GOD HAS A PLAN

“For I know the plans I have for

you”, declares the Lord, “plans to

prosper you and not to harm you, plans

to give you hope and a future,

Then you will call upon me and come

and pray to me, and I will listen

to you. You will seek me and find

me when you seek me with all

your heart”.

Jeremiah 23 :11-13

What a wonderful cluster of verses that for many years have led, blessed and encouraged believers wherever the Bible is read. We live in a very troubled world and any problems we face individually go into that mix. Sometimes we are faced with terrible trauma that seems to come out of the blue. Other times we may face situations that are ongoing for long periods of time. Either way, we may feel our lives spinning out of control. It's in those times, we need to know that when we don't have a plan, God always does.

For a time, while feeling plan-less, we may desperately try to connive a plan or force something upon ourselves God would never approve of. In our effort to shuffle around, trying to make sense of things, we may feel we have the answer when we really don't. God shouldn't have to untangle the messes we make out of desperation, so He can then put His plan into effect. We also forget at times that we're not talking about just big plans, but God also takes care of those smaller ones. He is in charge of the entire direction of our lives

We often forget that God has a plan for each of us right where we are. I don't know how He can plan and handle each of us, but His work in our lives have been proven over and over. Without a close relationship with the Lord, it is easy to feel very alone in this world. Without a plan loneliness and distractions can easily come to live in us. We then wonder what's wrong...why God doesn't act.

When wondering why God doesn't seem to act, I've had to look in my spiritual mirror. I was saved, but not in right relationship with Him. Without a vital relationship with Him, I believe I can feel insecure, at wits end, no matter where I am. We have to be aware that God loves us, and has a plan for our lives. When others don't listen to us, God hears every cry from our hearts. He isn't a distant Father.

Our privilege is to be a child of the very God of the universe who loves us beyond a love we can never imagine. His plan for us includes every benefit for life we will ever need.

Dear Father, I may not know every detail of Your plan for my life, but I can trust that You always know what You're doing. Thank You for the security I have in Your love. Thank You Holy Spirit for Your every direction indicator in my life and for You, Jesus, for making it all possible through You're going to a cross for me. In Your precious name I pray....Amen

 

“IF ONLY”

And we know that all things

work together for good to them

that love God, to them who

are the called according to

His purpose.

Romans 8:28

The above verse has been thrown around and used conveniently in almost every circumstance of people's lives. Folks often use it on someone who is going through a very difficult time. It can be used in uncomfortable ways not intended by Paul or the Holy Spirit. I feel it should be used wisely and in love. Every phrase in the verse is important and builds right up to the very last few words. A key phrase in this verse, that is often left out when quoted, is the phrase “to them that love God.” That is crucial even in applying the verse to our own circumstances.

Corrie ten Boom is a hero of mine. I've read about everything she's written that I can get my hands on. She and her family suffered terribly during Hitler's reign in Word War II. One of his main goals was to rid the earth of all Jewish people. He hated and punished anyone who assisted Jewish people in escaping or in hiding them. Hiding Jews at risk is what the ten Boom family did until betrayed by a neighbor.

Her father died in just a matter of days after being arrested. Corrie and her sister spent time in a couple of concentration camps. They took their ministry for God with them ministering to ladies also in the camps as best they could. Corrie's sister died in just a matter of weeks before Corrie was released.

In all of her writings, one can see pithy statements that in themselves seem to preach sermons, often very convicting ones. This week, one of her statements crossed my computer screen. Corrie simply said, speaking of herself and past negative memories:

“I had to surrender my 'if only' to Jesus?”

It made me recall over the last year or so, the “if only” thoughts I have punished myself with..things that were and still are out of my control. Most of us have such thoughts as we look back. If we could go back, I'm not sure we would do anything differently. What's unique in her statement is the use of the word “surrender.” Surrendering has to do with our almost forcibly having to give something up we desperately want to hang onto. “What if”...it's nothing we can do anything about so for our spiritual health, we must hand those things over to Jesus and then simply walk away, leaving it all with Him. I can't do that on my own. Like other things, I have to have the strengthening of the Holy Spirit that enables me to just let go of whatever it is I don't need to hang onto. If we don't hand such over, it will just be another “if only” added to the rest that will nag us somewhere down the road.

Dear Father, You are in charge of my life and work all for my good and your glory. Help me to hang on to that promise no matter what comes into my life. Keep me from any “if onlys” Satan may bring to mind. I love You and rest in You. In Jesus' name...Amen

HOW DID I GET HERE?

O God, thou hast taught me

from my youth: and hitherto

have I declared thy wondrous

works.

Psalm 71:17

My Mother was talking to a lady friend from church on the phone. I was in first grade thereabouts so didn't really pay much attention. But then I heard a name mentioned...Nellie. Nellie Barker had been my first Sunday school teacher when I was about 4-5. We kids dearly loved Nellie. My Mother mentioned that Nellie hadn't been feeling well and then said, “You know Nellie is in her mid-sixties by now.” She said it in a very ominous way that scared me. I went into my room and remember laying on my bed crying. My Mother assured me when she heard my woe in the matter that Nellie wasn't about to die right then BUT that Nellie was a very old lady.

When I reached my mid-sixties, I remembered back to that day. Back then, being in one's sixties was considered old age. So I look at me now and wonder how I got to where I am so quickly. It's okay even though many women who are of age refuse to talk about it with honesty. Bottom line is, we are who/what we are, God has brought us a long way where we've had more opportunities to know and serve Him.

I have come to love Psalm 71, a Psalm with emphasis on old age. In it, I see phrases that say:

*let me never be put to confusion

*forsake me not when my strength faileth

*...when I am old and grayheaded...

Read this Psalm sometime and see all of the joy and blessing God has for us at this stage in our lives. The last three verses resound with the wonder of praise in these special days of life.....it ain't all bad, folks.

Thank You Father for bringing me to these special days of life. I want to serve You in special ways in this season of my life. I pray through Your strength and love that I will finish well. Ever in Jesus...Amen 

 

TIS THE SEASON

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now

for a season, if need be, ye are in

heaviness through manifold

temptations.

That the trial of your faith, being much

more precious than of gold that

perisheth, though it be tried with fire,

might be found unto praise and

honor and glory at the appearing

of Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:6,7

Perhaps it was in first grade, I first learned about the seasons of the year. I knew there were hot months, cold ones, mild ones and the pretty ones where the leaves turned pretty colors. I had that many facts but hadn't put names on those supposed three month cycles. At my age, however, I have experienced those seasons many times over. Some of those seasons came my way while living at home, some while in college and many of them in the northern Chicago area (those winters were too miserable to even talk about).

Brian and I were married February 8 up north. There was no snow but it was certainly cold enough. We enjoyed taking a trip to Chattanooga, TN where it was milder for that time of year compared to what we were used to. Our three children were born during colder weather but no snow to keep us from getting to the hospital on time.

It's only been in my older years as I've looked back that although not official in any way, I have noticed there have been different season in my life that have nothing to do with the previously mentioned weather seasons. Most seasons I've lived through have often come and gone, some lasting longer or shorter periods of time.

Perhaps you have gone some of those same seasons that I have experienced, such as, seasons of:

school years, career, marriage, children, health issues, friendships, and even personal grieving (the most difficult being the loss of Brian in my life). Despite the season, think how dull life would be without changes. God's desire for us no matter the season is that we will come to know Him better and will grow in them. Even in nature, if there are no seasons, there would be no growth of anything. We are meant to grow and thrive in Him.

The answer for me (and I not always took advantage of it) was to go to God's Word and soak myself in those precious words from God to me. Psalms always comforted me and spoke to me in ways I needed. Taking our joys or sorrows to the Lord is a must no matter the season we find ourselves in at the present time. In it all, God is God and is always faithful no matter where we find ourselves.

Father, You have been with me in it all and I'm so grateful. In it all, I've come to love and trust You more. Thank You for being my all, no matter the season of my life. In Jesus name...Amen

 

SLOW DOWN

The thoughts of the diligent

tend only to plenteousness;

but of everyone that is hasty

only to want.

Proverbs 21:5

Lunch was refreshing with two of my dear friends. The two friends had come in the same car and I met them at a favorite place to eat. I parked my car in a handicapped space in the end and near the restaurant. I could easily back out from there and be on my way home when the time came...or so I thought.

In the car, I put on my seat belt and checked my screen that indicates safety in backing out or in someone walking behind the car. I put the car in gear and very slowly began to edge out into the lane. Suddenly, I heard/felt a slight little thump on the back of the car. I had looked in that little screen and there was nothing to be concerned about so what on earth was going on.

As I looked back, a white van had stopped behind me. I put my car in gear and got out of the car. I came face to face with a very sweet young woman who said her daughter was in the van. The lady had got onto the parking lot, in a hurry to get to the drive up window to get lunch. She said something very strange. She said, “I saw you slowly backing out but I thought I could beat you.” She was in a hurry. There was no damage to her back fender. I had a little more damage that will need attention when I get around to it. It's not really all that noticeable but Brian would want it fixed.

Why do we get so much in a hurry these days. One of the most dangerous places we can be these days is on an expressway. Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere. Even where I live with tourists coming to enjoy the mountains, there are folks in their cars who don't like slowing down even when on vacation. We even have computers that give us information almost immediately. Standing in a line at a grocery store is also a somewhat dangerous place to be.

I'm afraid there are times when we are too hasty when it comes to important things. Folks don't visit anymore like I remember when younger. Folks would go sit on a neighbors front porch swing and they would chat until the street lights came on. I walked most places I went even through high school. I left for wherever in plenty of time to walk there. Even in our Christian walk, we often find ourselves having to do some things in haste. I've heard ladies say how they have hurried through their Bible reading. Some folks may carefully look to their watches when a pastor preaches his heart out hoping he won't run overtime. Why...What's the hurry?

Time and it's moments can't be retrieved. We need not count down minutes for going nowhere to speak of. We need not rush. Why feel we have to race to get ahead of someone just for a sandwich at a drive through window. Life is too short to always be rushing. The roses are still very much worth smelling in a casual moment. SLOW DOWN!

Father, you are so patient with us. You don't rush us but tenderly tend to us no matter what is going on. Help us to enjoy every minute You give us in living life. In Jesus' name...Amen