This is going to be a short article compared to most of the articles that I post here but I feel as though I need to share this with you!  Have you ever had someone do something to you and then assumed you knew the motives and story behind it?  Have you then cut off all communications with that person, never knowing what the story was?

Well, I am guilty of that and today I was reminded why that is so bad!  Several years ago I had a close friend who I entered into a business arrangement with.  We were excited about the arrangement and we just knew that we had a tremendous opportunity that was potentially quite profitable!  Well, to make a long story short, this person did something that I deemed to be horrendous and I immediately dissolved the partnership and I never spoke to this individual again.  I assumed the worst and, after all, I felt I had the right to do so!  I did not know why this person did what they did or what their motives were and frankly, I did not care. What really agitated me was that this person went on to be really successful with the business idea that we had.  

I just finished moving!  Moving has got to be one of the very worst experiences you ever have to go through in life.  I have moved a handful of times and this is my third move since “being on my own.”  I have moved hundreds of miles in the past but this time I only had to move about 15 miles.  While that made it somewhat easier, it still is not an easy task! 

Since moving into my new house, I have been unpacking box after box after box.  While unpacking the boxes, I came across many things that made me reminisce about many events in my life.  Some of them good and some of them bad.  I came across mementos from accomplishments that I had from school classrooms to athletic fields to music stages and even from church and youth events.  There were photos from all of those days and I enjoyed looking through them.  I also came across many gifts that have been given to me over the years.  Gifts from people that have gone on to Heaven now.  Gifts that came from one time friends who, sadly, are no longer a part of my life.  Gifts from friends and family who are still a part of my life and I love dearly.

My favorite boxes that were full of memories were the boxes full of photographs!  I am fortunate to have many of my mom’s photos dating way back to when my mom and dad were married and when my brother and sisters were born.  While I obviously do not remember those days, it was wonderful to relive the events through the photos and remember the words that mom told me as she told me each of the stories many times.  The photos that I took myself reminded me that I had a pretty awesome childhood!  Many of the photos were birthday parties and vacations and I loved looking at them again.  Throughout my life I have been fortunate enough to visit many wonderful places.  Places like Washington DC, Hershey, PA, the mountains of Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona and California just to name a few.  I have also been to Canada and such great cities at Niagara Falls, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.  Two of my favorite memories from the photos were my very first visit to the 1000 Islands.  This has become a favorite destination of mine (which you likely know if you are my Facebook friend) and to see the photos from my first visit (as a young man with my parents) was great!  It seemed that my favorite destination is Gettysburg, PA!  As near as I can tell by my photos, I have been there with 17 different people!  I have been there on day trips and longer vacations.  My first visit was with my parents and my sister when I was about twelve and my last visit was a couple of months ago with a brand new friend!  I still love the little quaint town and the history that it represents. 

In reading the Bible recently I have noticed a recurring phrase and theme!  The words “but God” often appear in the Bible and they often follow destruction, dismay, trials or temptation!  They always signify that a change is about to take place and that when God gets involved, anything is possible!

Let’s examine some of the “but God” moments in the Bible.  Let’s start with the story of David and Saul in the wilderness.  1 Samuel 23:14 in the NIV says “David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” Saul pursued David every single day but the “but God” moment here was that God never allowed David to be delivered into Saul’s hands!  God had big plans for David and he spared him from one of the most powerful men in that day!

One of my favorite “but God” moments is the familiar story of Joseph.  Of course, most of you know that story of how Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt.  The “but God” moment comes in Genesis 50, when his brothers were suffering from famine and were before Joseph who has become a powerful figure in the Egyptian government.  As his brothers stood before him terrified because of what they had done to him and proclaiming themselves to be his slaves, what was David’s response?  We find that in Genesis 50:19-21. “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” This is a classic example of God working circumstances for our good according to His purpose.  It is also an amazing display of forgiveness.  A classic “but God” moment.

My name is Scott and I am a sinner.  Now, if you are a Christian, this statement will come as no surprise to you.  Many of us learned that verse as a little child in Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” So, we come to God and He saves us and we never sin again!  Right?  Wait!  What?  That isn’t right?  We do not stop sinning when we get saved?

Of course, we do not!  No one on this earth is perfect and I can promise that I might just be the most un-perfect of all of them!  So, why do Christians sin?  Good question but I think it boils down to a couple of things.  We take our eyes of Jesus and we allow worldly and secular influences into our lives.  Of course, that old sinful nature does not help either!

Now, while God does not weigh sins in terms of magnitude (to God; sin is sin) we realize that often when we sin as a Christian we are immediately brought under conviction and confess it right after we do it.  However, that is not always the case.  There have been times in my life, one quite recent, when I allowed sin to creep into my life and even control my life for a longer period of time.  Each one of those times, God did something to jolt me out of what I was doing and each of those times I looked back in utter amazement that I could have done the things that I did.  The devil can use some pretty warped logic on a back-slidden Christian!