piece of wood that just lays in the grass for several weeks, months, or years, when you finally get around to removing the piece of wood, underneath it is full of "critters": all sorts of bugs and insects.

The analogy is after years of wearing a mask of "everything is ok" or denying those issues in our life we know are wrong/contrary to God's Word, the critters under our mask build up.  When we finally get around to doing the yard work in our life, and remove the log, the critters scramble everywhere.

These critters represent the past.  Times in our life where we have failed.  Times where we have willfully disobeyed.  Times where we thought we might have gotten away with something.  Without addressing these issues, they will just build up.

Move the log.  Deal with the past.  Let it go and move forward.  Remember:

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:20-24

Deal with your past.  Give it to God.  He will help you with you future.  He will provide you your new self, and help you wear it, if you listen to His Word.

2013 Goals Check

Read chronologically through the ESV

Today's Reading: Gen 46-50:

Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt

Jacob and Joseph Reunited

Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen

Joseph and the Famine

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

Jacob Blesses His Sons

Jacob's Death and Burial

God's Good Purposes

The Death of Joseph

2,013 in 2013 for Hope House Challenge

I know yesterday I mentioned running the virtual half-marathon in support of my high school class mate running the Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge with a half marathon today and a full marathon tomorrow.  I was over zealous in reporting it completed yesterday, I actually ran it this morning.  I did forget my Garmin data transfer device at home, so I will post the details tomorrow when I return.  I am at approximately 35 miles for the year which is slightly above the average needed to maintain the 1,000 running miles in a year.  Once the weather starts becoming more cooperative (and especially if I return to Artesia, New Mexico for work) I will be getting the bicycles out and logging some serious miles there to train for my sprint triathlon in June and potentially the Wichita Falls, Texas Hotter'n Hell 100 mile ride in August.  Who knows?