All things work together.....

My son wants very much to join the US Army. I'm proud as can be of him for being willing to put himself in danger to protect the rest of us. We didn't know there was a test he had to pass to get in. We also didn't know that being home schooled gave him higher requirements. Math never was his strong suit. So, he studied and studied. Today he took the test and made a higher grade than needed. What was so beautiful to me was that all his past "failures" prepared him for the test. He did electronics work with a friend for a short time. There were electrical questions. He tried auto mechanics. There were mechanical questions. He tried personal trainer. There were physiology questions. All these things that my son had tried and "failed" at were in actuality preparation for his heart's desire. Our apparent failures God will take and work with to make us a success when we're in His will. Only God could so beautifully orchestrate that "up from the ashes come the roses of success!" (Phrase borrowed from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) Or as the Bible says, "God works all things for good to those who loved the Lord and are called according to His purpose." God is SO good!

The faith of a child.....

Today at work I needed people to return my calls. It wasn't happening. So I called home for my 21 year old daughter to pray. Whenever I have a prayer request, I always call my Emily. The calls started coming in a few minutes later. It's not magic, but whenever I ask her to pray, things do start happening. Not necessarily the way I want, but the answer always comes. By the title I'm not saying that Em is a child, but she is young and her prayers do receive answers. Why? I believe it's her child-like faith. Her faith is child-like because she isn't spoiled by years of disappointment in life. Her faith is child-like because it's sincere and genuine. She's seen God work more than she hasn't. I believe that she always will. She takes God at His word. She takes His Word as it is, truth. She's amazinly wonderful and we'd all do very well to learn from her. God doesn't disappoint those who trust Him---not those who believe in Him as Santa Claus, but those who believe in Him, His goodness and sovereignty and perfect parent love for us. The more I do, the more I see Him at work too. The more I do, the more I thank God for Emily's example of child-like faith in God and the power of prayer.