the Morning Jog: This is NOT normal

Most people would probably not admit it - but I have my moments of intense discussion with God. On many occasions I fight the urge to ‘question’ His ways as I search for meaning in the experiences I go through.

In one of those recent moments of conversation with Him I made the statement, “God, just for one day I would like to have my normal again.” I couldn’t help but smile because when we choose (and it is a choice) to follow the path that Christ has designed for us, we sign up for anything but normal.

(One brown cow - Forest Hill, MD)

We know that ‘God’s ways are not man’s ways’.

We know that ‘God’s thoughts are not our thoughts’.
And yet we sign on the dotted line, expecting things to be….normal.

God’s ways brings change.
God’s ways cause you to do things you never dreamed possible.
God’s ways makes the impossible possible.
God doesn’t do…normal.

There are moments on this journey where we will question the decisions that we have had to make because of following Him. At times it will feel like madness because it completely goes against what our flesh feels comfortable doing.

Have you ever asked yourself the questions:
* What am I doing?
* What have I done to myself?
* How did I get here?
If so, He has you right where He wants you. And if you keep walking this path, things will never be normal again.

(Federal Hill - Baltimore, MD)

Brennan Manning (Book: The Signature of Jesus) wrote, “The Signature of Jesus is offered to Christians who want to live by faith and not by mere “religion,” for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological, [for those] who see Christianity neither as a moral code or a belief system but a love affair, who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ…”

It is in loving the Master so much that you can reach a point where you are never able to be satisfied with normal again. This kind of attitude will affect our marriages because we will never settle for a normal one again. We will never be at peace again with just going about our routines because there will be something pushing us forward to greater things.

(the Philly Phanatic - Philadelphia, PA)

We must make the decision to shake loose of what we’ve always known (the normal) – so that we can break through into what we never thought possible (the extra-ordinary). Christ is waiting on your decision. What do you have to lose? The only thing I can think of is self-control.

Let everything fall into His hands today and get ready for the most un-normal life you could ever dream of.

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