Serious About Faith. Light-Hearted About Life.
The words tumble out of my mouth so fast there is no hope for me to stuff them back in…
“WHAT, in heaven’s name, do you think you are doing?!?!”
It happens all the time. I question those around me when I don’t agree with their choices or decisions.
It is isn’t a matter of needing information– it is a combination of frustration, pride, confusion and a little bit of shock. [Read more…]
I know, I know… I’ve said it before.
I am a planner. Sure, it might make me a nerd, but I just love the dreaming and the planning and the envisioning that comes with strategizing to reach a new goal or accomplish a task.
Sometimes my plans involve scribbles on a notebook (with an inky pen, of course.)
Sometimes my plans are written on a white board in the kitchen under the title “Weekly Menu.”
Sometimes my plans are meticulously crafted on a color-coded spreadsheet then taped to the wall for me to see daily for accountability.
I love making plans.
But admittedly, my plans aren’t always perfect. Things happen.
Kids get sick. Ministry emergencies pop up. Husband’s work schedule changes. Hey, even I get sick! <– This last one is one of my least favorite things ever. )
I don’t like it when my plans go awry.
Fortunately, God’s plans never get thrown off. Because that is today’s truth:
It’s funny that as I write those words, I am forcing myself to embrace them in my heart. Because as I write this, my color-coded workout spreadsheet plans have been totally thrown off for the last week due to some energy-sucking lung clogging cold virus of doom. And my Beloved husband just texted me to say that he will be working overnight– on Easter. Again this year.
Now what was I saying? Oh yeah. God’s plans. They are perfect.
His plans really are perfect, even if they seem to make our lives more difficult or confusing in the moment. But it all boils down to trust. Do I trust God to get me back on my running schedule? Yes. Do I trust God to give me energy to do a couple of days of solo unforeseen parenting over my favorite Jesus holiday? Yes.
Am I happy about it? Not really. But I do trust Him with it. (And don’t worry about me– give me a few minutes to adjust and I will be able to find the good stuff in the middle of these squiggly plans.)
God’s plans trump our plans– every time. Why? Because He is the One with the big-picture blue prints. He knows the reasons behind why we did (or didn’t) get that “dream job” we applied for. He knows the purpose for a season of trial or pain. He holds the truth to an unknown path or question we are currently facing in our lives.
He holds His Plans in His Hands.
And those plans are perfect.
If this truth about God is one that you particularly struggle with, take heart… Because sometimes I struggle with it too (like today. Le sigh.) But I also know that God has proven time and time and time again that His plans are absolutely perfect– His plans are for us to prosper, not to harm us. Even if we can’t see it in the moment. When in your past have you not understood God’s plans until they came to fruition? I would love to hear all about it. Please join the conversation and leave a comment.
Remember, friends… even if we can’t understand His grand plans today, someday we will… It might be on the other side of heaven’s gates, but we will understand.
So in the meantime, trust Him with His plans– even if they don’t match up to your notebook scribbles or color-coded spreadsheet.
Embracing His Plans,
“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 NIV
Linking up today with my sweet friend Beth over at Three-word Wednesday and also with Walking Redeemed. Oh! And be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday!
Would you say that you are a trusting person?
For me, my answer would probably lean towards yes. Sure, there are a few folks out there that make me raise an eyebrow as to whether or not I can legitimately trust them, but for the most part I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.
However, there was a point in my life that trusting other people was an issue. Specifically on almost every leadership retreat I ever attended, especially if a ropes course was involved. [Read more…]
Photo courtesy Morten Gade via Flickr
Over the last several weeks, we have used our Mondays to talk about how faith and feelings interact.
We have discussed anger, frustration, joy, and weariness. Today is the final major feeling and it’s a doozy.
Worry. [Read more…]
This world gets a little cray-cray every now and then.
Or maybe it seems crazy for you EVERYDAY. Regardless of where you stand with your “peace level,” we don’t have to allow our surroundings or events dictate it.
Hence, this nifty pinnable AND printable pic. (If you like it, feel free to pin on Pinterest or click the blue link below to print it out. Just sayin.) [Read more…]
I saw a quote recently (I think it was on Pinterest) that said, “Cookies with raisins in them are the reason I have trust issues.”
I laughed. Because it’s true. There’s been times where I was overjoyed to chomp down on a warm, soft chocolate chip cookie only to have my heart shatter in a million tiny pieces when I realized that those dark brown spots were not in fact bits of heaven in milk chocolate form, but rather dried fruit.
And I am only being SLIGHTLY mellow dramatic here.
But honestly, I have trust issues that go deeper than the age-old chocolate chip vs. raisin debacle. [Read more…]
I’m taking a New-Mama day today…so that being said, I wanted to share with you a post that was written a while back- but is still very pertinent to our everyday walks with Christ.
We might not always know where we are headed– but He does. And His plan can sure be trusted. (I promise.) Let me know what kind of surprise turns your life has taken and how God helped you through it by leaving a comment below.
Blessings to you my darling readers!
SGK
****
The tires are humming on the highway. The radio on just loud enough to provide some background noise but soft enough to avoid drowning out the conversation going on between the driver and passenger.
“When do I turn?”
“Um, let me look. I feel like it is coming up.”
“Come ON, babe, its rush hour… I need to know if I need to exit anytime soon. Can I get over?” [Read more…]
Friday is upon us once again, my beloved followers.
And that can mean only one thing.
Yes, it’s the weekend. (Well, almost.) But even more so, it means that it’s time for Five Minute Friday.
In short: Fridays we link up with our favorite Gypsy Mama Lisa-Jo. She gives us a prompt. We write. For five minutes.
No excessive strategerizing. No planning. Just rolling with it and seeing what Jesus has to say.
So… Let’s see what He has to say to us here at 7 Days Time today.
Prompt: AFRAID
Annnnddd GO! [Read more…]
Hey folks.
It’s Friday.
Which means we link up with Lisa Jo and write. For five minutes flat.
Today’s prompt: CHERISHED
GO! [Read more…]
Let’s be honest… we are all kind of spoiled.
Now before you get all persnickety, let me explain. If you are reading this from a computer or an iPhone or some kind of technical device (yes, even if it is at work) you are sitting pretty good. If you are reading this from a place that has heat (or air conditioning, depending upon which hemisphere you reside in), you are pretty well off. And hey– I’m no exception– I’m writing this in my “comfy clothes” in my recliner, cuddling with our pup, heater running in a warm, dry house on my computer.
I think I’m doing alright. [Read more…]
It's been awhile since we have posted a fresh Factor of 7 here at 7 Days Time. We've done a few small ones over the last several months, but we wanted to share one of most recent random acts of kindness with you. Because it was fun. And hey, who … Interested? Read on...
So... let's get serious. (Well, not TOO serious.) Here at 7 Days Time, we have four coaching packages to choose from. As we work through your initial consultation call, together we can determine what package will best suit your coaching needs. … Interested? Read On...
