If
you keep your mind wide open, it’s remarkable where knowledge can be found.
Sometimes, I’m amazed with the cleverness of advertisers in selling a product
while getting the average consumer to also connect with a crucial life lesson
(that needs to be understood).
I
adore a good snack so a recent food commercial caught my attention as well (as
well as my appetite). It was for Nature Valley Granola, and was an ideal
illustration of what I am suggesting above. Along with all the family-related
visuals of this advertisement, came these needed words of wisdom.
“Everything you need to know about life you can get
from granola. Keep
it simple;
always be real; don’t
be artificial;
[and] always
be sweet. Nature Valley
Granola bars [have] no
artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, [but are] just good.”
Does
it ever amaze you that the Almighty adores the real, flawed you at all the time?
If life were like a Nature Valley Granola commercial, it would be navigated with
only positive experiences.
We
all know that life can be messy, negative, and unpredictable at times.
The mask
(of us) we present to the world is often not who we really are deep down inside.
Without human frailty, how would our faith in an all-knowing Heavenly Father
grow (and mature)? Do you want to live in a world where the control of your
existence is left up to the fates?
In
my life (past and present), I have outstanding skills in inadvertently causing
mass confusion for myself. I need the Almighty desperately (as much as we all
do).
Below
are scripture (and quotes) that will cause you to both smile and consider your human
inability to reach perfection, and the Heavenly Father’s goodness toward you,
His precious child. Always be assured that God’s love for you remains as deep
and constant as your need for Him is.
§ “God
means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful word is sharp as a
surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying
us open to listen and obey.” (Hebrews 4:12, MSG)
§ “A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how
strong [she] is until [she’s] in hot water.”
(Eleanor Roosevelt)
§ “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the
wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet
strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to
forgive an offense.” (Colossians 3:12, MSG)
§ “Everyone I meet (it matters little whether
they’re mannered or rude, smart or simple) deepens my sense of interdependence
and obligation.” (Romans 1:14, MSG)
§ “But God put His love
on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no
use whatever to Him.” (Romans
5:8, MSG)
§ "Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have
guessed. That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion
you could not have guessed." (Harry Emerson Fosdick)
§ But now you have new
life because of Jesus Christ our Lord. You are living this new life for God. So do not let sin have
power over your body here on earth. You must not obey the body and let it do
what it wants to do.” (Romans
6:10-12, NLV)
§ “Open your mouth and taste; open
your eyes and see – how good God is. Blessed are you who run to Him.”
(Psalm 34:8, MSG)
§ “No matter how nice and refined and lovely
you think you are. You are a moral situation---you have been, you are, you will
be. And when God confronted you, God's justice confronted a moral situation and
found you [imbalanced], found [injustice], found [sin].” (Hudson
Taylor)
§ “God isn’t late with His promise as some measure lateness.
He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the end because He
doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” (2 Peter 3:9, MSG)
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