Embrace the Place

Because my car had hit the 90,000 mile point, my car dealership rep advised me that I would soon need to have my transmission flushed to keep it running smoothly. That service would be $180. I thought I might go to a nearby service shop that I had used for a front light replacement. Their price to flush the transmission was only $99. Great savings, but I changed my mind because that “Inner Voice” prompted me to take my car to the dealership for the service. I’m so glad I listened and obeyed that Voice, because they found a greater issue that, if not repaired, would have created a serious problem for me. The other issue repairs were $1700, but my extended warranty took care of it. Whew! Thanks be to God for His still small voice that I've come to know so well.

I remembered hearing a speaker who gave a talk about “Embracing the place where we are today. God knows where we're at and He has a plan for us to fulfill IN THAT PLACE, so we shouldn’t get stressed out if that place is an uncomfortable place. When I thought about the cost of the repairs, first I thought "I can save $81 if I use that service shop – besides it’s much closer to get to than my dealership. Then I thought about that “Embrace the place" message, and realized God knew about the other “issue” before my dealership did, and that prompting I had to take my car to the dealership for the service, was His best idea. He was protecting me from having to deal with a greater challenge. Father really knows best, so I settle in and "embrace this place".

Remember the shepherd boy, David, who eventually became King David? Jesse brought all his sons, except for David, to parade in front of Samuel because he thought one of them would be chosen the next king. After all David was JUST a shepherd boy taking care of sheep. But God knew where David was all the time, and he was the ONE being prepared to lead God's people. We all know David's story -- he was being prepared for royalty while he was embracing his place as he tended his sheep.

Could it be that you're ready to take a job outside the home instead of having to balance all the mommy duties that you have to tackle every day? On the other hand, you know that where you're at right now is part of God's plan for you in this season? Embrace the place. God knows right where you are.

Could it be you're ready and capable to be in a higher profile position at your church, but you're hid as you teach the little children? Embrace the place. God knows where you are.

Could it be that the job promotion you didn't get is part of God's plan today? Embrace the place. He knows.

Could it be that you've been overlooked, like David, for a leadership position, but it's part of God's plan for you to stay right there a little longer? Embrace the place. God has the best plan carved out for you. He sees.

Could it be that the loan that fell through on your dream home was a part of God's plan? Embrace the place. He has just the perfect home in His plans and it will show up right on time.

Yes, our God who knows everything about everything – our past, our present and our future -- has THE PLANS to prosper us, and not harm us. He has plans to give us hope and a great future (Jeremiah 29:11). So let’s “embrace the place” we’re in right now. Embracing the place is being faithful in this place that He's designed for us today. God knows where we're at, and at the RIGHT time and RIGHT place, He will reposition us. In the meantime, we TRUST HIM in the smack dab place He has us in right now and the place in our future. By the way – wherever those places are – He’s already there waiting for us to arrive. So, let’s embrace this place AND that place!

And He Gives Beauty for Ashes

Day 214 of Photo Inspirations -- And He Gives Beauty for Ashes
#TBT -- Photos of the Previous Home's Front Porch in Ashes and the New Front Porch in Beauty and Blessings.

At our Life Group Meeting last Tuesday night, Freda Gordon​, one of our precious members, reminded us that it had been 3 years, since the August 3rd-4th, 2012 devastating wild fires raged out of control in Mannford, OK -- just a few miles west of Tulsa -- where 400 families, including Freda, lost their homes. They called it a fire storm.  A fire storm is an intense and destructive fire in which strong currents of air are drawn into the blaze, making it burn more fiercely.

Freda's husband of 43 years, had passed away just 3 months before and her grief was compounded by the unthinkable taking place -- a fire that was so out of control, she was left homeless.

Before the fires made it to her home, Freda said that the Lord was telling her: "Get your stuff and follow Me."  She obeyed that voice and retrieved her quilts and family pictures, a few papers, 3 or 4 days worth of clothes and then went to her daughter's home in Jenks.  She said, "I am no hero and wasn't waiting for it to go from bad to worse. Besides...the Lord was really nagging me to GO!!"  And she did.  Thank God, she heeded His voice and was able to get a few of her most precious treasures out.  She was still reeling from the death of her husband, and was in shock and disbelief at the loss and devastation all around her.

At that time, Freda could have retreated, gone under-cover (bed covers), and refused to carry on.  She could have allowed the ashes of depression and despondency to overtake her. But, instead, she refused to give up and her catastrophes turned into her blessings.  She was able to have a new home built in a new location where she has been such a blessing to her neighbors. The most beautiful part of her story -- is that she didn't let her past dicate her future.   She feels purpose, knows she was led to her present community, and is a blessing to everyone who knows her....including our Life Group, and ME.  What a blessing to know her and see the crown of beauty she wears -- instead of the ashes, the oil of joy, instead of mourning, a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3.

Without a doubt, Freda turned her sorrows into a beautiful, living witness of God's grace and abiding love in the midst of the storm (fire storm, that is).  She is always encouraging others to "quit fighting it, and start living the life God intends for you to live.  It will be worth all of it."  

Freda also says:  "We all have gone through "fire storms". Maybe not in the literal sense like this, but we have all had those times that we feel we are being attacked from all sides and have no way out. God gives us an escape plan."

I love that.  "God gives us an escape plan".  Perhaps, today, you are reeling from storms or life situations that have devastated your world.  Take heart.  God has an escape plan for you.  He knows right where you are and His plans and purposes are to bring you to a safe place.  "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11