Can I get A Break ?

God has called us to live a life of love, patience, kindness, forgiveness and peace.  But as we go through our daily routine distractions come up that can try our patience, kindness and forgiveness, making it feel impossible to love or have any peace. There are days when I think (OK I say it out loud) to myself, “Can I just get one break here?” 

God has made us capable of living a life of love, patience, kindness, forgiveness and peace. But it is only through Jesus that it can be accomplished, meaning through Jesus’ strength we can do all things.  It would be impossible to do the God-sized things that He has planned for our lives on our own, plans He had before we were even born. Trying to pursue the passions God has gifted us with alone would only leave us frustrated and living a less than peaceful, happy life.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

In some versions this verse says we are “God’s accomplishment”.  One definition of accomplishment is “something done admirably”. The definition of admirably  is “something done first rate” or “inspiring approval, reverence, or affection”. Sounds like a masterpiece to me....

When today’s challenges rear their ugly head, remember you are a masterpiece! Created for great things long before today’s challenge came about.  Ask God for the ability to recognize them, the confidence & strength to combat the challenges;  so you live the life you are fully capable of living - one with love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, love & peace. 

Focus On Your Purpose

Today I am reminded in my devotion to focus on my purpose not my problems.  

God has a purpose, for us all. He has given us gifts and life field trips to fore fill this purpose. But it is life’s bunny trails that can take us off that planned field trip and set our vision on our problem rather than our purpose.   As I mentioned before it could be an err in judgement,  something out of your control, health, finances or people around you.  But just as easily it can be self created for a purpose you thought was for good.  Here is an example.  

My husband had a site development business.  He worked mostly alone, hiring other truck operators as he ran the heavy equipment.  God had given him a vision of clearing some land for our new church building, a huge job, that later that year he was awarded.  He pushed himself to stay on the time line, he knew God had chosen him to do this work as reveled in his vision and he was determined to do his very best work no matter the hours he had to spend.  He worked six days a week, starting before daylight and coming home long after dark even in the summer months. He began pressing to get ahead of the time line.   God had an additional job for him, a mission trip to Africa building homes for orphans.  This would remove him from the church building project for 2 weeks. He was battling Satan telling him to stop working so hard, this job is too big for you, you will never finish, you are just holding up everyone else that's trying to work on this project.  

He was tired, mentality and physically.   Just a couple days from the mission trip departure he was pushing even harder to complete clearing a section of land.   He was loading a dump truck with a huge backhoe and as he backed up with a load in the bucket to dump into the truck and promptly backed right over his own pickup truck.  Hearing the crash of the glass and crunch or the metal he stopped but it was too late, it was totaled. 

Masai Mara

He had confused his “purpose” with a "problem". Lesson here is if Satan cannot make you stop he will push you too far.  Steve could have looked at the problems and not gone to Africa, but we went and as in previous trips we were blessed beyond measure. Our God continued to take care of us at home. On returning we received a check from the insurance company for more than the blue book value of the pickup.  Most amazing was our insurance rates didn’t go up because of the accident.  

How we handle our purpose and problems can affect the way others perceive God. Spread the good news.

Masai goat herder with baby

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. Philippians 1:12

God Hasn't Changed His Mind

I was challenged by a friend to post 3 things for which I am happy for at least 5 days. Little did she know this was something God had been asking of me, to speak positively into my own life. What makes you happy?  What are you grateful for? Stop listening to the negative talkers that just spins out into negative thoughts. Stop looking at the changes that happen in your life as a bad things.  They are just diversions that have put a curve in an otherwise straight path that God has for you.  Whether these diversions were created by you, someone else, health or financial issues, it doesn’t effect the plan that God has for your life. He gave you the gift/passion and He wants you to use it, that is his plan, it will happen in His timing.

God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded. Romans 11:29 The Message

So today I am happy for-

1. I am happy for Granbabies- their smiles make their love feel unmatched.

2.I am happy that God still has a plan for me even if I make the path a crooked one.

3. I am happy for friends. Friends that even when you are in a funk, love you and help you walk through.

I cannot take full credit for today’s blog. Though I have applied it to my circumstances, it was Pastor TJ Hankey from The Shore Church that reminded me this Sunday that “God has never changed His mind about you.” You can hear the full sermon series called “Made” on their website www.theshorechurch.com or download The Shore Church app.