Disappointment or APPOINTMENT?

I’ve given it few days since CNN's headline: Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, pull off epic Super Bowl comeback”. Whether you are a 49ers or Chiefs fan or not a football fan at all, if you tuned into the Super Bowl game last Sunday night and watched it all the way to the end, you were amazed at such an incredible comeback by the 49ers. I was at my kids’ home and, when the 49ers were leading by ten points at the end of the 3rd quarter, I headed home. I wasn’t necessarily a quitter because I turned on the game as soon as I made it home and watched the final exciting comeback -- all cozy at home in my jammies!

I’ll admit, I was cheering for the Chiefs. I have lots of family that live in Kansas City, MO, so I was thrilled when they won. The 49ers had DISAPPOINTMENT written all over their faces when they couldn’t pull off the win. I was so inspired to hear about the players (on both teams) say they have leaned on their faith to help them with their careers and keep everything in perspective. After the victory, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, "I want to thank the Lord for blessing us with all these incredible people to bring this trophy home."

Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named MVP, carrying the ball into the end zone on his own for one of the Chiefs' crucial touchdowns. He says his faith in God is the source of his success. "Doing what I do every single day, and then knowing that as long I'm doing everything the right way, the way that He'd want me to do it, then I can walk off the field with my head held high and be able to be the man that I'm supposed to be. It's given me a lot of blessings in my life and I'm trying to maximize and glorify Him in everything I do," said Mahomes.

While one team and their stunned fans were disappointed, the other team and their fans saw their win as a divine appointment. I love when I hear anyone speaking about the goodness of God. They are helping to make HIM famous.

Maybe you don't care one way or the other about a Super Bowl game, but maybe some-ONE or some-THING has brought you tremendous disappointment. We can't stop disappointment, but we can stop staying stuck in it. I know how easy it is to dwell on something or someone that hurt me. Wallowing there gets us nowhere. I remember times of great disappointment. As long as I stayed sad, the more miserable I became. When I would refuse to stay in that place and go to my Peace-Giver, I would snap out of the doldrums and find a place of joy, gladness, comfort and peace. Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

God has incredible plans for us and the enemy of our souls would like to keep us from ever experiencing those plans and just stay "put" in misery. God's purpose for us goes beyond times of disappointment. In fact, that disappointment today may just be the set up for HIS APPOINTMENT where hope is found and a major comeback is on its way that produces successes and joy. There are many future God-appointments on the other side of whatever disappointment we may be encountering today. God has your name on His appointment schedule. He'll be right on time. Don't be a minute late!

APPOINTMENT or DISAPPOINTMENT

CBS News Headline this morning is this: "Super Bowl 2018: Eagles pull off stunning win over Patriots". Whether you are a Patriots or an Eagles fan or not a football fan at all, if you tuned into the Super Bowl game last night and watched it for any period of time, you would agree that it was a good one to watch! Lots of drama and surprises! Along the way you may have had some feelings for which team you’d like to win. I’ll admit, I was cheering for the Eagles, so I was thrilled when they won. Tom Brady had DISAPPOINTMENT written all over his face when he couldn’t pull off his #6 Super Bowl win. I was so inspired when Nick Foles, the Eagles back-up quarterback, Doug Pederson, the Eagles coach, and several other Eagles’ players, when interviewed at the end of the game said, “First and foremost, I give all the glory to my Lord Jesus Christ.” While one team and their stunned fans were DISAPPOINTED, the other team and their fans saw their win as a Divine APPOINTMENT. I love when I hear anyone speaking about God and His goodness. They are helping to make HIM famous.

My word(s) for today are: APPOINTMENT -- a meeting set for a specific time, and,
DISAPPOINTMENT -- the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations.

Maybe you don't care one way or the other about a Super Bowl game, but maybe some-ONE or some-THING has brought you tremendous DISAPPOINTMENT. We can't stop disappointment, but we can stop staying stuck in it. I know how easy it is to dwell on something or someone that hurt me. But, wallowing in disappointment gets us nowhere. I remember times of great disappointment and as long as I remained in sadness and regret, the more miserable I would get. But, when I would refuse to stay in that place and go to my Peace-Giver, I would snap out of the doldrums and find that place of joy, gladness, comfort and peace. Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Isn’t it interesting that the word "APPOINTMENT" comes from within the word DISAPPOINTMENT? I’ve seen again and again how disappointments take something FROM us: a dream, a piece of our hearts – maybe whole chunks of it. But disappointment also GIVES us something too: a gift, an opportunity, the possibility of creating change.

God has incredible plans for us and the enemy of our souls would like to keep us from ever experiencing those plans and just stay "put" in woe and distress. God's purpose for us goes way beyond times of disappointment. In fact, that disappointment today may just be the set up for HIS APPOINTMENT where hope is found and a major comeback is on its way that produces successes and joy. That's what happened to me. My days are filled with purpose and I know that I'm walking in my destiny, getting to bring others with me on this road.

Let's remember God is in the "set-up" and APPOINTMENT business. There are many future God-appointments on the other side of whatever disappointment we may be encountering today.
God has got your name on His appointment schedule. He'll be right on time. Don't you be a minute late!

Coincidences or Divine Appointments?

You've got to love it when a young person is willing to come to a slightly "mature" person ;-) for counsel. You know, they know, the wisdom that's inside them. Very, smart and wise young person. When I received an email from a sweet friend from my church, Megan, asking if I'd look over a project she's doing for her Senior year at Bishop Kelley, I was honored and pleased. She selected the importance of inner beauty for her project. Yes, extremely, wise young lady. But, even better, what seemed to be a simple appointment to review a project, turned into a God-designed appointment. My sweet girl Shawntel Wuerch and the boys were here with me in Tulsa which was perfect timing for both of us to review Megan's project. Sweet opportunity to talk about the inner beauty that God desires from us -- that beauty that comes from within and shines so brightly in our lives. Shawntel is exemplary in both inside and outside beauty. Divine set-up.

Before Megan came to my home, her Mom sent over this photo of Shawntel and Megan ten years ago. Shawntel was the guest speaker for our Women of the Church OfThe Madalene and that night she told her Miss America story -- about her road from a little town, Muldrow, OK to Miss America, how she entered simply to earn scholarship monies to attend college. But God had bigger things in mind for her, and He does for each of us as well. Just like the road to Miss America, with its twists and turns and ups and downs, being the journey God planned for Shawntel, a simple appointment to review a project just may be the "set up" for Megan that started ten years ago when she was excited to have her photo taken with Shawntel. Yesterday, Megan was wearing a Bishop Kelley soccer shirt. Shawntel asked her if she played soccer. Indeed she does, and of all things, her coach is my nephew, Troy Tokarchik. Who knew another little "set-up" to show we're in the same family!

What if each day we started taking note of the coincidences....er.... the divine set-ups, providential circumstances and appointments that come our way that point us in the direction of our God-given destiny? Megan had a project to do. She was impressed to do it on God's definition of beauty. What if this project is the "seed" that Megan is planting for her future? What if what we are doing today are the seeds we're planting for the difference makers and world changers God destined us to be?

Your Word is a Lamp to my Feet

Oh how grateful I am when I sense "a word" to post, and then God sends His "atta girl" to me.  For the last two days I've posted about disappointments, His appointments, set ups, set backs, perspective, etc.  I just read today's "Jesus Calling" and want to show you what I mean.  Perhaps, if you're reading this with me, that He's giving you an "atta girl" or "atta boy", too.  It just may be a confirming word for both of us!

Jesus Calling -- November 3rd
Every time something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits.  The first is obvious:  Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship.  Another benefit is that DISAPPOINTMENTS, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good.  This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.

Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little DISAPPOINTMENTS of daily life.  It is often these minor SETBACKS that draw you away from My Presence.  When you reframe SETBACKS as OPPORTUNITIES, you find that you gain much more than you have lost.  It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way.  But it is possilbe to attain the PERSPECTIVE of the apostle Paul who wrote:

"Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignficant as rubbish."  Philippians 3:7-8

DisAPPOINTMENT or His APPOINTMENT

Day 301 of Photo Inspirations -- DisAPPOINTMENT or His APPOINTMENT
Did some-ONE or some-THING really disappoint you?   We can't stop disappointment, but we can stop staying stuck in it. I know how easy it is to dwell on something or someone that hurt me.  But, that gets us nowhere.  I remember the void I felt when my sweetheart graduated to heaven.  When I would dwell on that void, sadness and grief would try to fill me and I would become miserable.  But, when I would snap out of that dwelling place to go to the "secret place of the Most High" -- the better place, I'd experience joy, gladness, comfort and peace.  .

God has incredible plans for us and the enemy of our souls would like to keep us from ever experiencing those plans and just stay "put" in woe and distress. God's purpose for our lives goes way beyond times of disappointment. In fact, that disappointment today may just be the SET UP for His APPOINTMENT where hope is found and comeback has major assignments that produce many successes and joys. That's what happened to me.  My days are filled with purpose and I know that I'm walking in my destiny, getting to bring others with me on this road.

I saw Christine Caine's daily post a few days ago that really inspired me. She said "Isn’t it interesting that the word "appointment" comes from within the word disappointment? I’ve often marveled at that because I’ve seen again and again how disappointments take something FROM us: a dream, a piece of our hearts – maybe whole chunks of it. But disappointment GIVES us something too: a gift, an opportunity, the possibility of creating change. This means we can move from the valley of the shadow of death to new horizons and bring others with us on that road."

Yesterday my blog was about the steps of a comedian's joke.  First he provides the set up, then he goes another direction with the punchline.  For example, Michael Jr. told how his 4 year old son came to him and said, "Daddy I want to be a doctor when I grow up!"  Michael Jr. was so excited and happy about his son's aspirations.  Then his son said "Or a dinosaur!" LOL!  (The set up.....shift happened.....and then the punchline.)

Let's remember God is in the "set-up" and appointment business.  There are many future God-appointments on the other side of whatever disappointment we may be encountering today.

God has got your name on His appointment schedule.  He'll be right on time.  Don't you be a minute late!