“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Those verses are a lot easier to read / teach than to practice.
Pray continuously ~ I understand that.
But Rejoice ALWAYS?
Give thanks in ALL circumstances?
Those are hard things to do.
I’ve been reading a book that has really put these things into perspective.
It’s filled with stories of people who were led to a better life through a series of very difficult circumstances in their lives.
Grandma Moses being one of them.
Aunt Bernice so identified with her and I can understand why after reading about her life.
Kristin F Kaufman said it perfectly:
“As with most things in life, her (Anna Mary Moses) direction was steered by a series of occurrences, which I believe are the hands of Divine Providence. Had her only surviving daughter not had tuberculosis, she would not have moved to Vermont to take care of her.
Had she not had severe arthritis, she might never have given up needlework nor picked up the bulkier paintbrush, which she could nestle between her swollen knuckles. ( Aunt Bernice was all too aware of this condition from RA. )
Had an engineer with a propensity for local artists not walked down a rural Main Street on the spring of 1938, her paintings might never have been discovered.
All of these incidental occurrences happened very late in her life, with no premeditation on her part.
Yet, and most inspiring, at the age of eighty-seven, she was open to the unfamiliar breeze that blew into her life that year.
To use a common phrase of our times, she leaned in and clutched the opportunity that was presented to her.”
Last week I had a devotional from The Word for You Today about Joseph entitled “Look for the Hand of God in All Things.”
The point made by the writer was this: “Your God-given assignment in life doesn’t require the cooperation or approval of everyone, but it does require the cooperation of … you. “
Life is often a journey filled with “chance” circumstances and meetings that God can and does use to put us in the right place at the right time but having the right mindset and attitude determines if we will take hold of the opportunity He presents.
Every morning I spend time working on making sure my mindset and attitude are in the right place. I highly recommend The Word for You Today (www.wordforyou.com )
and Kristin’s book too.
Dinah's Dabblings 