Driving in the Dark

Driving down a country road at night, that I am unfamiliar with, reminds me of my walk with God.

I can't see more than what the headlights light up in front of me. In life, God doesn't generally lay out all His plans for me all at once. I have to trust that even though I can't see too far in the distance, He has it all planned out and is leading me where I need to go. I need to stay close to Him so I can see where He is leading.

My destination is fixed, but how do I get there? I programmed the GPS in my phone to get me home. Even though I wasn't familiar with the roads, I arrived safely! God has given us a GPS to get us through this life and into our eternal reward safely - His Word!

There are signs along the way to alert me of trouble or let me know I'm on the right road. God uses people and situations in our lives to confirm where He is leading us, or of the dangers that might be ahead. 

I can't see too much in the rear view mirror at night. I don't need to spend a lot of time focused on what has happened in the past. I need to learn from what has happened and move on. If I spend too much time looking backwards, I will miss what God is trying to show me out the windshield!

God has a good plan for my life and I trust Him to get me HOME!

“Wait passionately for God, don't leave the path.” - Psalm 37:34 The Message

“It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone. It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.”

-Ephesians 1:11-14 The Message

So In Love

Lately I have been pondering and have become afraid that when I come into another dating relationship I will let what happened in my previous relationship reoccur. I’ve been concerned that I would allow my desires and hormones reign and rule in my life and that I won’t listen to those who know me and have a more objective opinion of the situation.

But, as simple as this may sound, if I’m absolutely in love with Jesus (to steal a line from one of my favourite worship songs) and seeking His will and desire to serve Him above all else then what do I really have to be afraid of?

Jesus wants good things for me and has MY best interests in mind. He is my Creator. Who knows better? The potter or the clay? The artist or the brush? The author or the pen?

If I trust that He has a good plan for my life then I don’t need to worry and be afraid. I don’t have to worry that I will let bad decisions happen again, because I just have to follow His lead. (Besides worry has yet to add any value to my life!) I don’t have to be afraid because I’m so in love with Jesus that there is no way I could be in love with somebody as much as I am with HIM.

“But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for Him are the lucky ones.” -Isaiah 30:18 MSG

“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew He was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.” -1 Peter 1:18-21MSG

Beyond Jabez

Today I picked up the book, Beyond Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson.

It is a God thing that I even came into possession of this book. My parents gave me a box of books to donate to the church library and I noticed a bunch of cookbooks in the box, so I decided to sort through and found mostly cookbooks, with a few books that might be appropriate for the library. This was one of them. It has been sitting on my dining room table for a few weeks. I really had no interest in reading it, but it kept sticking out to me. So I picked it up and cried through the first 40 pages. I’m so amazed at God’s ability to provide what we need, when we need it.

It has been the missing piece to the puzzle in my mind. It has brought together a bunch of the thoughts floating through my head, the challenge I have received from Pastor Ralph’s sermons to pray big prayers and begin to realize the awesome-beyond-my-wildest-dreams plan God has for my life and the lives of those around me.

I have been frustrated because I have been afraid to ask God for things. I think I am not good enough to receive them or honestly, why would He want to give them to me? He knows the thoughts and intentions of my heart and I am definitely not worthy to receive them!

But it’s not because I’m worthy or that I deserve them or that I could ever earn them, but because He is a good Father and wants to give me good gifts! A gift is defined as: something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned.

So why am I afraid to ask? One of my overwhelming desires is to be pleasing to Him and to know what His will is for my life, so why shouldn’t I ask Him for good things? 

I have seen Him bring about so many good things in my life and am so thankful that He is faithful and all knowing!! I have seen Him answer some very specific prayers. Not always in the way or time that I want or think, but...

He is God, so who am I to box Him in?

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” -1 Chronicles 4:10

“Don't be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” –James 1:16-17 CEV

“Ask, and you will receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” –Matthew 7:7-11 CEV