Nay-sayers

Acts 5:38-39 (a pharisee Gamaliel speaks to other pharisees concerning the apostles' fate)  "Therefore, in the present case I advise you:  Leave these men alone!  Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

When God leads in a way that seems improbable, or even impossible, do not lose heart.  It's human nature to analyze, criticize, and scrutinize possibilities.  The world is full of "nay-sayers"---and it's a fight to not be one myself.  We operate in a rational world of possibilities.  However, God operates in an irrational, supernatural, world of promises.  Take David, for example, who would pick a young musician, with no military experience, and lust to carry on the lineage of the Savior of the world?  -No one would, but God did.  Not because David deserved it, but because God planned it and promised it.  God's purposes are not dependent on our actions (whew)!  Does that mean we can do whatever we want and be blessed without consequence.  Of course not, scripture doesn't support that at all.  Read the whole story of David....sin always leads to death. However, God's plan is unwavering.  God's plan came to be despite sin.  There are many examples in scripture, countless...Abraham, Sarah, Rahab, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,Peter, Paul,...    So stand firm, kneel humbly, and rest safely in the will of God. When you are doing God's work, be assured that God will bring it to completion (no matter what anyone else, or your human mind, tells you). 
Acts 5:29 "We must obey God rather than men."
Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

God, open my eyes to see your work clearly, to recognize your plan in my life today.  May I embrace it boldly with confidence, knowing that your promises are true.  Your word never fails.

Little Life Lesson

My oldest son kept asking for some "GoGos."  He told me he saw them on a commercial.  They were little tiny toy figurines that you can flick with your finger to play a game in which you try to knock other GoGos out of a circle.  Anyway, we looked for these GoGos on more than one occasion and never saw any in stores.  One day I was grocery shopping and there they were, hanging in a very unlikely location (no where near any toys).  Needless to say, he was thrilled when I picked him up from school and surprised him with a pack of GoGos.  He was so excited he took them over to a friends house that afternoon to play.  Somehow in all the fun, one of the GoGos went missing.  We searched everywhere, inside and out.  No luck.  This is a very tiny toy and the odds of it ever turning up were slim (plus these friends have a dog...a big enough dog to swallow it whole).   That night he was still upset about it and I said,  "You know, we should pray about this.  God cares about things that are lost.  The Bible is full of stories about searching for things that are lost until they are found.  God knows what it feels like to miss something.  He cares."  My son tearfully answered "But He'll just say "no"---I know it."   I explained that sometimes God does answer "no" or "wait" to our requests, but He always wants us to bring our requests to him.  So we prayed.  Several days passed.  No GoGos.  It was on his mind again one day in the car, so we prayed again.  A couple more days passed---no sign of it.  Deep down, I began to think we'd never find it.  I even got another pack of GoGos and split it among both my older boys--hoping to remedy the situation.  Then one day, we answered a knock at the door only to discover our neighbor standing there holding the little brown GoGo.  She told us her boys said it was ours.  She found it in the backyard (well within the dog's domain) and she didn't know what it was.   WOW!!! God taught me and my son a little lesson that day.  He does answer prayers. He cares about things that matter to us.   It also made me see how sometimes, my faith is so small. I don't need to remedy situations that I bring to God.  I should just give over the situation and leave it in His hands.  Thank you God for protecting, keeping, and revealing that GoGo so that it could be returned.  Thank you for growing my faith and showing me the importance of prayer!  I love you!

My Portion

God assigns a portion, an inheritance, boundary lines---in a sense, a territory.  How do I know?  Ps 16.  That's a huge honor.  It's secure.  It's personal (notice the word "my" the psalmist uses).  I can't wait to know that fully, to see what God has planned/set aside for me.  Some of it I get to see and know now.  I'm very glad that He's included a husband, children, a home, and a job within my territory.  Given my current territory in my job, I appreciated the verse "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me."  I took it literally (as I currently work 3rd shift) and smiled, but it also can mean that even in the dark times, the unclear times, the Word of God hidden and written on my heart offers me counsel and guidance.  I have witnessed and found it to be true.  I DO rest secure in His unfailing love and promises.  I know the path of life--eternal and abundant.  Shouldn't my words reflect that?  Lord may my tongue rejoice!  Take away and remove words of hopelessness, distruction, and pessimism.  Replace them with words of vision, construction, and optimism.