Has this ever happened to you? You see this cute photo of something. The instructions say it’s so easy – anyone can do it. But when you try to make it you end up with picture two instead of picture one?
I actually had the first picture on my Pinterest and was planning to make them until I saw the second picture on Face Book. I’m quite sure I would have ended up with those so I gave up without even trying.
What does this have to do with your Spiritual walk? For me, unrealistic expectations often get in the way of reality. Sometimes I compare myself to someone else and then expect myself to act or respond like they do to a given situation. Or I see how a Biblical character responded and then berate myself because I feel I could never respond that way.
The Lord showed me something this week as I prayed about the tornado in Oklahoma. As I prayed over the entire disaster, I felt overwhelmed with where to even begin praying, when I saw in my mind’s eye Jesus, not overwhelmed with the entire disaster, but ministering to each individual person for each individual need – doing just what was necessary for that individual. Each one needed something different – there was no “one size fits all”.
As I watched I realized that the Lord has tailored the happenings in my life to be just what I need when I need them, and I need to respond the way He wants me to respond, not the way he wants you to respond.
Our relationship with Jesus is very personal. So personal that He even numbers the hairs on your head. Luke 12:7 KJV – ‘But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Jeremiah 29:11 says, – “For I know the plans I have for YOU, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ESV
He has plans for each of us, for each of our families. The Lord has a plan for each one of us and they are all different. No two of us will have the exact same plan. We are like snowflakes – similar, but very different.
I want to share some of the treasures I found on the internet this week.
Dented and Damaged by Carol Davis really spoke to my heart.
The Ultimate Girlfriend Gift by Ann VosKamp will bless you.
Let me know if you decide to try to make the cute bunny buns – after photos required…
Finding Joy in the Journey,
Phyllis
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Phyllis Sather
Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness at:
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15 Comments
Sarah
Proclaiming God’s faithfulness … exactly.
Delighted to meet you today. I hope you don’t mind if I splash around a bit to get to know you. This looks like a refreshing place to dip onto goodness.
Splashin’
Sarah
http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/2013/06/on-daddys-toes.html
Phyllis
Nice to “meet” you Sarah. Splash around all you like. Let me know if you have any questions – or answers.
Tara
Phyllis, I am always so humbled to find that you keep coming back to link with me, I really appreciate it 🙂 I loved your post, and I saw that picture on facebook and laughed. Have a blessed day. Tara (The Proverbs 31 Sanctuary)
Phyllis
I was just reading your post! Small world.
m
Hi Phyllis! I have this on my Pinterest too—funny! Thanks so much for the great perspective and for linking up to my Homemaking Party! I’ll be featuring this post tonight!
Blessings,
Mrs. Sarah Coller
Phyllis
Thanks Sarah. I saw the post earlier but its been a busy day and I just now got back to the computer. I’ll put a notice in my next post.
Blessings to you too.
Jenifer
Phyllis, I love this! We cannot expect to have a walk that looks like everyone else’s. Our walk with God is personal. Thank you for this post. And thank you for linking up with Woman to Woman!
Jenifer
Phyllis
Thank you for the encouraging words Jenifer.
Lisa Shaw
Hi Phyllis,
Wonderful message! You hit it on the head when you said, “As I watched I realized that the Lord has tailored the happenings in my life to be just what I need when I need them, and I need to respond the way He wants me to respond, not the way he wants you to respond.”
Thank you for sharing!
I popped in from the Woman to Woman ministries Word Wed link up! Blessings to you!
Lisa
Phyllis
Thanks for stopping over Lisa and for your kind comment.
Krista @ www.chrisandkrista.org
Thanks for this! My husband and I have recently been going through a crisis of faith and have been what I call “wrestling with God.” Someone said to us that maybe this is exactly what he wants- for us to go through the struggle to strengthen our faith for whatever is coming on the other side. Amazing that He knows us so well!
Phyllis
Thank you Krista for sharing. Its always encouraging to hear that something I’ve written has encouraged someone. Some things are so difficult, but the results of wrestling with the Lord are always worth it.
Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com
We found the one pictured at Meijer and some others at Target. Blessings!
Phyllis
Interesting thought…I’ll have to mull that over.
I stopped over yesterday to look at your vanilla recipe again.
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/?s=vanilla
I’m planning to put that together soon. Where did you find interesting bottles?
Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com
It is funny, but my son asked me the difference between perception and reality just over dinner…I wonder if our expectations affect our perception…or maybe it is the other way around! Anyway, this is very thought-provoking! So thankful God meets us personally, not as a one-size-fits-all-god! Blessings and thanks for stopping by 🙂