Friends' Favorites - Un-surrendered

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 NLT

When the Israelites left Egypt in a triumphal exodus, it was because they followed the Lord - cloud by day, fire by night. God's plan was to protect them from the heat of the sun during the day (cloud) and protect them from the cold of the wilderness at night (fire) and to lead them into the promised land. 

The original plan was to go across the wilderness, not spend 40 years wandering in it before they got to their destination. However, they decided to take matters into their own hands. They wanted to do it on their own because they didn't like waiting... It's just as bad when we pray, but try to insist that God does it our way. Nevertheless, it is important to know that God still took care of them. Air to breathe, shade and warmth, food every day, clothes didn't wear out. 

You may know this story - 

• A Christian is on top of a roof during a great flood. A man comes by in a boat and says "Get in, get in!" The Christian  replies, "No, I have faith in God, He will deliver me." Later the water is up to his waist and another boat comes by and the guy tells him to get in. He responds that he has faith in God and God will deliver him. With the water at about chest high, another boat comes to rescue him, but he turns down the offer again because "God will deliver me." 

With the water at chin high, a helicopter throws down a ladder and they tell him to get on. Mumbling with the water in his mouth, he again turns down the request for help for the faith of God. Then he drowns. He arrives at the gates of heaven with broken faith and says to Peter, "I thought God would deliver me and I have been let down."

St. Peter shakes his head and responds, "I don't know why you think that! We sent you three boats and a helicopter."

How many times do we miss God's plan and purpose because He didn't do it the way we thought it should be done? Remember, the world missed Christ's first appearance because He didn't come the way they thought He should.

I firmly believe God gives us strength and intelligence to accomplish all that we need to do. I don't know about you, but here's what I must remember to NOT do...

1. I must NOT forget that the strength and intelligence I do possess are not, were not, and will never be of my own doing, and are not given for me to do MY will. 

2. I must NOT only listen to God's leading AFTER I can't do it on my own, and

3. I must NOT try to tell God how I want Him to do His role within my parameters. 

God is a loving God. He is omniscient. He WILL let me do it on my own, if I insist. Uh... no thanks.  

Father,
           Like Job, I understand - Who am I to question Your wisdom in such ignorance?  I will live to declare Your mighty works. Works that only You can accomplish using those who will follow You in SUBMISSION to Your authority. Keep us ever mindful of this Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Whatever Works

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Recently, I was reminded of two things: 1) that we should be sure to tell our testimonies of what God has done for us so that others can be encouraged and praise God with us, and 2) that God will use whatever works to get us where we need to be. So let me do that.

At the turn of the millennium, my career was in transition. I had gotten a couple job offers from out of state and had actually accepted one. It seemed like a good choice. I had discussed it with my youngest child who had for all practical intents and purposes moved out when he graduated and went to Master's Commission. He was excited for me and encouraged me to take the position.

Everything seemed like it was okay, but I felt like there was one missing piece and I couldn't put my finger on it. However, I moved forward with the process because I couldn't find a reason not to. I was one week away from moving when I went to see my son in Waco to spend the weekend with him. We had a good visit and then Sunday afternoon, as we were having what would be our last meal together for a while, I told him I still felt like there was a piece missing. I had the feeling it was going to come from him and asked him if he had anything he wanted to say. At that point, he confessed that he was not ready for me to be 15 hours away, after all, but he didn't want that to stop me. Immediately, I had total peace. It was the missing part. I told him I was a mom first and an employee second, and I wasn't going anywhere, and that God would work it out.

And He did. My employer was only too happy for me to stay. My future employer was very understanding and said we'd talk in a couple years, and life went on.

A few years later, I got another offer from the same company, but for a different position. It was actually for my life-long dream position - to earn my living as a writer. In my mind, it couldn't get any better - I had no higher aspiration. That was it! I thought the only thing better than that would be to actually be in Heaven.

I packed up and headed out. I had a tentative start date and I figured I'd get there early and get fully settled in before I reported to my dream job. The day I arrived, the manager I'd been talking to turned in her resignation and anyone she'd talked to was put on hold because "what might fit for one manager might not fit for the next one." I knew I hadn't missed God on the move, but I couldn't figure out what went wrong. Anyway, long story short, I was absolutely miserable. I worked a temp agency job for months. When I finally did get a job at the original company, it was in HR, and I hated it. I cried every day on my way home. I just did not understand what God was doing nor why He'd moved me from my beloved Texas to do a job I hated. I was not happy.

Finally, I came to the place where I was on my face before God and laid it all at His feet. "Whatever You want, Father. If I'm here for no other reason than to be a part of the church where You've led me, then I will do that. I just don't want to miss Your will." Within a month, I had a job offer from the church where God had led me! It was His plan and purpose all along, but I would never have left Texas to work for a man I'd never met. I left Texas to live my life's dream. It didn't happen the way I wanted or had planned, but it turned out to be exactly where I was supposed to be at the time. And I still got to write for a living while I was there. God took my plans and altered them to fulfill His. Whatever works...

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for loving us enough to direct our steps, and for using whatever it takes to get us to our ordained destination. We want to follow closely in Your footsteps, Father. Shine the light of Your Word on our path to clearly mark the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen