Who God is When Life Throws Us a Curve

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , | Posted On Monday, May 3, 2010 at 2:56 PM

In Sunday's message, entitled "Family 911," I had some material (writer unknown) I didn't get to share because of time, but it really speaks to me about how to trust God in challenging times in our families and our own personal lives.


When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.
When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.
When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.
When you are the weakest, He is the most able.
When you are the most alone, He is intimately present.
When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest!
When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.
When it is darkest, He is the only Light you need.
When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress.
When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.
When you say that you cannot, remember that He can!

Having Balance in Life Requires Margin

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , | Posted On Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 9:40 AM

This past Sunday in my message I shared about the importance of balance. I talked about our need to determine our priorities, and from time to time, going back and reassessing them. I talked about the importance of Sabbath, of rest, for God created us for this and modeled it for us. 


I also talked about something called margin. Margin is the difference between my load and my limit. We all need margin in our lives because things happen that we didn't or couldn't anticipate. It's also an opportunity to watch for where God is working, so we can walk through the doors He opens for us along life's journey. No margin often keeps us from slowing down and seeing and hearing God and following Him.


As a part of Sunday's message, I shared a quote by Dr. Richard Swenson, MD. I've had several requests for this, so I'm posting it here to my blog:







“The conditions of modern day living devour margin. If you’re homeless we direct you to a shelter. If you’re penniless we offer you food stamps. If you’re breathless we connect you to oxygen. But if you’re marginless we give you one more thing to do. Marginless is being thirty minutes late to the doctor’s office because you were twenty minutes late getting out of the hairdresser because you were ten minutes late dropping the children off at school because the car ran out of gas two blocks from a gas station and you forgot your purse. That’s marginless. Margin, on the other hand, is having breath at the top of the staircase, money at the end of the month and sanity left over at the end of adolescence.…Marginless is being asked to carry a load five pounds heavier than you can lift. Margin is having a friend carry half the burden. Marginless is not having time to finish the book you’re reading on stress. Margin is having the time to read it twice. Marginless is fatigue. Margin is energy. Marginless is red ink. Margin is black ink. Marginless is hurry. Margin is calm. Marginless is our culture. Margin is counter-culture, having some space in your life and schedule. Marginless is reality. Margin is remedy. Marginless is the disease of our decade and margin is the cure.”
While there's some humor in Swenson's quote, there's also a lot of truth. I hope it helps you put some margin in your life. It may be just what's needed for you to hear God speaking to you!
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