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  Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

  Thanks for joining us for the conversation. Please take some time to read the devotion over there on the left and post your thoughts over here on the right. We’d love to hear how God is working in your life!

  532 days ago +72

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  Conversation LeaderRachel (Student Ministries)

  I am a control freak. There … it’s out in the open for the world to read. Unfortunately, I know that I am not the only one out there and that’s a shame. Especially when it relates to our relationship to God. As a believer I don’t want to be grabbing control back from God, but more often than not I find myself falling into that trap. I remember seeing a drama where the actor gave control of her life to Jesus — for the sketch they used a stool to represent that — but she kept pushing (another actor) Jesus off the stool. She didn’t intend to do that but it continued happening until Jesus asked her, “Who is on the stool?” That is what I continually face in my life — I truly want to give total control to God but I keep falling into my old patterns. As I battle this it has gotten somewhat easier but I must be aware that this is my battle and I must choose to fight it. The book of Romans is full of verses about giving control to God — I think Paul must have been a bit of a control freak himself! Some verses that have helped me are Romans 8:8-9a, “That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.” I love an old hymn by Adelaide Pollard, some of the lyrics are, “Have Thine own way, Lord / Have Thine own way / Thou art the Potter / I am the clay / Mold me and make me after Thy will / While I am waiting / Yielded and still”. I’m not fighting, I’m giving control over to God today and every day! Is this something you need to do as well?

  532 days ago2 Replies +79

  • 

    Kirk Stevens

    in reply to Rachel (Student Ministries)

    I agree with you and, you put a very good perspective on the control issue. I like the stool scenario. I have talked to several believers about this issue that still seems a little bit confusing to me. I have always believed that God works through us, meaning that; if we don’t walk down the hall, we can’t walk though he doors he has opened for us. For example; an unemployed work could sit around all day saying that he is waiting for the Lord to provide him a job because he has no control over the situation, only God does. I don’t know if that’s the best example but God gave us free will, and that means we decide whether to get up in the morning, or stay in bed all day. Doesn’t God want us to control our free will? I mean he controls the steering wheel but I think he allows us to control the accelerator and the break, so to speak. He points us in the right direction, but we control whether to go or stop, am I wrong?
    I saw a piece on the news about a man with (4) children and a wife who hasn’t worked for six years and his family was starving. He said that if the Lord wants him to work he will provide work, meanwhile he will wait & pray. How can God provide if he isn’t controlling his free will. God will only open the door he wont make you walk through it, correct?
    Maybe I am confusing the issues a bit, but, God says he wants us to have self-control over our sinful nature. He controls the world, but he expects us to control ourselves, I believe.
    Please help me out, I have a tendency to analyze things too much.

    531 days ago

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    Conversation LeaderRachel (Student Ministries)

    in reply to Rachel (Student Ministries)

    Kirk: In the scenario you described I immediately thought of 2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”” I think this answers the control question nicely. God expects us to do what is right and good for us and those He put in our lives. Of course you should work to feed your family! If we followed this man’s rationale we would, as Christians, go to the tallest mountain, in order to be closer to God, and sit there and pray. Don’t be concerned about the elements or protecting yourself or even feeding yourself because God will take care of you! That’s just silly! We’re not supposed to be cut-off from the world. God gave us His Word so that we would be able to know how to live this life in Him. The main way that God speaks to us is through His Word — that’s why it’s important to read it to know God’s heart. All that to say, I think that you’re on the right path.

    529 days ago

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  Warren

  In faith Trust in God after all that is the only thing we can give him that he does not already own.

  532 days ago +64

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  Gary

  I listened to Pastor Josh’s message on Saturday. It follows right along with the book in our book store “Tusting God” by Jerry Bridges. God controls all things and when we line up our minds with that knowledge it gets easier to trust Him rather than in ourselves. We have to re-learn to trust him rather than ourselves. Peace really comes only when we can trust Him and know that he has our best interests in mind, even when bad things happen to us, He is really in control! Josh’s message resonated with me and really cemented what I’ve been learning.

  531 days ago +75

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  Conversation LeaderMark

  A few years ago a group of friends and I were working through a book that dealt with leadership. When we concluded the book, each of us completed an online questionnaire that would point out our leadership strengths as well as our weaknesses. When I finally received the results from the questionnaire, I excitedly moved myself to a secluded area so that I could quietly soak in my results. Printed in words was an accurate description of who I was. As I read through the description of me, much of what I read brought laughter because what I was reading in written form were many of the same self-diagnostic results that had been swirling around in my head the whole time. There was something, however, more cutting to be reading my description. One of the descriptors that really caught my attention was, “Sometimes he may be so opinionated about a particular problem that he has difficulty letting others participate in the process.” OUCH! As much as I hated to admit it, it was true. As I reflected on this, the thought occurred to me that not only was I this way with my friends, but I was also this way in my relationship with God. It was only when I acknowledged this, that I was able to begin the process of reconciling my desire to control circumstances with that of God’s grace.

  The process of prying our fingers open from a clenched fist is always ongoing. There are times in our lives when that prying is easy, but there are times in our lives when prying them open is far more difficult. In every aspect of our lives we need to be evaluating the state of our hands. Are they clenched tightly or are our fingers relaxed and fully extended?

  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

  Let go and let God!

  531 days ago1 Reply +67

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    CathyM

    in reply to Mark

    This reminds me of the story of the little boy who was trying to pick up the beautiful starfish but his hands were filled with small broken shells. Because he wasn’t willing to let go of the shells, he was unable to pick up the starfish.

    What little bits are we holding on to that will not allow us to grab hold of what God really wants for our lives?

    530 days ago

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  Kirk Stevens

  I have been attending Northridge Church for ten years, I love it. However, I tend to analyze everything, by nature. I have so many questions. I am a believer, but I question everything people tell me. I try to control it, but it comes naturally. I believe the Bible to be true, but when people start interpreting it, I question their motive. I hate it when I do that, but I can’t control it.
  Can anyone explain what “God has complete control over everything” really means? I control whether I get out of bed in the morning, or whether I participate in projects. I realize that God’s will, will be done and that He controls the future of the world, no, the universe, but, when I make choices, like whether to get up in the morning or not, aren’t I controlling that? I mean, God doesn’t make me pray, he doesn’t make me be nice to other people, isn’t it up to me to control that? Doesn’t he allow us to control ourselves? He gave us free will, which allows us to make choices. Of coarse, we can’t control the outcome, or the circumstances, but we do control which doors we will enter and which doors we wont.
  I ask myself which door will bring me closer to God, this sounds so easy, but most times several doors will bring me closer so, which one do I choose? I am sure everyone will agree that so many times we have to decide, is God telling me to do this or am I convincing myself that God is telling me to do this, or, of coarse God wants me to do this, it sounds so right, so biblical. Wouldn’t God want me to quit my job, sell all my stuff and be a minister? It sounds like that would be the right thing to do, or, am I just frustrated with life and that just sounds like something God would want? Why must it be so confusing? I think God created us with just enough knowledge to keep us wondering, & searching, keep us asking all these questions.

  531 days ago2 Replies +63

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    Conversation LeaderMark

    in reply to Kirk Stevens

    Great thoughts and questions. Your questions are definitely ones that most people wrestle with. God can be both controlling and limiting in His nature. Because God chooses to limit His control over each of our decisions, we are able to mature and grow. Just as parents release control over their children thus allowing them to grow into adulthood, God releases control over us so that we can grow. With that release, however, comes the chance for us to make mistakes.

    When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden He could have controlled all of their thoughts and actions. If He had done that, then how authentic would their relationship with God have been? Their obedience needed to be their choice.

    Without God choosing to be limited, we could not love God, because love is something that must be freely chosen—nor could we freely choose to love each other.

    God’s control still exists even when He chooses to limit His control.

    531 days ago

  • 

    Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

    in reply to Kirk Stevens

    Kirk, great questions. I’m loving how much thought and reflection you are doing!

    This is the way I understand things:
    God is in absolute control over everything at all times. If He didn’t want you to get out of bed, you wouldn’t be able to. However, God has granted us the ability to control what we choose to think about, what we choose to allow into our hearts, and what we choose to do. God gives us that, but it is HIS to give. We don’t get to control other people or outside circumstances.

    However, God has granted us influence or weight in certain circumstances or with certain people. This however, is usually for a season and is at His discretion. Influence is not control. God retains control but gives us the ability to influence things to the degree that He sees fit.

    530 days ago

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  Kirk Stevens

  I am reading a book called “Socrates in the City”. It is a compilation of several different speakers. At the end of each speech, or talk, they have a question and answer segment. I have only finished the first two chapters, but it is a very different kind of read. The format is intriguing and interesting. They try to answer many of the questions regarding God and faith. The first chapter deals with science verses religion. The book defends Christianity, so God wins in the end, but the questions that are raised are the same questions we all ask, like; how does evolution fit into God’s plan, why is there so much suffering if God loves everyone, etc.
  I have read all the Lee Strobel books which I thoroughly enjoyed, but this book is different, it is written for people that think, wonder, and ask questions. How is this relevant to this week’s topic? It discusses who is in control of our lives, the world, and the universe. it shows how science proves the existence of God. It discusses why there must be suffering and why evil needs to exist. It talks about why God doesn’t follow us around picking up all the pieces each time we fail. it explains that you can not understand God and his purpose if you don’t experience the suffering. It makes blind faith so much easier to deal with. I suggest this book to everyone no matter where you are in your journey. No, I’m not getting any royalties, or kick backs. I do a lot of reading and I am really enjoying this book. This kind of reading, I feel, arms a believer with good solid information that he/she can use to convince non-believers that they are wrong.

  531 days ago1 Reply +66

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    Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

    in reply to Kirk Stevens

    While I have not read “Socrates in the City,” I do believe that equipping ourselves in terms of what we believe is essential. When “Critical Thinking” is applied to the input we receive from a variety of sources (books, television, others), I believe that we come out of the process with a firmer understanding of the truth. We are then able to weed out the influence of the person providing the input and come to the conclusion “res ipsa loquitur,” the thing speaks for itself.

    531 days ago

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  Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

  When I was eight years old, my parents bought me the sweetest bike that man has ever created. It had a banana seat, monkey handlebars, a very small front tire and a very large rear tire. For those of us that grew up in the seventies, you know what I am talking about. It was a sick bicycle! My dad and I put it to together in the morning. Anticipation filled my heart as I anxiously waited to jump on my new bike and ride forever. When the bike was finally completed, I grabbed my older sister and suggested that we go to the top of Buno Rd, turn around and ride back down as fast as we could. With a great deal of hesitation, she acquiesced to my plea and off we went. Once we reached the top of the hill we turned our bikes around and started peddling. I was certain that this would be the ride of my life. With each passing yard we peddled harder and harder. Soon we were riding like the wind. Near the bottom of Buno was a little dip in the road. I had ridden through it many times, so I didn’t even give it a second thought. This time, however, I was riding faster than ever before. Not only that, but I was on a brand new bike. To this day I am not exactly sure what happened; as I came out of the dip I was involuntarily ejected right through my monkey handle bars. Unfortunately, in the seventies, people didn’t wear helmets. Needless to say, when I woke up I was lying on the couch in our living room. No one is certain how long I was unconscious. I remember lying there, with a very bloodied forehead and raw cheeks thinking, “How did this happen? I am a very competent cyclist and know exactly what I am doing. How did I lose control of my bicycle?”

  I think the same is true of us when it comes to our lives. We think we have it all figured out. We do everything we can to cover all of the variables in life. We make sure that we leave nothing to chance. Then, just like me shooting through my handlebars, something that we never planned for happens and we think, “How did that happen? I had it all figured out.” It is in the moment we realize that we never had anything under control. It is then that we recognize God’s sovereignty. We acknowledge that all things are under God’s rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction. Why is the truth of God’s sovereignty difficult to fully embrace in our lives?

  531 days ago2 Replies +66

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    Kirk Stevens

    in reply to Mark (Discovery Island)

    We think we have it all figured out because billions of people have told us we do over our lifetime. It’s all over the news, advertisements, tv shows and radio. They say “take control of your life, control your own destiny, we will show you how, just send us a bunch of money and we will make your life perfect”, or, ” just “get a Citibank credit card and you will be able to go to Jamaica and just lay on the beach, forget your problems and dream your life away”. They say “Don’t listen to God, listen to us, we will make you rich and good looking”.
    God’s sovereignty is difficult to embrace because there are a million people to one telling you it isn’t true. The media makes fun of anyone that believe’s God is sovereign. They laugh at people like you and me and try to disgrace us, they try very hard to make us look foolish.
    It isn’t easy being a believer, but it’s worth it.
    Have you heard of Pascal’s rule? I don’t know it word for word but it states that living a righteous life will never fail you. An atheist believes that when you die it is all over, period. A believer believes that there is life beyond death. If believers are wrong they are no worse off than the atheist , but if the atheist is wrong he will lose eternity. If you live a righteous lifestyle you will never regret it, but if you live a secular lifestyle you will miss out on the best part, eternal life.

    530 days ago

  • 

    CathyM

    in reply to Mark (Discovery Island)

    “God is too busy to worry about the little things in my life. I don’t want to bother him with that. He has earthquake victims, flood victims, starving children in Africa or Haiti to worry about. I can handle this for him.”

    If a ship is off its course by only one degree, a journey of a mile won’t make much of a difference, but on a journey of a 1,000 miles it won’t reach its chosen port but be off by miles.

    We can think that we have given God total control, but be off by just a degree and that little bit that we cling on to for ourselves to control, that little bit will take us away from where God wants us to be.

    530 days ago

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  Bev Bettega

  Just wanted to say that Josh did an excellent job Sunday & the talk was very relevant. As the years go by, I realize more and more that I am in control of “nothing” and that’s how I like it. I want God to be in control as He knows my journey from beginning to end and will direct me into the best paths in life.

  530 days ago1 Reply +71

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    Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

    in reply to Bev Bettega

    I’m so glad God was able to use it in your life the same way He used it in mine. I appreciate the kind words!

    530 days ago

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  CathyM

  Just a thought…. since our natural inclination would be to try to control it all ourselves, one of the greatest demonstrations of self control is to let go of our control, give it over to God and leave it in His hands. Any thoughts?

  530 days ago4 Replies +68

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    Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

    in reply to CathyM

    WOW!! So true. Just as God gives us control so that we can love Him. I believe that we need to give Him control so that He can love us.

    530 days ago

  • 

    Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

    in reply to CathyM

    . . . whoa. Think I’m gonna need a nap to process that one. Seriously, really cool thought!

    530 days ago

  • 

    Conversation LeaderRenee (Children's Ministry)

    in reply to CathyM

    Thank you for sharing that Cathy! That is something that I really needed to be reminded of!

    530 days ago

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    Conversation LeaderRachel (Student Ministries)

    in reply to CathyM

    I like the way one godly man put it: “God will choose for you what you would choose for yourself, if you had enough sense to choose it.”

    529 days ago

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  Duane Lyons

  I like this scripture.Be of good courage and whait on the lord.

  530 days ago +57

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  Kirk Stevens

  Remember the movie “The Poseidon Adventure”? There were two pastors on the ship, and as it began to sink one pastor commanded everyone to kneel down and pray. Gene Hackman played the other pastor who argued that God will not help us if we just sit and pray, we have to do something. He wasn’t suggesting that he should take control, he was suggesting that God gave us a brain, (4) limbs, a mouth, all the tools we need to help ourselves. He told the other pastor that God will guide us and create the opportunities but we have to do something, not just sit and pray as the ship sinks.
  As far as we know, we are God’s last work. We were created in his image and we are quite a work of art. To just sit and wait would be a travesty, a waste of all God created us for. God is in control of the circumstance and the outcome, but I believe he wants us to work and stay busy and he will guide us if we keep our eyes and ears open to Him and trust in him 100%.

  530 days ago2 Replies +81

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    Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

    in reply to Kirk Stevens

    Kirk…love it.

    It reminds of a story/joke that I heard years ago. A man was sitting in his house when the rains began to fall. It rained and it rained…the water rose and rose. Soon the water had completely engulfed the first floor of his house. So the man moved to the second floor. While there, a man came by in a boat and asked the man if he wanted to join him. His reply was, “No, I am okay. God will save me.” The rains continued and soon the second floor of his house was under water. So he moved to the roof. Another boat came by and the driver of the boat asked him if he needed help. The man again replied, “No, I am fine. God will save me.” It continued to rain and soon the man had no where else to go. He was swallowed up by the water and drowned. When the man arrived in heaven he asked God, “Why didn’t You save me?” God replied, “Who do you think sent the boats?”

    God sends us the boats. We decide whether we will climb into the boat or just sit on the side and wait.

    530 days ago

  • 

    Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

    in reply to Kirk Stevens

    Finding that balance between waiting on God and allowing him to steer us as we’re moving is a difficult thing to do. I appreciate your perspective and desire to be used by Him.

    529 days ago

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  Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

  In 2010, I was blessed with an opportunity to go to Togo, West Africa on a short-term mission trip with NorthRidge. As a team, we had numerous meetings prior to leaving. The majority of the meetings consisted of conversations regarding the realities of life for the Togolese. We knew that we were entering into a very impoverished area of Africa. I had worked in other impoverished areas so I was certain that I had a basic understanding of what we would be witnessing firsthand. When we finally reached the village of Mango, our final destination, I quickly realized that none of my prior experiences could possibly prepare me for what I was experiencing. For the first time in my life I was seeing people who were truly living without material possessions. Poverty is not solely defined in terms of material possessions, it is far more complicated than that, but the local villagers did not have food for tomorrow stored away in a pantry or a refrigerator. They had enough food for the day and that was it. In a community that Westerners would describe as “needy,” they had one thing that many of us do not have. They have a pure and honest reliance on God. For the people of Mango, the words from Luke 11 were more real than they may ever be to us, “Give us each day our daily bread.”

  They relied on God for tomorrow’s food. In our society today, most people find security in owning a reliable automobile, a house with a large kitchen, a checking account that allows us to buy the things that we want and a 401K large enough for us to retire comfortably. When we have all of those things in order, we sit back and say, “God, I know that You are in control and I am completely dependent on You for everything.” The sad truth is far from that. We are dependent on our material possessions, believing falsely that we can control our circumstances by having “enough.” There was a beauty in the purity of their reliance on God for everything. May we learn from the Togolese, and others like them, how that pure reliance manifests itself in our lives.

  530 days ago1 Reply +73

  • 

    Kirk Stevens

    in reply to Mark (Discovery Island)

    In an earlier comment I discussed the difference between hoarding and sharing what we have. Are we hoarding when we save hundreds of thousands of dollars in our 401Ks for retirement when people all over the world are starving. Are we expected to continue our standard of living “the American dream” past our working years? Americans are always saving for the future. Doesn’t this go against the Christian doctrine? Shouldn’t we trust that God will provide us with what we need? How much do we need? Do we need to quit working at age 65 and move to Florida on a golf course for our remaining 30 – 40 years? At what point are we being too extravagant with what God has allowed us to have? Has he allowed us to have what we have so we can retire in luxury, or are we to use those resources to help others rather than ourselves. Is it sinful to be wealthy, while others starve?
    I have heard Pastor Powell say that it is not a sin to be wealthy, but, doesn’t that fall into the category of hoarding? Who would God honor more, Mother Teresa who gave everything she owned to the church, or, Billy Graham who bought a mansion in North Carolina? They are both very Godly righteous people and everyone would agree that they are both doing God’s work. I am sure that both put God ahead of money, but aren’t Americans taught to take care of ourselves first and give God what is left over? Or, give God 10% and keep the rest for ourselves while others are homeless and starving?

    529 days ago

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  Ronald Ponkey

  I can be pretty stupid some times…or is that most of the time….I trust God and know He is in control and yet I watch the News and listen to all the trash the Media puts out….shame on me. The only thing which is happening is evidence of a world which thinks it can live without God. But in the end God will say “I have had enough!”

  God is in control and my life has gotten more peaceful when I turn off the TV and use my time to trust and learn more about God….My relationship with God this year has dramatically grown deeper and I am really enjoying this Christmas…The Conception of Jesus…..what a rush…..I only ask God to help me develop better intuition to fully understand his direction in my life….Don’t need the Lottery….or anything else except God….then I use the skills he has blessed me with to be happy and serve people and Him…what a rush…

  530 days ago1 Reply +74

  • 

    Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

    in reply to Ronald Ponkey

    I am thrilled that you are enjoying this Christmas.

    There is a very fine line between mediums that bring us an awareness of the suffering in the world and mediums that create cynicism in our lives. If we completely close ourselves to the realities of “The Rest of the World” then we will miss out on what God is calling us to do in Matthew 25, “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” In the very same breath, the possibility exists for the information to cause us to throw our arms up and say, “The problems of this world are way too much. There is nothing I can do about it.” When we throw our arms up, paralysis sets in and we miss out on the glorious opportunities to be used by God. Praying for discernment is a great place to start.

    529 days ago

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  Judi Hales

  I am new to this group and am really enjoying my first conversation. I just wanted to share something that I went through years ago. I used to have a recurring dream that I was in the back seat of a car that was driving along nicely, when all of the sudden I realize no one is at the wheel and I start trying desperately to get to the front seat to grab the wheel. While doing this the car is totally out of control, when it was fine before I noticed. I have had this dream regularly for several years. A few years back I was attending another church and on Sunday evenings the church had a tradition that for the first half of the service people could stand up and give testimonies. One lady stood up and thanked God for his mercies while they were traveling and their car had a blow out and they lost control. They were finally able to get safely to the side without crashing. Right when she shared this it was like a light bulb went off over my head, I had the dream the night before and it was like God was trying to tell me that things are fine until I try to grab the wheel. I know this probably would have occured to me sooner if Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus Take the Wheel” were out then. But, anyway, I don’t know if God uses dreams and metaphors to get our attention, but in this case, I felt like it was revealed to me to give up control and when I did, I haven’t had the dream since. Weird huh?

  529 days ago2 Replies +62

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    Conversation LeaderMark (Discovery Island)

    in reply to Judi Hales

    God uses different means to get our attention. Some obvious and some more subtle. While I understand that “Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a simple song, the message it conveys is a very powerful one. The image of a car out of control while we are frantically trying to correct the spin until we finally throw our hands up in the air and say, “I can’t do this on my own” is dead on. It is a fantastic picture of complete surrender.

    529 days ago

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    Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

    in reply to Judi Hales

    What a great story. Thank you so much for sharing it!

    529 days ago

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  Rochelle

  Have you often wondered, how did I get here. How did I end up at the job I’m at or this is not what I planned for my life. I wanted to be a court reporter, but work for seniors. How did God know I was going to love seniors. God has a plan for our life from the time we are conceived…I knew you in your mother’s womb. My saying now is “whatever”. It took me a while to figure out I can’t control nothing. But moreover, I’m glad that the holy spirit dwells in me to be able to hear from God. He lives in me! He is my personal coach! When His Son died for us, he said “I will never leave you or forsake you”. He left us with the power of the holy spirit! Amen! Always remember your first thought is usually God, the second thought is usually the enemy. Why? Because God is first, that’s the holy spirit.

  529 days ago +63

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  Bernie

  This was a great and perfectly timed subject and Josh did a fantastic job of breaking it down. These last 2 weeks my wife and I have been reminded daily how we truly have no control and sometimes only very limited influence, it is all His and if not for our faith in such an amazing and Loving God I have no idea how we would handle our current situation. But we know that all we have to do is “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

  529 days ago2 Replies +60

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    Conversation LeaderJosh (Social Media Pastor)

    in reply to Bernie

    Thank you for the kind words Bernie, I’m glad God used it in your life. I prayed just now that God will move in your circumstances to reveal Himself in ever more intimate and impacting ways.

    529 days ago

  • 

    Bernie

    in reply to Bernie

    Thank you Josh, we truly appreciate the prayer! We know that everything will work out, we just need to give up control and know that will work out for His will, not ours and in His timing, not ours!

    529 days ago

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  Conversation LeaderRachel (Student Ministries)

  Some people find it difficult to give God control of their lives because they don’t really believe that His plans for them are actually better than their own. But the truth is that He created us with specific plans and purposes in mind, and there’s simply no way we could improve upon them. Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord,’ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” God wants us to know that His plans for us are good plans. And we will begin to see them unfold as soon as we put aside our own agendas, and submit to His.

  529 days ago1 Reply +58

  • 

    CathyM

    in reply to Rachel (Student Ministries)

    I think that sometimes it isn’t a matter of thinking our own plans are better than God’s but a fear of what He might ask us to do. Sometimes it is a matter of being afraid of Him taking us WAY outside of our comfort zone and asking us to do something that we just aren’t prepared to do. He never gives us more than we can handle and He loves us no matter what we choose. When we choose to say “no” to His promptings, we are the ones who lose out on all He has in store for us.

    Two years ago I NEVER would have agreed to go on a missions trip. Slowly but surely, God prepared my heart. This past June I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Colombia. What an amazing time, what an amazing team and as a result God has blessed my life beyond my wildest expectations. I have a brand new outlook on life and I am LOVING it! John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” I feel like I am living that full life, right here, right now.

    It is easier to try to control the things we see in front of us than to face the fear of the unknown.

    In February, I plan on going to Nicaragua with another NorthRidge team. I CANNOT WAIT!

    528 days ago

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  CathyM

  Sometimes, I think it is less a matter of wanting control and more a matter of fearing what God might ask us to do. It can be easier to try to control what we can see in front of us than to face the unknown of what God wants us to do, what He wants us to give up for Him. In the end, if we choose to walk our own path, God won’t love us any less, but we will lose out on His best for us.

  God wants to do amazing things in and through us, but we have to let go and let Him do those things. It is a matter of trusting Him.

  528 days ago +49

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  Kirk Stevens

  God, being the creator of everything, certainly has all the control. There can’t be any doubt regarding that. He controls how much we are allowed to control. I believe that we do have control over somethings. He created a masterpiece in us, why would He create such a useful unit as human beings and then tell them that they have no control over anything, just sit there and I will do everything for you?
  God’s word states that He has a plan, and that He has the future predetermined. On the other hand, He has provided us with free will, this means we have many, many choices. We choose to follow Him, or not follow Him. We choose to steal from one another, or help one another. Even if we ask God to guide us, we still have these same choices, every single day. When we make the choice to follow him, that is in our control, we make the decision. I don’t believe God controls our free will, if He did, it wouldn’t be free will.
  The Lord has the power, and He has granted us a certain amount of control, just enough to get us in trouble, I am sure. Even if you are a steadfast believer you are still able to make choices contrary to God’s will. The sin is, trying to take away from God what he does control. God controls the circumstance and the outcome because he has a plan and regardless of our actions, His will, will be done, with, or without us.
  I don’t believe that God gives us this free will, and then decides that if you can’t handle the free will he will control it for us. He granted us free will for a very good reason, He wants us to decide, and make the choice, to do right, to read the Bible, and to follow him. He wants us to control our actions, and make the decisions to do the right thing, or the wrong thing. If we ask him for guidance, I feel that he would be happy to provide opportunities, open our hearts and minds, and correct our path when it aligns with His will. It is all about His will, we just need to decide whether we are going to be part of his plan, or not.
  “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
  This sounds like control to me. When we say that God has control, I believe we are saying that God’s plan will not change. No matter how much money we have, or how ambitious we are, we can not control God’s predetermined plan. When we surrender to God we are actually saying to Him that we have lost our way, we are confused, and we need His supreme guidance.

  528 days ago +39

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  Judi Hales

  I just wanted to say how much this topis has been a blessing to me. The timing is perfect. I started a business this year and I have felt led all the way by God. He has shown me little tid bits here and there that make me feel like I’m on the right track. This past week, things have not been going well, at least in my view. I am really getting concerned, and I need to give total control to Him. I would really covet your prayers on this that I can be sure I am on the right track and that it is pleasing to Him. I also need to let go and let God, and for me, the control freak, it is easier said than done. Thank you all so much, you are a blessing to me.

  528 days ago +52

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  CathyM

  I took another look at the challenge for the week. “There are three things we can control: Our feelings, our thinking and our actions. There are four things we cannot control: What others think, how others feel, how others act and circumstances. ” Why is it that the things we can control, are the things we do not want to control, but the things we can’t control, those are the things we want to control?

  527 days ago +50

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  Liz Welch

  A few weeks back when we had the first real “bad roads” of the season, I was driving home at 10:00 pm from work. I had white-knuckled it the whole way and was about a mile from home. i was on a PERFECTLY straight stretch of road, feeling confident, and I said to myself “I’m doing okay, I’m going to make it fine”, and at that EXACT second, I spun out in my suburban. Trying to correct, I overcorrected and I ended up going sideways accross the road, but hit nothing and was fine. I seriously think that was God saying….”Who’s in control, Liz?”. That would NOT be you…it would be ME!

  527 days ago1 Reply +48

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    CathyM

    in reply to Liz Welch

    Isn’t it fun how God likes to get our attention sometimes?!! Glad to hear you were fine.

    527 days ago