Wondering What God’s Will is For Your Life?

I saw this Fall embellished version of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – read it, took it to heart, and, whoa-la -- my blog for today! Thanks, God, for the inspiration! I love it when I see and hear from Him. I’ve always said, my blogs are for me AND you!

Clearly, this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5, speaks more about God’s will being in our actions than His actions. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for THIS IS GOD’S WILL for you in Christ Jesus.” When we do our part – staying in a mindset of rejoicing, pursuing Him in prayer and having an attitude of gratitude IN ALL circumstances – we can let go, and LET GOD! BTW – notice the scripture says “…give thanks IN all things” not FOR all things. So in the middle of an illness or a crisis of some kind….right smack dab IN the middle of “the things”, we thank God for His goodness, love, mercy, and grace. That is HIS will for us.

God knows the beginning to the end of our story and when we live in sheer resolve to keep Him up front in our lives – His will, just naturally, is a part of every action, reaction, decision and follow-through. But, dear Lord, how can I rejoice ALWAYS, pray CONTINUALLY, and give thanks IN ALL circumstances? That sounds like a waaay over-the-top, unrealistic challenge! But God never speaks in “impossibilities”. He is always "all things are possible” speaking! I believe that we can ALWAYS purposely focus on our heart’s attitude. It expresses itself throughout the day with silent prayers of vital communication with the LORD. We can always be "on line" with God so when the Holy Spirit moves us to pray, we can instantly agree with Him. When in agreement with the Holy Spirit, we are praying continuously. The heart attitude of praying without ceasing means an ever-open heart to the Lord’s leading.

If we are praying without ceasing -- even while driving, changing the baby, washing dishes, or running a lawn mower -- we can be open to the leading of the Spirit when He urges us to pray for something or someone. We all need a refresher course in clearing our heads and hearts to hear directions from Heaven-Central! And, when we stay connected to the “hot line” by rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks in all circumstances….we can be assured God’s plans and will are being done on earth as they are in heaven.

Where we are – He is and when we trust Him as we’re doing our part to rejoice, pray and give thanks – He gives us peace and understanding. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6). Get that? We’re “IN ALL HIS WAYS” when He gets our attention. We don’t have to look far or go far --- because He’s already there.

Are We There Yet?

Happy New Year! Yes, we are there! 2019 came in like a breath of fresh air – especially if you walked outside at the midnight hour to light some firecrackers or simply to take in 2019 from the outside in. Now, an entire year of awesomeness awaits us. The squares on our 2019 calendars are blank, but very soon those squares will be filled with a host of activities, events, ceremonies, birthdays, anniversaries and exciting opportunities for a new year of great conquests, victories, and adventures.

Back to my post title: “Are we there yet?” Those are familiar words to moms and dads who venture out to take road trips with their young ones. After the first hour of an eight-hour journey, they'll ask: “How long until we’re there?” Then, it’s “Are we there yet?” And that’s the language we often use with God. We pray for a quick fix or an on-the-spot answer to our prayers, but more often than not, God’s timing is NOT our timing. I’ll admit it. Sometimes God’s Word doesn’t make a lick of sense to me (as we say in the South). “If you say to this mountain, be removed and do not doubt in your heart, it will be removed!” (Mark 11:20) Okay. I’ve got this! “Mountain be removed!” Nada; nothing; zilch! I’ll try this one! “All things are possible to those who believe.” (Mark 9:23). I AM believing! Nada; nothing, zilch! I stare at the words on my thin-papered pages of my Bible and end up scratching my head with the end of my Bible highlighter.

I felt that way when I recently read this, “So God led the people by the roundabout way” (Exodus 13:18). This mind boggling little passage is about the Israelites leaving Egypt to go to their Promise Land. It’s before they messed up and God said they had to wander around for forty years. This is a whole different deal where God intentionally led them the roundabout way.

Have you ever felt that way? Did you have a lot of roundabouts in your 2018 year? I sure did, and I suspect that last year didn’t turn out the way many of you planned also. There might have been some chaos and something unexpected happened. If so, let’s take heart. It doesn’t automatically mean that we’re not in God's will. Sometimes He just leads us the roundabout way.

Why? Because His ways are not like ours. Because we think in minutes and He thinks "eternity". We barely see a foot in front of us and He knows the whole story, the whole winding way that is going to get us where He wants us to go. It makes me sigh and laugh when He sometimes takes the slower, scenic route.

Maybe this year I’ll act less like the kid in the back seat asking “Are we there yet?” every two minutes. Maybe I’ll roll down the window and enjoy the view. Maybe I’ll remember that life is like a road trip. It’s about so much more than just getting there.

We don't know what tomorrow holds -- or this new year holds -- but one thing we do know -- HE KNOWS and HE holds our tomorrows and, better yet, He holds our hands and is with us through the straight and narrow AND the roundabouts. Our future is so bright. Let's purpose to wake each day to the prospects of what each day will hold by Him Who knows everything about everything -- and with that kind of Trip Advisor, if we pay close attention, He'll guide us into making 2019 to be our best, most blessed year EVER!

Unlimited Possibilities

This sweet boy is my godson, Owen, and to say I'm blessed to have him in my life puts it mildly. Last night, at Zarrow International School (Spanish immersion), he promoted from elementary school to middle school, and I was thrilled to be there for the celebrations and recognitions.

He won first place in fifth graders in Math and first place in Social Studies. Since Zarrow is a Spanish immersion school, the work the kids do is mostly all in Spanish, so was I ever impressed that Owen did so well.

Standing under their school's motto: "One Child, Two Languages -- Unlimited Possibilities", I thought "They have no idea how right on those words are, when it comes to our Owen."

Sitting with his Mom, Dad and siblings (who I adore also), were Owen's grandmother and I. I couldn't help but tear up with thanksgiving, at where Owen is today, compared to the rough start he had in life, 11-1/2 years ago. I took a photo of him and his grandmother and texted it to her. Immediately, I thought about the conversations she and I had when Owen was first born. He was a very sick baby with several complications. He remained in neonatal ICU for quite some time. When I couldn't get hold of his Mom and Dad because their hands were so full, I would often call or text her. Last night she and I embraced and talked about that, and together, we thanked and praised God for our very smart, strong and healthy boy today. Yes, God answers prayer.

We fell in love with that little guy several years ago and my love for him has only grown through the years. Every time we're together in church he sits beside me, wraps his arms around me and whispers "I love you so much!" I love to think that my Honey in heaven is sending his love to me through Owen to pass on to me. I feel it every time I see him.

"Unlimited possibilities" -- that's who we all are as children of God, because "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!"

Just LOVE

Day 175 of Photo Inspirations -- JUST LOVE
My grandfather was an "Old Time Gospel" Baptist Preacher. He could preach "hail, fire and brimstone" with the best of them. And, my precious polar-opposite grandmother would temper his words by saying, "JUST LOVE".

God is LOVE!  The greatest example of that LOVE was Jesus Christ. The woman caught in the act of adultery -- He loved her to repentence; Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector -- He loved him to salvation; the Naughty Samaritan Woman at the well -- He loved her to her becoming an Evangelist; Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted thousands of Christians -- He loved him to becoming an Evangelist and the writer of 2/3's of the New Testament.

During the Vietnam War, Mother Teresa was asked, "Will you march with us in protest of the war?" She calmly replied, "No, but when you have a march for peace, I'll be there."   I love that.

It's a complete drain of energy to be against something -- but to be FOR something actually increases our enthusiasm and energy. Let's be FOR peace, harmony, justice and every good thing. We don’t try to get rid of the cold in our house; we simply turn on the heat. We can't fight the darkness that may fill a room; we just turn on the light.

How can we LOVE when there is so much wrong in the world?   Grace.  God treats us -- not with what we deserve,  but He treats us with loving-kindness and mercy.  GOD IS LOVE -- and that means He is good to those who deserve it as well as to those who don't deserve it. His love embraces saints AND sinners. Doesn't it make sense that our love for others should be marked by the same kindness and mercy that God has given us?

How can we possibly love those who are just plain evil? With the response that He had for Saul and Zaccheas and the thief on the cross. "WITH GOD, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.  In our own strength, it will be impossible, but in His strength and in His love, our hurts, fears and prejudices can be conquered.  Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the cruelty of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment.  His cross give us the courage to return evil with good.

We have a choice. To be a protester or a peacemaker; to be a hater or a lover; to be angry or joyful; to be a finger pointer or a forgiver.

"Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."  Romans 12:21
In the words of my sweet grandmother....."JUST LOVE!"