I'm okay...Are you?

Okay.  What does it mean to be okay?  Life has it's ups and downs and that's the roller coaster we're all riding on.  Some days, it's good and other days, it's...well, not so good!  Either way, it's all okay.

The past couple of weeks have been really difficult for my family and those I love.  The emotional drain has been hard, causing the physical drain to be even worse than normal.  I have found myself to just be worn out from life's situations.

Guess what I've discovered?  I'm okay.  Regardless of the battle, regardless of the storm, regardless of how tired you become, regardless of the pain...you're okay.  Even on days when you're not okay, it's still okay.

Paul said that he had learned to be content with whatever state he was in.  We should learn a lesson from that and realize that life is not always fair nor easy.  However, with God we can be content and be  OKAY.  God knows where you and where you've been.  He already has everything planned out for your future.  Just go with Him!

In the end...we're all okay!

25 Days of Christmas - Day 14

The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,

Jack Frost nipping at your nose,

Yuletide carols being sung by a chior,

And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, And what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again.                Isaiah 57:15 MSG

If there’s one song that has the “Christmas Spirit” it’s this one. It makes us think of a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting. Or maybe we imagine carolers coming to our doors while we offer them some tasty, homemade apple cider fresh off the stove. We attend parties at friend’s houses and services at church. Let’s not forget about being all bundled up on Christmas morning with our families while the most beautiful snowflakes fall to the ground.

And then in the midst of our Christmas illusions, our children storm into the room yelling “Mom!” or “Dad!” because someone hit them or because one of them use the other’s pellet gun without asking or because one of the neighbors took the basketball away that they had or because they fell off the zip line. Oh, for the love of all that is good and right in the world, can we not stay in our little piece of Christmas paradise just a tad bit longer?

That’s life, isn’t it? No matter how perfect we try to paint the canvas of our lives, there will always be something extra put on it that wasn’t in our minds when we dreamed it. Something that cramps our perfect picture. Something that breaks our heart.

A relationship that ended.
A loved one who died prematurely.
The betrayal of a friend.

Did you know that God isn’t surprised by the interruptions in our lives? In fact, nothing surprises Him. Don’t mistake bad things happening in your life as Him not being in control. No, this is not about His ability but about His sovereignty.

While we may wish that bad things would never happened in our lives, they will happen. Jesus said we’d have trouble (John 16:33), but He also promised that He’d calm us in the midst of it (John 14:16). So, no matter where we are in life, whether we expected to be on the path we are on or not, rest assured, that our God can make broken things beautiful.

Friend, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who’ve been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Press on and trust in the One who will never let you down.

How have you seen God in control in the midst of life’s interruptions?

New Sermon Series

Pursuing happiness takes work. It’s tough to find and even harder to hold. Ever want more than that for your life? God does. He wants us to be blessed. Discover what the Bible says about living The Blessed Life.

Don't miss this poweful new series by Pastor DeWayne to get you started right for the new year. It starts this Sunday, January 10th at 10:30 a.m. at Bridges of Hope Fellowship in McMinnville, Tennessee. If you can't make it, be sure to check it out at www.sermon.net/pastord

This is one series that is sure to change your life for the better, both now and for eternity.