In Spite of my Efforts

Saturday I was honored to speak at a graduation commencement ceremony. I personally know the graduates and consider it a privilege to be offering them words of encouragement and direction. In fact, I was so happy with my speech, days earlier, I posted it on my blog. Yea, I know. I was setting myself up for a humiliating experience. So, at the graduation, my name is announced and I step forward to speak -- open my Bible to Genesis -- glance at the notes and..... (((( wait for it )))) .... I brought my sermon notes from a Ecclesiastes Bible Study I taught a couple days earlier. CRUD I didn't even bring the graduation speech notes. The good Lord likes to keep me very humble. So I blathered on through my speech.... as best I could remember. God promised that He would always bless His Word. So I kept it simple and clear and shut up. Oddly enough, no one noticed I was "note-less". So either I frequently blather around in my sermons and that is what everyone is accustomed to OR the good Lord reached into people's hearts and blessed in a supernatural way -- in spite of my efforts. Don't you love the fact that God is in control? I find it a huge relief to accept that God is at work, always accomplishing what is best in every situation. I am the first to admit that often, I have not a clue what God's plan is or what He is doing. However, I am also the first to acknowledge that the King if Kings and Lord of Lord -- does not answer to me. God is under no obligation to explain His actions to me. The question, "WHY?" will not be answered this side of Heaven. That is why God calls you and me to, "walk by faith, not by sight". If you could see everything -- it wouldn't be a "leap of faith". “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life— whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:28-34