Coulda Shoulda, Woulda...But What IF?

I was speaking with a friend a few weeks ago and she stated to me "You have so much patience with people". I am humbled when someone says that to me, because I know that "I" on my own do not. I know that God has afforded me the opportunity to learn through the trials I have been through in my life. He has been with me through many trying and tough situations. I thank Him for teaching me, molding me, breaking me and adding to me piece by piece....His radiance, His reflection, His ways that lead to life everlasting.

I certainly know that I have many, many things to still grow toward. But this I do give Him credit for and acknowledge - I am such a different person than I was even 5 or 10 years ago; much less I mention 30 years ago. We all are changing and transforming "into His image" when we "allow" it. Sometimes those blockades we were talking about Wed evening are to get us to stop, drop and look up. We see them as HUGE boulders blocking us getting where we want to go. What if that is their purpose? What if that is Him trying desperately to communicate with us...calling our names, but we cannot hear Him due to the deafening scream of the things we fear calling out to us as well.


I do not know if I shared the poem IF with you all before. I am attaching it after this morning devotion. I love each and everyone of you, and I pray that "Today" we seek Him. We listen for His voice. We ask what He is trying to tell us, show us, then wait on His explanation and find peace in Him.

Amen,
Candace

If Day

A Daily Bread Devotional from rbc.org

READ: James 1:1-11

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. —James 1:2-3

February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was “If Day”—a World War II staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like “if” Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, and so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event: “If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality.” The key word there is nearly. While “If Day” was a valiant attempt to educate people about danger in the world, it could not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.
Real trials in life are not ifs—they are whens. In fact, life’s most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insights into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).
Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no “ifs” about it—it is an important way to grow. — By Bill Crowder

Though you cannot see the outcome,

Trust the Lord—He knows what’s best;

Be assured He sees your trial,

And He’s with you in your test. —Hess

Tough times can teach us to trust.

IF

If I had not been called

I would not know how to answer

If I had not have opened the door

He would not have had entry

IF I had not welcomed him

He would not have stayed

If I had not have asked

He would not have answered me

IF he had had no patience with me

I would not be able to share of his love

If I had not needed his encouragement

He would not have made it available

If I had not experienced hardship

I would not have know that I needed him

If he did not let me face the pain of my choices

I would not have known hardship

If he had not set boundaries

I would not have grown

If I did not turn to Him

I would never have known true peace

IF I had never desired to know His peace

I would never have known my Lord

My Lord loves through teaching, embracing, encouraging, sacrificing and giving

He gives abundantly: strength and peace

The strength to face the task

And the peace to mentally stay focused

There are so many facets of his love

I have a tendency to only consider the ones that I can hope to accomplish in my own strength

Until I truly seek my Sheppard, I have absolutely no means to gain understanding

It is through conversing with him, that he grants us his visions and understanding

He desires to increase us because he has massive amounts to accomplish

We have to be still and empty our lives of ourselves in order to be filled with him

He dwells among us in any form that will give Him room

He is not one: He is many, He is abundant, and He is everyone that wishes to love

He is patient, kind, and understanding

He is rich, poor, every race and language

He is every size and every age and He wishes us all to love deeply, tenderly, openly, honestly, truly, passionately, eagerly, genuinely

But mostly -freely; with wings that can carry, cover, lift and give life

Together we are One, we are Complete, we are Christ

By Candace Huffmaster