Category Archives: God’s Plan

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December 1, 2014

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Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, God's Plan, Patience & Perseverance, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

ON A MISSION FROM GOD

Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” [Exodus 5:22-23 (NLT)]

Sunday mornings, I take photographs for our church’s website. Last week, due to a cranky computer, only a handful of over 100 photos got edited, the day’s pics temporarily went AWOL, and my three editing programs eventually stopped working. In frustration, after hours of unsuccessful work, I gave up and tried to upload the few photos I’d managed to edit. That’s when I discovered my computer was on strike; there would be no uploading of anything from it! Panic set in and I resorted to what I usually do in such a situation: cry and complain.

Like Moses, I complained to God. If He wanted me to do this job, why was it so difficult? I then did what I should have done at first: asked for God’s blessing and guidance. “Lord, bless my work. If it’s your work as well, show me what I need to do to accomplish it.” After praying, it occurred to me that I didn’t have the only computer in the house! Duh! In fact, not only was my husband’s computer available, but I’d also installed a photo editing program on it several years ago. Using his laptop and my flash drive, I finished the editing in record time and uploaded all of the photos.

Moses was given a mission from God: get Pharaoh to free the Israelites and lead them to the Promised Land. Things weren’t going well; in fact, the situation had only gotten worse and Moses complained to God. After all, if we’re on a mission from God, shouldn’t it be trouble-free? Reading his complaint, I imagined what God was thinking. “Moses, you think this is tough? Just wait until you have Pharaoh’s army chase you into the sea, or you’ve had to provide food and water for over 600,000 men and their families, or listened to forty years of complaints before your task is done! Toughen up, big guy; you’ll encounter greater problems down the road. Trust me; I’ll never let you down. Don’t give up; you’re learning some valuable lessons that will help you in the future!”

Although God gives us tasks, He doesn’t promise they’ll be easy. It’s difficult to reconcile our problems with God’s assignments. As we struggle to achieve His work, however, we learn to depend on God and not ourselves. There’s nothing like a few obstacles to humble a prideful attitude. As He guides us through our difficulties and challenges, we become smarter, stronger and more determined. Moses’s early challenges prepared him for the trials of leading over half a million people as they walked forty years in the wilderness. Mine taught me about prayer, trust, perseverance, and backing up valuable computer files.

By the way, the next morning, my computer woke up in a far better mood. I had to do some minor clean up, delete some old files and back up others, but it is running smoothly again! Coincidence? I think not: more like a lesson from above.

“They’re not gonna catch us. We’re on a mission from God.” [Elwood to Jake in “The Blues Brothers”]

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. [James 1:2-4 (NLT)]

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November 25, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Salvation: A New You

HE WANTS CHANGE

If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! [2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)]

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a musical comedy about love and romance. As the title suggests, it’s about how love (or lust) blinds us to someone’s faults. Once a relationship is established, however, people’s eyes open and they see their loved one’s defects and weaknesses. An attempt is then made to re-make him or her into someone who is neater, more stylish, richer, smarter, more successful or better looking and, therefore, easier to love! Those of us married for any length of time know that doesn’t work. We can’t remake our spouse; what we saw is what we got!

If we were going to write a musical about God’s relationship with us, however, it could be called I Love You, You’re Imperfect, Now Change. God loves us, imperfect creatures that we are; His eyes are wide open to our every fault yet He loves us anyway! Because He loves us so much, however, He wants us to become better people and reach our full potential. When we allow the Holy Spirit to run our lives, that change is possible. We’ll no longer be who were; we’ll become who God wants us to be. God won’t love the improved model any more than he already does, but the upgraded version will be able to love more and will be more like Christ.

But you were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God—made to be truly good and holy. [Ephesians 4:23-24 (NCV)]

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November 24, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Plan, Prayer, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

LET THEM SOAR

For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. [Psalm 78:5-7 (NLT)]P1060145-cropWEB

A friend recently confided her mixed feelings about her son’s future plans. The good news: not only has he been accepted at the graduate school of his choice, but he also has secured the necessary funding. The bad news: it’s in New Zealand, far away from Florida and the safety of home. Her words reminded me of nearly twenty years ago when my daughter finished her schooling and completed her dietetic internship. She’d been offered two jobs: one in New Mexico, where she knew no one and had never been, and one less than an hour from our suburban Illinois home. With only twenty-four hours to deliberate before she had to make her decision, there were several frantic phone calls that night. As I spoke with my daughter, my mama’s heart was breaking. I didn’t want my baby to leave the nest, but God strengthened my heart and put wise words in my mouth. We spoke of my daughter’s internship experiences; I reminded her of the comments she’d made after her stint in the outpatient clinic: “This is what I want to do!” The New Mexico offer was in their outpatient clinic; the Illinois offer was vague and less promising. It was clear that the better job was in New Mexico, but that meant moving, leaving the comfort of friends and family, and the great unknown! When my daughter expressed concerns about the ability to move and be in New Mexico less than a week after graduation, I reassured her that her father and I could make it happen. I told her to pray about her decision, reminding her that this choice shouldn’t be determined by convenience, but by her calling and God’s guidance. We hung up and, I’m ashamed to say, I didn’t want her to make what I believed to be the right choice. I wanted her to stay near family and friends; I wanted her safe in our circle. It was with a reluctant heart that I prayed: “God, let her make the right choice, not the choice I want. Give me a happy heart no matter what her decision.”

Within three weeks’ time, my daughter had moved to Albuquerque and was busy in her new job. Was it the right choice? Because of government cutbacks, the Illinois job position was eliminated within six months. Her move to Albuquerque led her to a wonderful man, a deeper faith, a beautiful daughter, new friends, several sisters in Christ, and an even better and more rewarding career. Thank you, God, for taking her under your wings!

No matter how old our children, we never want to let them go; but let them go we must. If we have taught them well, our part is done. Parenthood is a job that is supposed to become obsolete. Once we’ve taught our children to fly, we should praise God when we see them spread their wings and soar. There are many children who, because of disabilities, will never be able to fly away; we should be thankful when ours can! Of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t continue to love and even on occasion, worry about them. We call them, probably more than we should, and pray about them, probably less than we should.

Father in heaven, give us happy hearts when our children leave our homes. Teach them, guard them, lead them and lift them so they may soar!

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. [Isaiah 40:28b-31 (NLT)]

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November 22, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

A FULL EXAMINATION

Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I’m fit inside and out. [Psalm 26:2 (MSG)]

This last month, I’ve visited the internist, ophthalmologist, OB/GYN, dentist, and dermatologist. I’ve been tested, poked, prodded and thoroughly studied, inside and out. The most humbling experience, however, was the total body examination at the dermatologist’s office. Needless to say, I was uncomfortable having two people I don’t know peering at every inch of skin on my old body with a magnifying glass! They scrutinized every wrinkle, freckle, spot and scar, even in places where “the sun doesn’t shine.” Their inspection, however, found some things that shouldn’t be there: suspicious moles and actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous cells). These things that didn’t belong, these things that threatened my future health, were removed. I can’t say it was a pleasant experience but it was necessary. It was for my own good!

Like physicians, God also examines us closely. Unlike doctors, however, He doesn’t do it only once or twice a year; He does it continually. He knows our every thought and He scrutinizes both our strengths and weaknesses. He searches for the faults that, like pre-cancerous cells, can grow inside us and threaten our spiritual health. Like the dermatologist, He looks for the things that don’t belong in us and that need to be removed. God, however, looks way below the skin at things like prejudice, resentment, fear, anger, willfulness and pride. Unfortunately, it will take more than an hour in God’s office to remove our flaws, and often it will seem more painful. Nevertheless, it is for our own good!

Father, examine me and perform any necessary surgery on my soul. Let your Holy Spirit fill me with your guidance, strength and healing.

It’s harder to lose five negative thoughts than to lose five pounds. [From “Be the Miracle” by Regina Brett]

The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! [Revelation 3:19 (MSG)]

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. [Jeremiah 10:23-24a (NLT)]

 

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November 1, 2014

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God's Plan, God's Promises, Prayer

GOD STANDARD TIME

God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them. I tell you, God will help his people quickly. [Luke 18:7-8a (NCV)]

We need to remember that God will give us what is “right” which is not necessarily what we wanted or requested. Moreover, although God promises a speedy response, it may not seem fast to us. His timetable rarely coincides with ours. Nevertheless, His timing, like everything else about Him, is perfect!

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: To the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day. The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. [2 Peter 3:8-9a (NCV)]

 

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October 24, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Peace of God, Trusting God

UNDER THE RAINBOW

DSCN5280WEBAnd there will be a covering over everyone for protection. It will be a shelter to protect the people from the heat of the sun and from all kinds of storms and rain. [Isaiah 4:5b-6 (ERV)]

During rainy season in Florida, we can count on rain nearly every day. Sometimes, it’s a real doozy with thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour; other times, it’s just a little drizzle. Fortunately, by the end of October, the rainy season will come to an end and the tropical storms will give way to milder weather.

I have some friends who seem to be in the rainy season of their lives only, instead of water raining down on them, it’s troubles. Some storms are bigger than others, a child’s mental illness trumps the cancer scare, but, nonetheless, some sort of challenge seems to drop from the sky nearly every day. What’s worse, they have no calendar that tells them that this difficult season will likely stop at the end of the month. Amazingly, although their troubles rain down on them nearly continuously, their misfortunes seem to run off them like water off a duck’s back. Challenges that would sink many have little effect on them; they just keep paddling along. What differentiates them from other people who drown in just a small downpour of trouble?

The difference, of course, is my friends’ deep and abiding faith in a loving God! They receive strength from Him daily and, while they pray this season will soon end, they know that God’s plans for them are good. Faith allows them to see the rainbow in the sky in the midst of the storm.

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging around, you’ll still stand firm if you stand on His love. [Charles Stanley]

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds. [Genesis 9:14 (NLT)]