Seth’s World View

The fall is upon us, as is the first snowfall. Many branches were thrown to the ground. Then the snow lifted, as it often does in Colorado, the land of unpredictable weather. It goes along with life’s uncertainty, but also it’s beauty. The sun will shine again (so brightly, I might add, that I can’t see when I drive west!). And when the sky is cloudy, and snow covers the green landscape, there is a beauty there also, if we stop and look.

Current Happenings:

I just celebrated my one-year anniversary at Center Partners. I’m not too proud of that, really, but I can be happy to have a job that is paying my bills, and that I finally have a small financial cushion. There is so much to be thankful for, after all, and God likes it when we’re thankful. There hasn’t been too much out of the ordinary here. Went on a night hike earlier this month. Got to go bouldering (low rock climbing) a few times – I think I’ll pursue that a little more. There’s something exciting about living on the edge:).
Within the next six months, my immediate future will become clearer (lease will run out). Hard to say whether I’ll stay in Fort Collins, move to Denver, or move back out East. Honestly, though, it’s not a major concern now. There’s a life to live now, and that’s the only one that matters.

Personal Thoughts:

I’ll be going to a Neil Anderson conference next weekend. Must say, I am very excited. In case you don’t know, Neil wrote Victory over the Darkness and Bondage Breaker, two books about our identity in Christ, spiritual warfare, and living free in Christ. I’ve been thinking about those topics lately. There’s so many battles in my life I don’t always realize are battles. Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual forces, and the lies of Satan are very powerful. Too many times I have bought Satan’s lies: about myself, my life, my future, my sins, my purpose, all that. I’m just too hard on myself, period. After reviewing Neil’s thoughts again, I’m reminded that Satan loves nothing more than to make a Christian unfruitful, by plaguing him with doubt, bitterness, fear, and unforgiveness. It’s a battle that’s already one, and one in which I need to continually claim the victory.
We often hear about God’s promises in the Bible. He promises to take care of our needs, to give us joy and peace, to bring us to heaven. It’s all so wonderful. When I’m being tempted to sin, suddenly God’s ways and promises don’t seem as beautiful to me. It’s all very sad. The battle, then, is a battle between truth and lie. Which will I believe? Well, that depends on which one I focus on, and which one I stand on. If I read God’s truth, and let it sink in, then Satan doesn’t have much to work with. If, instead, I channel surf and go to and fro throughout my day, the truth may get cloudy. The point is this: If I don’t aggressively hold on to God’s promises and remind myself of them daily, I will fall. Thankfully, God loves me still, and that’s a truth I need to remember. I’ll be in this battle the rest of my life, but as I grow, I anticipate more victories than defeats. As hard as it is, I need to place my hope in Christ, and believe that God’s Spirit in me is greater than any hardship or setback I’ll face. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (if I hold to this truth, that is).
Scriptures to ponder: Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:12; Romans 6:6-7; Romans 13:12-14.