Category Archives: Future

When God Takes It Away

11 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Despair, Faith, Future, Grief

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piano with pearls and daisies

So God took the thing you most loved and you’re never going to get it back.

Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband died; and she was left with her two sons.  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.  Ruth 1:3-5

Bereft goes beyond grief-stricken. Bereft includes a deep sense of deprivation and irreparable loss.  (Paraphrased from vocabulary.com)

I started playing the piano in third grade and fell in love with it. It was soul-satisfying.  It became part of me.  As opportunities came my way, playing the piano became my God-given ministry. It was a way I loved God and gave of myself to encourage others to love God.  I felt God’s pleasure as I played.

But then God took it away.  I was bereft.

Seven years later, I still don’t understand why God allowed this to happen. It has been a long difficult journey for me as I have grieved this loss and come to accept it as from the hand of God. But God has been with me every step of the journey.  And because of the journey, I am more in love with God today than I ever have been. I enjoy Him more deeply. Perhaps this alone is reason enough.

If you are grieving, seek refuge under the wings of God Almighty. He will love you through your grief.  Ruth 2:12  Do not lose hope. God is with you. God is for you. Nothing can separate you from His love.  Romans 8:31-39

We cannot see the end of our journey but we can see the end of Naomi’s journey. God gave Naomi a son.  Ruth 4:17  He may give me another opportunity to play the piano for His glory and only He knows what He has planned for you!

 

 

 

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Too Many Choices! UGH!

12 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Change, Future, God's Will, Opportunity

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I love Bible studies where the discussion is honest, invigorating and thought provoking.  Last week, one of the young ladies expressed her struggle.  She asked such a wonderfully honest vulnerable question!, “How do I know if what I want to do is just something I want or if it is something God wants?”

Here are a few thoughts:

  • I do not know God’s will for your life.  But I do know He wants you to abound in the work of the Lord no matter where you are or what you are doing.  I Corinthians 15:58
  • I do know God has created you for His glory.  He has something for you to do that only you can do.  He has gifted you in a unique way for your unique purpose.
  • I do know that as you spend time in His Word, He will guide you and cause you to want what He wants.  He will work in you to accomplish His plan.  Philippians 2:12-13
  • I do know that God may use other believers to encourage and guide you.  But I also know that ultimately it’s between you and God.

Paul thought Apollos should come to Corinth to encourage the believers.  But Apollos said ‘it was not at all his desire to come to Corinth now but that he would come when he had opportunity.’  1 Corinthians 16:12

Here are a couple of questions:

  1. What do you desire to do?  Does it agree with the clear truths in God’s Word? If so, do it and enjoy it!
  2. What opportunities do you have right now?  Make the most of them!  And don’t be afraid to explore new opportunities!

Most importantly, relax and believe that God is working in you, through you, with you and for you!  He is doing that right now and He will continue to do so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

None of Your Business!

19 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by in Future, Timing, Witness

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Sometimes I just want to know when it’s going to happen!  ‘It’ can be many things. The believers in Acts were just like me.  They asked Jesus when He was going to set up His kingdom.  Jesus replied, (paraphrased by me), “None of your business! BUT you do have plenty of business to tend to.  So get going!”

I spend too much time thinking about the future.  My time would be much better spent doing something that is useful NOW.  Timing is God’s business, not mine. Jesus said, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.”  Acts 1:6-8

I am more convinced today, than ever, that God has a plan for my life.  I don’t need to know the timing of everything.  As a matter of fact, I’m better off not knowing.  I know what I need to know.  Jesus has a job for me to do.  His Holy Spirit dwells within me giving me the ability to do what He has called me to do. He has given me the same job He gave the believers in Acts.  I am to be His witness wherever I am today and whatever I am doing today.

Timing is God’s business.  Even Jesus’ birth, death, burial and resurrection was a predetermined plan of God the Father, carried out at the perfect time.  Acts 2:23

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So today, let’s mind our own business!  Let’s be busy sharing the wonderful news of God’s grace and love for each and every one of us.  And when tempted to figure out the timing of events, whisper to the Father, “I trust you with this.  I know you will bring it to pass according to your plan.”