God's Plans for you Are Wonderful!

“For I know the plans I have for you…” 

Today is my birthday. We all celebrate birthdays in one way or another. To celebrate the birth of a person is no little thing. It’s amazing that of all the days of a year, we all had an ordained day for our presentation to the world. God’s plan. I know all of us have parents who wanted a baby or adoptive parents who wanted to bring us home, but the date of our arrival was no accident. He knew. Before the foundation of the world, He knew you were going to be here. He knew I was going to be here.

God ordained a lot of great things for my life. Along with those great things, there have been some close calls and near death experiences. There have been some things that weren’t so fun. There have been some out –of- this- world wonderful things. My life has been nothing usual; it’s been all very amazing, even in the hard times. For that I am grateful. For seeing God’s hand as I look back on my entire life I am thankful. For Christ bending down and picking me up for His own I worship Him every single day. Good and bad, mixed together, life is beautiful as I look to Him and wait for His plans to continue to unfold in my life.

Your life is no accident either. You weren’t born at the wrong time or under the wrong circumstances. God knows the plans He has for you. He had your days numbered before you were even a glimmer in your family’s eyes. You weren’t a mistake. God’s plans for you were wonderful and they still are. I know things can be rough. I know not everything is perfect in life. 

Today is a choice. We can be sorry about what’s not perfect or we can rejoice in the goodness of God. We can be miserable about things we cannot change or we can rejoice that we’ve made it this far. We can curse the junk that doesn’t really matter or wecan bless the Lord that we’re still here.

Oh beloved, God knows the plans He has for you! You are uniquely God’s creation. It’s the day to rejoice in your birth for God has wonderful plans for you! His plans for you are good and not evil. His plans give you a future and a hope. His plans include Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Today is your day too. Choose joy over misery. Choose blessing over cursing. Choose to let God love you and rest in His promises. What a wonderful thing it is to be born. And at such a time as this, you are right where you need to be to reach out to God and let Him lead you. 

Precious one, focus on God! Focus on the wonderful things that God has done for you. Focus on the things you love about your life. Give the things you’re not so sure about to Him and watch as He makes all things good! 

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can know that His plans for you are good as you walk in faith all the days of your life!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 139:13-18 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

Psalm 71:6 Yes, You have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb You have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising You!

You Were Born to Love God & Let Him Love You!

Today we are celebrating the life of our granddaughter Stella. Two years ago she was born a 24 week preemie, struggling for life. Here she is a thriving two year old, a precious toddler full of life, talkative, laughing, playing and wrestling with her big brothers! We are most thankful to God that we were allowed to have her in our family. When I hear her call me Wowaw I am undone! I remember the first time I held her – I don’t even think she was 3 pounds yet. Much to celebrate and much to give praise to God about this little fireball!

We are also celebrating the passing of Danny’s Aunt. Eighty years ago she was born as the middle daughter in a windy West Texas town. Sixty two years ago she was a bride who married her beloved. Fifty-two years ago she embarked on the ministry with her husband who pastured churches all these years. Not all those years were easy, but with God’s help and by His grace, they stayed committed to each other and to God.

Life and death come to everyone. We are rejoicing that Stella survived her early birth and has become a normal, active little darling. We are rejoicing as well for Aunt Eddie, even though we are sad for ourselves.

Both Stella and Aunt Eddie have enjoyed their lives to the fullest. We know that when Stella gets older she may have stories to tell about the angels in her NICU room, for we prayed daily for them to watch over her. We know that Aunt Eddie is with the angels in heaven right now – praising and glorifying God.

What better testimony than to live life, even with its struggles. To be blessed by God, even in the storms. To have our lives hid in the shelter of the Rock, knowing that “these momentary light afflictions” are worth their weight in gold for our faith. We are not mere survivors, born to live in drudgery, darkness and fear. We are meant to be victors! We are meant to live beyond our troubles, toil and grief.

Oh beloved, perhaps you feel you were born in turmoil. Life has thrown a lot of junk at you. You’ve been sick, downtrodden, dismayed. It may feel like everything you do turns to nothing. Maybe you wonder why you were even born. But God Himself says to you today! You were born to love Me and let Me love you! You were born to worship Me in spirit and Truth! You were born because I ordained your life before the foundation of the world! Rejoice today that you were born and I will turn your mourning into dancing, I will redeem what has been taken from you, I will make you shine like the diamond stars in the sky. I AM your reason for living and if you will let Me, I will make all things new and give you a life that will be celebrated all the days of your life!

Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life – in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation!

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always and again I say Rejoice!

Isaiah 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God for He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels!

Give the Gift of Thanksgiving Today!

Looking back over the years to family Thanksgivings past, I laugh as I remember fondly even those things that irritated me so as a young person. Take the men in the family. They would curse and fight and beat the table in front of the tv as their favorite and not so favorite teams duked it out.  We “women” would relegate ourselves to the king sized bed in mother’s room to visit and laugh and carry on. How I would love to hear my Daddy and Uncle Bill arguing about football!

We are fortunate to be able to celebrate with a table full of faith, food, family and more. Reminiscing is very much a part of this special holiday, but we also want to make new memories. The chill of the morning, the colors of the leaves and the knowledge that we are blessed beyond measure keeps us hopeful, watchful and grateful.

But this Thanksgiving I am especially thankful.  For prayers not answered in my way or my timing. Every prayer I ever prayed just didn’t line up with God’s will. In fact some prayers were downright self-centered. But God, in His absolute incredible mercy knew best and still does. Thank you Lord. For unfulfilled wishes. Out of our own hurts and angers we often wish for things that aren’t from God’s heart. Oh God You are so protective, so forgiving so kind. Thank you Lord. For heaven’s gain and my loss. We mourn for loved ones long gone and just gone. But would you ask any one of them to leave Heaven’s splendor? God you are so beautiful. Your creative Power has given us hope for tomorrow, hope beyond the tomb, the stone, the grave. Thank you Lord.

If circumstances were the reason for thanksgiving then we’d be most poverty stricken. Some of you are hurting, some of you are healing, some of you are lonely, some of you are missing loved ones. Some of you are being held captive by hurts, animosity, fear and more. But for the grace of God you may have nothing to give thanks for…and yet…when we really get down to it, Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart that transcends our days here on earth.

Oh beloved, this day is your day to give Thanks to the One Who is worthy of all praise! He knew you before you were formed, He knows everything about you both the good and the not so good, He has all your days taken care of. He knows your hurts, your whispered prayers, your hearts’ desires and your fears. He has brought you to this day, a day of thanksgiving, because He has a purpose for you and that purpose begins and ends in Him! He is full of astonishing love for you. He is full of glorious care and creative power for you to live by! Run to His Book of Thankfulness and read – all His promises, all His love, all His care, all His mercy, all His forgiveness, all His power and more is there just for you! You are blessed beyond measure because the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord says so! As you sit at your table today, don’t forget to drink a cup of thankfulness in His blessed and holy Name! Thank Him today! Thank Him for He is Worthy of your thanksgiving!

1 Chronicles 16:8  Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.

Ephesians 5:20  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits. (NAS)

Psalm 16:7  I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

Psalm 28:7  The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 116:17  I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Revelation 7:12  They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Julia Child’s 100^th birthday was celebrated recently.  Many of us grew up watching her cooking and cavorting on the educational network. Some of us have the misfortune of remembering the 70’s Saturday Night Live episode parody of Ms. Child as well.  It was noted that during an interview about her life, she explained "I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” 

After graduating she enrolled in college to become a writer. She enjoyed writing but none of her work was ever published. After graduating college, she moved to New York and worked at the prestigious home furnishings company W&J Sloane. After transferring to the store's Los Angeles branch, however, Child was fired for "gross insubordination." After her marriage, her husband was transferred to France where she began to find her niche in life. Her autobiography, published after her death, centered on how she fell into her true calling as a chef.  There were many opportunities afforded Julia, who grew up privileged. However, the calling on a person’s life cannot be bought.  It must be found, nurtured and worked through.

Oh beloved, did you know that God has a wonderful calling on your life? It’s one that’s tailor made for you.  You may be struggling with your present circumstances, trying to see where you fit in or finding your place in this world.  Don’t count God out of your plans. His way is going to give you great and wonderful opportunities and fulfillment beyond your wildest hopes! But don’t count everyday life out entirely.  Most gifts and callings come to fruition right out of the middle of an ordinary life.

Run to the Lord this morning and spend time with Him, for that is where your calling comes from. He’ll speak into your heart, He’ll help you dream dreams and He’ll carry you through to His place for you in the world today. He loves you so much that He’s got something for you to do that no one else can do. He cares about you so much that He’s willing to give you time spent with Him!  What a Savior! What a Lord!

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Galatians 1:15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace.

I Peter 4:11 …Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.