GOD KNOWS BEST

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GOD KNOWS BEST.

Last night as I was getting ready for bed God brought

a number of decisions and directions I have taken to 

mind and do you know what?   God knows best.

Bear in mind that now I am an old man looking back

over the past.  I think that some of these can be an 

encouragement to you.  There are two verses of Scripture 

that I have often had to think of and now see in a new

light.  Consider them before we proceed.

"The mind of man plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps."

"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord,

How then can man understand his way?"

(Proverbs 16:9 & 20:24 NASB)

These plans or decisions will be listed more by

subject than by time or order.

As a much younger, single man I was obviously 

looking for a wife.  I remember in particular two

ladies that I thought the world revolved around.

(One at the time.) It hurt, but neither of them

worked out.

Now, many years latter as I have watched their

lives it is obvious that had I married either one of 

them, I would have been hurt real bad.

And better yet,  God clearly gave me direction

latter as who to marry.  Yep!  Time has proven

that I got the best wife in the world.

On the matter of property.

When I moved into this area I wanted out in the

country with at least 40 acres.

Well, it did not work out that way.

I ended up with God clearly indicating that I was

to get this little place.  It is only an acre and half.

At least it is out of town.

Do you know what?

Time has proven that it was the best thing for me

even thought it was not want I thought I wanted.

Again on property.

A number of years ago I wanted a hideout in the

country.  A place to go hide from the noise

and confusion in this area.  Things have built up

a great deal here since I bought it over forty years

ago.  So a patch of woods to go hide in for a few

hours or days.  Perhaps just camp in, but away 

people and noise.

I had decided to go after tax property, that is 

property the state had up for sale for taxes.

There were several that I had my heart set on.

As you can figure, I was out bid on every one.

But in desperation I went after one that no one

wanted.

Got it.  It was just a little run down place of 

only a little over three acres of woods, way 

out in the country.  But for several reasons I

have had reason to thank God many times that I

was allowed to get this one rather than the ones

I thought I wanted.

One more. Living conditions.

My living conditions are not what I would have

chosen.  I would have chose a different location,

different housing, and different relationships.

But, guess what?  God knew best.

I have had to spend several years getting use

to things being nicer than I would have chose.

And with advance age and sickness etc. it has

proven to be much more beneficial to me than

had I had my way.  And no, I am not in a

rest home in town.

PRAISE GOD.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He will make your paths straight."

(Proverbs 3:5,6 NASB)

DO YOU HAVE YOUR PLANS MADE?

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Long before your or I were born God told us how things

were going to go in this old world.  And if you ever paid

any attention to what he said was going to happen, then

watched the news to see what is happening, you know that

it is right on his schedule and this old world is headed for

destruction.

In the news and especially the so called "social media" there

is constant evidence that individual lives are being torn apart

and destroyed - because they followed their plans, rather than

God's plans for them.

While you are making your plans for life, or even tomorrow,

it would be wise to make them coincide with God's plans.

How?  Get God's word "The Holy Bible" out and see which

way God is going.  Then, Go with God.

A SHORT MEDITATION

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"A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but he who hastens to be rich will not go

unpunished."

(Proverbs 28:20 RSV)

Years ago a man came into the shop in his pickup

for something.  I would guess that the man was in 

his "fifties", a mature man.

The man was a machinist by trade.  And he explained

to me that he always went to the area that paid the 

highest wages in his trade.

He told me his wife had gotten tired of moving all

the time, so she was not with him.  All so, that every 

thing he owned was in the pickup.

So much for top pay.

You see it in the news all the time just like I do.

Some sports figure or celebrity who was worth

millions is now bankrupt.

"A miserly man hastens after wealth,

and does not know that want will

come upon him."

(Proverbs 28:22 RSV)

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but every one who is hasty comes only to want."

(Provers 21:5 RSV)

FRUSTRATED WITH OUR NATION?

"The LORD frustrates the purposes of the nations;
he keeps them from carrying out their plans.
But his plans endure forever;
his purposes last eternally.
Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD;
happy are the people he has chosen for his own!"
(Psalms 33:10 - 12 TEV)

************************

Would you like a free download of

THE HOLY BIBLE

Go to the link below for a free

download of the

Updated King James Version.

www.oocities.org/updatedkjv

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

This is one amazing little girl.

This little girl is going to be a country and western singer.

I know, because she told me so.

This little girl is going to be an actress.

I know, because she told me so.

This little girl is going to be a writer.

I know, because she told me so.

I do not know what other accomplishments this young 

lady is going to have in life.  She has not shared 

them with me, at least yet.

But at my age I have learned that LIFE

GETS IN THE WAY of accomplishments.

It was James M. Barrie who said;

"The life of every man is a diary in which he  means

to write one story, and writes another; and his 

humblest hour is when he compares the volume as

it is with what he hoped to make it."

We are taught to set goals and make plans to 

meet these goals.  This is good.  However,

there are some facts we must understand.

"A man's mind plans his way,

but the LORD directs his steps."

And,

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the LORD that will

be established."

(Proverbs 16:9 & 19:21 RSV)

In light of this,

would we not do well to consult with God

about our goals and plans?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own insight.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths."

And,

"Commit your work to the LORD,

and your plans will be established."

(Proverbs 3:5,6 & 16:3 RSV)

"May he grant you your heart's desire,

and fulfil all your plans!"

(Psalms 20:4 RSV)

ARE YOUR GOALS SET AND PLANS MADE?

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YOU DID SET YOUR GOALS AND MAKE YOUR PLANS

DIDN'T YOU?

That is the in thing to do you know!

Even if you are a Christian.

Remember those great things you are going to do for God.

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The "Church" has absorbed the ways of the world

to such a degree I have had to wonder about our ways.

God said,

"'My thoughts,' says the LORD,'

are not like yours,

and my ways are different from yours."

-Isaiah 55:8 (GNB)

"What you think is the right road my lead to death."

"You may make your plans,

but God directs  your actions."

People may plan all kinds of things,

but the LORD'S will is going to be done."

-Proverbs 14;12, 16:19, 19;21 (GNB)

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As a result I have wondered.

"If I did God's leading each day.  Would I 

not end up where He wants me?

(No.  I do not profess to have practiced what I preach on the matter.)

I have been reading a book,

Brother Bakht Singh of India.

by T. E. Koshy

This man comes closer to being a man of God, like the apostle Paul, 

than anyone I have ever read or heard about.   He was used to 

start hundreds of assemblies (church's) and won multiplied

thousands to Christ.   This brother would not even go get

a hair cut with out seeking God's will.  I simply want to share

with you some of his thoughts on the subject.  The following are 

quotes from the above book.

"In many ways his life and ministry were unique,

for he waited upon God to know His plan before he did anything."

-p. 23

"... he prayed and sought His will before he did anything,

whether small or big."

-p. 49

"From that day on, Bakht Singh was to take infinite pains

to know the Lord's mind about every small detail of life."

-p. 112

"Before he did anything, he spent sufficient time in prayer."

-p. 131

"He then asked Bakht Singh, 'Tell me what is your strategy or method?'
He then replied that he had no strategy or method.  He and his co-workers
had no extra qualifications but were simple people without much education.
They simply decided to do all things by prayer and in oneness and total
obedience to the Word of God, without any compromise.  'The Lord
works if we honour God's Word'"
-p. 275,276

"During his morning meditation, Bakht Singh prayed and asked the
Lord whether he should go and see the zoo or should he do something else."
-p. 394

"He communed with God and waited on Him to hear His voice
for his guidance and direction for the day.  He read and meditated 
on the Word of God."
-p. 421

"Bakht Singh did not believe in 'pre-arranged' ministry,
meaning that he did not plan or arrange before hand who 
should be the speaker or preacher at any particular meeting."
-p. 439

"Once this writer asked him why he was seeking God's
will for the obvious things, and his answer was to 
never take anything for granted."
-p. 473

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"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Never rely on what you think you know.
Remember the LORD in everything you do,
and he will show you the right way."
-Proverbs 3:56 (GNB)

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