Sunday, May 3, 2009

No Accidents with God

We learned this Sunday that the people of Israel weren't in Egypt by accident, but instead by the providential hand of a merciful and gracious God.

God has you right where he wants you even if that has come through the unjust actions of others. Nothing escapes the providence of God and being good God is always working good for his children. What do you think about that and why? Is this an encouragement to you or not? If yes, why? If not, why?

Don't be content with you initial reactions, whatever they are. Explore why you think and feel the way that you do. Examine why you might see this as encouraging or discouraging. It's only when we get honest with ourselves do we really begin to grow.

I'm anxious to hear what you say.

Pastor Brian

2 comments:

Tammy S said...

So it makes me wonder. What if God has meant for me to be somewhere else and I messed it up by making a different choice. Maybe he was telling me to do this and instead I did that. So, then does he cause something else to happen (good or bad) to get me back on his track or does he change by track? I really like where I am at right now, but what if what he had planned for me was something different and much better than this. Does he keep on me until he gets me in the right spot? How will I ever know if I am making the right decision.

Yes, I know, put your trust in God and pray that he will give you the right answer...but, how then my human mind gets in the way and makes me wonder if I am really doing what he wants me to or am I doing what I want to do.

Not looking for an answer here, just putting it out there.

Tammy

James Stokes Photography said...

I have thought a lot about the path that God has chosen for me and how many times it feels like I am running... I think of Jonah and the Whale. He was headed to Spain before God got hold of him. Sometimes that fish comes in many different forms, but it will pull you back to where you are suppose to be. The pit in the story of Joseph I can relate to. Sometimes if feels like life has thrown you in a pit and left you for dead. But right when you are about to loose all hope and trust in the Lord - he sends a fish to throw you up on the shore- vomit and all. We pay for our decisions, but we are to gain wisdom from the failures that we have made and ask forgiveness for our disobedience. Forget about trying to make the right decisions and start letting the Lord carry you.One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“ You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“ The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you.”