Applying the lesson

Have you ever written something from a slightly inexperienced perspective?
Because what I'm going to write here hasn't come from experience, but rather wise advice and 365 days of learning it before I heard it.

Pastor Jim Perdue- Second Baptist Church- WR, GA- 12/30/2018
(My sermon notes)

Reflecting on 2018
(Proverbs 16)
-How much time did I spend in the Word of God?
-How often did I share the Gospel??
-Where was I spiritually at the begnning of the year and where am I now?
-What were the "God moments" in my life this year?

*Sometimes we look at God's goodness and say "I want to stay right there" and succumb to spiritual complacency.

*(16:1)
"Preparations of the heart belong to men"

- We all have an idea of what we want our life to look elike and what we want God to do.
-If it is only the plans of man, it is doomed to fail.

-Don't picture this chapter in light of someone who is opposed to God's will, but rather those that plan their life and hope for God's blessing on their decisions.
*(16:3)

(Then Pastor Perdue "lowered the boom")

-We often make decisions in our life hoping God will simply sign the bottom line and approve of our plans.
Ever been there?

"As Christians, we should want the will of God. Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else."
-(paraphrased. Original quote by Bobby Richardson (LU coach))-

"The World has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him."
-D.L. Moody-

"Consecration means that we give God our lives, with no strings attached."

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I'm just going to answer the questions in the sermon notes in bullet point format and you can tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

-Not enough. I lived in some fear that I was floundering so I lost a little faith until God made me face plant and realize that trying to depend on my own ability to make my decisions was never going to help me find peace with Him. 

-Not as often as God would have had me to, I'm sure. There were several occasions though that stand out in my mind. 
*A piano student whose family are devout Jehovah's Witnesses. In her attempt to witness to me, I had to turn tables and found myself explaining to her my convictions as a Christian almost every lesson we had together for a couple of months.
*A piano student whose parents are atheists. When a child starts a conversation about the existence of dinosaurs living at the same time as man, you can't help but enjoy describing creation and the Biblical age of the earth. :)

-Spiritually (as I stated above), I was in doubt of myself. My prayer partner and warrior worked overtime as I sought Christ and to find my way. At the end of the year, I was more at peace than anything. I would rather be at peace in Christ than trying to take my life choices and success into my own hands

-"God moments". Wow, um, about a thousand different instances roll through my head but I'll name the ones that stand out the most. 
*The start of our journey as a foster family. When we received a call one April morning to pick up a newborn from a local hospital, our lives changed. Not just our physical lives, even though the dynamics did change quite a bit after that, but more our outlook on what things in life are important and which are not.
*God's leadership every time my parents went to a foster meeting, panel review, and juvenile court to discuss Baby L's adoption. He opened a door each and every month and gave my parents unimaginable peace.
*When God reverted my attention from my part time job to another job possibility as a staff writer; as well as returning to undergrad school.
*The moment God gave me a verse to live by. Because of the course my life has taken, this verse is gold.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 14:27

Many blessings, 

M.G.-