If I'd Had My Way

You know the old slogan from Burger King, “Have it your way”!  Well, as much as we’d like to, we don’t always get our way.  When we’re kids, we think our parents are so mean if we want something and don’t get it.  I mean, if they loved us, they would give it to us, right?  How immature our thinking!  I remember when I was growing up and I would want something so badly, I could hardly stand it!  While I didn’t have everything I wanted, I had everything I needed!  But, I’ll have to admit, I usually got what I wanted…within reason, of course.  However, there were the occasions when I’d want something and I just couldn’t understand why mom wouldn’t let me have it or if I wanted to go somewhere and she wouldn’t let me.  While I didn’t like it at the time, Mom was just doing what she thought was best for me!

Now that I’m older, there are still things I want, but don’t have.  Lisa says since I’m the baby, I’m spoiled.  And I like it that way – HA!  And people assume since I’m single, that I have no responsibilities…right??  Wrong!  I still have bills, rent, and food to buy.  But there are things I still want like a husband or a new car or some other unfulfilled desire.  I mean, I’m a good person, I try to be obedient and do right.  So why am I still unmarried?  Well, I really have no clue, but do know what the Bible says in Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”  So, I know the Bible is true and God’s way is perfect!  I have to trust that God knows what He’s doing.  He’s a lot smarter than I am!  So, my logic is I guess I don’t NEED a husband or it’s just not good for me right now.  Maybe someday…until then, my heart will go on singing!  Sounds like a song!  HA!

This is song sang me into work this morning!  While it’s several years old, the message is still as strong today as when I first heard it! 

If I’d Had My Way

By Janet Paschal

If I’d had my way about it, I’d of danced in grassy fields and fragrant meadows

And risen in the morning with the robins’ lovely melody

I’d of rested in wide spaces high above the hurting places and found a cross that asked much less of me

Never sailed through raging wind or troubled sea

If You thought it best to leave it up to me

But if I’d had my way I might have been wading through the river, when You wanted me to walk upon the sea

And if I’d had my say and all of my wants and whims and wishes, You knew how weak, how shallow I would be

If I’d had my way

If I’d had my way about I’d of only known your majesty and glory

And passed that cup of sorrow to somebody else more willing to receive

I’d of written lovely phrases; inspiring lofty praises and soared above my own humanity

Wounded wouldn’t die; hearts wouldn’t bleed

If all along You’d left it up to me

I trust Your wisdom over mine ‘cause You’ve proven over time that in my narrow way of seeing things

I’d leave the best behind sometimes; I might not have stayed as close if I’d had my way!

Never say "NEVER"!!

I know you’ve heard that saying before, “I’ll NEVER do that!”  I’ve said it too!  Truth is, we should never say that we’ll never do something because most of what we say we’ll never do, is THE very thing we end up doing!  When I was a teenager, our youth director would encourage us to do right and stay out of trouble.  He sounded like a broken record.  And yes, I got tired of hearing it, but I never forgot it either!  I remember several teens saying “Don’t worry, we’ll never do that!”  Most of them ended up doing things they never thought or said they would do.  That’s one of the reasons to stay faithful in church and in your daily devotions!  Not to brag, but I’ve been having my “be still” time with the Lord since I was a teenager.  I remember reading something as a kid that has stuck with me: “Never start the day with the face of your soul unwashed.”  I learned very early that it’s so important to put God first and everything else will fall into place. Have I ALWAYS done that??  No, not always, but Praise the LORD times are the exception and not the rule!

I am so grateful for God’s Word!  As much as all the “always” things of God are promised, it’s just as important to emphasize the “never(s)” He has promised as well!  Of course we’re familiar with the promise of “I will never thee nor forsake thee.”  But I found a “never” you might not be as familiar with!  It says in 2 Peter 1:4-10: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”  If I continue to add to all these things above, I will NEVER fall!  How AWESOME is that??