But If Not...

As I sat this morning listening to Pastor John Hagee, he said something that really struck a place in me and that was, "Disappointment should not lead you to disbelief!"

Just because God does not do what you want Him to do, does not mean that He cannot do it.   Therefore, we must begin to say, "But if not..."  Lord I know that you can do this, but if not - I still trust you.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)... “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

God is not bound to our limiting thoughts and He will accomplish His will as He sees fit.  

Remember, if God does not do something, it doesn't mean that He cannot - it means He has other plans.  

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)... For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Disappointment should not lead you to disbelief!

Rejection is direction!

God's delays are not necessarily God's denials!

Let Go and Let God...

I've learned that some of the best things in life are not planned.  

That it only takes you stepping outside of you to get the blessing that was about to pass you by.  

That when you trust God for real and not just in words, He floods you with goodness beyond your greatest fantasy.  

That when you obey, even when it hurts, the greatness that follows erases the memories of the pain.  

I've learned that when we try to hold too tightly to the lives that are not ours, we miss the awesome plans that are His, and in return we could be left with misery.

So today, I leave this thought with you... LET GO AND LET GOD!

Be Thankful Always...

There is always something for which you can be thankful!

Years ago, I heard the story of an Englishman by the name of Matthew Henry. One day Matthew Henry was riding his horse through the woods. He was on his way to a church meeting where he was going to be the guest speaker. Suddenly, a masked bandit ran out of the woods with a gun in his hand and demanded that Matthew Henry get off of his horse. Mr. Henry obeyed the robber, as he knew this was a dangerous situation.  His mind took him to the thought that we are supposed to give thanks in everything that happens to us. He asked God how he was supposed to be thankful for being robbed! As he continued on his way, the answer came to him.

“First,” he said, “I am thankful I have never been robbed before.

Second, I am thankful he took my money and not my life.

Third, I am thankful he did not take more; he could have taken my horse and my clothes as well.

Next, I am thankful that what I had stolen from me really did not amount to very much. Then I am grateful that what I lost, in time, could be replaced.

But, finally, and most importantly, I am thankful that I was the one robbed and not the robber!”

I Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)…. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

http://www.personality-insights.com/blog/2008/11/24/there-is-always-something-for-which-you-can-be-thankful/

Thought For The Day...

"I think one of the most wonderful parts of heaven will be all the time we get to spend with the people we loved on earth, but didn't get enough time with."
- Allison Robbins

Are you going to heaven?

I'm Losing Control...

As I enter into this next phase of my life, I'm facing the realization that I'm losing control - and it's a little scary!  Today as we drove out of town, I relinquished my driving privileges and as a method of calming my nerves about it, I brought along a magazine to read.  Lol!  It didn't help as much as I anticipated.   I constantly found myself looking and checking the mirrors or secretly glancing over at the speedometer.  Since I wasn't in the driver's seat, I would at least attempt to control the radio or the temperature in the car.  

What I found was what should have been a nice, relaxing 2 hour ride, turned into an intense unnecessary over alerted, non-enjoyable experience!

WHY?! The answer was simple - I was fighting the fact that I wasn't in control; I wasn't in the driver's seat.    My mind began to wonder and I landed on the thought that if I can't lose control of a 2 hour car ride and be okay with not being the driver, then what else am I going to fight?  Hhmmm....

Losing control is not always a bad thing.  Then I glanced in the back seat and noticed that my mom (who is terrified of riding in cars), was enjoying a nice nap.  I was instantaneously envious.  After a few moments, I chuckled to myself and realized that this car ride could be related to my encounters with God.  He's a much more skilled driver than I am and He knows exactly what's ahead and around the next curve, but because I can't control the speed and change lanes as I would like - I find myself constantly over alerted and uncomfortable.   

It's okay to lose control to the one who has the ultimate control.  So today as I prepare myself to relax on the drive home, I also willingly give control back to God and take a restful nap.  

Dear God...

Dear God, 

Enlighten what's dark in me... 
Strengthen what's weak in me... 
Mend what's broken in me... 
Bind what's bruised in me... 
Heal what's sick in me... 
And lastly... Revive whatever peace and love has died in me... 

 Reply AMEN if this is your prayer!

-Unknown

Be Still...

"There can be clarity in chaos, if you be still long enough."
-SoSerene

Psalms 46:10..."Be still and know that I am God..."  Yet another translation interprets this scripture as "Stop fighting", He says, " and know that I am God."

Each time that I was at a pivotal point in my life, my initial instinct was "flight" when the pressure was turned up.  Each time, some kind of way Psalms 46 found its way before my eyes.  

"But Lord, I'm tired of this phase in my life and I don't understand why you keep telling me to be still."  

"Where am I going and how long will it be before I arrive at this predetermined destination?"  

"God I'm growing weary and I don't know how much fight I have left in me..."  "Stop fighting", He says, " and know that I am God."

If you are anything like me, you are a bit of a control freak and you tend to plan most things.  However, when something doesn't go according to that plan, you divert to plans B, C and D.   But what happens when none of them work and you feel helpless and hopeless because you are no longer in control?  It is usually at that moment where God steps into the driver's seat and begins to navigate. Could it be that if you are still experiencing a great deal of chaos that you are still fighting?  I know that I was!

"There can be clarity in chaos, if you be still long enough."