Monday, June 29, 2009

Trust - By Dee

How many times have you heard a sermon that told you to trust in the Lord?? Have you ever wanted to yell out at the preacher “HEY HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?” I have! We constantly hear “Seeing is believing” or “You’ve got to have faith!” Oh Yeah!! Well where is the faith store so I can buy some! Oh well you have to follow these rules and faith will come! Am I going to get a box on my door step? What are these rules? What happens if I miss or skip one? Do I not get my faith then? Did you know that you have faith already? When you apply for a job you anticipate getting it, right? You play in your mind that scene of you shaking your new boss’ hand and saying yes. Well that is a type of faith. What about when you are pregnant. You anticipate a child, correct. Well that is a type of faith too. What about when the power is going to be turned off or your house is up for foreclosure. Do you have faith then?? I can hear some of you “Yeah Faith that I am going to lose my house”. Well in a way you are right. How are we supposed to trust someone we have never seen? Some of you may even think how am I supposed to trust someone I haven’t even heard of or heard from?

When my daughter passed away I thought Lord this wasn’t in the plan! I have faith, I have you, I have done my part. This wasn’t in the plan!!! What happened to Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord They are plans for good not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. My daughter dying is for good?!? What good can come of that?? I hurt Father my heart is broken. How is this a future and it certainly can not be hope! But I was wrong. For those of you who are struggling so hard to keep your house or to keep the lights on or to keep going each day when breathing is the hardest thing to do. God HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!!

In God’s word Psalm 143:8 he says for us to ask of him

Psalm 143:8 (New International Version)
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

So how are you to “Hear his unfailing love every morning?” Well we wake up breathing, that is the first sign! But what about his unfailing love? How many of you have felt like God let you down? I sure know I have! But let’s take a look at it from another perspective, shall we?

Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version)
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Now that doesn’t mean you are always going to get what you want. But it does mean he has a plan. You may not be able to see it either! His plan may involve a change for you. It did for me!

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (New International Version)
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version)
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

There have been days that getting up and breathing were the last things I wanted to do but I would throw my pity party. Then I would dust myself off and go about my day. I have yelled, I have screamed, I have shaken my little fist at God. I have come to the conclusion that he is in control. No matter how much I want things to go my way. He is in control. No matter how many lottery tickets I buy, how many prayers I pray for me to be taken home, he is in control. He has a plan. He asks us to trust him, to trust in him, and to be willing to go where he tells us to go. We may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel but that isn’t where we are supposed to be looking anyway.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

We are supposed to keep reading his word for the direction in our lives. For where we are supposed to take the next step. Keep our eyes upon him. I hear you again saying “Yeah my boss is going to love that, Sorry I need to pray before we make this decision, can you hold on for a second?” I am not saying literally but how many of you start your day thanking him for what he has done and offering your day up to him for his work? As the power gets turned off or the bank takes your house. Trust that he is moving but he may be moving you to a different place so you can shine his light to someone who otherwise may never have seen it!

Friday, June 19, 2009