"Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson-Chap 6

"SOMETIMES IT TAKES A SHIPWRECK"

COMING OUT OF THE CAGE OF FAILURE

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. -----John Chancellor

Mark Batterson encourages all of us to look at the "shipwrecks" of our lives...as opportunities.  We ALL experience failure.  It's all about what we do with that failure.

Failure handled improperly can be devastating, but failure handled properly is the best thing that can happen to us.  Failure teaches us our most valuable lessons.  It keeps us from taking credit for later successes.

Sometimes it takes a shipwreck  to get us where God wants us to go.  And sometimes our plans have to fail in order for God's plan to succeed.

Don't let failure become a cage and keep you from pursuing the passions God has placed in your heart.  THERE IS LIFE AFTER FAILURE.  The door of the cage swings open, and the Wild Goose calls  you to a life of new adventures.

Mark suggests the following;  if you feel like you're stuck in a tragedy, here's my advice:  give Jesus complete editorial control over your life.  You have to quit trying to write your own story.  And you need to accept Jesus not only as Lord and Savior but also as Author.  If you allow Him to begin writing HIS-story through your life, it'll give the tragedy a fairy-tale ending.  I'm not promising a life without heartache or pain or loss, but I am promising a different ending.

It is our dependence on God, not our best-laid plans, that will get us where God wants us to go.

When we chase the Wild Goose, our future becomes His responsibility. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."  When I'm reminded that God is the one ordering my footsteps, it helps me relax.  God is in the business of positioning us in the right place at the right time.

"I've come to realize that getting where God wants me to go isn't nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process.  And God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming."  As Oswald Chambers once said, "It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God."

God is good and He does good.  Until we meet again in our last chapter...chapter 7.  I pray you have an incredible week and I will look for you next week!

God Bless,

Marla

"Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson-Chap 5

A couple of weeks ago my oldest son, Stephen, had this really great party to go to with the Youth Group at church. SIDE NOTE: Whatever you do...get your kids to church...help them get involved in an awesome youth group. They will make Christian friends that will impact them for good.  They will have such great memories of church and church events.  God will bring people in their life that will not only bless them, but they will bless your whole family!

My little guy, Christian, was too young to go to the party...so I took him out on a Momdate!  We had so much fun!  Loved spending time with him and just listening to his heart.  My favorite stop of the night (just to see his face) was Andy's Frozen Yogurt...Christian's treat of choice...The 5 Scoop Ice Cream Cone!!!  I didn't even know they had such a thing!  Here is my happy little ice cream lover:

Dad had to work late so we were turning lemons into lemonade!  Isn't that the key to happiness...finding joy in spite of not-so-great circumstances!
WOW...I am loving Chapter 5!  This whole book is about enjoying this ADVENTURE called life.  Mark is telling us how to handle adversity.  You must begin to thank God for opposition.  It forces us to pray like it depends on God, which it does.
Mark says, "In my experience it is much easier to ACT like a Christian than REACT like one.  Our greatest regrets are often our worst reactions." Pray and ask God to help you.  The more time you spend with God...the more you will respond like him.  I love Pastor John Lindell's heart as he was sharing, "I want people to leave a conversation with me...feeling as though they've been with God because I have spent so much time with him...I act like him."

*Pray for people who have hurt you.  Jesus could forgive Peter for denying him because he had PRAYED for him, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail."  Praying to forgive others doesn't just make you feel better about them; it keeps you on your path to spiritual adventure.
"We think our unforgiveness will somehow cage the person who hurt us, but it only cages us.  And that is where many Wild Goose chases get stalled.
Who do you need to forgive?  By definition is won't be someone who deserves it.  It wouldn't be grace if they deserved it.  But if you have the courage to forgive them, it will set you free!"

Okay bloggers...we've been challenged to keep up this WILD GOOSE chase and deal with some possibly tough emotions.  We can do it!  Let's let NOTHING in our path hinder us from a closer walk with God!

I pray you have an amazing day with the Lord!  I look forward to Chapter 6 with you!!!  God Bless You and Your Family!