God Does All Things Well

'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.' ~ Jeremiah 32:17

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
John 2:1-10

I have struggled with many fundamental truths about God's nature, particularly having to do with God's specific, individual, love and care for me. It doesn't make any sense to me right now that I ever doubted that His intentions towards me were for good and not for evil (even after I knew the popular Bible verse recorded in Jeremiah 29:11-13), but because I didn't know Him much at all, it all boiled down to a lack of trust in Him. From this single deficit, almost every other aspect of my life has at some time been negatively influenced because of poor decisions I made while trying to figure out what was best for myself. And this was despite some prayers, and despite some knowledge of Scripture. Until I really came to believe that God was for me and not against me; that God wanted the best for me and cared about the details of my life; and that God really is a good God, I continued to say I trusted God with many things but never totally released them to Him or accepted His will.

The popular story of Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee took on whole new meaning for me recently when the Holy Spirit illuminated a single simple truth as a reminder that God can be trusted to act on our behalf. So perfect are His works, and so high above our ways are His ways, that the wine He makes from only water makes man's best appear to be nothing more than inferior, cheap wine!

This marvelous truth reminded me of another Scripture verse which says that "The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Is it any wonder then that those who wait for God don't ever wind up ashamed (see Psalms 25:3; Isaiah 49:23; Psalm 37)?

What are you hoping in God for? What are you waiting on God for? Let God be the One who determines the path you should take and trust His timing. Just like Mary exhorted the servants, and just as they also did, only be diligent to do whatever the Lord says to you. His heart is for you, He does all things well, and His ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30; Deut. 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31)!

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

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A Harsh Word, Harshly Said

This little poem really resonates with me lately. I have been on the receiving end of harsh words from people that I held dear. I also know I have been unwise and hurtful in my own words at different times with various others. There really is no "undo" button for the words we speak and I think this little poem packs a punch rooted in Biblical wisdom. We would all do well to take it to heart.

One day a harsh word, harshly said,

Upon an evil journey sped.

And like a sharp and cruel dart,

It pierced a fond and loving heart.

It turned a friend into a foe,

And everywhere brought pain and woe.

A kind word followed it one day,

Sped swiftly on its blessed way.

It healed the wound and soothed the pain,

And friends of old were friends again.

It made the hate and anger cease,

And everywhere brought joy and peace.

And yet the harsh word left a trace,

The kind word could not efface.

And though the heart its love regained,

It left a scar that long remained.

Friends can forgive but not forget,

Nor lose the sense of keen regret.

Oh, if we would but learn to know,

How swift and sure our words can go.

How we would weigh with utmost care,

Each thought before it reached the air.

And only speak the words that move,

Like white-winged messengers of love.

Selected (no author noted) from How To Be An Up Person In A Down World by Honor Books Inc, 1998, p. 129

Excuses For Not Attending Church

Everybody has a good excuse for not attending church. If you take those excuses and apply them to other things we do (or don't do), like eating, they might look like this list:

1. I was forced to eat as a child.

2. People who eat all the time are hypocrites; they aren't really hungry.

3. There are so many different kinds of food, I can't decide what to eat.

4. I used to eat, but I got bored and stopped.

5. I only eat on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter.

6. None of my friends will eat with me.

7. I'll start eating when I get older.

8. I don't really have time to eat.

9. I don't believe that eating does anybody any good. It's just a crutch.

10. Restaurants and grocery stores are only after your money.

[Author Unknown]

When You Have To Start Over

Many who will read this are in the process of having to start over right now. Not the kind of fresh start where you step out toward dreams bright eyed and full of wonder, but you are starting over because life has taken an unexpected turn and you must start over. Things haven't turned out as you planned. The ending was wrong, or it was too soon. A life-changing diagnosis or disability, the death of a spouse or child, the loss of a career; the end of a friendship or relationship. The things that provoke "Why?" and "Why me?" questions, and almost never have answers. Starting over is necessary in these cases, but it is left up to each person how they will start over. Your responses, reactions, and your trust in God make all the difference at this point. You can become bitter and disillusioned, or you can decide to trust God one step at a time, grieving, healing, and hoping in Him.

Every Christian will encounter a lot of hardship and trials in this life. Your actions and attitudes must be deeply rooted upon the commands and promises of the word of God so as not to be overcome by the storms that will beat against you. Jesus said,

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:47-49

The Christian who has experienced the sudden, the unthinkable, the crushing of hopes and plans and dreams, is in a position to grasp that there is nothing lasting outside of a relationship with God. The failure of our best plans can move us to radically surrender our lives with total abandon to whatever the will of God will decide next. It is for times like these that the promises of God are given to you as a life buoy:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35,37-39, NLT

The promises are given, and they are sure. But we must believe them if we are to start over well, and see God do what is impossible for us, bringing victory out of trial. Even in hardships permitted, there is an end intended by the Lord. He has a plan to turn that thing for His glory and your good. If you will trust Him and continue to obey, He will make the whole of your life bring praise to the glory of His grace. Job's excruciating trial detailed in 42 chapters let us know that God is not unfeeling towards the suffering of His servants. This trial was not the end of his story but brought a new start. It brought renown to God, a witness to others from Job's life more than ever before, and deepened Job's knowledge, fear, and love of God.

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:10-11

The Scriptures record outlines of various lives that were thrust into a whirlwind of the unplanned and unexpected. Take courage from the word of God as you read these stories including that of Noah, Job, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Esther, Daniel and others.

All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come. If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:11-13,GNT

God is not finished with you. Go to His word and get new strength and vision. Trust in Him who loves you.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me? 

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him 

For the help of His countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me;

Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, 

And from the heights of Hermon, 

From the Hill Mizar.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me— 

A prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:5-8

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