Puzzles and life…..

For some of you that may not know, I work at my church’s

children’s ministry. I really love it there. It’s more than a job

to me. This is part of what I was created to do – working with

children.

So today I had to sort out a few puzzles in preparation for Sunday.

To be honest, I was a bit worried about the puzzles.

Let me just say it’s being a “while” since I played with

traditional puzzles.

I was worried I had forgotten to assemble a puzzle.

I would never hear the end of the story if I failed to assemble

the puzzles…haha

Start I did and rocky it was. Panic started to set in!

Before I got carried away I spotted the pictures on the side of the

box.

What a difference it made. Because of the pictures I

assembled all the pictures at once.

 

It was at that moment I realized how powerful a picture is!

 

Have you got a picture of where you want to go in life?

Are you holding up a picture of what you want your life to be

or are you on auto pilot at the moment, an anything goes attitude?

A picture makes all the difference!

 

And we are very fortunate because the Lord has pictures for us.

He has a plan and purpose for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11)

When you have a picture for your life you will not be easily

side tracked. You have purpose and are focused when you have

a picture.

 

And make sure the picture you have is one God gave you and

not what people have given you. People’s plans for you will always

fall short of what God has in store for you.

 

As I close I want to challenge you to seek the Lord for the

picture. He has amazing plans for your life so don’t go

through life without a picture in front of you.

 

Rolain

 

 

In trouble, he slept like a baby……..!

Everyone faces trouble. Everyone faces storms and trials  and testing in their lives. That is one thing we cannot escape. I had a really bad day today. One of those days where you want to just throw in the towel. It really has been a crazy day. This is the thing though, troubles and problems are a part of life and my job is to learn to cope, learn to trust God in the midst of confusion and hopelessness……So in the midst of all that I read a pretty amazing story. The story was about Peter when he was arrested by Herod. The word says,

All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jail house, the church prayed for him most strenuously.

Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!    Acts 12: 5, 6

I could not believe what I read. Peter was surrounded by guards and was even shackled to the guards. He was in very real trouble. He was going to die the next day but the word says he slept like a baby! He never complained or worried. He was not fearful, instead he slept like a baby. I would of being freaking out if I was in his shoes. Herod had doubled the guards. He was not taking any chances.

I want to have that same kind of attitude. Peter was in perfect peace. James had just being killed but that never phased Peter. His trust was in the Lord. His faith in God was deep, and unshakable. He was in a storm but he knew who was watching over him. When the storms of life come how do you respond? When trouble comes what thoughts come to mind? Let us  learn from Peter. I want to walk in the kind of peace he walked in. The fact that he wasn’t in fear showed where his faith was at. Your response to situations determine where your faith is at.

The lesson for me is, rely on God. In the midst of pain and confusion trust Him. Let the peace of God reign. Remember Peter……….

Rolain