Dana’s Blog

“Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
Trying to forget my feelings of ….”

I just finished watching The Bachelor — yes I know I’m a sick man; but I’m also a mad man because I feel for Tenley. I know she is singing this song from days gone by,  Feelings, nothing more than feelings, Trying to forget my feelings of love. Jake chose someone other than her and she is crushed and her feelings for him only bring her pain (or at least that is what Hollywood wants us to know but I’m a sucker for romance).

Feelings they mess us up so much or do they? I’ve been experiencing a host of feeling over the last few weeks with all that is going in the world, in our town, in the church, in my own family. These feeling are driving me crazy at times because I don’t know how to deal with the situation or what to do with to help or make better. The feelings are overwhelming me and I’m finding I’m quite useless in many areas.

It is at these times I have to stop and return to my Creator … to the moment of my first love as some say and ask for help. So many times I have tried to do all this on my own and in so doing have limited success and much failure. When I allow my feelings to overwhelm me I can’t even move. I take this time to ask God to redeem me AGAIN and set me on a firm foundation, to clear my mind and to give me direction.

The good news is that God is faithful — feeling or not; and will pick me up again and give me what I need to make it though the season. God love me that is the one sure thing in life and doesn’t require a feeling. Yes, feeling is involved but it is not primary. And the love of God puts all feelings in perspective. It also reminds us that feelings are a gift from God. To be in fellowship with our brothers and sisters; to care about the neighbor; to have a heart for the least, the last and the lost; to be moved by the plight of another are all gifts from God that center around the heart … the feeling heart. We have a great gift. We feel because God feels and we are made in the image of God. Gifts are great but sometimes require grace to carry.

I’m rambling something bad today … just more thoughts of a wondering preacher. I do know I love you and that too is a feeling but also fact that is embraced by God’s grace.

Later