Trusting God in the Little Things

Recently, I learned that one of my doctors who I have been seeing for nearly two decades is retiring. I have to been honest that while I am happy for him and I am not thrilled he is retiring. I have been seeing this man for a long time and trust his care. I am not sure if how excited I will be getting a new doctor who I will see later this year. In fact, I am not even sure who I will be seeing.

As I thought about this, one thought came to mind and that was do I trust God in His providential care to put me with the right doctor. Psalm 62:8 says we are to trust God all times even times like not knowing who your new doctor is. In fact, we need to trust God even in the little things of life.

While getting a new doctor may not seem a little thing, it is little compared to eternity. When was the last you trusted in the Lord for breathable air, appliances in your house to be working, the car will start, or hoping the dog does not vomit all over the rug you just vacuum? Those may seem superficial compared to other matters, but we are to trust God all times even those things I mentioned do not go the way we hope.

Trusting in God all times does not mean just when times are bad, but also when times are good and even in the smallest things that may seem trivial. 

What If God Explained Why He Allows Things To Happen?

If God actually provided an explanation of all the reasons why he allows things to happen as they do, it would be too much for our finite brains. Think of little children and their relationship to their parents. Three-year-olds cannot understand most of why their parents allow and disallow what they do. But though they are aren't capable of comprehending their parents' reasons, they are capable of knowing their parents' love and therefore are capable of trusting them and living securely. That is what they really need. Now, the difference between God and human beings is infinitely greater than the difference between a thirty-year-old parent and a three-year-old child. So we should not expect to be able to grasp all God's purposes, but through the cross and gospel of Jesus Christ, we can know his love. And that is what we need most.

Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

God's Grace and Mercy in 35 Years

Today I turn 35, which means I am closer to 40 than I was a year ago. It also means my kids are starting to refer to me as "my old man." It also means I will start to do old people things which I am not sure what that means.

This morning, I thanked God for giving me another year to live for his glory while on this earth considering what I went through almost 5 years ago when I had cancer. Throughout today, I was thinking about how God has given me grace and mercy during the course of my life here on earth. So I am going to take time to reflect on what God has done in my life:

1. God gave me wondering, not perfect, parents that taught me Jesus was the true and better Master of the Universe. If you were into He-Man, you will understand.

2. God gave me a brother who is devoted Christian who loves Jesus and taught me a lot after I was saved who I can call a brother in Christ and fellow pastor. He was also the best man of my wedding as I was to his wedding.

3. God in his grace and foreknowledge saved me despite how screwed up I truly was.

4. God in his mercy allowed me to attend on the largest churches in Houston, Tx where I got saved and began my walk with him even though there were times I was going for the wrong reasons.

5. God allowed me to attend East Texas Baptist University so I would get out of my comfort zone and eventually meet the woman of my dreams.

6. God in his grace allowed me to marry my wife which has been a wonderful, not perfect, marriage. I got married two hours after graduating college. I have nearly 200 witnesses to prove it.

7. God has graciously gave me two wonderful children who are both miracles. I love them dearly and they call me the best daddy in the world.

8. God called me into the ministry, which I would not have called myself to. It has been a rough ride in ministry where God has allowed me to never give up on that dream and calling.

9. In 2007, I was dianogized with cancer which God showed his mercy on me by allowing me to go through 6 months of Chemo and no radiation. God did more than just healed me from cancer, he healed from my religion.

10. For the past five years, I have learned more about the character of God, what Jesus truly did on the cross, and embraced a more reformed theology. I also made the switch to the English Standard Version, which is truly the best translation around.

11. God has given more of a passion for the city, the gospel, and the lost than I ever had. I pray that God will open doors of opportunity to preach the gospel.

I thank God for my 35th birthday and pray I get to live another 35 or more before he allows me to enter into his heaven or when the time comes when Jesus returns.