GOD LIKES ICING!!

I am so glad I serve a God that is "full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:11)  A Father that loves to "give good things" to them that call on Him.

There is a song by Casting Crowns that says, " If your eyes are on the storm, you'll wonder if I love you still.  But if your eyes are on the cross, you'll remember that I always have and always will."

I love that! It is so easy to only see the storm, but I am so thankful that God continually shows me that the storm is not the end goal....only part of the process.  He never takes all that we have and leaves us with nothing.  He gives us something different.....something better.....something we never thought of before, but now wonder why we didn't think of that.

Such is the case with our current home.  It "just so happens" that Keith works with a wonderful, generous, owner of a piece of rental property that "just so happened" to come available 4 days! before our house burned to the ground and we found ourselves homeless.  Not just any property....LAKEFRONT  property!!  Not more than a mile from Keith's work....15 glorious minutes closer to school.....and did I mention.....ON THE WATER!!!

Now, friends, those who know us will tell you, we are not wealthy.  There is no way we could have afforded more than a 1 week rental of a lake house, and yet, God has so graciously provided one for the next year!!  Not only is He working things out for our good at our "country home", He's putting us on vacation at the lake in the meantime.... with ducks.....and geese.

One thing I have noticed as I look out on the lake each morning is the movement of the water.  Even on a perfectly calm day when the lake seems peaceful and still, the ripples of water continually approach the shoreline.  They never stop.  The Holy Spirit reminded me that "His mercies are new every morning."  God is continuously on the job working all things out for my good.  His plan is always on schedule (if I am hemmed in and following His plan instead of my own.)  He never stops blessing me.

If I look at the storm, I see a burned out house and a total loss.  If I look at the cross, I see a fresh start, a chance to rebuild.  If I look at the storm, I see a teeny, tiny, old house that does not yet feel like home.  If I look at the cross, I see how God has provided a home that is much more manageable, a stress level reduced immensely, and a closeness between family members we had somehow lost in each of our far corners of a huge house.  If I look at the storm, I see a monumental task ahead that could push me over the edge.  If I look at the cross, I see all I need for today, and an anticipation for even greater things to come.

Here's the Thing:  Jesus told us "in this world you WILL have trouble."  We are not to be surprised by that. He goes on to say...."I have overcome the world!"  Praise our good and loving God that goes before us, and behind us, and hovers above us....hems us in and carries us through trouble....and somehow manages to add a little "icing" to lift our spirits along the way.  Don't miss the icing!  It's the best part of the cake!