The Master's Plan

The Master's Plan

(written by my Grandmother, Belle Sandefur)

God has a plan for your life and mine:
It's being laid out by His own design.

The pattern from underneath never shows

The beauty the top-side plainly bestows.

Let's make sure to yield to the Master's plan.

For some day, we'll see from the top-side and understand.

Sometimes when I have a difficult time putting into words what I'm feeling, I reach for the book of poems that my Grandmother gave me, with the confidence that she's written a poem for "such a time as this."  And of course, there it was...The Master's Plan.  Normally when I read this I think of embroidery, with all the knotted-up mess underneath...but with one look at the top side of the finished piece, the beautiful picture is revealed.  The dark threads outline each piece, just like the storms and trials are meant to add depth to our lives.  Maybe, just maybe, if we endure these storms and trials, relying on Christ's strength within us, others' perception of US will be the very image of Christ!  

While living on our temporary home, Earth, we are bound to have the disadvantage of looking up and only seeing the jumbled up mess that appears to be our circumstances.  However, take another glance---look into the eyes of our Heavenly Father.  There you'll find the reflection of His Son is being formed in our lives with each and every Divinely-placed stitch!  One day, when we are WITH HIM, we can look from His very perspective and SEE just what it was He was "after" through these dark storms or the things that just "don't make a bit of sense."  

Dear Father, we are resting in Your plan....You are the God of all the Earth, and You shall do that which is right.   In this melting process, may Your All-Consuming Fire purge away the dross within our very lives and make us more into Your own Son's image.  

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Hand of God

Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. Isaiah 48:13

As I was reading last night in Isaiah, this particular verse seemed to jump off the page at me. . it was as if the Holy Spirit wanted me to pause there and really get something extra special. But I had just read verse 12 which says: Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. The Lord used that verse to prepare me for verse 13.

Look at verse 12 again. He wants us to HEARKEN unto Him. Has He asked you (or "called you") to do something that seems to be a bit out of your comfort zone? He is The One that has been before the beginning of time. He knows the first from the last! He's already in each of our tomorrows.

Inquiring Hearts want to Know

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 9:9, 10

Okay...it's been one of those days.  I'm writing this on Monday night, but hope to post this for Tuesday's entry.  I just glanced at the clock..it's almost midnight...so it will be Tuesday when it's posted.

Anyway...Ever had one of those days when you wonder, no matter how much it seems like you are trying to live right, do right, seek Him, obey Him...things just DON'T GO according to the way YOU thought they should?   Ever been there?   I'm there.   Things just do not make a bit of sense.   I mean seriously.  What is going on?   I won't even attempt to answer that question.    I know that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  (Eph. 6:12)   But what are we supposed to DO about that?

Well, when things happen that we just can't make sense out of .. like your Air Condition Unit blows up, right after the Gas Furnace has been replaced. . . or the kids seem to keep arguing; or one of them is suffering from a disorder or disease....your husband is suffering in a dead-end job:  God wants us to get to KNOW HIM.