May 30, 2013

Wide Open Spaces

Psalm 119:45                        

AMP:  And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts.  
MSG:  And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom;

One morning, this verse grabbed my attention.  I had been struggling for a week or so with busyness and trying to get everything done, and almost flattened like a pancake by the burden and weight of what was NOT getting done.  In fact, I was up at 4AM with my thoughts having an Indy 500 race in my mind, seeing which one would win my attention.

May 26, 2013

Stoop Down and Reach Out

Galatians 6:2

Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]  (The Amplified Bible). 

Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law (The Message).

One day as I read this verse, the Lord showed me how I immediately think of those who are troubled by specific circumstances in their life – no job, recently lost a loved one, sick, car troubles, problem children, etc.   I have offered financial help, prayed for them, counselled them.  I've invested my time and given them my support. 

But how often do I “stoop down and reach out” to those with “troublesome moral faults” vs judging them for their struggles? 



May 22, 2013

Thank you for the rain!

Today was just another ordinary day at the writer's conference ... I had my plan and God had His.

May 20, 2013

Cease Striving, and Start Praying!



One morning, Don (my husband) and I were talking about owning your own business, and how stressful and burdensome it can be when work is not coming in like you expect it to.  Yes, you have work, but you are within a week or two of work running out.  And when you keep hearing that your competition is getting jobs right and left, you wonder what's wrong because new jobs are NOT coming in for you.  You ask, why is God blessing them and not us?  And what if work stops, what about the employees, what will they do?  What can I do?  

May 17, 2013

NOT about me!


This morning on my daily walk around the neighborhood, I passed one of the regular dog-walkers. 

May 16, 2013

Welcome

Welcome to the blog for Life is Not a Formula...but it IS the sum of our choices!

The Lord gave me that name in the midst of worship at a writer's conference 5 years ago, and along with that the over-arching theme for how to live my life:  in joyful, trusting, day-at-a-time obedience - free from the burden of trying to figure everything out.  That is one of the most difficult concepts for my analytical mind to release - I want to make what works repeatable and thereby try to control my success and limit my mistakes.  Conversely, the Lord knows we have no idea what is really best in any situation, and that apart from Him we can do nothing.


Is it always fun or easy to obey and follow?  

No!  

Does it sometimes require flat out obedience in the midst of trials or grief?

Absolutely!  

And sometimes, for me, obedience is more of "OK, I'll do it, but I'm not gonna like it"....after throwing a 2-year-old stomp-your-feet tantrum.  And I've failed many times over, missed opportunities, and sometimes even went my own way for whatever reason - imagine that!  

But He has always been faithful to embrace my return to Him, and to continue to love and bless me right where I am.

For many years I have been writing about my life with the Lord - all the amazing things He has shown me, how He has healed me, and how He has given me words to minister to others even in the midst of my own mess.  He has worked His character in me along the way and transformed me from the inside out.  

My prayer is that my sharing will encourage you that if I can, so can you - with Jesus, all things are possible!

Blessings!

Mary