The Great Architect

Yesterday I had the honor and privilege to tour London England in the UK.  As I was being shown around town I was blown away with the architecture.  Sure there were modern buildings that I am sure were quite gorgeous however it was the older buildings that held my special attention having the word, “wow” come out of my mouth at least a few thousand times.

During my little break while having a toastie and a latte I was thanking God for the day.  The tears just flowed as I related the gratitude of being able to see the tourist attractions that London is famous for.   I wept harder when I would bring to my mind's eye the architecture of the buildings with their ornate designs.  I communicated to God how I was in awe that the architect was able to put on paper the divine given design and that the master craftsmen were able to create in the physical what was in the mind of the architect.  

God response to me was that He was the Great Architect and that all of His people are the master craftsman for His plan.  He thought of each of us as He created the plan giving us those skills needed to fulfill the plan.  He has us hone our individual skills on a shed at first before we move on to a cottage.  Once the cottage craftsmanship is perfected God then moves us onto even bigger structures.  As the skills are mastered then we are assigned to bigger and bigger projects. 

We are not given a bigger project until we have shown that we have grown into the position.  There will be mistakes made.  However until we have perfected those skills we can’t be brought up to the next level too soon or it will be a costly liability to the overall project.

There are lots of trades that team up to build the building from the ground up – not one trade does it all.  You don’t have an electrician pour concrete.  You don’t have a roofer lay the plumbing pipes.  The framer doesn’t install the HVAC system.  You don’t have the drywaller do that masonry work.   The master masons who do the ornate masonry cannot begin their work that we see until the infrastructure is complete. 

Everyone's job is crucial to the plan.  If one or more trades does a shoddy job problems will occur.  It could be years later before the unseen work damages the areas around it, compounding the problem into problems.  Before long, the structure that should have stood the test of time becomes unsightly or even unsafe.  

Each trade has their craftsmen that have the knowledge and skill to perform their work to the full expectations of their bosses paying their salaries.  Everyone has their individual job to do as part of the team to fulfill the requirements of the plan.

Are you struggling in your portion of the plan?  Do you feel stuck that you are not being brought up to the next level?  Are others being promoted before you?  Are you sure that you are working on the plan you are suppose to be working on?  Do you doubt in the plan?

I want to encourage you my friend, that God’s timing is always perfect, never early and never late.  He opens doors that need to be opened and closes those that need closing.  He has a plan for you and it is a good plan! 

I am amazed that when I obey an instruction that doesn’t seem like it is part of the plan I am brought up to the next level or project that is part of the plan.

Please remember…Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” and Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”

The Great Architect chose you for His team of Master Craftsmen.  You may be an apprentice today but tomorrow who knows what project He will have you working on for His great plan.  Keep working on the plan, promotion is coming in Jesus name!

Until next time, God Bless!!!

Fear or Faith

I heard a phrase this last week that I have been meditating on…What you stare at, you will steer toward.  As believers we are on the path with God.  Through supernatural faith we believe in Him and let Him guide us through this road of life.

As I thought about that saying the visual that popped into my head was a car driving down the road, it was driving toward FAITH.  However the road sign of FEAR popped up.  The driver took his eyes off of his FAITH kept focusing on the FEAR and veered off the road and ended up in a ditch.

If you have ever driven a car you know that scene is totally possible.  You take your mind off your driving and you will cause an accident.  You need to stay focused on what you are doing when you are behind the wheel.

Winston Churchill was once quoted saying, “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.”

Isn’t that so true?!?  If you have ever worried about anything you know that, even though what you worried about may have been awful, the scene played out in your head was way worse that what had actually came to fruition.  You ended up wasting a lot of time worrying, not being able to enjoy what is good about your life.

I am speaking from experience here.  My mind has a good imagination and when I let it worry, it can conger up some bad scenarios.  Stuff way worse that what happened in reality.  Meanwhile I was miserable for days…sometimes weeks.  I missed out on the good stuff that was going on while I was consumed with worry and fear.

I once heard another saying “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind.  If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”

That right there was a game changer for me.  I was making a Grand Canyon with my stream of worry.

Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” 

That cut me to the quick when I read that.  I worried about all the stuff that could go wrong.  To me that means that when I worry that I really don’t trust God in all my situations…wow, God I am sorry. 

After all 1 John 4:4 clearly tells me, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

That is the verse I am standing on this season.  A lot of different things are happening in my life right now.  Most of which are new and even though I look forward to the “new”, I am not entirely comfortable with the “new”. 

I am a planner, I plan.  I don’t like flying through life by the seat of my pants.  I like to get things perfected, get the bugs out.  How do you prepare for something that you don’t know how to prepare for it?  Where are the YouTube videos on this?  Where are my Google Maps driving directions?  This is where I take a deep breath and tell Him, “Okay God, You brought me here and I trust You will guide me through this.”

We all have heard that phrase, “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how BIG your GOD is!”

You either know that He is God or He's not God.

He either answers prayer or He doesn't answer prayer.

You either know that the just shall live by faith or you don’t.

You either know that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him or He's not.

I choose to believe that He is still God.

I choose to believe that He still heals.

I choose to believe that He answers prayer.

I choose to believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!

I pray that as you are driving through this road of life, when that fear sign pops up that you will keep your focus on your faith.  That you will look around your life and see all God has blessed you with.  God is GOoD, all the time and all the time, God is GOoD.

Until Next Time, God Bless!