Encouragement

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What I learned from a bald tire:

- Trust that God has a plan for me and that He is in control. Sometimes we see that plan come to fruition and sometimes we don't, but always He is in control.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18:30

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


- Trust that people are always watching me and what I do and say are important. People need to see Christ in me at all times, no matter what the circumstance.

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." Matthew 7: 16-18


- Ask God to use me and then be ready for the right opportunity. Be open, transparent, vulnerable, loving and truthful. Be ready.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20



Today, my mother had a heart catheterization done.
I left my house at 5:00 am, so I could pick up (a relative), and be at the hospital in Kingwood by 7:00 am.
On my way, I prayed for God to give me safe travel, take care of my mom, and let everything I do glorify Him. I asked Him to use me and love through me.

About five minutes after picking up my relative, I had to pull over (at WalMart) for a bald tire that was about to blow out. I got ready to change it, but had no tire iron.
I bought a tire iron, then couldn't get the lug nuts busted loose.
I drove to the Auto Center and asked them to loosen the lugs....they did.
Tried again to change the tire, but all of the lugs were not loosened enough.
Finally decided to pay them to change my tire..... By this time, it was 7:15 am.
I asked them to please hurry since my mother was having heart surgery in Kingwood and I was supposed to be there at 7:30.
By 9:15, they had taken three cars that came after me, and finally took the five minutes to change my tire.
I paid my $5.00 and left. I was at the hospital by 9:45

I did not get to see my mom before she went in, but I was able to trust that God was in control. Both my (relative) and I were scared, but I had taken a journal with me which just happened to be open to this scripture: "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us... There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." I John 4:16-18

I was able to share this scripture with my family so we could all know that God is in control and we don't have to be afraid.

This scripture also helped me deal with the different circumstances and situations that arose during the day, which in turn, helped me to show God's love and grace to others.

And now for the best part of the day, on my way home, God allowed me to minister His love to someone who's heart is broken and hurting by using my own life and experiences. I got to tell this person that God loves us no matter what. His love is unconditional and neverending. We can't earn it and we can't make it go away. I got to tell her that He forgives us no matter how many times we mess up or how far we try to run.

God is so awesome!!

So the moral of this story is....whatever is happening in your life, trust God, love others, and know that whatever is going on may be a test for someone else to see if you are really walking the walk or just talking the talk. If you are not walking the walk.....they are not going to listen to you!!!

Anyway, that's all I have to say for today.....so goodnight people (3:00 am is awful early and I have had a long day)!!!!

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