A Plan Perfectly Carried Out

Posted Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at 4:39 PM

The disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! -- John 20:19

"When Jesus died, it seemed like the world had stopped. His followers were distraught and without hope. Yet God's plan was being perfectly carried out, just as it is in your life today." -- Living Water For Your Soul newsletter, Tyndale House Publishers, NewLivingTranslation.com.

I'm broke, yet I can't seem to cut any more expenses out of my life.

I'm tired, but I can't seem to get any more rest.

I'm overwhelmed. I feel like too many people are depending on me, yet I can't seem to cut any responsibility out of my life.

Lately, I have been asking myself, "Is this what God intends for me?"

Times are hard for everyone. Gas prices are up. Food prices are up. Utility prices are up. Wages are down.

It can feel like we are working hard, but not getting ahead.

I feel like often I am making a big difference in my community, but not in my home. I feel tired and used up and fear that my son and husband get what's left of me at the end of the day.

Are my priorities right? Am I right where God wants me to be?

The passage above is from a daily devotional I receive via e-mail from Living Water For Your Soul newsletter by Tyndale House Publishers (visit www.NewLivingTranslation.com to subscribe). It is incredibly comforting to me to know that God has a plan for my life. That makes me happy because frankly, there are just too many choices.

However, that doesn't make me, or you, exempt from making decisions. Our church, Faith Christian Center in Fort Scott, teaches that your actions and decisions should line up with the Word. Well, that narrows it down a bit for me, but what if I am still completely missing the boat? What if I'm not listening to what God is telling me to do with my life? Or what if I am in too much of a hurry to get where I think I am supposed to be going?

I am involved in a lot of good things. But are they good things that are part of my "plan"?

My problem is I do not like to disappoint people. I do not like to sit by idly and watch a problem persist that no one else is doing anything about. I do not like to tell people no. So I find myself living life to receive the approval of man and not so much God. As a Christian I know better, but it is hard to do.

A friend and I were talking about life decisions recently. She read a line out of a book of which I do not know the title. It went something like, "The devil's greatest accomplishment is not convincing people to do bad things, but convincing them to waste time is thinking about answering God's call."

I've been convicted to find a quite place in which I can spend time with God and really listen to what He is telling me. Then, the harder part, the part that will require true strength and grace from Him, is letting go of my own shortcomings and expectations and going forth with His perfect plan for my life.

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Your dilemma is something alot of us face, especially as women. I recently received an excellent book about just this for my birthday. It's called Mary's Prayers and Martha's Recipes by Tommy Tenney. It is about balancing your life between finding God and serving man. I think this would be a good read for you.

-- Posted by supernaturally on Wed, Apr 2, 2008, at 1:24 PM

Tabatha Goodwin's response:

That sounds like an amazing book that I would love to read. That explains my struggle completely. I am on Day 4 of The Purpose-Driven Life and it has already turned me upside down. I have to make myself read the chapter for the day and stop. I just want to keep going! Thanks for the book title!

My faith believes ALL things are in Gods control. Good and bad. If your God is not in control of all things then what other entity is? If you think God can do no bad, Seems to me like there was flood once upon a time. I think some GOOD and BAD people died from this action.(good story. True??) And I do believe God took credit for it. But this story is not in my holy book. Just food for thought. Not meant to cast any doubts or what you believe. However George Bush has invocked the name of God for guidance on some of his questionable decisions. The fact is time and time again religion is used to control the masses.

Sad but true! My opinion only.

-- Posted by theboz on Wed, Apr 2, 2008, at 7:45 PM

Tabatha Goodwin's response:

I'm sure glad that I operate on faith and not religion. There is a huge difference. Those that experience faith understand that.

My faith also believes that all things are in God's control. However, God also gave human's free will to make the decision to follow Him. If your life lines up with the Word, then you will experience blessings. That does not mean that bad things do not happen to Christians. It does mean that Christians have the strength of Christ to lean on through hard times. When God does "bad" things, it is for a greater good. God's plan is perfect.

It's funny that you ask me if "my" God is not in control of all things, then what other entity is? God is in control of my life, but I also have to relinquish that urge to control my life myself and let God control my life. I have to listen to hear His plan and operate according to His Word to fulfill His purpose for my life. I let a lot of things control my life right now - ambition, money, fear, the need for approval. Once I move past those earthly addictions and let God rule my life, my life will be more at peace. I am experiencing a revelation and therefore a transition right now in my life and it is freeing.

I'm glad you know your Biblical history. God did flood the earth once because of all the wickedness on earth. And He vowed never to do it again.

I'm not even going to touch George Bush, but I'm sure a lot of people, including myself, have invoked the name of God on decisions we have made that have not had the consequences we desired.

I hate the fact that we have soldiers fighting overseas. My dad was one of them for a year. However, even though it was incredibly hard for my family to be away from dad for a year, we all drew closer to God and closer to each other as a family. My dad believed in what they were doing while they were there. My heart goes out to the families who have loved ones overseas now or who have lost loved ones due to the war. I have known many other families experiencing this separation. Many of them looked to God for comfort and protection. I believe that God's plan is always perfect. There is always a reason.

As far as religion being used to control the masses, as an individual, you have a brain, and a right, to be "controlled" by what you wish. Again, I believe it's why God gave us free will. I applaud George Bush (and it may be the only time I ever do!) for asking God for guidance in his decisions. I believe that everyone should. I have been amazed at what asking God for guidance has done for my life. Whether Bush feels he received that guidance is between he and God and is not our place to judge.

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Tabatha Goodwin

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