Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Chapter 6, Living Favor-Minded, emphasized the meaning of PATIENCE. We sometimes forget the old saying, Patience is a virtue. My posts would be incomplete without a quote (I just love quotes!) from Mark Twain. He said, "A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes."
We sometimes forget that not only does God know what is best for us but he also knows when it it best for us (if it ever is!). Live favor-minded, expect the best and if it comes be sure to thank God for blessing you. If it doesn't come then exercise patience knowing when the time is right God will indeed answer in whatever way is best for you. I don't know who said it but the true blessings are the things that you wanted and didn't get! (Kinda like the hard luck stories of people that win lotteries) Hard to imagine but with our narrow minds and lacking the vision that our Lord has for us we must have faith that he knows what is best for us.
On a personal note I am taking the theme living favor-minded quite literally and have pre-purchased my birthday present to myself (have to give God the credit on that one)! Joel Osteen is coming to KC on Feb. 22 at Kemper Arena and I purchased tickets for Patty and myself for this eveving. Ticket prices were not too bad at $16 a pop but by the time the rip -off Ticketmaster takes their mickey mouse fees it was closer to $24 a pop. Still not too bad as compared to Madonna or Elton John tickets! I think I will feel better after several hours listening to Joel versus watching Madonna - just a hunch! Hope all of you are having a great and glorious Holiday Season. Take it easy and don't stress and remember, live favor-minded!
3 comments:
I practiced living favor-minded this week. I went to Kimball, NE, to be with my daughter Teresa while she got her wisdom teeth out. She works for a nursing home as a CNA and doesn't make a lot of money so she qualified for Medicaid for a couple of months. It's actually shared cost. She had to pay $63.50 a month for her part and the state would pick up the rest. So for two months she had to pay $127 to get her wisdom teeth removed. They were impacted and infected so they had to be cut out. When I got to Kimball, Teresa was in tears b/c she said she had the $127 saved up for the surgery, but her social worker had told her that she would have to pay over $1600! What a shock! She didn't have that kind of money, and neither did I. I told Teresa that the social worker had to have made a mistake b/c that is more than she makes in a month. I told her I would go with her to visit the social worker. We got to the office about 9 a.m. the morning of her surgery. I told the social worker that there must be some mistake since Teresa's income was less than $1600 a month, it would be impossible that her share would be that much! The social worker admitted that there may be some mistake but said she didn't have time to look into it right then. Teresa and I had to leave for her 11:00 a.m. appointment in Scottsbluff, NE (40 miles away). I told Teresa that we were going to claim God's favor in this incident. Teresa was reluctant to do that at first. She said, "Mom, they won't do my oral surgery without the $1600." I said, "Let's just thank God for the surgery and with grateful hearts, expect that the $127 will be enough. It can't hurt to have faith. If it doesn't work out, we'll know that God has an even better plan." So Teresa said she would try to have an attitude of gratitude and victory. We went into the oral surgeon's office and up to the receptionist and told her that we were here for Teresa's appt. She said, "That will be $127, please." Teresa smiled and opened her purse and pulled out the $127 she had saved. Praise God! We put the living favor-minded into practice and it worked! I agree with you, Frank, that "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." Wow! God really does know what is best for us.
Patty, I am so happy for Teresa, that everything worked out. With Teresa experiencing this wonderful favor of God, maybe she will start living favor minded with God and her life will improve. 2 weeks ago, I also experienced a favor mind experience with God, a friend and I attended the Grand Island Singing Christmas Tree event at the Evangelical Free Church. We were parked in the middle of everybody, packed in like sardines, bumper to bumper, when a hole opened up so I could back out within no time. Alot of traffic but keeping favor minded I talked to God about getting to USA Steak buffet in good time (we were hungry and I knew alot of others would probably go to the same place) It all worked out to our advantage. I realize God isn't going to allow things to go your way all the time, but you will learn from your mistakes and stay positive through the process.
Jeanie,
Wow! I love it the you found were able to back out and find your restaurant with no problem. I think you will find that situation will be happening much more often now. I like what Joel said in chapter five when he said, "'But what if I do all that, and I don't get the good parking spot?' you ask. Then you get out and walk, and with every step, you thank God that you are strong and healthy and have the ability to walk." I think the key to it all is gratitude. I'm sure glad it worked out for Teresa too and I'm hoping this will help her to live more favor-minded and have an abundant life. Tori and I are always giving her books to read about the subject. I just feel so blessed to have such an awesome God that continually blesses me. I think that you and I both will be blessed more and more b/c we are expecting it, and yet we know that whatever happens, God has our best interest at heart. Your post encouraged me, Jeanie. Thanks.
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