Laced With Grace

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV

“Mommy buy me that Storm Trooper hat, please, I want it!” These have been the words of my 4 year old boy ever since he saw that white Star Wars Storm Trooper voice changer helmet at Target. He loves Star Wars and has had a fascination with Storm Troopers for quite a while so it came as no surprise that he is obsessed with having this helmet.

As a mom, there is a part of me that wants to rush to Target and get it for him right now. I want to give him everything he desires – after all he is only a child once and I want his childhood to be memorable. Yet I know that giving him everything he wants is NOT in his best interest. Sure, there will be plenty of opportunities ahead to give him the helmet. We have a Disney vacation coming and I’m positive that the strategically placed Star Wars store at the exit of the Star Tours ride will be loaded with those voice changing helmets. I’ve thought of buying it now, hiding it and taking it to Disney to give him there (because we all know it will cost a good $10-20 more at Disney). Besides, Christmas is only a few short months away. Even though he wants instant gratification right now – it is in his best he learns to be patient and wait.

This may be a very small glimpse into the heart of our heavenly Father. We all beg and plead with Him to give us our desires. Sometimes He does. Sometimes He waits. Sometimes He tweaks our desires to bring them in accordance with His will. Sometimes He tells us no.

I read a great little booklet a few months back by John MacArthur called, Found: God’s Will. In this brief book, John MacArthur outlines six principals in helping us know God’s will and purpose for our lives. Briefly they are:
1. God’s desires us to have salvation – that He be the Savior and Lord of our lives.
2. God requires us to be spirit filled.
3. God requires us to be sanctified – living a life or purity.
4. God requires us to be submissive to His Lordship and obedient to His Word.
5. God require us to suffer for the sake of the gospel
6. God gives us the desires of our heart – do whatever we want!

Obviously in the confine of this devotion I cannot explain all six of those principals. Basically, John MacArthur teaches that if our lives line up with what the Word teaches and we are following Christ as taught in the Bible then God himself places those desires in our heart. This isn’t a magic formula to get what we want out of God, it is bringing our desires in the will of His so that we can discern what the Lord wants us to do. Its learning that God gives us His desires not Him giving us our desires.

John MacArthur gave a beautiful example of a man who felt called to the mission field. He had the ability to speak French and felt the Lord leading him to France. As he sought MacArthur’s counsel and they discussed his life being in line with the above six principals which it was. So MacArthur advised him to get ready and let God bring together all the details. It turns out, the guy ended up being a missionary in a French providence of Canada!

I love that story. I cannot answer specific questions as to why bad things happen. This seems like such a simple formula and I believe that it is. Still, even in the midst of serving the Lord things happen. We live in a fallen world and sometimes we will face trials.

I wrote in the past about a local church here in town losing their senior pastor and his son in a plane crash. Just three short months later, this same church has lost their minister of music and worship to a sudden heart attack. He was 47 and left behind a wife and two children as well as a church still grieving the lost of its pastor. I can’t answer how that lines up with God’s will because it is beyond my understanding of the grace and goodness of God. I just know that if I don’t trust in Him, my life would be void and useless.

Finding God’s will may be simple if we live in obedience to His word and trust Him to give us the desires that He has for us. Understanding His will requires much more faith and trust. So whether God tells you yes, no, yes instantly or wait and be patient – trust that He is sovereign and is able to do so much more than we can image.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

Dear Lord, Your will is my ultimate desire. Thank you for the times you have said “no” and lead me in a different direction. I pray that my life will be obedient and holy before You so that my desires will be in accordance to your will. Just as we all did three months ago, Lord, I lift up the congregation at Bell Shoals as they now grieve the loss of a pastor who helped them as they grieved for their Pastor. Help us to grow in your grace and trust in your sovereignty. Amen.

Do you know what it means to have a proper perspective?  On March 23, I learned this lesson really well!  It was a hard lesson, but worth it!

We had gotten a new puppy and immediately fell in love with Josie Wells Gray!  She was a Beagle mix, cute as a button!!!  The kids loved her and she actually loved the kids.  She was just like an infant wanting to be held at all times.  The girls especially loved that.  It was the next best thing to having their own real baby!

When we got home from preschool, Josie was not jumping in her crate to greet us.  I let her out to go potty, and she had the cha cha chas!!!

Josie got worse and worse as the minutes went by.  We jumped in the car as fast as four small people can and sped away to the Vet ER!  Do you know what it is like to go into a vet office with three small children and a dog with the runs?  Wow, I had met my match!

Josie was immediately diagnosed with Parvo, a deadly virus that new puppies can get.  We could spend at least $500 and try to save her, but she would probably die anyway.  So I loaded everyone up in the car, including Josie and headed for home.  We called the animal control to come and we all sat on the driveway boohooing as the man with our new puppy drove away.

The tears were shed and my heart was broken.  My man was out of town and I had to encourage these sad puppies of my own!  Each of their perspectives was so unique, but so much better than mine!!!

Tucker-He was pleased that Josie was going to be healed in heaven.

Emmajoy-She was thankful her grandma was already in heaven to hold Josie.

Sarahjane-She was ready for tomorrow and the next big adventure.

As for me, all I was consumed with was how I felt!!!  Me, me, me!!!   The kids had a greater perspective and it was not focused on themselves, unlike their momma!!  Today, the kids taught me a lesson.  What lessons are your kids teaching you?

“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…”

Psalms 8:2

Prayer.  Sometimes it comes so easily – a quiet conversation sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Then there are seasons when it is difficult – feeling as though my words are bouncing off the ceiling.  At other times it feels as though I am simply reciting words – a rote exercise following a perscribed formula.

 In truth, I have struggled with prayer.  I have not been consistent.  Too often I allow all those feelings to come between me and simple conversation with the One who gave His life for mine.  I am learning that when I am obedient to the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit on my heart, when I simply begin to speak to the Lord  regardless of my feelings, I begin to get a sense of His presence that is almost palpable.  There are still times when the heavens seem silent, but if I come anyway that time will pass. 

I want my prayer life to be a “way of life” – an on-going conversation with my Father.  I know that is what He desires too.  Imagine, the Lord Himself wants to spend time talking to and listening to me.  How can I stay away?

                                                      PRAYER

When the day is softly waking to the touch of warming sun. 

 When the dark is closing round me, it is at these times I come:

                To the place of new beginnings

                 Where all is joy and light.

                 To the One who is my safety

                 throughout the darkest night.

When I’m filled with guilt and sorrow, and I’m feeling so alone.

When my soul is tired and aching; it is at these times I come:

                To the place of full assurance

                 Where all is peace and rest

                To the One who never changes

                Lay my head upon His breast.

When the heavens seem to echo with my cry of deep despair.

When it seems He is not listening; is it true He does not care?

                Is my faith too weak for answers?

                Is my sin too great to cleanse?

                Has He turned His back in anger?

               Has His love come to an end?

When the questions have no answers, and I want to turn and run.

When I raise my voice in anger, it is then that I must come:

             To the One whose ways are wiser

             To the One whose ways are best

             To the One who never changes

             Lay my head upon His breast.