Tag Archives: Proverbs 3:5-6

God’s plans … Or yours?

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One of the most common verses referenced on graduation cards is Jeremiah 29:11 – “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…” What a great verse of hope, that the creator of the universe has good plans for us . . . if only we will pursue them.

 

Of course, we have many plans of our own. We have plans that distract us from God’s presence and keep us from even thinking about Him most the day. We have plans that go against God’s will that we justify as not being “too bad.” We make happiness our life goal instead of the real joy found in enjoying God more than anything else. We have plans we think serve Him even though they aren’t necessarily His best plans for us.

 

Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew probably had plans to make a good living as fishermen. Then along comes Jesus who says, “Come, follow me and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed him.” James and John were also out fishing, in a boat with their father. Jesus called them and they immediately left their boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)  There was no discussion. They didn’t say, “Wait until I raise enough money to go on your journey.” They didn’t ask, “Will I be able to live at the same level of comfort that I currently enjoy?” They didn’t even ask Jesus where they were going. All they knew was that their encounter with Jesus compelled them to change their plans and follow him.

 

Following Jesus requires change. He may require us to change priorities. Instead of being obsessed with the news, sports, finance, or any other list of things, Jesus calls us to adjust our day to focus on him. He may require us to change our lifestyle. The rich young ruler found it unacceptable to give up his riches in order to follow Jesus. It wasn’t the riches that were the problem but his obsession with wealth and comfort that stood in the way of following Jesus.

 

Following Jesus requires us to adjust our plans to his, not trying to fit his plans into ours. It may be as ‘simple’ as switching our movie and TV viewing habits, the words we use when we’re angry, or even the things we let frustrate us.

 

Following Jesus might cause us to rethink our giving. Instead of thinking a 10% tithe is our goal, maybe he would have us think of it as a beginning. After all, if our life goal is to follow Jesus, shouldn’t we use all our resources for that purpose?

 

Following Jesus might require leaving our comfort zone. James and John left their home, their family, their livelihood, and life ambitions and goals. Why? Because God had a better plan for them. His plans always reflect His character of love, mercy, justice, goodness. His plans always reflect his purpose to draw us and others closer to him and to each other. In fact Jesus summed these up as the ‘greatest commandments’ – to love God fully and to love others as ourselves. Isn’t everything else really just following our own plans?

 

There’s nothing wrong with making a living and enjoying the life God gave us. But the question is, are we following our own plans and asking God to adjust to them or are we adjusting our lives so we can follow his good plans for us?

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

The first page of your new year

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Today is the first page of a 365 page story, the story of your life in 2015.

 

 

Maybe you have some idea of what you want to be part of this year’s story. You have hopes and dreams for what you will accomplish. Likely, there will be surprises that will suddenly appear on your pages. But even when the pages turn unexpectedly, you remain in control of what is written on them. How you respond to life determines your story more than the actual events that transpire. So how will you write this year of your life?

 

You could just wait and see what happens, live life as it comes to you. Que será, será. Put life on autopilot and see where it takes you. Let the spinning wheel spin and see where it stops. It’s easy to get caught up on the merry-go-round, distracted by all the lights and music. Before you know it, a day, a week, a month, a year, a life has passed…without purpose.

 

You could take charge, set your goals, plan extensively, and live with great focus. I tend to be a goal-setter and planner so I suppose I easily fall into this category. I tend to think it is good to ‘count the costs’ and plan well. In the parable of the talents, Jesus praised those who invested well. We too should invest our time well and also our other resources. But sometimes, the best of plans have to be set aside and new strategies adopted. You had intended to write one thing in your book of life, but life itself changes the direction of the next page and chapter.

 

There is a third, more profitable way to write the story of 2015 and that is to devote the year, all of it, to the glory and honor of God. “Whatever you do, do it as unto The Lord” for His purpose and His glory. (Colossians 3:23). “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

 

God delights in you and He wants to show you the way to go in this new year. He longs for your joy. Shouldn’t your story be all about Him? How do you do that? Make sure each page of 2015 be filled with three things:

 

Rejoicing – God is good. He will always be with you.
Praying – Talk with God throughout the day. Spend some time listening.
Giving thanks – Find reason to give thank every single day.

 

Write a great story in 2015!  Fill your pages with these things and enjoy a wonderful new year!

 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

 

I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made

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I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

 

 

If you’ve been trying to ‘walk the talk’ you know how easy it is to become discouraged. We quickly beat ourselves up over the little progress we make toward our goals, and the mistakes we make along the way. We might be tempted to give up and say, “It’s no use. I’ll never become better.” Like Paul, we keep doing the things we shouldn’t and don’t do the things we should. Welcome to living in your own power.

 

But behind this pessimistic view of ourselves is a backdrop of how we are actually wonderfully made. Our bodies are marvels of creation. I mean, which of you tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, or your kidneys to clean your blood? Even though you may think you cannot learn, your brain is constantly absorbing and processing new information, teaching you how to adapt to your environment. (Have you ever lived next to a railway or fire station and soon discover that you have tuned out the loud sounds?) Who taught you to handle both heavy and delicate objects with the same hand? Who taught your digestive track to handle all the junk food you put into it and keep your body functioning? Despite what YOU see in the mirror, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

 

Beyond a wonderfully created body, you’ve been given a spirit that knows what it wants and yearns to achieve it. Even though our will chooses sometimes to believe lies, we have inside of us this still small voice that speaks truth. We have a natural yearning to be close to God, even though we try to feed that need with oh so many other things.  You have the ability to learn from mistakes, to choose goodness, to forgive, to perceive and enjoy true beauty. There is no law or military force that can take away from you your decision to be at peace, to pray, to be content, to trust in God, or to praise Him. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

 

Psalm 100:3 reminds us that it is God who made us so wonderful. No matter what the self-books say, we are not self-made. So it naturally follows that we should:

 

In all your ways acknowledge the Lord and the Lord will direct your path. Proverbs 3-6

 

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

Look in a different mirror today and see the person made by the Creator of the Universe who knows the stars by name and holds the oceans in His hand. It is this same awesome God who wonderfully made you and chooses to love you, even when you mess up. You’re not perfect. But you are wonderfully made by a loving God. Tell Him “I will praise you.”

 

 

Knowing God’s will

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The question came up in a recent conversation:

 

“How do you know God’s will?”

 

What a great question!  It seems we are all so busy surviving and making a living that it is easy to lose sight of our purpose in life – and God’s purpose too.

 

So often, we ask the wrong question. Instead of asking “What is God’s will for my life,” try asking, “What is God’s will?” Focus on the nature of God and the revelation of His consistent plan. God created perfect life. He created you. He saw what a mess we were in and sent His son Jesus so that whoever believed in Him would find ‘the way, the truth, and the (abundant) life.’ He sent us His very Spirit to indwell us so we would never have to be alone or confused, knowing He will always guide us – if we only draw near and listen.

 

God has plans for our major life decisions. But while you are pursuing big life goals, did you know that God’s will is about what you do today?

 

Part of God’s will is that we enjoy the peace and joy of remaining in His presence. He knows that you will become stressed over money, quarrels, work, and endless problems. He knows there will be days when your ‘get up and go’ just ‘got up and went’. He knows you will lose your joy and be oppressed by all sorts of circumstances. He knows there will be times when you come to the end of your rope. Have hope: He invites you to enter His presence, not just in your ‘quiet time’ but in the busyness of your day. Learn to take one minute breaks to seek His presence and ask Him to reveal His purpose for your next steps. It is His will that you remain dependent on Him, not on your own understanding.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your path.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

God’s will is not just for you; it’s for those around you. Evangelist John Lavender stated “To do God’s will is to minister to the person who is closest to you at the moment.” The person you just let go ahead of you in line at the store, the man at the intersection with the sign reading ‘Hungry.’ The person interrupting you. The janitor. You might say, “Wait a minute. I didn’t ask about God’s plan for others. I want to know God’s plan for me!”   God’s plan for you often involves the people in your vicinity. Jesus  said if you want to do God’s will you should “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Then He added, “Love your neighbor (those in your vicinity) as yourself.”

 

Want to do God’s will? Come close to Him and bring others close to Him, in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Thoughts Of A Caregiver

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Someone thought it would be a good idea to hear Marcia’s perspective as a caregiver in dealing with along term illness. Here are some of her thoughts: 

It is difficult because you can’t take away the pain that your loved one is experiencing. You do what you can to encourage your spouse and make them comfortable. You don’t think of it as a chore, but rather a gift of love. But being on call 24/7 puts certain stress on you that sometimes is hard to bear. Caring for a person with a long term illness is a lot like the responsibilities of caring for a child. Even when your loved one wants to be independent and do things for themselves, you are always in demand and available. It seems there is no getting away from the situation. It is an all consuming task.

You want to be at the hospital all the time to support your husband, but also need to get away for a good night sleep and to handle chores etc.  But when you are away, you want to be back at the hospital, even though being confined to one room adds it own stress. It is a feeling that pulls you in two directions at once. Falling asleep at home can be difficult. What helps me is singing hymns and praying until I fall asleep.

This experience takes you out of your comfort zone. You’re having to do things you just as soon not do. Sometimes it is simple things like driving back and forth to the hospital or paying bills. You end up taking on roles that were usually your husband’s, or at least you would have more of his help for making decisions. Suddenly, you find yourself not only a mate but also a legal and medical advocate for your spouse, making decisions and setting up appointments, tracking medications, and dealing with insurance and finances. Because you are in the hospital room most the time, you end up being part of the nursing staff. And yet, after juggling all these roles, you also need to be a loving spouse and friend.
Sometimes people expect to feel bad and so they do. Others look for the best that is possible and so they expect more of themselves which in turn makes them feel and cope better. This applies both to the patient and the caregiver.
What has kept me sane in this season of life is much more than maintaining a positive attitude. The real strength has come from God in both the big and small things. Our every day devotions, bible reading, and talking to God throughout the day has helped to de-stress my life. He takes the excess burden off me. I could choose to worry or dwell on the bad stuff. But in the face of so many unknowns, I choose to trust God to direct our lives no matter which direction they go.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

 

“We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come To It”

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On the agenda of one family vacation years ago was a trip across the Royal Gorge Bridge near Cañon City, Colorado. Dangling 955 feet above the Arkansas River it was at the time, the world’s tallest bridge. The 1260 foot long bridge had a wooden deck with planks that were placed oh, I think about two or three feet apart. Marcia and the kids walked across the tall bridge while I drove the car across at a responsible 2 MPH speed. I’m much better now and can even drive highway speed across the 26 mile Lake Pontchartrain bridge in New Orleans pulling a trailer, without breaking a sweat.

There are some ‘bridges’ in our life journey that are unexpected and others that are inevitable. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” is a metaphor for, “Let’s not deal with that now.” Often, this is good advice to ward off needless and unproductive worry and fret about things that might not happen or over which we have no control. The metaphor is also sometimes used by folks in denial of the very real bridge connecting them from one chapter of life to another.

Being wired as a strategist, I’ve worked with the doctors to get a likely view of my symptoms during treatment. This has helped a great deal to relieve me of unnecessary anxiety. Not worrying about things over which I have no control allows me to anticipate and apply appropriate responses to those I can.

But what has helped Marcia and I the most while crossing this ‘Leukemia bridge’ is not strategy. It is applying the ageless truth of trusting God. While we’ve known in our heads and hearts that God’s Word was true and practical for life application, we have learned in a deeper place that it is applicable in every situation and in our every emotion. Trust is not easy to put on when you approach a large bridge. It is best developed and exercised day by day. If you cannot find God faithful in small things, it may be difficult to trust Him completely when you find yourself suddenly crossing larger, more stressful life bridges.

What life bridges are in your path and how can trusting God more help you in your approach? Reading His Word daily and taking time to thank Him throughout the day are two ways to build the trust and faith you will need to “cross that bridge when you do come to it.”

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6