New Dreams~

TGIF Greetings~

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.

I originally wrote the DEVO below on January 26, 2012. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes it is not until we have the benefit of time that we can look back and realize that all along God was taking care of us.  No matter what struggles, difficulties, pain, brokenness, financial problems, health issues and so on and so on, we are all here today, alive and well.  Notice the verse says all that I need.  It doesn't say all that I want.  There is a lot of stuff I have wanted.  Maybe in your mind you can think of several things you want for yourself or your family.  But God knows best and gives us what we need.  Sometimes we need faith and hope more than that new car.  Or we need love and patience more than that dream job.  Do we trust God to know what to give and what to withhold?

As many of you know my lovely son played sports growing up, and when the University of Miami came calling for him to play football, we were all so sure he would have a chance to play.  It was an anticlimactic ending.  He did not play - not once!  It broke my heart.  "God, I cried, please let him play.  You have given him a gift, and I want to see him use it."

The Lord was so very silent on this request, and for many years  I did not understand.  Fast forward to 2012, and I have made peace with this.  Why?  Because if I really believe that God is my son's Shepherd, then Jorgie had everything he needs and always will.  Playing college sports was not part of the overall plan, but I choose to trust God’s decisions as they concern my son. 

What do you do when your dreams do not come true?  You ask God to give you new dreams and opportunities.  I am happy to say that Hormone has been given a wonderful and lovely person to love who loves him too, and that is something everybody needs.  And, although the football dream has long been forgotten, a new dream has surfaced.  It's actually an oldie but a goodie.  Jorgie is training to play baseball again and leaves in April for Denver, CO.    

I do not know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds it.  That is why I can say that I am confident Jorgie will have what he needs.  The Shepherd will make sure of it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE TIME: What struck me most about this DEVO is the very beginning – “Sometimes it is not until we have the benefit of time that we can look back and realize that all along God was taking care of us.”  It’s been two and half years since this was written.  Jorgie has been married for almost two years, and it has been the greatest blessing of his life (and mine)!  Playing sports at the pro level has still not panned out, but he has had a great time playing locally.  His wife supports him, we go to all the games, and God has been and always will be in control.  Maybe every single one of our dreams will not come true, but when we ask Him, God will give us new dreams.    

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Sometimes it is hard to admit that You know best--especially when we do not get what we ask for.  But we trust You today!  You know best, and You will never give us something or withhold something that is not ultimately for our good.  Help us to trust You with all our hearts.  Wherever there is disappointment over a lost dream or opportunities, give us new and better ones to takes their place.  And thank You because You have brought us this far, and we are all well!  AMEN!