Midweek Encouragement - "Thinking We Can Do Better”

"Thinking We Can Do Better”

     ^{“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”}

^{1 Peter 5:6, NIV}

         ^{No matter where I go or to whom I speak, everyone has an opinion about how to run this world the right way. Many are quick to offer criticism about Grandpa Joe Biden’s latest gaff or about the most recent action (or inaction) taken by Congress. And how many times have we stood at our living room windows watching our neighbors as we say, “I wouldn’t have done it that way!” And who among us hasn’t thought, even if we haven’t said it, “If I was God, I would . . .”}

^{“Heresy!” you say. Come on. Be honest. Surely you’ve thought about what YOU would do to straighten out this world if you had unlimited resources, unlimited power, and unlimited time . . . like God does.}

^{There’s an old poem that tells of a woman who was walking through a meadow one day. As she strolled along, meditating on nature, she came upon a field of golden pumpkins. In the corner of the field stood a majestic, huge oak tree.}

^{The woman sat under the oak tree and began reflecting on the strange twists in nature. “Why,” she thought, “do tiny acorns grow on huge branches and huge pumpkins grow on tiny vines?” She thought, “God blundered with Creation! He should have put the small acorns on the tiny vines and the large pumpkins on the huge branches.”}

         ^{Before long, the woman dozed off in the warmth of the late autumn sunshine. She was awakened when a tiny acorn bounced off her nose. Laughing to herself, she changed her previous thinking, “Maybe God was right after all!”}

^{Let’s face it. In every situation, God knows far more about the people and circumstances involved than we can ever know. He alone sees the beginning from the ending. He alone knows how to create a Master Plan that provides for the good of all those who serve Him.}

^{Which reminds me of another quote I read some time ago. “Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.”}

^{Where, my friend, are you today? Are you constantly criticizing God for the condition of the world or for the circumstances you find yourself in? Do you think you have a better way than the Creator of the universe? I guess what I’m really wondering today is . . . Are you trusting that God, not you, knows what’s best for you? If you are, then you’re ready to do whatever He wants you to do, go wherever He wants you to go, and serve in any capacity He calls you to serve. Because God knows why He didn’t put pumpkins high on big branches nor caused acorns to grow on the ground. And surely He knows the plans He has for you! So, trust HIM!}

^{Not always understanding but trying to trust God’s good and perfect will . . . at least most of the time,}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this email with anyone you choose. And if for some reason you'd like to stop receiving PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send me an email (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.