Timing is Everything

On my way home this morning, after running an errand for my wife, I saw something that made me cringe inside.  An elderly lady was walking down the street shoulder on the side where a drainage gully or culvert runs the full length of the street in front of several houses.  There is a pedestrian sidewalk on the other side of the street, but for whatever reason, this person chose not to use it.

Innocently, we sometimes do things without considering the potential consequences of our actions.  This was probably one of those times.  It looked to me as if she was out for an early morning stroll or a time of exercise.  She was walking leisurely; enjoying the day.  The lady was wearing a pink, knitted sweater that was buttoned up in the front, because it was brisk and a bit damp outside.

She was walking with traffic rather than against it as she should have been doing.  She was on the opposite side of the road facing me.  Though a busy, neighborhood street at times, there was very little traffic at this hour.

I wondered why she was not getting her exercise on the sidewalk where it was much safer to walk.  It bothered me.  I guess I should have stopped and suggested that she do so and perhaps assist her in crossing the street, but I didn’t.  Everything was happening quickly.

After passing her, I glanced in my rear-view mirror, because I was still troubled about the situation, when suddenly, out of nowhere, one of the neighbors on the sidewalk side backed out of their driveway quite fast; heading in the opposite direction that I was going.

I’m sure the person driving did not see the lady.  She was probably in their blind spot.  The car came within inches; I mean inches of hitting her.  I watched helplessly as the woman threw up her hands; a natural reflex and defensive move.  By doing so, she was able to push herself away from the moving vehicle.  As she shoved off the trunk lid, it propelled her down into the ditch.

I slowed immediately and saw her stumble and turn a complete circle without falling down.  It was a miracle that the car missed her and that she was able to keep her balance.  My mind was taking in every factor; every detail; even the color of the car and how fast it was moving.  It was like everything switched to slow motion, but everything was happening very quickly.

It was a close call and I am sure the lady was thankful that all she suffered was a terrible fright rather than something worse.  I saw that she was alright after she made her way up and out of the drainage ditch.  She continued on her way; shaking her head. 

I was still trying to grasp what had just happened when I heard myself cry out to God in her behalf, even though it was after the fact.  I believe in the power of prayer and that prayer changes things.  I asked God to dispatch an angel to protect and save this lady from harm.  It was as if I was there at that very moment for a purpose—timing is everything.  She did not have time to pray, but I did after everything was over.

You may be thinking that this is a bit strange with regards to praying about something after it has already happened, but I believe that God saw the incident before it happened and He knew that I would be there to pray the prayer that I prayed, even though it was a belated prayer.  God heard me!  I believe it!

Why can’t God answer prayers in the future for something that has happened in the past?  Is God not God?  Can He not see the future?  Can He not hear and answer prayers whenever and wherever they are prayed?  I say, “Yes!” to all of the above.

Timing is everything…I believe that God sees the beginning to the end and from the end to the beginning.  God is omniscient (all-knowing); omnipotent (all-powerful): and omnipresent (all-pervading)—everywhere at the same time. 

It is not for me to understand or try to figure out the workings of Almighty God.  I trust Him and believe that He has a plan for my life; a purpose.  I believe the Lord can do all things according to His intention and objective.  God has the final say.

I care not what anyone may say about my experience or philosophy concerning subjects such as this.  As long as I believe that God hears my prayers, this is all that matters.  I will continue praying before and after a situation occurs and leave the results to God’s sovereignty.

If I did not believe that God hears my prayers I would never pray again.  BUT I DO BELIEVE!  And yes, I pray and will keep praying.  It is hard to put into words the insight that is burning in my spirit, and as long as God is not offended at me, then I will trust that I am on the right track.

God is not on the same timetable as you or me.  He created time for humanity, yet it is He who understands and controls it; past, present, and future; all at the same time.  He is the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end). 

Timing is everything, especially when God is keeping all things in order.  He is “I AM”.  He is God the Magnificent.  Who among us can understand His ways?  He is God Almighty!  His ways are perfect.

(Isaiah 55:9), “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Finding Contentment

I think the two words in the above title may be easier said than done in some cases, because people, in general, are prone to see what they don’t have rather than disciplining their mind to appreciate what they do have.

Materialistic people of this generation are fighting a battle within themselves.  They are trying to find contentment even though there are more tangible things at their disposal than ever before. Greater opportunities are in place to make it easier for them to acquire material entities, which were not available in my dad’s day when making ends meet was more than a challenge, especially during the depression era.

Plastic currency speaks loudly its buying power in today’s hi-Tech marketplace.  I believe the ease of going in debt is at an all-time high, which, in my opinion, is the all-consuming reason why people find it difficult to embrace contentment with the things they have.  Their desire is to have just a little more, but rarely do they need all that is obtained.  

The task of trying to keep up with the additional outflow of money each month to pay for their over-spending looms heavily.  Every area of their coming and going is affected, which becomes a huge mental strain, to say the least.

There is no stress like financial ineptness.  When people attempt to live beyond their means, it ultimately affects their ability to lay-in-store the required funds necessary to sustain future emergencies should they occur.  Money-in-reserve is a luxury they fail to put into practice, because they have not learned that it is a necessity to implement this essential safeguard when budgeting their income. 

The philosophy of those that are never satisfied with the existing statuesque, will, as you might expect, mirror the following thought:  “Live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.”  Could this type of mindset be partly to blame for lose of personal property such as:  cars, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes?  Perhaps bad choices attribute to the lack of money that is needed to sustain ownership of such things.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence as some folks think.  I am acquainted with individuals that, for the most part, are their own worst enemy when it comes to finding contentment.  They have a yearning spirit for something more, but when they obtain it, happiness quickly fades.  Peace of mind is short-lived; momentary. 

It is less than ideal when people place their value system in things rather than God.  Things in themselves cannot provide lasting contentment.  Only God can fill the void in a person's heart.  

People with this trait have a condition I call, “farsightedness.”  They only see things that are afar off rather than the personal property they possess in their immediate surroundings.  If they would focus upon what they have and not what they don’t have, the splendor of their possessions would not lose the luster.  Lustful glances across the fence can rule a person’s better judgment.  If yielded to, it may not be long before trouble is knocking at the door. 

This desire for bigger and better things consumes thought process, which keeps a person at bay from experiencing joy in the present.  All they can think about is what they do not have.  It seems that finding contentment is not their forte, because of farsightedness, but anyone can change their ways if they so choose.

A newly built home, for example, will fail to satisfy the non-appeasable person.  Boats and exotic cars lose their magnetism after awhile.  Things are unsuccessful in providing lasting joy to those that long for “bigger and better.”   Something new has to be obtained to keep the anticipation and high going.  Their state of mind and outlook on life become out of focus, because their vision is obscured by wants.

When a person is always peering over the fence beyond their own backyard; hoping for something more and wanting what they do not have; how can they find contentment in the now?  Sadly, life becomes skewed and unbalanced.  The search for satisfaction becomes a never ending quest, which causes the unquenchable thirst for fulfillment to continue.

Living an unfulfilled routine is like standing at the edge of a ravine.  I will call it, “desire.”  It separates a person from the other side where “happiness” is perceived to exist.  They risk grievous consequences that the ravine poses on their trek to obtain that which is on the other side.

They assure themselves that finding contentment is imminent, but it is only false hope that spurs them onward.  They are willing to suffer the scrapes and bruises of money difficulties and potential lose of possessions, because desire prevails. 

I can attest that finding contentment takes effort, but it is not impossible to achieve.  All it takes is being thankful to God for the things He has blessed us with and doing our best to put Him first in all areas of life.

I believe when we show appreciation for what we have and trust God to continue supplying our needs, contentment follows.  And when we give away from ourselves, God gives back to us a much greater portion than what was given.  We feel content and satisfied.

(Luke 6:38), “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

A person exists in a world of their making.  Bad decisions create ongoing regrets with unfulfilled desires when the newness of attainment has worn off.  This mind-set is usually coupled with dissatisfaction, because they have not learned to be content with what they have.

Finding contentment cannot become a reality as long as people continue to gaze across the fence and drool over things they do not possess, especially when spending money beyond good judgment.  Life becomes a merry-go-round of frustration, which affects all areas of an unfulfilled existence.

(Matthew 6:19-21), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;” vs.20 “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  vs.21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Peace and contentment follow those that rise early to give God praise for another day.  Finding contentment is pursuant to those that thank God for what they have in Christ Jesus their Savior.

Written by,

Papa Boyd