Pulling Out in Traffic

Monday

Pulling out in Traffic

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

Psalm 62:5

2012 has taught me many lessons.  One in particular is that trying to force your life in a certain direction instead of waiting on God’s timing is like pulling out in traffic way too early; it’s just not worth it.    If you pull out in traffic, you may get in an accident, possibly get hurt, definitely damage your car, be late to your destination, pay heavy fines, etc.  Thus, wouldn’t it have been easier to just wait a few seconds, maybe a full minute and pull out when it’s safe?   Then you will arrive at your destination a tad bit later, but perfectly in tact without a heaping dose of pain and troubles?

Absolutely it makes sense when looking at from a distance, but when you are in the middle of the situation, many times it feels like you must push your way into or out of a circumstance, even when the road is extremely difficult and doing so causes all kinds of problems for yourself and others.

But how do you know God’s will or His path for your life?  For one, you need to spend time with Him; this is how He speaks to you.  This can be a prayer in the morning, or at night, or on the way to work, speak to Him as your friend.

 

Secondly as an example, let’s say you are planning a vacation and nothing seems to be working out, everything falls through.  Do you push harder and harder OR just realize, maybe the timing just isn’t right and you should relax and enjoy a stay-cation?  My husband and I met because a snow storm kept him from a weekend get away.   There are several people that survived the 9-11 attacks because of some weird thing that went wrong with their normal morning routine. 

Enjoy the moment and don’t pull out into chaos and trouble.

Lord, help me to always understand your signs and your voice

It's Not Always About Me

Tuesday

It’s Not Always All about Me

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior…………….

1 Peter 2:12

I am frequently hurt by someone else’s behavior.  I guess you could say I wear my feelings on my shirtsleeve.  However, something I’ve learned this year is that most times, when a person is hurtful toward me, it’s more about them and not me.  Meaning, it’s about their issues, not mine.

I am not trying to say that I’m perfect and never make mistakes, I know I mess up all the time.  What I’m trying to say is that when someone comes at me with hurtful behavior, actions and words that hurt me deeply……….I believe it’s safe to say that their actions are a cry for help, rather, than a definitive attack on me.  

So how do I handle the situation?  Rather than reacting, I try to respond after careful thought.  I do my best to figure out the ideal way to extend God’s grace rather than my pained reactionary feelings.

It’s not always easy, but, it is the right thing to do. I only wish others would do the same for me.  Because my friend, when I am the one ranting and raving at someone else……..well, then I guess it IS all about me.

Dear Lord, help me to be patient with others when they treat me badly, help me to respond with your love rather than my anger.  Please, help me to always look my own issues before I lash out at others.  Amen

It's Not Always Simple Math

Wednesday

It’s Not Always Simple Math

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

Proverbs 20:24

My husband is 6’5”, does that mean my two boys will be tall?  Probably.  Which means by the way, by the time they are 11, they will most likely be taller than my 5’2” frame.

My brother in law is a workaholic; does that mean his kids will also work way too much?  Maybe.   Smithville got several inches of snow a few weeks ago; did that necessarily mean the kids would be out of school?    If two parents are drug addicts, does that mean the kids will be too?  If someone steals from the grocery store, will they be caught?  If a woman gets cervical cancer, will she die?

Are you getting the point?  With many things in life there is an absolute outcome, but not 100% of the time.  We, mere mortals, really don’t know the outcome before it happens. 

I recently visited a family of  heavy drinkers.  I was shocked when I saw a 3^rd generation 19 year old, NOT DRINKING.  I incorrectly assumed he would be boozing it up with the rest of the first generation and second generation families.  But he wasn’t and he was vocal about it and proud. 

My take away was that even though we think we know what will happen in life, based on past experiences and observations, well, it doesn’t always turn out that way.  Seeing this anomaly really did shock me, but it also comforted me.  It helped me to understand that life is not like math, the left side of the equation doesn’t automatically equal the right side of the equation.  Relax people (I mean Yvonne).

Lord, forgive me for always thinking I know it all and worrying about it along the way.  Help me to trust you instead.  Amen.

God's Plan for your Life

Thursday

God’s Plan for Your Life

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.     1 Thessalonians 5:18

God has a plan for your life.  Are you fighting against it?  Are you working against the grain of God’s obvious path for you?  It may not be glamorous or exciting, but it is serving its purpose.  Maybe your only purpose is to be a good spouse, or sister, brother, employee, student, or maybe parent. 

Many people say “If only”………I was skinnier.  I had more money.  My spouse and I got along better.  My kids were smarter.  I had a bigger house.  My parents helped me.  I had a better job.  I was prettier.  I was healthier.  I had a college degree.  My spouse cooked better.

This is what I say to you:  Having those things will not make you happier or more content.  Happiness and contentment is a state of mind, a change in attitude, rather than a change in job, house, spouse, income level or dress size.  Skinny people commit suicide.   Rich people get divorced…….and yet very sick people can see the bright side of life and uneducated people change the world.  

Obviously, some things would make everything easier, for example making more money.  But, maybe, just maybe - having less money is teaching you something that God wants you to know.  Or maybe, the lesson is purely for your kids.  So, if you are accepting of everything in your life instead of trying to fix it all, it really changes your perspective on day to day life.  It makes you satisfied rather than anxious. 

Try being content right where you are in life.  Listen to God’s plan for your life and “in all things give thanks.”

Dear Lord, thank you for directing my life in the way You want it to go.  Help me to be content in everything you have given me and my family.

It could always be worse

Friday

It could always be worse

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:7

As cliché’ as it sounds, my final lesson from 2012 is that it can always be worse.  If you think that way, it changes your perception of just about everything.  It’s usually your perception that needs changing, more than anything else. 

There is a story of a man on an airplane with three small children and the kids are acting unruly and completely out of control.  Everyone thought so poorly of the man, letting his kids act out the way they did.  Until that is, someone confronted him and asked him to please get control of his kids.  “I’m sorry,” he replied, “My wife, their mother, just died and we just left the funeral.”  At that moment, everything changed for the other passengers and they saw the man in a different light.

So, when you are burdened down with your life, use the cliché’, it could always be worse.  I’ve won that discussion many times, many people have felt sorry for me since I lost both of my parents together, at a young age.   But really, I knew my parents and had 15 great years with them.  Some people have never met their parents; some people have parents that treated them terribly.  I’m not making light of happened to me, but I’m saying, it could be worse. 

I can give hundreds of examples here, but I suggest you figure it out on your own the next time you are having a pity party.  I can only say this because I’ve had so many of these “parties” myself. 

  

Dear Lord, help me to realize You direct my path for a reason, even though I can’t always understand it.  Help me to accept what You’ve given me and be happy in the process.    Amen.