Tag Archives: Future

Alpha And Omega

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Life has a lot of twists and turns. As much as I attempt to make plans and fill my calendar, life changes. Sometimes the news is hard and painful…. just in the past month there has been a death in the family. At other times the news is good… this month has also brought an announcement of a pregnancy, and two invitations to weddings. We will start packing to send one son off to college, and get senior pictures made for our daughter.

Life is stitched together, one day at a time. One moment at a time. There are a lot of twists and turns, and we are all at the mercy of the unknown.

Thankfully, no matter what happens, I know the One who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end…….and all the days in between.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 NIV

 

Running Out Of Your Comfort Zone

I turned 46 last month.h

More days are in my past, than will probably be in my future.

Now, I might live into my 90s, but probably not. That is a rather sobering thought, actually.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my life, what I have accomplished, what I’ve done that truly has made a difference, other lives I have touched, and how I’ve influenced my circle of family and friends.

These types of thoughts are nothing new to me. I am what I like to call a “silent thinker”. I ponder much more than I say aloud, not that I don’t talk, because I do. My husband thinks, maybe too much. Overall, I think about things more often than I talk about them.

Writing is my therapy. I am able to get things typed out, process my thoughts, as they flow across my laptop screen. Sometimes, I surprise even myself.

Life is comfortable for me right now. It wasn’t always that way. I am grateful for this time, believe me.

But, I don’t think God allows any of us to stay in our comfort zones for too long.

Not because He doesn’t love us, and wants to scare us, or make us miserable.

Quite the contrary.

He doesn’t allow us to stay there precisely because He does love us……and He made us to be extraordinary.

Maybe not extraordinary by this world’s standards, but most definitely by His.

I have consciously said, “yes” to God more than once. Yes, to whatever His desires are for me. His plans, His ways, His choice.

At times when I really take a moment to consider this I get a bit nervous…that the God of the universe has my number.

I consider taking my yes back, but I don’t.

I am reminded of His great and everlasting love for me. I allow that thought to comfort me.

God has a plan. A perfect plan. We all have a part in His plan. Sometimes I wish He would fill me in on things a bit more than He does, but, really, it is not about me or what I want. It is about what He wants.

This whole life is for His glory alone.

In all honesty, I don’t know the plan. I don’t know what lays ahead for me, and that is okay.

God is good and He will show me, one day at a time.

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This post was inspired by a story I read today. A runner. A world traveler. A woman whose eyes were opened to a new life. You can read all about it, here.

 

 

Sometimes There Is No Going Back

She understood that some decisions changed everything.

Sometimes there is no going back.

Choices made today always make pathways for tomorrow…

Maybe those paths really are the ones less traveled.

 

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Left to live with the satisfaction or the regret of choices made.

Have you been there? Standing at the fork in the road?

Choosing.

Not sure what your next might be?

Scared. Nervous. Wondering.

So, run to the One who makes pathways straight, and holds the future…your future… in His hands.

And with Him, we are never alone.

 
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105  ESV

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20 ESV

Then God Showed Up

Sometimes I am just weary.                  P1000338

Weary from it all…..

Lately my mind has been preoccupied with insurance changes and the expense of it, changes in education with core standards, and the government consistently not considering what we, the people, think.

Terrorism and shootings. Fear of the unknown.

I worry about the future and I worry about my kids future, and I wonder what our country will look like in ten years?

I had all this stuff swirling around in my head when I went to get the mail yesterday afternoon.

Then God showed up.

In the mail.

He came in the form of words from In Touch Ministries.

Dr. Stanley had written out Life Principles To Live By.

Principle #9 stated, “Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.”

Looking beyond what we can see, because really what can I see? I can’t look even five seconds into the future. I can’t see anything.

And the unknown is always scary.

The future is dark to me. I am blind to what lies ahead, but God knows.

If I stick close to Him, He will lead me through whatever the future holds.

My eyes teared up, right there in the driveway, holding the mail in my hand.

I needed to read this.

I needed to dwell on this.

Thank you, God, for the reminder.

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9  ESV

 

God Had Not Forgotten

A blended family. Favoritism. Half brothers that hated him.  IMG_0253

Dreams and foreshadowing.

Anger, resentment, jealousy…murderous thoughts, leading to a pit.

An empty cistern, and much emptier souls. Pits of despair. Regret.

Slavery. Prison. Interpretation.

In a foreign land, far away…with people that were not his own.

Did he ever wonder if God had forgotten him? Had the God of his fathers turned His back on him?

God had not forgotten Joseph.

Not in the pit. Not in a foreign land. Not in prison. Not when falsely accused.

Not as a leader, second only to Pharaoh himself.

Not ever.

God sent him ahead. To save his people.

But Joseph said to them (his brothers), “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives…..” Genesis 50:19-20  NIV

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Have you ever felt forgotten? Wondered why this thing was happening to you?

I know that I am, many times, short sighted. I cannot see the whole picture. I easily become frustrated and confused.

Why me?!

I want the plan laid out, not left out.

I want comfort, not confusion.

I need details, not doubt.

I stamp my feet, and shake my fist and demand an answer that I can understand.

But, if I could understand God’s plan, wouldn’t that make God small?  Wouldn’t that be putting God in a box? And if that is the case, He wouldn’t be much of a God would he? Do I really want that? Ultimately, I am thankful God is sovereign and in control and His plans are always perfect.

And God says to me….

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart……” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

 

 

 

Counting My Blessings

Garden hammock

Image via Wikipedia

“People often crucify themselves between the regrets of the past and the worries of the future.”  (Pastor referenced this quote while preaching his sermon yesterday morning from Matthew, chapter 6)

The words struck me. There was truth in the sting.

How often do I worry or show regret over things I’ve said, or done, or worse yet things I didn’t say or do?  Then I worry about the future. The state of our country, the cost of gas, the cost of groceries, teens driving, jobs, money, relationships, conversations…Sadly, I could go on and on….and sure enough I am crucified. The hammer swings hard against me. YOU SHOULD HAVE. WHY DIDN’T YOU? YOU COULD HAVE. TAKE IT BACK. WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING! or….WHAT IF? I’M SCARED. I NEED. PLEASE?! I CAN’T. I WON’T. HELP ME!

32(For the Gentiles)…run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6 NIV

Don’t worry. My Heavenly Father already knows what I need.

Don’t worry about tomorrow…each day has enough trouble of its own. (So why borrow trouble from the future?)

Worry is a verb…but, so is trust, and which will I do?

I’m thankful that God knows me. Personally.

I’m thankful that I am loved by the One that holds the future (my future!) in His hands.

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*Cool breezes through an open window

*Less oppressive heat

*Sunshine

*Pillows for the deck hammock that have giraffe print

*Breakfast

*Finding new country decorating blogs

*Vintage

*Men who sing Amazing Grace

*Children that  love me

*Trips to Tractor Supply

*Half tea, half lemonade

*Shade on sunny days

*Walks with my hubby

*Family

*Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, dirty floor

*A God that already knows all of my tomorrows and…

tells me not to worry.

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Will you share the multitudes of ways that you are thankful?

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