Victory

Did I notice all the fabulous things that are going on in my life today? It is easy to miss them sometimes because I am so focused on certain specific outcomes that may not have come to pass yet. Sometimes I catch myself being ungrateful and am ashamed. I want to be an example of what gratitude looks like. Please forgive me.

This week was amazing. Today was amazing. Thank you Lord for the gifts you have given to me. When we were taught to pray, Jesus said, "Give us this day our daily bread." That means each day is enough!

Let's just slow down a bit and not worry about tomorrow. Today's blessings are enough. Lord, please give us a place to stand today and that will be enough. Tomorrow we will begin again with the troubles and the victories. And again you will prove yourself to be sufficient for all our needs.

Thank you!

Pain and Confusion

I am hurting for three of my dearest friends. Today marked a kind of turning point for each one. They are smart and full of faith but questioning the events in their life because it isn't turning out the way they thought it would.

How is your life going right now? Are you just about out of resources? Are you confused by the fact that your faith has not unlocked the door? You are not alone. When Jesus was in the garden praying the night before he was killed by the mob, he earnestly prayed that this cup of suffering would pass him by, but it didn't. God had a better plan - but it was a more painful plan too.

When we ask God for something we have to accept the possibility that he will not do what we want. Is God deaf? Is he heartless or unfair?... Hardly. But God has a plan that is better than ours and he has never made a mistake. We can trust him completely.

I make mistakes all the time. Don't you? It's usually my mistakes that got me into the trouble I'm trying to pray myself out of. If I don't have to go through the situation I have created, I will not learn the important lessons I will need down the road to become what he wants me to be.

So I have a choice; get angry and frustrated with God for not giving me what I want, when I want it; or take my medicine because I realize it will make me better and prepares me for eternity. I want all the good stuff now, but he has a better plan and it usually has to do with deferring my pleasure until later.

Job said, "Though he slays me, yet will I trust him." I want to say that with all my heart. He may slay me, but I will not forget that my life is in his hands and I am "ready to do whatsoever my Lord the king shall appoint."

He is God and I am not. That is good enough for me. My pain and confusion are really just my way of not submitting to his plan with total trust and confidence in him.

Testing My Metal

I am in a battle; just as you are. What do we really believe? It's one thing to say we believe something, but when the situation demands that our philosophy be put into action, can we do it? That is the test.

If we fall apart under pressure, we are inauthentic and just a bag of wind. I don't want that - do you? If anything, I want to be more committed to my philosophy than I claim to be ... not less.

We are tested in little ways every day. Over a lifetime, the little tests develop into habit and eventually shape our character. Take a good look at yourself. Are you really two people? The one you want to be and the one you really are?

When you are battle-hardened and know what your reaction will be under fire, then you are worth something and very valuable as a leader.

So don't run from the test...Run into it!