Archive for July 16th, 2008

Yesterday I was talking with one of our family friends and I made a statement that made her stop and say wow you should right that down.  And I guess I should of because I don’t remember exactly what it was now…but it was something to the effect of the fact that since God works through our flaws to make the amazing happen (so that He can get the glory and not us) that He has a lot of things He could do with in my life.

And I begin to sit and think about this and how in some regards that could be taken as an arrogant statement but I truly did not mean it in that manner.  I really meant it with a heart that understands how tainted and ugly my life is in comparison to God’s standards.  I struggle with issues that I know God has been dealing with me for years on and yet I still allow sin to creep into my life.  And I know that as you read this you can probably identify that same area in your life that it is been hard for you to give up.

Well know here is the place that we need to get to and I really just began to understand yesterday.  As I was praying with my son before bedtime as I do every night, I had a joy come over me or better yet described as a peace that I knew was from God.  It came over me just as I was praying for all of the concerns that were on my heart and that God would take care of and prevail on.  The peace was not a peace that God was going to fix them instantly but yet a joy during the tribulation because I know that God is going to make me into a better person and a far better vessel that can be used for His glory.  And I believe that is what James meant with:

James 1:2 (New International Version)

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

See there is joy in trials because God is using this trial to make you into a better person…a more usable person!  And isn’t that where our heart should be as a Christian is that we want to be the best tool possible.  Have you ever gone to Silver Dollar City or Williamsburg and watched the old blacksmith work a piece of iron.  It takes a lot of fire and hammering before that iron is anything useful.  So keep your joy, the trial maybe hard and it may hurt but it is for your benefit and for God’s glory in the end!

On a side note, as you may have noticed from yesterday’s blog that I moved the website and thought I had lost all of my blogs, all my email, and all of my wife’s email, however the Lord is good and I have been able to recover it all.

So as always remember to give thanks in all and God Bless ~ Tyler

As I was, doing my devotion this morning one of our pastors sent out an email in regards to a meeting/decision that pertains to our church and our future buildings and growth. As I read his email there was a statement by the gentleman that wrote the devotion about what makes God smile. Instantly I was back in 9^th grade Sunday school. A wonderful woman by the name of Barbara Hall was my teacher and she made a statement very similar that has stuck with me all this time, “At the end of the day, did your actions make Jesus smile or cry?” A very profound statement so simple yet if you were able to put it into practice in your everyday life what a dramatic difference there would be.

This however brings me to my real point. I remember around this same time in high school I was going through a psychology class where we did an exercise that involved us being blindfolded and letting a classmate take us around campus. Now the point was to teach us trust and to learn more about ourselves. I was teamed up with a friend and as guys do, sometimes we were being crazy and letting each other bump into things. Well, during my turn I ended up walking towards a set of steps to which my friend screamed “STEPS” which immediately made me freeze. The thought of steps was scary because I did not know whether I was 1 step or 10 steps away from them. Now let me give you a blurb from the email that I received this morning:

Trusting God completely means having faith that God knows what is best for your life. You expect him to keep his promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary.

Again what a simple and profound statement, yet how hard this principle is to put into practice sometimes. It is so very easy for us as humans to want to take over and try to take control only to screw it up and beg God to save us. We become impatient or we think that we know what is best so we step in and possibly miss a blessing by taking action ourselves instead of waiting and trusting. I know that I struggle with this sometimes because I will want to take matters into my own hands. What arrogance! Just as the exercise I talked about above we as humans do not know what tomorrow brings however, we do know who does. We do not know what will happen throughout the day yet sometimes we are willing to proceed down the set of steps while blindfolded. I pray that we all will take the time to seek God face. In addition, I pray that we will do the things that make Him smile. One of those is being able to trust Him to lead us through the path that is best for us. This does not mean the easiest path but the best path. Remember “Trust is not inherited; it is learned!” So take that step of faith and follow God, He will not let you down!