February 4, 2014

• A personal look at some lessons learned

  I decided to bring back an old post from 8 years ago, in order to share with many of you who are in a new audience with me. Have you ever had a "pity party" for yourself?

   

   I remember a pity party that I had when I was 15 years old. I had been through 3 corrective surgeries for post-polio problems with my feet, and had just learned that we would not be returning to the country of my love - i.e. - the Philippines (where I had lived with my missionary parents for 8-1/2 years). God challenged me with these words from I. Thessalonians 5:18 - (NLT)  - "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

   So in obedience to Him, I prayed - "Lord, I sure don't feel like it, but in obedience to You, I am giving thanks to You in this situation; and trusting that it is what You have for me."  Throughout my life two verses have meant a lot to me. ....  Rom. 8: 28-29 -(NLT) -  "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."

  If I truly believe the truths in those verses, I should be able to thank Him no matter what!) That is when I first remember learning what has become a life-time (not perfectly, though) of thanking God - NO MATTER WHAT!  It was a special lesson from a patient Heavenly Father.

   Sometimes . . . later, God even shows us some of His reasons. He doesn't have to -- but He may, just because He is a gracious, loving Father. One possible reason for our going through difficult times is shown in the following verses.

  2 Corinthians 1:3-7 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." (NIV) 

  What follows is a free-verse poem that I wrote back when I was in college some 40 years ago (give or take a year)! Still fits!

  PLANS

  I had my plans worked out so well,

  I knew just what to do;

  But something happened to those plans

  I hadn't planned at all.

   

  Somehow these plans (so wonderful!)

  Became completely changed;

  And I, so discouraged became--

  And fretted, feared, and wept.

   

  But then God showed me something

  (Something I really knew,

  But HE reminded me of)

  And then, how blessed I was!

   

  He told me, "MY way is best.

  Such things I have in store for you,

  Just trust in ME, believe in ME,

  And you'll be glad you did!"

   

  Then I said, "Thy will be done!"

  And discouragement turned to blessing;

  My fretting into peace;

  My fears to trust, my tears to joy--

   

  AND OH - SUCH HAPPINESS!!

  For now I'm living day to day

  With full assuredness--that HIS plan is at work,

  AND HIS WAY IS THE BEST!

  Poem Online Copyright © 2006 Carolyn Justice

  I saw the following quote the other day, and it fits here too.  Have a wonderful week!

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  • 7:38 pm
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