The World and All It's Possessions

I had a chapter of my life close this past week. It may seem silly but it was a great experience I want to share with you. My car went to the junk yard and it was a sad day for me and this is why.  There was a time in my life that I didn't have anything that I owned. I had a job with no vehicle to get me back and forth but I had friends help me. I am grateful for them. I needed a vehicle of my own. You know how that feels don't you?  The problem I saw in this situation was that I didn't have any money and I had no collateral to put towards this car.
I began looking, I prayed over it and one day a car was provided. My son gave me a car that the engine would crank up and get me from point A to point B, but it didn't have lights, tags, and was a danger to drive. I wouldn't have paid $50 for the car.
I went to a used car lot and there was this Saturn that fit me like a glove. The salesman said he would look at the car my son gave me and see what he could do. I prayed over my need and whatever God wanted he could have. I surrendered my situation to Him. Oh, mind you, I kept pointing my finger to scripture and giving God's word back to Him in my prayers. I knew it was ultimately His decision whether I was going to have this car or not.
The next day I signed for the Saturn and I began making payments. This was a responsibility I wanted. The Lord says if we are faithful with the small stuff, he will make us rulers over many things. I kept this in mind each time I made a payment on the car. I was grateful to have something of my own, something I was responsible for, that I had to take care of or I would be the one to pay for it later.
 I drove it for approximately 3 years after paying it off. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19 (NIV)
Life lesson number one: pay a car off and continue to make payments to your savings account. I didn't do this and now I am in a new situation. HOWEVER, God is going to take care of this situation because I trust him to. I am back in his word and  believing in what he says about me and this situation.
Tears well up in my eyes when I think of my Saturn being crushed like a bug. I cry at the thought that I won't be driving it down the road anymore, or when I think of a memory I have in relation to my Saturn.
Funny thing happened. I went to look at vehicles the other day and I couldn't stay long. I was looking on the computer at some cars and I had to walk away because I started crying.
I know God wants to bless me with his Best and I felt like he did with the Saturn. I can't imagine having something better.
I think David says it best in 1 Chronicles 29:11
"Yours, LORD, is the greatness and  the power and the glory and the splendor and  the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all."
This says it all for me. I know God possesses EVERYTHING. The world says it possess everything, but who is the world? The world are the people in it, you and me. We think we can chase after life and obtain all the possessions in it and be happy. Maybe there is someone that owns a lot of possessions, but are they happy? What is happy? It is a state of mind. I am happy that I spent at least 4 years with my car. I am happy that I have friends that care enough about me to help me get from one place to another. I am happy to know that I was successful in taking care of something small, at least in my eyes.
Life lesson number two: Growing up isn't so bad.
I went into this situation with humility and I am coming out of this situation with so much more. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow up and take responsibility of God's possession. I was successful in keeping it in one piece (no accidents). I learned there are so many things that come with owning a car.
Have you ever seen the movie "28 Days" with Sandra Bullock? There is a man who is trying to take care of a plant and dog because if he can take care of them he is ready for a relationship.
The dog survives the plant dies, just in case you were wondering.
This is how I felt when I was walking through my chapter. If I could just take care of this one payment, this one possession, then I was ready for the next responsibility. My next responsibility and stability was a room, a home, a relationship, an animal.
I am on my road to recovery and life is getting better one day at a time. I can look back at my chapter and say with a smile "it was good, it was really good and I survived." I can also assure you that if you are trying to obtain things on your own, they will only last for a short time. I hope you choose to partner with God on your next adventure, your next chapter of life because when you do, you will get so much more from it.

May you have a blessed day
~Marjorie

One Person's Perspective

Have you ever wondered the effect we have on other people, when they watch how we handle our trials and tribulations? I had this question come to my mind when I had the following experience. I had inquired from a young lady about a church in the area I was visiting. Unfortunately, she could not recall or suggest a church because she informed that she did not and has not attended one.
I did find a church to visit through another woman and enjoyed her suggestion to the point I wanted to share it with the first young lady, Kim. When I found Kim and finished witnessing to her about this church I visited I returned to my car and it wouldn't start, now my problem begins.
I then had a choice to make; I could let Kim see my belief in Jesus Christ or I could let Kim see me worry about my problem and how it would affect me and my actions. Of course, I wanted her to see Jesus in me and my trust in him. However, I became overwhelmed with "what is my next step going to be or what am I going to do now?" Kim saw more of my concerns than my faith. At this time, I didn't think of her perspective of me. However later, the story in Daniel was presented to me. I am sure we all remember the three men who were thrown in the fire because they would not worship or bow to a false god. As I searched the scriptures or the story, I had to wonder did Kim see in me what King Nebuchadnessar saw in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
Dan 3:24-25
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?"
They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
NKJV
 Did she see the Son of God in me or did she see my trials and tribulations? Did my actions show her that I believe that all things are possible through God or did my actions show her I was more concerned on how "I" was going to handle the situation?
How often do we as Christians consider the perspective and the affect we have on the non Christian by how we handle our trials and tribulations?
Do we stop and think are people seeing the Son of God in us or do they see more of our fears?
Do we leave people with the impression that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego left King Nebuchadnezzar with, that we serve "the Most High God?"  OR That we are afraid to go through the fire?
This has been a life lesson for me. I want you and others to know that when I go through adversity I want  the Son of God to be seen in me. I want to show belief in His word, faith in what He will do, and all I have to do is walk through the fire; knowing that he will be there with me and no harm and no smoke will be found on me.

I thank the Lord that he gives me one more day to talk to another person about Him~ the Most High God.

~Marjorie