THE STARS WILL LINE UP?

 

     I've heard people say "The stars will line up for you! This is your lucky day! Just rub your lucky rabbit's foot for good luck!' Or how about "Don't ever break a mirror. You will get 7 years bad luck!" I know there are many people out there who are superstitious. Many baseball players will sit on the same section of their bench if they start doing well. Some coaches will eat the same meal before a game if their team is winning. If they eat something different and their team loses, they will say "I knew I should have eaten that same meal. Now I brought on bad luck."  

     I am not superstitious, and I do not believe in bad luck. I don't fear Friday the 13th...ever! One of my kids was born on that day! I don't have a lucky rabbit's foot and will say boldly "I don't need one." I do believe that we serve a God who loves us and has a plan for our lives. We need to submit to Him 24/7 and allow Him to lead us and guide us. Sometimes, in fact many times we may not understand why things happen the way they do. We get impatient. I know I am speaking to myself. But I know that God knows what's best for me. The planets may line up perfectly but that does not mean things are coming together for me magically. That stuff is in the movies. My God promises He will take care of me, and I know He will do the same for you!  

WAITING

 

     Raise your hand if you like to wait? I can't see you but I'm sure no one is raising their hand! I have never met anyone who walked into a stadium and said, "Look at this long line, I don't mind waiting. Let the people in front of me get to their seat before me!" Or how about at a bank. "This line is very long. I will patiently wait until it's my turn." No chance. Even here in South Carolina while taking orders outside in the morning, I had a gentleman very upset that there was only one person outside (me) with an iPad taking orders. He had some choice words when it was his turn to order. He DID NOT like the fact that he had to wait but honestly who does? So what is the definition of waiting? Here it is...  

stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens.

     There has been several things I have been praying for and I'm not at liberty to share them with you all. Many of these prayer request remain unanswered and in all honesty, I get impatient and don't understand why. I know God always answers us with a yes, no or wait. I am never the type of person to say, "Well, if God doesn't answer me soon, I will just have to take matters in my own hands." That would be a very bad decision. All I know is as I wait, I continue to trust God knowing He knows what is best for me and it's in His timing not mine. So....I wait!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

SLOW DOWN

 

     For the past three days I have taken ill. I am not the kind of guy who gets sick a lot and I thank God for that. But since last Friday evening I have suffered with headaches, a fever and a sore throat. I did not work Saturday or today (Monday) just to rest and get better. Most of you who know me well know I don't like to sit for very long. I have been told that "grass never grows under my feet" and I can't disagree. My parents always taught me to have a great work ethic in everything that I do. I do however have to admit that there are times that for not only me, but for all of us we need to slow down. 

     I have always been used to working a lot and putting in many hours. Even as a children's pastor in New York I did the same thing. It was always because I love God, and I absolutely loved ministering to kids. I had to force myself on my one day off to make it "my day off." It was on Mondays, so I had to totally disconnect and not check texts on my cell phone related to church, my emails or my voicemails all from church. It was a day for me to rest and slow down. 

     So now to the present. These last few days being ill has shown me how I need to slow down. I am a human being and not a robot. I have to remind myself that I am 61 years old not 21. Slowing down is not a bad thing but a good thing. The book of Ecclesiastes in the bible talks about seasons and various times we can and should do things under the sun. We need and should slow down when the time calls for it and when our personal life needs it. It is certainly not a bad thing but important for all of us. Life should not be a "rush job" but we do need to step back and enjoy each day. We need to thank God for the new day he gave us and enjoy every second of it. So, let's all slow down and enjoy life to the fullest. 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!