Everything happens for a reason...

Well, yes it does.  Sin entered the world for a reason.  A choice to disobey God.

I could list dozens and dozens of reasons that things happen.  Everything that happens, happens because of a reason.   Duh.

That does not mean that everything that happens, happens for a GOOD reason.

But, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 TNIV)


I am called according to His purposes.  I am not perfect.  My obedience is not perfect.  But I love Him and submit myself anew to His calling on my life.  And because HE is God, and I am NOT, all things…..ALL things, will work for my good.

Yep.  Everything happens for a reason.

Who gets the glory...?

　

It is in the most difficult of times that I am most intimate with the God Who made me.

In the times when I am helpless to change a situation, in times of hurt, times of crisis, when my heart and body ache…it is then that I know the Presence of my Father the most.

I want to serve Him all the time. I never want to take Him for granted. I want to bring honor to Him and make Him known to others. I want to bring Him glory thru the way I live my life. In every detail, every day, week after week, year after year.

I fail so miserably. I am ashamed that sometimes I glorify myself. I forget that it is Him and not me that has accomplished anything that is of any worth or value in my life. When I find myself in the most difficult situations, it is then that I have the best opportunity to bring Him glory.

He has shown Himself faithful to be always before me and behind me. He is the same today as yesterday and yesteryear. Nothing surprises Him as it surprises me. And He is capable of handling all my tomorrows.

He is so good.

Put it in gear.....

My Bible Study Fellowship lesson asks me to consider the question “Spiritually, do you think the Christian life should be like driving a car?”

My first impulsive answer is “YES!!!!! I want to put it in gear and go! Sometimes put it in reverse and back up!! Sometimes I want to slam a brake and stop!! I want to honk at what is in my way. And I want to PASS what is in the way!”

Doesn’t work like that….

I have a brand new car. I got it several weeks ago, I picked it out myself. It has lots of bells and whistles. It gets great mileage, is quite luxurious on the inside. It drives and rides like a dream.

It has a camera that shows me what is behind me when I back up. I has a little alarm that warns me if I’m too close to something. I can hear directions to my destination thru the radio speakers.

It has a button to push that will heat the steering wheel when it’s cold (…that will be nice to my old achy worn out hands when it’s cold). It has heated seats that really feel good to my back on the way home from a 10 hour day behind a styling chair.


My life should be so easy to motivate.

But…I do have warning signals and I do have guidance. I do have a Source of comfort.

I just need to get out of the drivers seat and let my Chauffeur take the wheel. He is a much better Driver than I am. His driving record is perfect….

Listen to Me….

The Hebrew people had it rough. It was hot, the work they were forced to do was hard and just got harder after Moses showed up. Some rescuer he was!

God had spelled it out for them. I AM the Lord. I will bring you out. I will free you. I will redeem you. I will take you as my own, I will be your God. I will bring you to the land I promised. I will give it to you. Promise after promise after promise… (taken from Exodus 6:6-8 NIV)

“Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.” (Exodus 6:9 NIV)

I know they were tired out. Work, work, work. Day after day. Wonderful promises are hard to focus on when you are worn out.

I don’t want to be a tired Israelite.

I want to listen even though I am discouraged and tired.

Where is that cloud....?

I've studied the life of Moses before.  But God always has perfect timing and I find myself learning from Ole' Mose again right now. After having left the palace and found rejection from his own people, Moses lived with yet another foreign people.  He married, had children, got a job shepherding, and then came up on that flaming bush that wouldn't burn up. 
At Moses' request, God brought his brother Aaron to help him do what God had for him to do, and off they went to that familiar palace to deliver a very hard message.  "Let my people go or...."

So, Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh what God had said and Pharaoh refused.  Big surprise.

I'm already feeling sorry for Moses.  He has before him an impossible task humanly speaking.  He is no match and no threat to Pharaoh.  In fact, in response to Moses' direction from God, Pharaoh just makes life more difficult for the very people Moses wants to help.  Pharaoh doubles the workload. 

"Is this why you sent me?"
"You haven't saved Your people at all!"
(Exodus 5:22,23 NIV)

I'm not Moses.  But I sure empathize and sympathize. 

I look at my circumstances and wonder "Why Lord?  I thought I was about to get to a place where life would be easier from here on out.  I thought I had worked hard enough to take it easy in the near future.  I have done what I understood You to ask.  Now, it seems that things will just get harder...."

Looks like the promised land is just a little further.  (.....where is that cloud....???)