This post is not completely original or new by any means but it is something to be addressed. I recently had the privilege of hearing Pete Wilson: preacher of Cross Point Community church in Nashville, TN and author of the book “Plan B”. He addressed this question the other week at Newspring Church were I attend here in South Carolina.

It was a real eye opener and I think many of you would get a lot out of what he had to say…. thus the reason for my blog post…(a summery more or less of what Pete Wilson taught on).

In life there are so many things that we strive for and set out to achieve. We often times find ourselves praying to God asking him for this and that. Whether it is a boyfriend or girlfriend, wife or husband, a job or even a child. The things we pray for are endless. I mean come on.

Many times what we pray about come true. (Note…our prayers are always answered…just may not be the answer we hoped for) other times they don’t. And then there are those times where we get what we want…. and then plan b creeps in.

You know what I am referring too? You finally get the girlfriend or boyfriend and then two months later he or she dumps you. Or you finally land your dream job only to be laid off two years later…you finally become pregnant only to lose the child prematurely, a death in the family…etc. Most if not all of us have a “Plan B” that we have had to face. A situation that often times will throw us for a loop and turn our world upside down.

The question then is how do we respond to it? Once we face this issue what is our reaction? Do we sit there and look up to the heavens and cry out WHY ME GOD! Why have you put me through all of this? Why bring joy in my life just to take it all away? Why…. Why…. Why…? We assume God has left us in this moment. We assume God must have taken his eyes off of our life and let everything just crumble right out from under us. Am I right?

The thing that we need to realize here is that in these situations that often time is life shattering. We need to realize the allusion of control that we have. It is not you or me that has the control. It is Christ. He is God…we are not!

I know sometimes as a Christian we think “If the Lord is with me…. well…shouldn’t everything just be great? No problems and no worries? If you have read any part of the Bible you will know the answer to this is NO! God never promised life would be easy. We will still have trials and tribulations.

If we study the Bible you will find countless stories of men and woman who face horrendous situations and difficulties…but God still used him or her in each situation and brought Glory to Him. Jesus always can turn a bad situation into a good one. We may not see that at first or ever for that matter here on earth.

I liked the quote Pete Wilson used in the sermon. He said, “God is most powerfully present even when he seems most apparently absent.” He is always working.

When you are faced with your Plan B…whatever that is. Remember. God is God. He knows the plans already set before you. Lean on Him. He will guide you and direct you. He does know what is best. Have faith.

Jeremy ~

I am a son
I am a brother
I am a friend
I am redeemed
I am forgiven
I am saved
I am a child of the Lord

JPS

Many of you know that I work for a company that assists patients with getting Medicaid as well as disability though Social Security. Whether it is in a hospital room or at their place of residence. IE Home, Nursing home, and Rescue Mission…we are here to help the patient or one of the members of the family through this process.

Life beyond the doors often times can be the best and worst of things one can imagine. Beyond the doors miracles happen, beyond the doors there is hope for healing, beyond the doors there is a glimpse of something better. Beyond the doors we welcome with open arms new life as a child enters the world.

Beyond the doors we see a mom who was just diagnosed with cancer, beyond the doors we see a family who hears the news their father has just passes away. Beyond the doors we find out that the child’s heartbeat had stopped just short of being born. Beyond the doors we see the hurting. Beyond the doors we see a person who wants to just give up.

…But beyond the doors you can be that someone who for a moment can give a person hopes…beyond the doors you can be that person who listens and beyond the door…be that person who for a moment…can be just what they need.

Jeremy ~

Am I right? Many of us find ourselves living in the past and focusing on how the good old days were… what we did back then and what we accomplished. On the flip side many of us also tend to plan everything for our future. We find ourselves saying phrases like…”I can’t wait until ____ happens” or “Once I get my degree I will be able to do _____”. “When I get married I can do this”. “Once the funds come in…I can do that.” The list can go on and on… I am sure you can insert your own saying if you wanted to.

But if we were to be completely honest when it comes down to it…don’t we tend to over look and neglect the NOW. What is at hand…the part of our life that is really all we have, the cards in our life that have been dealt to us. At this point neither of us has a guarantee that we have a tomorrow. We often live like we think we do though. I will say it again…the one thing we do have is we do have the NOW…this very second.

So why is it that we typically do not focus on the present if this is what we got. Why can’t we be content with where the Lord has us at this very moment? I am not saying it is wrong for us to shoot for goals and have aspirations and to dream and to plan for something in the future. What I am saying though is too often we (including myself) tend to focus on what is to come weeks, months and even years down the road when we overlook the present time. The current situation the Lord has us in right now. How can we be used now? What is the Lord teaching me now? What is He teaching me now?

When I use the word content I am not saying that we live our life with no real feeling and just be “content” and sit back. What I am saying though is why not be content in where the Lord has you right at this moment. Embrace it and learn from it…. grow with it and be patient to see where the Lord is leading you. God will get you to step “C” just fine, actually much better that you would trying to get there yourself.

Quit planning every little step and decision in your life. When you do this you are relying on your own self and not God.

When we focus solely on our future or our past and not the now… I think it can get very easy to loose sight on Jesus. We basically are wishing our days away by ignoring where HE has us and we skip over the many blessings and things that God is trying to use us for. We rely on our own effort, our own will and our own control to get things done that we ignore and put Jesus aside.

We need to ask ourselves…”Are we on a journey with God” or are we trying to walk alone? Jesus has given you this moment, this breath and this life. Cherish it and embrace it. Slow down! Enjoy this journey you are on called life and walk with God.

So in conclusion: where are you? Are you there…are you here…right now where are you?

Jeremy ~

Often times it is the case…perhaps God is pointing you into another direction…when other times it is not the answer but rather to continue on the path set before you and finish the course.

Lately I think for me I have gotten to a place where I have felt burned out. Trying to do multiple things all at once while trying to fulfill a mission of reaching out to the young adults in the area I am living. Knowing I am limited to what I can do and that with just a small “team” trying to carry out this goal it is very easy to get overwhelmed, discouraged and question whether or not what I am doing is even making a difference…It is easy to find myself at a place where sometimes I am ready to just give it all up. Not in a morbid sense…I am OK there. But just to quit everything and start over.

But for what…?

To get to a place that feels more comfortable? To get to a place that fits my needs and my wants? Do I give it all up just so that Jeremy is happy and doing what he so desires? Absolutely not! Don’t read this wrong. I am not saying that our desires may not be the desires of Christ. Because often times they are. What I am saying though is if my motive to pack up and start over is for my own sake when knowing full well that this is not what the Lord wants for me than that would not be the best idea.

The point of this “blog” is not for people to be like “poor Jeremy” because that is not what I am looking for. What I want to get across in this is that when we get to this spot in our lives we need to seek HIM. Ask Jesus to give you the desires of His heart, to renew your spirits. Ask Him for help…. let Jesus know how you are feeling. Pour yourself out. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you and guide you. Get in the Word and read the Bible. You would be surprised on how many people in the Bible have probably experienced what you are going through.

When things get tough and you feel like you are at the end. God is still there holding your hand and helping you through. Don’t give up! God has you doing what you are doing for a reason. Perhaps He is trying to teach you something…

I feel like I am just rambling but I hope I am making some kind of sense here. I encourage you to hang in there! You are not alone. Keep you head up and eyes on Christ. If you are doing His will you can’t go wrong.

Continue to keep me in prayers as well as the ministry. I am anxious to see what the Lord has in store.

http://www.offthecoast.org/

Jeremy ~

Welcome to my blog site. Here you will get to read and comment on my misc post about faith, life, book reviews and anything else that pops in my head that I feel so inclined to write about. I hope you enjoy.

 Jeremy