“WHEN GOD PUSHES YOU TO THE EDGE of
difficulty, trust Him fully, because two things can happen. Either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He
will teach you how to fly.” (Unknown
quote) I know that if I offered to sit
down and listen to whoever crossed my path in one 24-hour period of time, I
would most likely hear the words, “Yeah, there’s times I feel like I’m just
about to go over the edge – and today is one of those times!” You know what? I think because we are human,
it’s easy for us to see only the difficulty.
Often our trials and tests can nearly engulf us, sweep us away, or pull
us down. They are the only thing on our
mind. Our vision cannot see beyond what’s
coming at us full steam ahead. And so often
then, we feel defeated, or even worse, we are. But I have great news! These difficulties will still come, whether
God is pushing us – either to rescue us or stretch us, or whether they are the
result of our own making. Oops … that
isn’t the great news – THIS is! Thanksgiving
Day is just around the corner, and while we celebrate it officially but one day
a year, we CAN live in that attitude every day if we choose to. And choosing to live a life of gratitude will
allow our vision to zoom right past the edge of difficulty to seeing ourselves
being caught on the way down – or seeing ourselves free-falling and then
feeling the wind beneath our wings and soaring upward once again, flying above
the difficulties! We will concentrate on
the inevitable positive outcome! What was that?
Yes, I said exactly what I meant!
Inevitable positive outcome!
There’s a new twist for you.
Usually we think we can just about be guaranteed that nothing good is
ever going to happen to us, and that if something bad is going to happen, it’s
going to come our way. So how can we
rise above that way of thinking? Well, I
have more than just one solution for you … and actually they all end up being
intertwined … and they come straight from God’s Word. I’ve mentioned this before, but perhaps not
recent enough that you’ve heard me talk about it. But I so want to gift you with the
once-and-for-all answer to KNOWING without a shadow of a doubt that when the
tough times come, you can be fully assured that if you fall, you will be caught
by the One that loves you more than you love yourself. I so want you to never doubt when you feel
yourself spiraling downward in an out-of-control fall, that God Himself will be
there to swoop you up and teach you how to fly!
If you give yourself only those two options, how can you lose? What’s the worst that could happen? I’ll take those options any day – every day! But … you say, “I’ve heard stuff like this
before, and I just can’t do it. I can’t
think that way all the time. I’m too
much of a realist. I see things as they
are.” Well then, still be a realist –
but change what you’re looking at! Look
at the proof-positive options you’ve never looked at before. They will be there whether you want to see
them or not. They will be available to
you whether you want to take them or not. Need more proof of how to be able to choose
the best option when stuck between a rock and a hard place? Listen up!
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to
demolish strongholds. We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:4-5) Did you catch that? WE demolish arguments (between defeat and
victory) and WE take captive every one of our thoughts (our negative thoughts,
casting them down so they have to come into obedience to the Lord Jesus
Christ!) WE make the choice. How’s that for a powerful option?! God’s
Word even tells us what to think about: “Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy – think about such things.”
(Philippians 4:8) If we do this,
THEN what happens? Well, “Do not conform
any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind.” (Romans 12:2a) And of course, we know that a renewed mind
creates a changed life! You see our
words in Christ create our lives! It’s
true … mull that over and see how that fits in with all of the scripture I’ve
just shared with you! I am so very
thankful that as God’s children, we can “see” as He sees, and live above the
struggles, with choices and options that allow us to live wholly transformed
lives – rewarding beyond our wildest dreams … all for God’s glory!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS are sent to Mary on the 21st of
this month, to Tina on the 23rd, and to Connie on the 24th!
SUN, NOV 18: 10:00 A.M. –
SPECIAL THANKSGIVING PRAISE & WORSHIP w/potluck luncheon to follow!
SUN, NOV 18: 10:30 A.M. –
KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla
& Kelly/a time our kids don’t want to miss!
THU, NOV 22: A BLESSED
THANKSGIVING DAY to each of you and your families, from Pastor Doug and Debbie! We are so grateful to God for YOU!
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Marty & Kelly, Julie, Tina,
Julia, Isaac, several unspoken needs, our nation, president and leaders,
Lundstroms & Seykoras, and praises to God for new jobs for Randy and
Jimmy!
REMEMBER . . . “If we learn how to give of ourselves, to forgive
others, and to live with thanksgiving, we need not seek happiness. It will seek us.” (Unknown)
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
