Who's in Charge?

If I'm in charge, I should be worried.

If God's in charge, I don't need to worry.

"Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you."

Riders lost the Grey Cup

Image via Wikipedia

This morning I finally read the newspaper from November 30, 2009--the day after the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost the Grey Cup because of having too many men on the field. In the last few seconds of that football game against the Montreal Alouettes, the Alouettes missed a 43 yard field goal attempt which meant that the Riders had won the game by 2 points. But wait, there's a penalty. The Riders had 13 players on the field (should only have 12) so the Alouettes could try the field goal again (from 10 yards closer to the end zone). This time they made it and won the Grey Cup by one point.

My husband and I were there in the stands watching the game. We fled one second after the field goal was made by Montreal. I think I have been fleeing the pain of this loss ever since.

Recently I realized that one reason for the pain I felt was that I was never prayed up before I attended the game. What I mean by "prayed up" is that I talked with God about the game and left the final outcome completely in His hands. I didn't do this.

In the past, when I have been prayed up about situations, I have had so much peace and been able to entrust the final result to God's care. So when I realized that I had never done this for the Grey Cup, I wondered whether I could retroactively entrust the game to God.

This morning I woke up early and knew that this was the day for me to read that newspaper. I decided to have my Quiet Time first to hear from God. Here's what God said,

People make their plans, but the final outcome is in My hands.

I did not pray it through and leave the final outcome in God's hands but, guess what, the final outcome was always in His hands. And I was in His hands too because He's got the whole world in His hands.

It reminds me of an image that God gave me years ago. I could see myself walking along a road carrying a heavy burden on my back. God came driving by in His wagon (one of those wooden ones with a bench seat and a horse pulling it). God invited me to ride in His wagon and I jumped in and sat on the bench beside Him. The horse pulled us along. After a while God asked, "Why are you still carrying that burden on your back? You can put it down because the wagon is carrying your burden and you already. You don't have to keep it on your back."

This morning I gave the outcome of the Grey Cup game over to God. As I finally read that newspaper, the pain and hurt was gone. I accept God's plan because God is good--ALL THE TIME!

Next time, I will (with God's help and grace) get prayed up in advance and leave the final outcome in God's hands. Picture in picture--I switched to God's picture today.

Picture in Picture

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This morning I was having my Quiet Time. I read my daily psalm from the Bible. This particular Bible has been with me a long time. I often underline verses or write in the margins when God has applied His truth to me that day. I have a lot of this marginalia throughout the book of Psalms.

Often when I see those notes in the margin, I relive the pain that I was experiencing at the time. This morning I saw this note from September 2008--Dad's declining health. My Dad passed away last year on May 8, 2009 at the age of 86. God often spoke to me through the psalms during my Dad's last years on earth.

If your child was in pain, you would hold your child until the tears stopped. In later years, would you want that child to remember the pain or to remember the comfort and love of your embrace?

Earlier this year, we had a prayer seminar at our church. One of the speakers talked about two ways of looking at life as a believer. We can view life from the earthly perspective or from God's perspective (the spiritual realm). He gave an image that has helped me to visualize this reality. It is like a television that allows the picture-in-picture option. You watch one program but at the same time there is a small screen in the corner that allows you to keep tabs on another program. You can switch between screens. (I often did this while watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.)

This morning as I saw the note about my Dad's declining health, I remembered the pain (and the grief and sorrow I still feel because of my Dad's passing). However, this morning I suddenly could see things from God's perspective. On that day in September 2008, I poured out my heart to God. I asked Him for comfort and HE GAVE IT TO ME. It meant so much to me that I wrote in the margin of the psalm because I heard God's voice that day.

Picture in picture--when I see my notes in the margins of my Bible, I should look at it from God's perspective:

"My daughter is hurting today. She is crying out to me for help. I will speak to her through the Bible and through my Holy Spirit. Listen, my darling. I love you."

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After today, when I see the notes in my Bible about my pain or need, I will remember that each note is also a reminder that my loving Heavenly Father heard my cry and spoke to me that day.

I want to share some of my spiritual journey with you. So today I am starting this new blog. This one will be about my picture-in-picture learning. I live on this earth but I want to switch to God's viewpoint more often.

Feel free to comment and share your journey with me as well.