Some things are left as mysteries...

One thing about being a pastor is you get to be with people on their most joyful events. Weddings, births of babies, salvation's, healings etc. These are all times that are wonderful to share with people. Moments that impact you and they give such a sense of fulfilment like none other.

When Mrs. Dodie Osteen was at our church a few months ago she used this scripture...

The secret things belong to the Lord

Deut. 29:29

It so stood out to me. Why for some reason we as christians we feel as though we have to have the reasons of why behind everything that happens. It is as though that now that we are believers that we can now tell anyone and everything why things are happening in their life. No one ever calls for counseling to ask why they are falling in love and getting married. No one calls for counsel when the experience the joy of a new baby in their arms. The good things in life we never question. We grab hold of them as though they were always meant to be part of us.

Then there are the parts in life that just make no sense. Let me prelude this with I don't want to hear your "doctrine" or your "theology". If we all got real real we would say there are things that happen in life that don't make sense. They cut us to the very core of our being. We can't wrap our mind around the why and the why not.

These are the challenging parts of being a pastor. When the bad things in life happen the first question is always "why them" or "why me?" This my friends is hard. If all of us got real real in the world we would all say we have been that person on multiple occasions.

Today I found myself going about my daily life when I got some bad news about someone I knew. They were in a life or death situation. Tonight we found out that the outcome to that wasn't good. Everything in me darkened. Sadness loomed where I was. All of a sudden now the breaths I was taken were worth more money then what I have. I all of a sudden had so many questions of why.

Then in a moment I heard Mrs. Dodie Osteen say..."The secret things belong to the Lord. Sometimes we don't have the answers, and we don't have to. We just have to trust God and know one day we will understand."

How faithful God is to give me a word like that months ago that I can now draw upon while I sit on my couch and think about this person's life. That word is life to me right now. I know in the next few days we will be asked a lot of questions as to why this happened. What relief from pressure to know I am not required to give the answer. It isn't because God needed another angel (He has plenty after all He is God). It isn't because this person sinned (we all do don't we). I can just reply that the secret things really do belong to the Lord. This is one of those secret things.....

In a world that always has to have an answer to everything. It is nice to know that to somethings there are no answers. There are no words. There are no explinations. With that I can hang my heart my trust and my whole being upon the Lord and know that He knows the answers in this. I don't have to.

I hope this blessed you. It did me....

Peace in any time

My most favortist (I know this isn't a "real" word but it is to me) pair of heels...........Awhhh every girl has them! You know the pair that fits just right. The kind that goes with so many outfits.

My favorite heels. They are the brown ones. My dog has chewed half of the bow off. I have worn them so much the gold on the inside is completely rubbed off. The rubber on the bottom of the shoe is completely coming off. I know they look rough but with the right pair of jeans they still got the look!

I love these brown heels

Then there are my new heels. They are cute also and comfort they are ok. But the blisters! Ohhh glory do they ever leave a blister on the toe right by my pinky toe. Hurts so bad!

I was looking in my closet the other day. I was looking at my favorite pair of worn heels and the new. The Lord spoke to my heart to look at

Ephesians 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

The Lord then told me.

There is a peace that I want my children to walk in that never wears out.

You see the children when they were in the wilderness wandered out there for 40 years. They never had to have new clothing or shoes. That no matter what growing their children did the clothes would supernaturally adjust to fit. No matter what weather conditions they were faced with the shoes and clothing never weathered.

Can you imagine 40 years without a new pair of your favorite jeans or shoes! Ohhh glory! That would be kinda tough I must say!

You see girls we are living in times that the world is in distress. It doesn't have to be that way for us. Sure the economy looks bad, sure there are lots of layoffs, and peoples values on their homes are significantly less than ever before. BUT we are children of GOD! Our financial situation doesn't have to be tied to this world it is tied to God's economy. Last time I checked God isn't on a budget with streets paved with gold. The word says that all our needs are met by HIS riches and glory Philippians 4:19

There is a peace when you begin to trust that will come upon your life. You will begin to realize that what you see is only half of the truth. That God is working on your behalf. It doesn't matter what your checkbooks says, because all your needs are met by HIS riches and glory.

Like I always say the word is either true or it isn't. I am going to take God at his word and let His peace come upon me. The peace that never changes, a peace that is constantly being renewed in my life. What about you?

Crystal Sparks