Rollerblading with God...
This morning Stacy and Emily headed out to MOPS so I had the morning to myself. 
I planned to go rollerblading for a while, but before that I had my quiet time, read my Bible and asked God to speak to me while I was skating. I'll tell you what he said soon...
Now if you're like me you know you don't have to be good at something to really enjoy doing it. This describes how I feel about rollerblading. 
I haven't been skating in about 3 years, but last night I was cleaning out my side of the closet and saw my skates. When I saw them, I knew that this morning would be a perfect opportunity to get out and skate. We live just off of a bike trail so I put on my skates and off I went down the trail.
I was doing really well and hadn't fallen down, so I was starting to feel pretty good about myself. After a little bit I had to cross a major road. I got all the way across the street and as I was getting off of the street and back onto the trail I tripped and fell down. I immediately laughed and gave that one to God, because the first thought in my head was "Pride goeth before the fall", which is a paraphrase of Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." I had asked God to speak to me and he did, though a literal fall.
After a little bit it dawned on me that the name of the street that I tripped on was Independence. You've got to love that. I was thinking a little too much about myself and I got put in my place for being independent and not relying on Him. It really hits home for me that no matter what, I have to rely on God to be my strength and my guide.
When I start believing that I am in control is when things start getting crazy. This is a lesson that Stacy and I have been learning for the past few years. We are not in control, God has his plan and it will be done. God is sovereign. He is sovereign over everything, the good things that happen in my life and the bad things. Nothing surprises Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.
An appointed time for everything means just what it sounds like. God is in control and if something happens to you, good or bad, He has determined it and it is for His purpose. Now this doesn't mean that we have a crass God that doesn't care about us, doing bad things to us just because he can. Rather we have a caring, loving God that uses the bad things in our lives to shape us, making us into His image.
Because He has appointed everything, we can rest assured that He will care for us. Why can we rest assured in that? He has said so, He has promised us that He will take care of our needs. Matthew 6:25-34 tells us not to be worried about our lives, what we will eat or drink, what we will wear or where we will live. God provides for the flowers of the field and the birds, how much more will he provide for us, His beloved children.
Oh, there is one more thing that we have to be aware of. Because God is sovereign, and because He has told us that He will take care of us no matter what, He has also told us that we are to praise Him for everything. Everything, that means the good and the bad.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Rejoice always, in everything give thanks. God is at the wheel and His purpose will be fufilled in everything.
Well, I don't know about you, but that is very comforting to me. Have you ever tried to make a cat do something it doesn't want to do? I have, and it didn't work out so well. I figure if I can't control a cat then I probably shouldn't be trying to control my own life. I will leave that to Him, after all He has the instruction manual.
Blessings