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

Elusive Peace

I have a meeting coming up that concerns me.  There are more things that could go wrong than could go right. 

What I find interesting is, I have been running scenarios on all the things that could go wrong and my options for how I should respond or how I should not respond. 

This type of thinking is not only causing me an elevated level of stress but has led me to mentally fight battles that I have yet to face.  How silly is that?  I may be shooting rounds at a target that may never show up.  Fighting battles that may never happen.

I know, I know, I am the only person that does this.  But just humor me while I reveal my Achilles heel for a moment. 

When I allow my mind to “coast” on its own, for whatever reason, it naturally tends to “assume the worst”.  Which is why, I am sure, the Bible commands us to control our thoughts and only allow them to ponder things that are pleasing to God.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise"  Philippians 4:8

So our spiritual take-away from this adventure is, “When you are facing a difficult situation that is causing you stress, do you control your thoughts or do your thoughts control you?” 

I know that sounds redundant but the heart of it is, do you turn things over to God or do you try to control them yourself? 

Think about this, God did not design us to control the weather.  So why would we base our happiness on the weather?  God controls the weather, so if you are unhappy with the weather, then in essence, your complaint is with God’s decision making.  That is dangerous ground. 

Think about this, God did not design us to control other people.  So why would we base our happiness on other people’s actions and attitudes?  We have no idea what work God is doing in other people’s hearts and lives.  So when I forget my role in the great scheme of things and feel the need to manipulate or control others, I am setting myself up for disappointment and failure.

I could go on with the scenarios but my point is simple, “God is God and (thankfully) I am not God.” 

Thank goodness.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“I will answer them before they even call to me.  While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers” Isaiah 65:24

Life on Loan

Life is packed with stress when you believe you must create your own happiness.

You will be stressed if you attempt to control the people around you.

You will be stressed if you attempt to control the circumstances in your life.

You will experience freedom and peace with the realization that God is in control. Trust that God will do what is best in every circumstance.

Face it, you trust God with the little stuff in your life but the big stuff -- not so much.

The first step toward grasping this concept is to understand that your life is not your own. Every breath you take is a gift from God. This means that every minute of your life is a loan from God. And God deeply cares what you do with the life He has loaned you.

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" Galatians 2:20

If you want to be a man of God, then be a good husband.

If you want to be a woman that pleases God, then be a good wife.

As a pastor, if I fail as a husband, then I fail as a pastor.

One of the highest callings that God gives, is to be a parent. "Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them?" Psalm 127:5

My point is this, let God determine what is important to you and be faithful with what God has put on your plate.

Don't be envious of what God has put on other people's plates. Chances are, God didn't call you to sing on the worship team or teach in front of great crowds, so tend to the business God has put in front of you.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..." Ecclesiastes 9:10