Write it Down, Make it Plain

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you….write them on the tablet of your heart.” ~ Proverbs 3:3 (NASB)

While doing some pre-Spring cleaning this weekend, I came across a journal that I had not made an entry in since January 2009. As I scanned the pages, one entry in particular caught my attention. I had begun writing a letter to God declaring my desire for a healthy, loving relationship, one that would ultimately glorify Him. Here is an excerpt from my journal:

01/17/2009

Dear Lord,

I have heard more than once that if I want something to happen in my life I need to write it down and make it plain…so here goes…

I want and need a good man in my life. A man that:
1. Loves You Lord and seeks to understand you more and more each day.
2. Is spiritual and leans on you for understanding and direction in everything he does – a man who has faith.
3. Shares similar values and beliefs.
4. That is looking for his wife – his queen.
5. Is done playing games and is ready for a committed relationship that will ultimately lead to marriage.
6. Doesn’t mind going to church regularly – does go to church.
7. Is single (no wife, girlfriend, etc.).
8. Is drug and disease free.
9. Does not smoke or abuse alcohol (social drinking is ok).
10. Had or has a good relationship with his mother and the rest of his family.
11. Is a good communicator.
12. Is patient, kind, respectful, and considerate.
13. Has an open mind and tolerant of people and their choices.
14. Someone who understands love is action not just a feeling.
15. Someone willing to take the time and make the effort to get to know my children and be their friend first, then someone they can respect and look up to.

The list goes on, but I won’t bore you with the rest of the details. I had written approximately 50 characteristics that I desired in a mate. And if I can recall, I was not done. I stored the journal in a closet with every intention of revisiting it to complete the list but I never did. In fact, it was the last entry I made in that journal.

Fast forward almost 3 years to the date, this weekend I found myself traveling back in time reading the thoughts that were on my heart and mind during that season of my life. As I read over each item on my list, I had an epiphany. God had answered my prayer. I may have put the closet away never to read it again. It was out of sight, but not out of mind. The words had also been written on tablet of my heart.

“…You, LORD JEHOVAH, know what is in the heart of everyone; show the one which you have chosen…” ~ Acts 1:24

A little over four months ago, God reunited me with a classmate from junior high school. Though I didn’t connect the dots at that time, I now understand that the man that I described in my letter to God is now a very special part of my life. God knew my heart and God chose him. God blessed me with someone that personifies so much of what I had written in my journal. While I never doubted God, the experience has been extremely surreal. This may be hard for anyone to believe. But just to show how much God pays attention to the details, I had also written that I wanted someone that did not have very young children, I specifically wrote: no younger than 8 years-old. I don't even know why that was the magic number. But when we began getting to know each other his daughter was 8 years-old. Wow! There's nothing too big or too small for my God!

Scripture says that when you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). If you desire a healthy, loving relationship that ultimately glorifies the Lord, get a journal, write it down and make it plain, on the tablet of your heart. Be patient and watch God work!

I don’t know what the future holds but I am definitely embracing and enjoying the journey!

God Bless!

You Control the Process God Controls the Outcome

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” ~ Proverbs 19:21 ESV

So often in our lives we have an idea of what we want for our lives. But we forget that our very reason for breathing, for existing has nothing to do with us at all, but everything to do with God and His purpose for our lives. Sure, I believe that we all have innate gifts, talents, and desires. Even those have been given to us for His benefit, His honor, not our own. Therefore we are to use what He has given us as tools to fulfill His purpose, while He leads the way.

More often than not we get hung up on where we THINK we are supposed to be, but that should never be our focus. Our focus should be on the process. What we do along the journey to where we are going, where divine providence may take us.

“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” ~ Max Ehrmann

Of course, this is not to say that we shouldn’t make plans for where we would like to see ourselves in our future. Scripture confirms, in Proverbs 19:21 that we can make all kinds of plans, God’s purpose WILL be fulfilled, no matter how hard we try to have it our way. Our plans define the process. Our commitment to the process determines our progress. Our progress influences the outcome. But our acceptance of the outcome is what truly determines our success. The key is to commit to the process of progress, forget the perception of perfection, and accept His way at the end of the day.

The Serenity Prayer can be our daily reminder that we control the process, but God controls the outcome:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful worldas it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things rightif I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

As I grow spiritually, I am learning that where I am is exactly where I’m supposed to be. My mind may be telling me that I am supposed to be somewhere else, that I should have accomplished something more or different. But spiritually, it is impossible to believe in the Divine and not BELIEVE in the DIVINE. So as a believer I have to accept that GOD IS and therefore I am….I am on a journey, meeting people that He has pre-destined for me to meet, touching lives of those he has pre-destined for me to touch, learning the lessons that He has pre-destined for me to learn, and accomplishing that tasks that He has purposed for me to accomplish. Will you join me in accepting all that God has for us? If you are ready to accept all that God has for you, sing the lyrics to this classic Doris Day song with me:

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Remember you are not alone.

Embrace and enjoy the journey…

God Bless!