Thank God for guard rails! Last weekend, my husband and I had an accident that caused our car to crash against those wooden kind of guard rails that mark the edge of a road. Basically, they saved our lives, considering the fact that had they not been there, we would have plummeted over a cliff of unknown depths. (Unknown to me because I really didn't want to go back and measure!) We had many dear friends with us, since we were on a community cruise with 16 cars and everyone kept telling us afterwards, "We're so glad you're both alright." I think God matured my husband and I both at least 10 years in those moments after the accident and beyond.
It's amazing when you've come through a life threatening situation how your perspective changes. I have had so many staggering understandings from this situation, but I think the greatest for me has been the new appreciation for the loving protection that our heavenly Father provides us. His love and mercy was shown not only to us, but to those who know and love us. To our daughter and her husband, to our immediate families and friends. To our employees and customers. The ripples of the loss of one life can be greater than we could ever imagine. I pray that we don't take our lives for granted, that we cherish every day and every person that God places in our paths. I pray that we will be careful with this life that God has so graciously given us to steward. True, we would have been with Him in heaven had we passed, but I certainly am not ready for that yet. Too many pizzas to toss, too many frappes to blend, too many lives to bless and be blessed by. Sorry if this has been a sobering post, but it was a sobering weekend. Thanks Abba!
Showing posts with label Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
The Safest Place
In light of the recent gloomy economic news in our nation, sometimes I find myself thinking that my husband and I would be better off if we were in some other business or just had regular jobs, rather than functioning in the marketplace. Surely, everyone else's provision is more secure than ours, isn't it?! Whenever I begin to think about which job or business would be the most secure if the economy really tanked, I actually discover that every job and business will be affected.
Every time I start down that path I feel the Lord speak to me very clearly about the fear that wants to rise up and destroy me. He always assures me that the safest place we can be is where He has placed us. It is not a matter of where we are physically, but where our hearts are. He has promised to shake everything that can be shaken, everything that is not based on His Lordship. When fear arises within us, looking at Him is our only help. If we have built our kingdom upon worldly foundations, then they will be shaken. Our Heavenly Father loves us too much to leave us in a place of relying on anything but Him. He knows what we need, He knows what will bless us and those around us. We can choose sinking sand or we can choose the Rock!
Fear so easily creeps into our minds, especially when we are focusing on ourselves and the possibilities that could happen to us if the economy gets really bad. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a Spirit of power and of love and self control. (2 Timothy 1:7) He wants to deal with anything in our lives that comes between us and Him and fear is one of those.
As I was looking for a scripture recently about fear on line, I was shocked to see how many references there was for "fear". I have a feeling that God knows that we need lots of help with this one, because the enemy knows how much we are affected by fear. And I know that God does not want to leave us there in a place of fear or timidity.
He tells us in Romans 8:15 that we have not received a spirit that makes us a slave again to fear, but we have received the Spirit of sonship. We are the precious children of the King and Creator of the Universe and He knows everything about us and knows what's best for us. As we spend time with Him and look at His face and come into greater intimacy with Him, He will bring us out of the fear and lead us into a peace that passeth understanding, even in the tumultuous times that we are now in.
He also tells us that we are to lean not on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5,6). If we focus only on our circumstances, the storms and the possibilities, we will be easily overwhelmed. As we acknowledge Him in everything we do, even if it seems like it won't accomplish our plans, He will straighten out all the circumstances and calm the storms. His perspective and vision is much higher and greater than ours and we can trust Him in everything that we face. Praise Him in the midst of the storm and watch Him work!!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. -John 14:27
Every time I start down that path I feel the Lord speak to me very clearly about the fear that wants to rise up and destroy me. He always assures me that the safest place we can be is where He has placed us. It is not a matter of where we are physically, but where our hearts are. He has promised to shake everything that can be shaken, everything that is not based on His Lordship. When fear arises within us, looking at Him is our only help. If we have built our kingdom upon worldly foundations, then they will be shaken. Our Heavenly Father loves us too much to leave us in a place of relying on anything but Him. He knows what we need, He knows what will bless us and those around us. We can choose sinking sand or we can choose the Rock!
Fear so easily creeps into our minds, especially when we are focusing on ourselves and the possibilities that could happen to us if the economy gets really bad. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a Spirit of power and of love and self control. (2 Timothy 1:7) He wants to deal with anything in our lives that comes between us and Him and fear is one of those.
As I was looking for a scripture recently about fear on line, I was shocked to see how many references there was for "fear". I have a feeling that God knows that we need lots of help with this one, because the enemy knows how much we are affected by fear. And I know that God does not want to leave us there in a place of fear or timidity.
He tells us in Romans 8:15 that we have not received a spirit that makes us a slave again to fear, but we have received the Spirit of sonship. We are the precious children of the King and Creator of the Universe and He knows everything about us and knows what's best for us. As we spend time with Him and look at His face and come into greater intimacy with Him, He will bring us out of the fear and lead us into a peace that passeth understanding, even in the tumultuous times that we are now in.
He also tells us that we are to lean not on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5,6). If we focus only on our circumstances, the storms and the possibilities, we will be easily overwhelmed. As we acknowledge Him in everything we do, even if it seems like it won't accomplish our plans, He will straighten out all the circumstances and calm the storms. His perspective and vision is much higher and greater than ours and we can trust Him in everything that we face. Praise Him in the midst of the storm and watch Him work!!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. -John 14:27
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