I Sometimes Forget

Jeremiah 29:11 is probably one of the most popular scriptures in the Bible...

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,  plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I'm sure you've seen it many places: on pictures, bags, bookmarks, church bulletins, t-shirts, etc. It's definitely a well loved scripture. At some point, God may have used these words to speak to you personally. They have spoken to me many times.  

However, several years ago, God showed me the verses that follow and made them speak to my heart. I saw something new in His word...

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL YOUR HEART. 

~Jeremiah 29:12-13

And just like that, HE had my attention! 

There have been times when I have forgotten what God taught me about these verses. Then HE has to knock me on the head and remind me again of the message HE wants me to see.  

It's not just that God has plans for good in our future as it says in verse 11.  That is a beautiful and I don't mean to minimize the wonderfulness of that promise. But, I think God is trying to say HE wants a relationship with us.  HE doesn't just want to bring about good things for us. HE intends for us to call out to HIM and ask HIM. HE wants us to seek HIM and need HIM.  If God just provides the good things, how do we grow in our walk with HIM? Wouldn't we start to see ourselves as self sufficient if we didn't have to call out and seek HIM with ALL OUR HEART (hello!)???

I sometimes forget verses 12 & 13. I get frustrated with God and "remind" HIM of what HE promised.  Then HE gently (and sometimes not so gently) reminds me that I am to seek HIM. I am to need HIM. I am to pray to HIM.  And then I will find HIM and HE will listen to me.

I love these verses for many reasons.  As I am beginning a new year, I hope I can keep my focus on verses 12 & 13 and not just look at verse 11 for the quick easy answer.  I don't have to wonder if HE will hear me, if HE will be there, if HE will answer.  When I do my part, when I seek HIM with ALL my heart, when I put HIM first, I will find HIM. God wants me to need HIM. I think I can handle that!

Happy New Year, and may God bless you as you seek HIM with ALL your heart in 2013!

~Mylissa

 

 

Until the Day

I'm often still amazed to hear the impact Matthew had on the lives of others.  Even now, over two and a half years after his death, people still stop me to tell me the impression he has made on their lives.  Of course our family thinks he was wonderful, but it's a blessing to see how much of a difference he made for others.  His kind and loving heart made a difference in this world and even in his absence, his legacy lives on.

These thoughts led me to a scripture in the book of Philippians...

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 1:4-6

Something jumped off the page of my Bible reading this and I learned another lesson from my little boy.  "Until the day of Christ Jesus".  The phrase "until the day" made me think deep.  Our work on earth is not just for our time that we are here.  I think God's plan is for our work to live on long after we do. This scripture says the completion comes when Jesus does.  Hmmmmmmm...

So, as I carry on in my day to day life, what legacy am I leaving? Am I living in such a way that God's work in me will live on long after I do? That's a tough task. Since Matthew's death, my goal has been for God to use his story, me and our family for HIS glory.  But, I have never thought about it outliving us.  That task just got a littler tougher as I am realizing that God wants to use us not just now, but until HIS return.

I am inspired by my gone but not forgotten 11 year old. If he can make an eternal impact in his short life, can't we all? As believers aren't we called too???  Matthew has taught me many lessons.  I miss him so very much, but in many ways he is still with me.  His little life still impacts me and others daily.  I want my life to do that.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that God did not take all four of us, HE took one of us. Each day we wake up, HE has a plan for us.  Slowly I'm beginning understand what the lasting effects of that plan can be, if I allow HIM to lead the way.

Deep, deep thoughts...

I love how my Matthew still does that to me!   

   

Broken Dreams

Broken dreams...
Something I know all too much about.

Over the past few years I've had to let go of almost all my dreams for my children, myself and my family. Our world has been totally flipped upside down.  One little second in time changed everything...

So this weekend the reality of broken dreams has come to my attention again. Friday it was someone I know, care about, and want the best for.  She was faced with the reality of things not working out the way she had planned and having to reroute her track.  Then Saturday, my Gamecock loving house watched as the beloved Marcus Lattimore had his plans rerouted by one play.  Again one second that changed everything. Obviously, I do not know him personally. But I do know he is a outstanding, Christian athlete and I couldn't help but wonder, "why?".  Then today, the broken dreams hit a little closer to home, with one of the people I love most in the world.  I can't share the details, but I can say I feel helpless and want to make it all better.

Broken dreams. We all have them. I can't imagine there is anyone who hasn't had to let go and give up on something they wanted.  So, what do you do when all you've hoped and planned for is no longer a reality?

Well, the way I see it, there are two options. You let it eat at you and destroy you or you give it to God and let HIM rebuild you.  Sounds so simple, huh?!?  Yeah, right!!!

I'm still struggling everyday to give it all completely to God.  There have been so many set backs. Every time I think my family has turned the corner, it seems another set back arrives.  Yet, when I stop and look at the big picture, when I look at the entire journey from January 22, 2010 to today...
I see the beautiful hand of God at work in our lives. I see HIM rebuilding our broken family to use for HIS glory. I see HIM restoring us as a family unit. I see HIM moving us in a direction I would never have imagined for us.  I see HIS plan unfolding, a little bit at a time.  

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

~Ephesians 3:20

But I have to stop, be still, listen and let God show me these things.  When I am caught up in the moment of a set back, all I see is broken dreams and frustration.  God is always doing HIS part.  I just get so caught in myself, I don't notice. 

I'm growing closer to HIM. I'm learning to lean on HIM and not to panic (the key word is learning...I haven't completely succeeded in that yet!). But, I'm stronger than I was. I'm more confident than I was. And I am trusting God more than I was.

Complete surrender is so hard to do. I don't know as humans if we are truly capable of complete surrender.  When we are having to let our plans give way to HIS plans can be the hardest time to surrender, or at least it is for me.  And to add to that, God will only reveal a little bit at a time. We don't get to know the whole plan.  What a bummer! Wouldn't it be great if we could see exactly where God was leading us? Instead, we are called on to trust and be guided in blind faith.

So, the next time you face a broken dream, be it big or little, I'm asking you to stop and give God a chance to lead. You just need to follow.  Even when we can't see what HE's doing, HE is always working for our best. We can't see the big picture, but HE knows it all...
beginning, middle and end!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

~Jeremiah 29:11