Scott Womble's Blog

Looking Back

Where in the world did this year go?  I’m sitting here thinking back and sometimes feel guilty for being so happy.  I mean, 2011 will go down as one of the greatest years of my life!  But for some that I love, it’s been absolutely horrible.

This makes me realize just how difficult life can actually be.  We simply don’t know what is around the corner waiting for us.  I simply can’t imagine walking through this life without faith … without faith in God who carefully watches over us.  As a Christian I still think life is really hard.  Seriously, what is easy about this life?  It seems like pain and difficulty are inescapable.  It’s only the love of God that instills true hope.

If there is no God, then it’s all a meaningless exercise that ends in a coffin.  Yeah, that may sound depressing, but it’s true.  On the other hand, if there’s a God then life is anything but meaningless.  Instead, life is a neverending journey which leads into the arms of a loving God who simply looks for us to place our trust in Him.

Yeah, life is difficult and sometimes it seems unbearable.  But a life lived for God always has a good ending!  So if you had a horrible 2011, give 2012 to God and look for something better.  And by the way, if I have a horrible 2012, remind me that I wrote this!

December 31, 2011 Posted by swomble | Ramblings | Leave a Comment

Complete

I’ve been so busy with grading papers, the new church building and Christmas, that blogging has seemed like the last thing on my mind.  So now on December 27th I’m looking back on an amazing month.  As awesome as it’s been for The Merge to find a building of its own, it’s simply not the highlight.  I mean, let’s get serious.  I found three sisters on Oct 3rd and this holiday season was my first with them.  So it’s rather obvious that they were the highlight for me this year.

To say that it’s been an eventful year for me would be the mother of all understatements.  I know that events like this don’t work out well for everyone, but for me, it’s been a tremendous blessing.  For some reason unknown to me, I simply feel more “complete.”  Finding my sisters is not only like finding a part of my past, it’s been like finding a part of myself.  It’s rather interesting to me now that my favorite biblical text has always been Colossians 2:10a which says, “in Him you have been made complete.”

How strange is that?  I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I always felt like something was missing.  And while Christ fills the void and gives life its ultimate meaning, I’ve also learned just how important family can really be.  A part of me has always questioned that, but now that’s simply a confusion to be left in my past.  I love my family and have found a new appreciation for every single member.

The bummer is that for many people sadness surrounds the holidays.  The sadness can be the result of many factors:  memories of a lost loved one, disappointment over current tensions within the family, general unhappiness in the midst of wondering why others are so happy, etc.  The bottom line is that for some, the holidays can be an awful time of year.  I have a wonderful family and yet for some reason I used to often find myself in the “generally unhappy” place.  It’s only now that I understand why.  I was missing something I longed for; a more complete understanding of my history and myself.

I wonder if there’s something you’re missing … something you need?  Take it from me, there’s a God who holds tomorrow in His hand.  That’s a fact I appreciate today more than ever!

December 27, 2011 Posted by swomble | Ramblings | 2 Comments

The Best Part of Christmas

Let’s get serious here for a minute.  The best part of Christmas is not the presents – it’s the movies!  I’m already watching Elf (what a classic).  Can’t wait to watch Home Alone and A Christmas Story.  Hoping to also catch The Grinch.  Laughter is such a great gift from God and what a great time of year to enjoy it!

November 25, 2011 Posted by swomble | Ramblings | 1 Comment

Go Crazy Folks

Yeah, there have been a million articles written about our Cardinals impossible playoff run and eventual World Series title at this point.  But being from St. Louis, it’s like a birth right to brag on our Cards.  Winning #11 in 2011 was the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed in baseball.

I honestly think I saw three of the greatest games of my entire life in these playoffs.  First, we get to witness Chris Carpenter outduel Roy Halladay in a 1-0 shutout.  After watching that, I commented that it was one of the greatest games I had ever seen.  In fact, I told a friend, “This is why I love baseball.”  Then we get to watch Albert Pujols hit 3 HR in a single World Series game.  I’ve only seen that happen twice in my lifetime.  And then there’s Game 6.  If you missed that, you may have literally missed the greatest baseball game of all-time!

I love team sports.  Success is only achieved through the contributions of all its members.  How might the church learn from that!

November 2, 2011 Posted by swomble | Ramblings | Leave a Comment

The Unimaginable!

As I woke this morning, God brought Ephesians 3:20a to mind.  It says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.”  I’ve preached on this before and have always believed what it says.  But until now I’ve never experienced its profound truth.

See, I’m 46 years-old and last week I met my sisters for the very first time!  I set out in search of my sisters and kept my expectations at a minimum (that’s a safe way to not get crushed).

I kept telling myself, “If I can get a picture of my Dad, that will be cool.  And since I have two sisters, perhaps one of them will want a relationship of some kind.”

Oh, I could “ask, think and imagine” all of these things.  And, in fact, these things happened.  But see, it’s what I could not possibly imagine that happened.  I set out in search of a picture or two and even got audio recordings.  I set out in search of two lost siblings and found four!  I set out in search of answers and instead found healing.

It’s an indescribable joy that I have; a joy that comes from the depth of a suppressed pain.  It’s a joy that comes from being able to see God’s guiding hand.  It’s a joy which comes from taking a cognitive truth about the awesomeness of God and living its reality.  Our God is truly the “Big God” who holds tomorrow in His hands.  He cares so much more than I ever realized.

I have lived this text and now understand it for the first time.  Perhaps in some way I now have a glimmer of what Paul says when he prays that we “may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth” (Eph 3:18).  And this may very well be only the third time I can really say that I’ve encountered an actual understanding of “the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Eph 3:19).

He’s the God that is not only able to do more than we could even possibly imagine, He is truly the “Big God” who actually does it!  How can I not cry when I reflect on the magnitude of His awesome love?  And how can I not glow when I look upon the face of God’s gift to me?

October 11, 2011 Posted by swomble | Ramblings | 1 Comment