Embrace Your Territory

Acts 17:26 "From one man He made all the nations, and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands."

Greetings,

One of my all-time favorite TV programs that I always have on in the background while I am cooking dinner is Little House on the Prairie.  I love that there was such a huge emphasis on family and faith, and more than once I have wondered what my life would have been like if I would have been born in 1865 as opposed to 1965.  Riding horses everywhere and using outdoor toilets anyone?

And why did my family choose to live in Georgia after immigrating from Cuba?  Sure, other relatives had already established roots there, but most settled in Miami.  It took us 17 years to head far south to the Magic City.

I also think about how if either of my children would have been born a couple days later, they would have started school an entire year later.  That would have meant a whole other group of friends for them and for me. 

All these questions have an easy answer: You were born when you were born, to the parents that you have, and you live where you live, work where you work, and are friends with the friends you have because every aspect of your time in history and the boundaries wherein God has placed you is a result of His purpose for your life.  Our Lord is in everything and nothing happens to us by chance or accident.  In His infinite wisdom, He decided that you should be where you are and with the people you are with.

Maybe you are reading this from your desk at work surrounded by some colleagues you love and some who frustrate you.  God has placed you there, so embrace your territory and be happy.  It has meaning, and it has purpose.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, How might our perspectives change if we truly embraced that You marked out this time for us in history and established our little corner of the universe for us?  Today we choose to believe that You know what You are doing and that nothing in our life is by chance.  Thank You for giving us life.  Thank You for our families.  Thank You for our friends. Help us live life to the fullest by filling us with Your peace, love, hope, faith, joy, and goodness.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Saddle Up Your Horses~

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. Proverbs 21:31

Tuesday greetings, brothers and sisters J

We were made to contribute.  We were created to put forth our efforts. Even before all the problems came into the world, God had Adam hard at work naming all the animals He created.  God could have just as easily done this Himself, but He decided that our lives would be more meaningful if we had something to do.  This makes sense to me.  I can not imagine lying around all day and doing nothing because I enjoy feeling productive – like what I have done has made a difference.

And yet I have met all sorts of folks who are all about placing too much responsibility on God and not nearly enough on themselves.    

“I don’t wear a seat belt because God will protect me.”

“I don’t need health insurance because God is my doctor.”

“I know God has a soul mate for me, and He will send the right one my way.”

God does heal, protect, and provide, but we learned way back in the very beginning of the Bible that Adam named the animals: A human contribution must also take place.  Noah built the ark, Moses lifted the staff to part the Red Sea, David yanked back on that slingshot and let the stones fly straight into Goliath’s forehead, Hannah had to make love to her husband to get pregnant with the child God promised, and Christ Himself became human to save our souls.

Even so, after all the preparing, planning, battles, and prayer, the victory is God’s domain.  This is why Proverbs 21:31 is the theme verse for www.speedypalomino.com.   It is a constant reminder that I have a job to do and so does God.  I am responsible for saddling up my horse, and He is responsible for bringing the win.

Amazing things happen when we partner our measly selves to God.  Giants tumble and children of promise are born.   Obstacles that block our path move out of the way and entire families are saved!

What victory does God have for us today?  Better yet, what do we need to be preparing, planning, and praying over so God can bring the victory?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We want to be ready, and the first step in any good battle plan is to pray.  Give us the wisdom to saddle up our “horses” to be effective in battle.  And thank You that victory is in Your hands!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

Horses Go Lame and Chariots Rust~

Psalm 20:6-7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”

This verse is a no-brainer for me.  I have never trusted horses.  They are fickle, they stop when they feel like it, and they even buckle wildly and throw the rider off for no reason.  Plus, I have heard one too many stories of people getting their fingers bitten – almost completely off.  One time Jorge was riding a horse down a cobblestone street that was rather steep, and the horse slipped and went all the way down doing a split with both its front and back legs.  It was highly comical, except at the bottom of the hill the horse took off for the ocean to cool down the raging road rash it got on its horsey parts.  Jorge could not control the huge beast and was being whipped back and forth like a rag doll.  And it's not like I could take off and help because I was on a blind donkey being led by a stable boy named Paco. Thank God that as soon as the horse hit the water, it calmed down. But still, it was crazy scary. 

Before any horse lovers get mad at me I want to clarify that I am aware that the preceding paragraph is a poor refection on me.  I know that with the proper training I could have a fabulous time frolicking with a horse.  The bigger point is the one these verses make.  Ultimately, our trust is in God.  It’s not in anything we own, it’s not in our training, it’s not in our equipment, it’s not in our arsenal, it’s in God.  Yes, we prepare, we practice, we strategize.  We plan, we diagram, and we implement.  BUT, let us never think for one second that any joy, peace, provision, love, protection, or hope comes from anything we can do for ourselves; victory comes from the Lord!

Even horses go lame and chariots rust, but God? He makes sure we “rise up and stand firm!”

The best place to start in demonstrating our trust in God is through prayer.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We ask for blessings over our “horses and chariots,” but we trust You for victory! Help us rise up and stand firm. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~