Coincidence? God's Plan? Ya, I thought so...

Have you ever had a moment when you literally can almost see the lightbulb go on over your head as you realize something profound? Maybe your profound moment is when you realize something about the nature of God and how He has been working in your life in a way you had not noticed before.

I had one of those moments just a few minutes ago and had to sit down and write about it! I was trying to put together a timeline of my life. For those of you who know me well, you know first how difficult this is for me on an emotional level, however I am also finding out this morning how difficult it is for me on a physical level. (the memory is not what it used to be!) LOL Anyway due to the memory skipping a few beats I went to the kitchen to pull a magnet off the fridge to see if there was a date on it. I was attempting to remember what year I was first involved with the Women's ministry at my church. we hosted a ladies retreat that year for all the churches in the Southeast Conference of the Conservative Baptist Association. I suggested the theme and our supporting scripture reference for that weekend retreat. When I pulled it down off the fridge I did not find a date, however I admired the handiwork and the beauty of this item and finally i allowed my eyes to read the verse, I had so carefully chosen to represent the theme of our weekend so many years ago. ( when I figure that out i will let you know) As I read the words of this scripture I caught my breath, and was stunned! then I started to laugh hysterically! I could not help it, My God has such amazing ways of showing us somethings. OK, stay with me here. like I said I was at the end of a very difficult and emotionally charged couple of hours of putting into outline form a timeline of my life showing all the significant things that I have lived through... well when I went to the kitchen and found this magnet on my fridge the scripture on it was... are you ready for this... Ephesians 2:10 from the NLT it reads, "For we are God's masterpieces. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

I was overwhelmed. here for the past several hours I have emotionally relived some pretty awful stuff. I found myself wondering why it was all necessary? Why did God allow it? I know that alot of it was poor decisions on my part but a lot of what led up to that was not. There were alot of things that were out of my control. I believe in the Sovereignty of God I believe He is fully in control. He either causes things to happen in our lives or He allows them to happen. Either way He is in complete control. So that left me wondering why. I know that he had His reasons and I know that without those things happening I might not have made the decisions I made and I would not be who I am today, with the ministry He has given me and the amazing story of His love and grace. Although He does not have to share anything with me, He in his love for me allowed me to forget the date and year we did that retreat and caused me to remember this possible place of information. I believe that this verse was His way of reminding me that he loves me and He has a plan for my life. something I desperately need to be reminded of just then. It was almost like a great big hug from my Heavenly Father!

This is a real life example of Romans 8:28... "for we know that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose."

How awesome is my God to Love me so much. That He wants to remind me of who I am and who He is and that He has plans for me, good Plans!

Oh how He Loves you and me...

I readthe caption below this morning and I cannot stop rereading it in my mind... I will let it speak for itself. See if you can easily forget this image. I hope not, my friends.

Love ya,

Dan Haseltine, of Jars of Clay, wrote in Relevant magazine, "Look at the marriage of Jesus… the one with the bride who sleeps around, never listens, disowns, scorns, dishonors, runs away, intentionally proves to be more interested in anything but her husband, is selfish and bears the children of every affair and the scent of every escapade. It was a marriage that killed Jesus. And it was the Gospel that brought Him back to life to love once more."