Who's fault is it? Who's in control?

I have heard so many tales of woe from people who just wouldn't cooperate with God.  For some people it took several times for the Lord to finally get their attention.  Some of us have just slipped off the path and had to be brought back.  "For All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  There is none righteous, no not one".  The point is that God is our parent.  He is the ultimate parent and He knows our future and our past.  He has watched our lives like an old movie and has seen them over and over again.  He knows our beginning and He knows our end.  He has looked at the choices we are presented with and He knows which one we will choose.  Funny thing.  I hear people say, "If God knows everything, and if He is everywhere, why does He allow bad things to happen?"  Remember when he told Adam that he had dominion over the birds of the air and the beasts of the land and the creatures of the sea?  God gave control over to man. When we give a car to our kids and tell them to be careful, do we drive around behind them and help them to stop at the stop sign, pay the parking at the meter, or put the cruise control on when they drive.  We have given them control over the car.  God has given us control over our lives.  When we choose to walk with him, we submit and surrender to Him knowing that he knows best.  If we choose incorrectly we get the consequences of the action we committed.  

     Think of a two year-old holding their parents hand when they walk across the street.  If the child holds the hand tightly and listens they get safely across the street.  If the child snatches their hand away and darts into the street they may encounter danger.  Let's always try to hold on to the hand of the One who knows.

     Heavenly Father, your word tells us that You are always at work to make us both willing and able to do that which you have called us to do.  Please help us to follow you and to be "doers of the word and not hearers only" because when we only go to church, but we don't change our behavior to match your words we only deceive ourselves into thinking that we are "changing, good, doing enough".   Help us to walk in a way that would be pleasing to you.  May our behavior reflect your goodness, peace, and mercy.  We thank you so much for all that you do and all that you plan for us.  Make us pleasing in your sight in Jesus name.  Amen.

GIVE THEM TO GOD

One night I had a dream.  I know the Lord was talking to me.  He was reminding me that He was God and He's got things under control.  In my dream, I was in a house and there was a storm coming.  The house started to flood and so I grabbed my two bichon frise (small white dogs that look like cotton balls), and I began to try to swim with them  Of course that was tiresome and impossible.  I heard a soft, gentle, yet strong voice in my head say, "Let go".  Now the voice was not audible, but but it was very strong.  It's just hard to really explain.  However, it was a dream.  So back to the dream.  I let go of the pups with my heart breaking.  Flashing through my mind was the painful sight of my beautiful bichon babies struggling and almost sinking in the water.  After some soul searching, I let them go.  Much to my surprise, the dogs took off swimming.  They swam strong and straight as they headed toward the shore.  It enabled me to swim and make it to the shore, too.  As I watched them, I thought, They are much stronger and much more courageous than I thought.  I was actually holding them back when I was trying to help them..trying to save them from struggles.  Letting them go enabled all of us to make it. When I woke up I realized that the Lord was telling me to let my children go.  It was time to give them another push.  He had it all under control and if I trusted Him they would be okay.  They were strong, and they would make it.  I was thrilled.  I thought I would need to continue to help them for a little while longer, but He clearly showed me that it was time to let go.  I would be able to finish strong if I wasn't carrying so much.  What a wonderful God we serve.  He helped us to have a wonderful time together and He built a secure future for us all while strengthening us so that we could make it.

Heavenly Father, I love you so much.  I just give you all the glory, honor, and praise!  You are worthy oh Lord.  I am amazed that You care enough to help us even with little things.  You can do without us, but we cannot do without you.  Oh Lord You are our safety and our sure hope.  You are the reason why we have faith, and even why we know what faith is.  You never leave us nor forsake us.  In You we can take bold steps forward or quiet steps that gently carry us into the next day.  Thank you so much for helping me to grow and to let go.  Thank you for the wonderful experience of warmth, love, support, and strength that we all experienced as we went through a most trying time of learning and of lack.  I truly learned that the verse, " I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread"  is really true.  You have led us through the desert of our leanest times and we have come out better than before.  We have learned to walk with each other while we walk with and trust in You.  You are the hope of our salvation the peace in our hearts, and the joy of each new morning.  Now bless and keep us all.  Bless all who read this prayer and all who silently ask for your help and deliverance.  You can bring us through anything.  For this we give you praise.  In Jesus name.  Amen.