Life's Journey, Woman to Woman

The INSTEAD!

    Today I was watching PRAISEVIZON for church online. Why? My car has been acting up this week, the transmission. Not only that but, I wasn't feeling "up to par". My car needed matinance (meaning money invested), Grad School finals coming up (mind constantly in books), applying for loans for next semester (more needed money), looking for part-time work (for money), dealing with the necessity to contantly move away from family and friends to reach goals (social sacrifices), and the thoughts of having a crush only to be crushed by thier thoughts (learning patience), on a track to healthy life style, and trying to learn how to balance life with school, ministry, and work (time-management).

 So, LAST NIGHT! I said, it's a wrap. TIME TO FAST. I decided to fast a MONTH from facebook and less TV. Time to focus on PERSONAL GROWTH, GOD'S WORD, Starting HEALTHY PATTERNS, and learn how to wait on God for a mate. Since last night I have been listening to uplighting worship music. The only way I know to overcome the battlefield of my mind is to WORSHIP. To be in the thought of solitude. This has always "kept me". That's those times I say, if I don't get God and me time....I WILL CRUMBLE in WEAKNESS!  

This is what lead me to having church online. Why is this important? The message that was given is what is key to the background I just gave concerning the thoughts of my week. An important quote the preacher stated (Jaime Kowlessar of Ephesus SDA) was this:

"When God says, NO! Look for the INSTEAD!" - Jaime Kowlessar

He came from the story of Paul and the Thorn in Paul's side, signifying the things that always remind us of our human weakness/flaws. Maybe you can relate to this. Ever had things that remind you constantly that you are NOBODY? You don't have anything together. You have flaws. You are not perfect. You have issues. You need help. Yeah, those things.

Like the things I contemplated on this week. All of the things I need done in my life and need help doing remind me of my need for God and his direction. Employment at the right place, with the right atmosphere, and salary can't be found without DIRECTION. A husband can't be found without DIRECTION. Car troubles, financial assistance, and more can't be found without DIRECTION. I need DIRECTION in my life's journey. Do YOU?

The funny thing is this; sometimes in finding direction from God. He will direct you to an ANSWER or PATHWAY you HATE! Like THE "GO the other way", OR,  the famous NO! Sometimes God says I will not answer your prayers or needs the way you are asking me to do. Sometimes, he will not give you your Bill money when you want it, he won't give you your' husband when you want him, he won't fix your heart as quick as you want him, he won't give you the new position when you want it. HE just won't do what you ask, how you ask it to be done, and when you ask for it to be done. He just SAYS, NO!!!!!!!!!

Just like in Chapter 12 of 2nd Chorinthians, verse 7-cont., Paul asked God to take away the thorn that was in his flesh, gnawing at his side. Imagine a picture of a huge thorn being in you side, a bee stinger times x1,000.

This thorn is there causing inflammation, itching, and excruciating pain. You ask God to take it out of your skin because no one or thing else is able. He looks at you and says, NO!!!!! You ask God again, 2 MORE TIMES to please take it out because your flesh is now becoming necrotic. HE looks at you in all your pain and anguish and still says, NO! No matter how you plead, ask, and pray. The God whom you thought loved you still said, NO! Matter of fact, he said He is going to keep the thorn inside of your flesh even as it's causing you EXTREME PAIN!

Oh my, my, my, my. What a concept to grasp! Even though Paul was one of God's best men (I like to think), he did not answer every prayer with a YES! He had to tell Paul NO, sometimes. He saw that Paul was hurting. He saw that Paul was sincere and needing help. He knew paul was in pain. He saw Paul's affliction. Yet, he still said, HE WAS NOT REMOVING THE THORN! How do you think Paul felt?....................just like you do!

Jesus, is telling you NO, to somethings too. He's not going to remove your "THORNS" either. He may remove some thorns but, there are just those thorns he's not removing! Why? Because they are needed to remind you of your WEAKNESS! Those thorns are needed to keep you dependent upon him before you go and get the BIG HEAD!

God wants you to Learn that even when the thorns are eating away at you, he's there making you strong through it all. He wants to teach you lessons about HUMAN WEAKNESS and SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH! Everything is not going to go YOUR WAY ALL THE TIME. Healing won't COME FAST all the time. Your situations won't be a QUICK FIX ALL THE TIME. Life's is a journey given to us by God. A journey we can not complete without him.

This is why HE says, NO!

Picture a butterfly coming out of it's cocoon. Can it develop it's wings without resistance? No. Can it mature without this growth process? No. The butterfly must undergo the pressure of the cocoon in order to grow wings and soar into new heights. If you take a catepillar in it's cocoon phase and cut away at the cocoon, thinking you're helping it transform by relieving the pressure, you will actually hinder it's growth. In the end the wings will malfunction and the catepillar will not reach new heights and possibly die or become CRIPPLED!

Paul puts this concept this way; "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - NIV 2 Chorinthians 12:7-11

Our weakness allow God to show his supernatural strength in our lives, GRACE. When He says, NO. There is a reason. If he closes one door, it's for a purpose. He makes no "ill" decisions. Most of all when He says, No. It's because he has SOMETHING ELSE IN MIND!

"When God says, NO! Look for the INSTEAD!" - Jaime Kowlessar