“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.” ~ Barbara Johnson
I could hardly sleep last night as I thought about all the unfinished projects and work I have. It’s perplexing and overwhelming at times; there is the ceiling in the garage that needs to be patched; the parking light that is burned out on my truck, the garden lights that quit coming on like they are supposed to at night; the leak in the spa, and the list goes on…
Most of these jobs are not crucial and require a number of steps to complete; so procrastination is an issue because they are involved and sometimes tedious. Other nagging projects are expensive or technically challenging and need an expert to perform them. And then there is the time required which I usually just don’t have very much of. So my life is full of unfinished projects!
I was thinking about this in relationship to Christ. Remember when he was on the cross of crucifixion and uttered the words “it is finished?” That was a project He had been working on for thousands of years if not longer; since we know it was in His heart from the foundation of the world. Then there is the promise that He will come back after He has prepared a place for us. He is still working on that promise made 2000 years ago.
Here is an interesting question to consider: Is God bothered by projects that are left undone until He can complete them? Probably not in the same way we are. He has all the resources we lack and it is not about know-how or procrastination either; it’s much more involved. For God it’s about timing and blending all that He is doing into one consistent and perfect plan – Awesome isn’t it!
So when you wonder why God doesn’t just do something the instant you ask Him to, remember who you are talking to and what is involved. For God it is about the end result and not our instant gratification. God always achieves His goals perfectly; but not necessarily in what we would call a timely manner. He gets the job done but finishes His work in His way and His time; not ours. The good part is that He can be trusted and never makes a mistake. So rest easy tonight. God always finishes what He starts!
“Although the goodness of God may sometimes be hidden, it can never be extinguished." ~ John Calvin
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Devastation
"Fight on merry men. I am wounded but not slain. I will lie down to bleed a while, but when I have rested, I will rise to fight with you again." ~ Robin Hood
Today my dear sweet 17 year old daughter is in surgery as they insert a titanium rod in her leg. She broke both bones just below her calf during a volleyball tournament yesterday. Ironically it was the tournament of her life and she was tearing the court up! Then unexpectedly she got caught up with her teammate and boom - you could hear the snapping bones from across the court.
She was a real trooper at the scene of the injury and in spite of her pain, she never gave in to the desire to scream out. When they wheeled her from the court on the stretcher to the ambulance, a spontaneous round of applause broke out and I almost lost control of my emotions.
The prognosis is favorable and we are confident that a lot of good things will come out of this experience.
What do you do in the midst of devastation? Do you have a safe place to go where you can find the assurance that all is well? Right now we are clinging to the promise that our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for our life and that nothing takes Him by surprise. When things happen that we think are bad, it is because we do not understand how the event either moves us in the right direction or takes us to a mental decision to place our trust more fully in Him.
When I was 17 my parents were divorced. When I was 18 I broke my ankle and missed an entire season of basketball eliminating me from contention for a scholarship to play in college. When I was 21 I dislocated my knee in a wrestling match and could no longer play football or even pass the physical to play intercollegiate sports of any kind and lost my scholarship.
That all sounds pretty bleak doesn't it? But my story is anything but sad. All of these circumstances pushed me to where I am today and gave me a far greater understanding of my God's love and His purpose for my life. These were not stumbling blocks to my happiness but stepping stones leading me to it in a most amazing way.
When you fail or are disappointed, don't succumb to the temptation to give up. Look for the answer to where these things are taking you and embrace the new opportunities with all your heart.
My prayer for my daughter and for you is that you will learn to do more than just accept what happens in your life, but that you will embrace it enthusiastically; knowing that your mental attitude makes all the difference in the effect circumstances will have on you.
"Decide to take what life throws at you and use it as a foundation on which to build your future."
Today my dear sweet 17 year old daughter is in surgery as they insert a titanium rod in her leg. She broke both bones just below her calf during a volleyball tournament yesterday. Ironically it was the tournament of her life and she was tearing the court up! Then unexpectedly she got caught up with her teammate and boom - you could hear the snapping bones from across the court.
She was a real trooper at the scene of the injury and in spite of her pain, she never gave in to the desire to scream out. When they wheeled her from the court on the stretcher to the ambulance, a spontaneous round of applause broke out and I almost lost control of my emotions.
The prognosis is favorable and we are confident that a lot of good things will come out of this experience.
What do you do in the midst of devastation? Do you have a safe place to go where you can find the assurance that all is well? Right now we are clinging to the promise that our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for our life and that nothing takes Him by surprise. When things happen that we think are bad, it is because we do not understand how the event either moves us in the right direction or takes us to a mental decision to place our trust more fully in Him.
When I was 17 my parents were divorced. When I was 18 I broke my ankle and missed an entire season of basketball eliminating me from contention for a scholarship to play in college. When I was 21 I dislocated my knee in a wrestling match and could no longer play football or even pass the physical to play intercollegiate sports of any kind and lost my scholarship.
That all sounds pretty bleak doesn't it? But my story is anything but sad. All of these circumstances pushed me to where I am today and gave me a far greater understanding of my God's love and His purpose for my life. These were not stumbling blocks to my happiness but stepping stones leading me to it in a most amazing way.
When you fail or are disappointed, don't succumb to the temptation to give up. Look for the answer to where these things are taking you and embrace the new opportunities with all your heart.
My prayer for my daughter and for you is that you will learn to do more than just accept what happens in your life, but that you will embrace it enthusiastically; knowing that your mental attitude makes all the difference in the effect circumstances will have on you.
"Decide to take what life throws at you and use it as a foundation on which to build your future."
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