We Don't Have a Clue

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

Have you ever heard the expression, "God knows what's going on?"  I know I have all my life.  I really didn't get it until I saw this graphic today and realized it has everything to do with Jeremiah 33:3.  In this scripture God is telling us that if we call to Him, He will not only answer us but that He will show us great and mighty things.  I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty awesome to me.  I like hearing about things like that especially in a world where I constantly hear about so many troubling things.  

God also puts the icing on the cupcake when He adds that the things He will show us are things we didn't even know about.  They will be things so great and mighty that we can't even imagine them happening.  Those are what I like to call God surprises or what the Bible refers to as miracles!  

As you read Jeremiah 33:3, I encourage you to read all the different translations so that you can get a full grasp of how life changing this scripture really is.  It came alive to me almost one year ago and has grown in importance and reality within my life ever since.  I find myself sharing it with others as the Holy Spirit tells me to do so.  Then I have fun just sitting back and watching the scripture come to life in that person's life as well.  

The coolest thing is that when we don't know what's going on in our life, He does.  He really does know everything that is going to happen to you and I want you to know that HIS plan for your life is always for your good.  Nothing takes God by surprise.  Many times we make decisions that cause the plan to detour but when we do that is not God's fault.  We need to know that He knows what is best and has great and mighty things planned for our lives!

What? I Didn't Know!

Leviticus 19:32

“‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. 

I am the Lord.

Recently I spoke with a dear friend who had taken her elderly mother to the doctor.  Soon after the visit began she discovered that years ago her mother's doctor had detected an issue but her mother had ignored it and not shared it with the family.  My friend remained calm and listened as the doctor shared that the concern had not gone away and still needed to be treated.  My friend, of course, was so upset that for the past several years she was unaware of this medical issue her mother was suffering from.

Unfortunately, this is something I hear quite often from those who are beginning to take on the role as caregiver to their aging parents.  It is so difficult when the roles begin to change.  I saw it for years as my mother took care of her parents and in-laws.  She was forced to take on the role of the "parent" so to speak and they were unwillingly forced into the role of the "child" in many ways. 

It is very important to attend doctor appointments, visits to the optometrist, and even the dentist when you feel  your parents' health may be changing or failing.  There are tactful ways of doing this without them feeling intruded upon or babied.  Also, make sure that you are aware of their medications and if they are taking them.  It is a lot, I know.  But, it can be done with success. 

I was very proud of my friend for handling the situation with such grace and care.  She never argued with her mother or showed disrespect, which is key.  But, she knows now what is going on and what she must do in the future.  I just knew there was someone else out there who needed to hear this story in order to encourage their heart.

I'm Not Ready

How many times have we all prayed, "Father, I am ready for big things to do in Your kingdom.  Please create open doors for me today so that I might do mighty works in Your name!"?  I know I have.  I know that many times I have become very frustrated with God and His timing for my life.

I have felt that I am ready, learned, and equipped for anything He could ask me to do.  I have spent countless hours, days, and even months wondering when I would get my big break to do amazing things for God and for others in His name. 

Just recently, I have been reading a book entitled Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby.  This has been a work full of simple yet insightful things I need to hear from the Lord.  One thing that hit me personally was that God uses us in the way He sees fit and feels we are ready.  There have been times when if He had allowed me to do a certain thing I would not have been spiritually or emotionally ready for the challenge.  It also may have been a time when He needed to grow me in the area of trusting Him. 

Blackaby says, "Our own hearts can deceive us.  We can often have a higher estimate of our faithfulness and trust in God than we should.  God is never fooled.  He always matches His assignments with our character and faith in Him.  So trust Him.  Don't insist that God put you in a position you think you should have." 

Being obedient should be our main focus in all we do.  When we are in constant prayer, reading His Word, and spending time in His presence we will begin to see where and how God wants to use us. 

My Plans

My days have passed, my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart
 turn night into day;
    in the face of the darkness light is near.  Job 17:11,12

Have you ever planned something and then had it not work out the way in which you had hoped?  Well, this past week was like that for me.  For several months I had planned a trip for my family to Disney World but when we arrived my plans all began to change right before my eyes.  

First, my husband and I both became ill and after going to see a doctor at a local immediate care we were diagnosed with severe sinus infections.  We contemplated ending our trip but due to disappointing our daughter and ruining her 11th birthday and loosing the money we had spent on the vacation, we decided to tough it out. 

As the days passed the temperatures rose.  Due to my husband's heart failure he cannot function in hot temperatures and high humidity, but we found both of these when we walked outside of our hotel room.  For this reason, my husband, Brian, spent two whole days in the hotel room which was definitely NOT part of my plan!

I love to plan each day of our vacations so when illness and heat attacked our family, I was forced to changed our plans each day.  We were not able to do all the activities we had planned and several things were cancelled completely.  I was frustrated and upset many times but I can say that God never left me and kept us safe each and every day.  God also allowed me the strength to function so that I could continue to do things with Taylor throughout the week.  

I am thankful that even when our plans change our God never does! God allowed me to still make some beautiful memories and for that I will always be thankful.

In Love with God

"He said to him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and most important commandment.'" Matthew 22:37-38

Do you realize that God loves you with a love that causes Him to actually pursue you?  He really does!  Loving God is never a one sided relationship.  He created us to love Him and be in relationship with Him.  I am reading a book called Experiencing God by Blackaby and it gives such amazing insight into this concept.  

Blackaby says, "As you accept His love and forgiveness, He wants you to know and worship Him."  All I have to compare it with is my human relationships which I know are different but also similar in many ways.  For instance when I began to fall in love with my husband while we were dating, I longed to be with him and spend time with him.  God desires that same feeling from us toward Himself, which is so awesome when you really think about it!

My challenge to you today is to spend some time with God just loving on Him.  Tell Him all the reasons you love Him and worship Him.  Thank Him for all the blessings in your life which have come from Him.  Then just sit with him a while just enjoying His presence.  

Multiplying Tires

And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.John 6:11–13

Just last week we realized that air was leaking from one of the tires on my car.  When my husband went to put more air in the tire he discovered a nail.  The next day he took the car to have the tire repaired only to find out that another tire had two nails in it!  To say the least, he was not happy about this discovered need.

My husband asked me a very good question when he returned home.  "Why is it that things like this always happen at the worst possible times?"  You see, we have a trip planned for our daughter's birthday in a few weeks and had been saving for the trip instead of new tires. But, we must have tires in order to take the trip!  But that's just it.  We were focusing on meeting our own need when our family knows first hand how God can meet our need in ways that will leave us amazed.  We have continued to see Him over and over meet our every need with plenty left over, just like the scripture above.  God always gives you more than enough!

Instead of worrying, we have begun to pray about this need for new tires.  That may sound very strange to you but that's exactly what Jesus did when He prayed to His Father during a time of need.  We know that Jesus did not have any money or food to feed the people who came to hear the Word of God.  He prayed for the needs to be met and we all know that not only were they met but there was a lot left over!  Praise the Lord!

What is different about tires or the need you are facing today?  I tell you, nothing!  Tell God what your need is today and watch how He will meet it.  Remember, though, it may not be in your way or time, but it will always be right. 

On the Flip Side

Surely he will save you

    from the fowler’s snare

    and from the deadly pestilence.

4 

He will cover you with his feathers,

    and under his wings you will find refuge;

    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:3,4

God finds very unique ways of teaching us new life lessons each and every day.  His choices are not my choices and this was very true on the morning of March 31st.  I had been experiencing pain and extreme fatigue for several days when blood work showed a very high white blood count.  I was asked by my doctor to go to a local hospital radiology department to have an abdominal CT scan done in order to fine the cause of my pain and now infection.  

It was found that I had a severe case of appendicitis and was rushed to another hospital for an emergency appendectomy!  The entire experience was orchestrated by the Father for every thing and person fell perfectly into place.  

After surgery I soon realized that now I was the patient and no longer the caregiver.  I was uncomfortable on this side of the bed, so to speak.  I did not enjoy others having to wait on me and do things for me.  I did not like having to have help getting out of the bed and to the bathroom.  I did not like knowing that others were having to take care of my daughter instead of me.  I did not like giving up control and resting.  I found myself experiencing extreme frustration from time to time especially during the first days of being home and recovering.  

I know God is teaching me how to receive care.  He has also revealed several truths about how my husband, who I care for, has felt but I could not have understood until now.  I have embraced this time knowing it was from Him and also knowing it has only caused me to grow as His daughter and as a caregiver.