Let Your Sails Down and Let God Blow You Where You Need to Be

Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. Acts 27:17

During this storm, the Apostles let the sails down and let God guide the ship. Joel Osteen mentioned this today during his message "God is in Control of the Storm." One thing he said today that stuck with me is: "God directs the winds of the storm to place you where you need to go/be."

I find this is soooooo true. I always said something similar, "God takes you through things to prepare you for what he has in store for you." Now many people have derivations of this and we are all saying the same thing - He's preparing you for what's in store. He's preparing you and thus increasing your faith and trust in Him while you may be down here on Earth preparing yourself physically or mentally.

You can listen to just about anyone and hear how they got through a storm and on the other side was something better. Listen to Joel Osteen, Oprah, Tyler Perry, Jennifer Hudson, me, anyone, including you. Think about where you were last year, what trials you faced, how you got through them, and what the outcome was. God brought you through that and He'll bring you through them all.

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

With that we must embrace every opportunity, every storm, every triumph, every trial because we know its all divinely ordered and according to His will, which shall be done.

Where am I going with this? Well, right now I'm on an external assignment but will return to my home office in a few months. My boss changed while I was gone and the new boss, despite what I already had planned, wants me to do something else. I'm not opposed to the move in mind because I am interested in the area the boss recommended, but I do not agree with his reasoning. I have learned to recognize when God is trying to move me. I also have learned that if God places something in your heart (like an interest on the job) that mean she's already ordered your steps to do it, He's just telling you about it now. I sacrificed leaving a position similar to the one being offered to accept the current external assignment. I loved the nature of the work I was leaving and now have an opportunity to combine that with what I've been doing for the past 5 years. How blessed is that! So, instead of fighting the reasoning behind the bosses rationale for the move, I am embracing God's delightful plan for me and realizing that the boss just didn't quite know how to sell God's divinely-ordered plan for me.

We know the story of Jennifer Hudson. She did not win American Idol that year, but Fantasia did. I believe God needed Fantasia to get that break then because he knew the resilience and strength He instilled in Jennifer and would bless her later. Now, we know both of them have gone on to have successful singing and acting careers. Both have prestigious accolades and respect in the industry for their talents. God gave each of them what He desired for them to have WHEN it was time. So, the lesson from Jennifer's side in this is to remain focused, faithful, and never give up. For God is directing the path - may not be what you want when you want it, but when He answers, boy He answers big.

So, to sum it all up: let those sails down and let God use those winds to push you where you need to be. LET GO and LET GOD.

Cheerful Giver

I was sparked to write this post after hearing an E!News report that Garth Brooks wanted his $500,000 "donation" back from a hospital because they did not name a building after his mother. I was listening to the very short report while in the bathroom, so I researched the topic to get the real deal and details that may have been omitted by E! or missed by my ears in another room. Turns out the hospital verbally agreed to build a women's center and name it after Brooks' mother. Three years after Brooks "donated" the money, he received an e-mail saying the money would be used for "new construction." Well, its 2012 and still no women's center with his mom's name on it, so he wants his money back.

http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_19786668

What do you think? Does he have grounds to ask for his money back? It wasn't in writing, according to the report cited. He wanted to honor his mother and thought this was a way to do it. He was not seeking financial gain, so it wasn't a business deal, more of a I-am-doing-this-because deal.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7

Now, some may think that only refers to tithes, but I believe every "donation" and gift should be done cheerfully - from the heart. I'm not judging, but if Garth was really giving from the heart, wouldn't he be satisfied with any "new construction" going on at the hospital because it is for the aid and relief of the sick? When we give money to the church, can we tell them what to do? Yes, we can provide somewhat of a say in meetings, but its really up to the Pastor and church officials, much like the hospital decisions are left up to the director and board. Once you give a donation, you must let it go.

I also believe that you should give from the heart not expecting anything in return. So often, people use this as a reason and validation for following what God has commanded us to do for the church. We should not do what is right, expecting a reward. Yes, we know God will bless us, as he stated often throughout the Word, but you don't do something for that reason alone.

Now, I will admit that I am slow about tithing. One reason is because I pay all my bills automatically, so I don't sit at a table every month and write checks. So, it tends not to be something I think about doing. No excuse. I mean, if it was the mortgage that needed a check, I'd remember, right? I tend to remember at the end of the year because, well, its the end of the tax year. Though, I feel bad writing that off. Also, this year, I was blessed to make more money and now that my checks have higher significant figures, it made me pause once and wonder where the money is going at the church, but a great friend reminded me that its not my call or decision. I do what I'm instructed to do and let it go. Its not my concern what is done after that, as long as there are no obvious clues that the money is going for improper use, i.e. Pastor in a brand new Benz wearing a Movado when he used to drive an old Escort and wear Fossil.

So, I admit, I must work on my heart of gratitude and thankfulness so that when I write those checks, I am cheerful. I don't think about what God will do for me next, but I think "that's a lot of money." Instead, I should be saying, "Wow, God, if I multiply this by 10 I see how you blessed me 10 times over this year! Thank you! May I be of blessing to others now and I turn this back over to you."

Your thoughts?

Rejuvenated

It has been over a year - almost two - since I blogged. Where do I begin? Where do I begin? I will start off by saying that I think blogging is a great thing to do. Even if it does not help someone else, it help the blogger. Going back and reading about situations that occurred that, at the time, seemed like major things - but turned out not to be - is the best way to see God's work in your life. You can read your story and know the outcome and testify to God's goodness.

He's an on-time God. He makes things happen in due time and when he shows up, he shows out! I have been truly blessed and highly favored.

About one month after my last blog entry, I met Prince Charming. Oh! This man is my soul mate. 'Nuff said. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him. He understands me. He supports me. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry happy tears. He LOVES me. He holds me. He takes care of me. He makes me HAPPY. We do not have the perfect relationship, but its perfect for us. I definitely take us through things, but he's the most his resilience and tenacity keep us going.

After a year of dating, including many days together just cuddling and taking small excursions around town, I was looking forward to our one-year anniversary and anticipating him asking me to be his girlfriend. It did not go that way and, taking a page from my angry dad's page, I through a fit. (The first of quite a few that year). I went to work that Tuesday - following a holiday - still angry and applied, at the last minute, for a one-year assignment out the state, while currently on a new assignment in the building. Well, of course he and I got back on good terms and I was selected - top candidate - for the external assignment. It was tough to leave the current assignment that I liked and even tougher to leave Prince Charming, but I did it.

Meanwhile, I was having a house built and my job agreed to let me finish that before leaving for the assignemnt. That house closed, but without some headache due to the builder getting off schedule and delaying my schedule because, of course, I had a well-orchestrated move-out/move-in/move-up-north strategy. I had about three tantrums with Prince Charming, who served as my Realtor. All in all, it worked out.

The house is nice. However, I, like many times, second guess things. Cabinet colors, placement of the fireplace, etc, etc, etc. I have to stop looking at houses on tv so I don't get more ideas. oh, I really wish I had changed some things but Prince Charming and I will make ANY house a HOME. (We don't live together, but when I'm in town, we spend a lot of time with each other, including overnight sessions on an almost nightly basis.
) I love the extra space and my master suite, though its not isolated and my mom makes too much noise when she's there. Enough to not allow me to allow her to enjoy her stay. I bought the house with the fam in mind because my other house was just too tight for me to have them there often. Ugh. I have to have my space. Now, I am concerned about the stairs and living in this temporary apartment while on assignment allowed me to see that its hard to walk up and down steps in slippers. Also, I kinda wish i would've not been so focused on having the back of the sofa "meet" you as you enter the living room. I should've taken the advice of a "friend" and just put a sofa table with pictures back there and put the fireplace in the center of the wall, instead of the corner. Then, put my beautiful entertainment center on the adjacent wall. Now, I have no where to put it becauase it will be too close to the fire place if I try to put them on the same wall. UGH!

Anyway, the point I would like to make for this blog entry is that God answers prayers. Believe and work hard and He will do things for you that you would not be able to think to ask for. I asked for mediocre things and He blessed me abundantly with 10 times what I asked for. Job assignments x 10. Love x 10. Financial security x 10. Now, I'm praying and expecting health x 10 and I pray for all these things for everyone who reads this. God bless!

I will do my very best to blog more. I will reach out more on Twitter and other places to get more followers. Again, I want this to be interactive.