“I AIN’T LIKE THAT NO MORE”
“I ain’t like that no more,” my buddy said. We laughed. It’s a line from Unforgiven, a Clint Eastwood movie. We both laughed because we know that people don’t change, not without Divine intervention anyway.
image courtesy of photobucket.com
I believe each person is uniquely gifted by God to be contributors in society. Some use their free will to deny their gifts or use their weaknesses more than their strengths.
I have a brother that loves to hunt. Works out pretty good for us, since he’s willing to share what he takes. I kinda liked hunting as a kid, but have only done it a couple of times since. It’s not my thing.
I have another brother that loves to use his hands to build things. He’s been that way since we were kids. He could put a model car together in minutes. I only built one model. I smashed it to pieces when I couldn’t get the wheels to stay glued in place.
I do get the “building things with your own hands”, I’ve done it most of the days of my life too. The gratification is unparalleled.
I have a sister that could sell ice to Eskimos and has never met a stranger. The latter she gets from my mom. I don’t have the gene that makes me want to talk to everybody, but once I do get started, I can yap with the best of ’em.
I’ve shared some stories about my grandpa, my dad’s dad. He was a poet that was trapped, most of his life, by poverty and cotton fields. He had a propensity to drink and fight, but don’t all of us have our demons to contend with?
The truth is Troy loved music. And he didn’t have to be drunk to appreciate it. It was how God made him, the thing that couldn’t be changed.
I’ve heard it said that being drunk brings out the true heart of a person. That’s probably true. But I think it’s fair to say the same is true for other things. I believe money and power bring out the true nature of a person in much the same way alcohol does.
We all have gifts and we all have weaknesses. We’re all like that shiny nail that gets bent. Once it bends, regardless of meticulous re-straightening, it bends in the same place over and over… just like we do.
We have the good attributes and the bad. The part of us that is made in God’s image and the fallen flesh it battles. Our nail still tends to bend where it always has. We also have the good and honorable gifts. The two will forever be at odds till our soul is released.
I’m pretty sure the folks that feel compelled to tell you, “I ain’t like that no more,” are trying to convince themselves.
Sunday, August 27, 2017 @ 12:49 pm
There is no doubt in my mind and heart the old man “is still alive and kickin'” in me. I echo Paul’s words in Romans 7 no matter how hard i try not to. I don’t hunt. I don’t use my hands to build anything-toy, real, or imaginary. But I do love people; I do love to talk; and I most definitely love to preach.
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 2:59 am
Thought-provoking post, Floyd. I believe in God’s power to change people–I have seen it happen. I also know that I do not have the power to change myself. Like Bill and St. Paul, I do the things I don’t want to do and don’t do the things I should. However, I believe God has gifted us, despite our penchant for sin, with a specific purpose in mind–a unique and needed purpose that is ours alone to share.
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 5:48 am
I love that analogy of the bent nail. I do find that I tend to bend in the same places over and over. It can be frustrating and leave me questioning whether I’m growing or not. I guess we need to give ourselves and each other some grace as we struggle through. Thanks, also, for the glimpse into your family.
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 6:06 am
Keep it up, Floyd. Pretty soon all of us, your readers, will know everything about not only your whole family, but ourselves as well. I like your crisp sentences, and I love the way your challenge us. Thanks!
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 9:49 am
This is powerful, Floyd: “I believe each person is uniquely gifted by God to be contributors in society. Some use their free will to deny their gifts or use their weaknesses more than their strengths.” God has uniquely gifted us in ways that will glorify Him and serve His purposes on earth. Our job is to find our gifts and to use them for HIs glory. Will we? Or do we deny them and miss the whole reason God created us? I do think there is that sense where God can use our weaknesses (if we surrender them to Him) and that then we are relying on God and not ourselves to accomplish His purposes. We can’t be afraid to serve when we are weak, b/c it’s then that His glory and Christ’s strength shines through.
As always, I so enjoy your posts! It is apparent that you are using your writing gifts for God’s glory.
Love
Lynn
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 10:06 am
Well said. We have choices. We are accountable for the choices we make.
For years I relied on my strengths to the point I put more trust in myself than in God. It took Him humbling me to see that what I considered “strengths” we really my weaknesses because they kept me from relying on God. Now I try to place both my strengths and weaknesses in His hands and let Him guide my life.
Convicting post.
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 10:33 am
I think if we *could* change the essential nature of ourselves, many of us would have long ago. There are definitely things about my personality I’d like to change (I think life would be much easier if I were an extrovert, for example). Only Jesus truly transforms the heart. We have to learn to make the best with the rest of ourselves. 🙂
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 10:48 am
I remember a story told by Dr Kenneth E. Hagin about meeting a young friend he grew up with who was reminding him of times they were not so good. Dr Hagin, said, “That wasn’t me.” The boy said, “Yes it was, and I see you standing right there, it is you.” Dr Hagin said, “That was the old me, I am not like that anymore.” We can change by the power of the Holy Spirit within. For myself, I am no longer that shy person who turns red when someone speaks to me – – I am not like that anymore and in other ways too, because of the strength and power within. We who once were dominated by fear can boldly say, “The Lord is my Helper and I will not fear – – because I am not like that any more. Great Post Floyd.
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 3:00 pm
Yes, Floyd, only the acceptance of Jesus can even allow us to say “I ain’t like that anymore.” In Him, we are truly changed. Still sinful? You bet! But we are on the right path toward home.
Blessings!
Monday, August 28, 2017 @ 4:24 pm
Wow, that nail example is just amazing. I had never thought of it that way, but looking back over my life and my many failures, I can see the profound truth in that analogy. I find so much pure wisdom here, brother. I really appreciate you sharing the things God has taught and is teaching you…it is all so edifying and needful to us all. God bless you, brother.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017 @ 10:33 am
I’ve learned that actions speak louder than words. If we’ve received Christ we are indeed a “new” creation and as we grow and mature in Him the evidence of our new spirit will show in our outward works of faith. Great post, Floyd. Have a blessed week!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
I tried to get a song to post in the comment place but my brain is simple not wired to figure out those kind of things. But I did leave it for you on your facebook message. It reminded me so much of your post. Thank God I am not the women I use to be and I know you are thankful you are not the man you use to be. It takes amazing grace to give us a new nature to fall back on when the flesh wants to take over. Praise God this walk of faith is three steps forward and two back and not the other way around.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 @ 4:57 pm
Good thoughts Floyd. I have always thought that where you find someone’s greatest weakness you often will also find their greatest strength nearby. Sin, after all is just using the parts of our human nature that God has given us in ways and for things that he did not intend. Thus, a stubborn and angry person may find, if they let God have his way in them that their stubbornness can turn to faithfulness and their anger can turn into a burning passion for God.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 @ 5:34 pm
Floyd,
Thanks for making me smile and for making me nod in agreement as I know I’ve had to struggle with how God has made me…the good and the flip side of it…but in my weakness, I’ve learned I can call to God for help and He shows up. Blessings to you and thanks 🙂
Thursday, August 31, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
Life’s been crazy, but I was catching up on your posts and read the other post about your grandpa too. Amazing how people can keep parts more hidden (or maybe they’ve been conditioned for it), and once it’s exposed it can change the way you see them. Glad we can choose to use the strengths He’s given us and that our weaknesses submitted to His love and grace show His power. Thanks Floyd.