Live It Articles Take Heart...continued

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 

This month I am continuing the article I began in June.  If you missed the June article you can read it in the archives.

When God does a new thing in our lives, it is because He loves us too much to leave us where we are.
I don’t fully understand what I am about to tell you, but I am watching it play out before my eyes.  Because God is sovereign and knows everything, including our future, He knew that Johnny and I would never willingly leave our home at the bay.  Because of Johnny’s health, we now need to be in the city on a daily basis.  Memorial Day weekend, when we were at the bay for Tal’s graduation party, I knew in my heart that we would still have good times at the bay with those we love.  But, for whatever reason, and God knows the reason, our full-time living on the water has come to an end.  Our job is to trust Him with our future and know that He is in everything that we go through in this life.  Our life today is different but it is still good.  We have a hope and a future because of the love God lavishes on us every day.

When God does a new thing in our lives, it is always for our ultimate good and for His glory to shine through us.
When we moved to Houston and settled into the townhome community where we now live permanently, I met a wonderful lady named Denise.  Denise had purchased a townhome in foreclosure and had totally redone the inside.  One day, when I was walking Meathead, Denise invited me inside and I saw firsthand what could be done to make it like brand new.

After we purchased our own townhome, Denise helped me in so many ways.  Since I loved everything she had done, she graciously gave me the paint brand and color and told me where to buy it.  She did the same thing with her granite selection and tile selections for the bathrooms.  Do you know how much time this saved me?  A very hard job was made so much easier because of my new friend Denise’s willingness to help me.

As Denise and I became friends, I noticed that she was losing weight and she shared with me that she was doing Weight Watchers.  I assumed (and you know that assumption is the lowest form of knowledge) that Denise was attending WW meetings each week because she just kept getting smaller.  Denise began in January and by the beginning of April she had lost over 30 pounds! 

Our Spring First Place 4 Health class began in early April and after our first meeting, Denise and I were visiting and she shared with me that she wasn’t going to Weight Watchers.  She was just doing their diet by herself.  I immediately invited her to my class, and we have been having a grand time riding to and from class together.  We are also working out together at the church before class on Tuesdays.  I am so grateful for my friend Denise, and I know she feels the same way about me.  God has good things planned for me in the place He has me right now.  Life is not over because I am not at the bay any longer.  God has a brand new life planned for us as He changes the path we have been on for a long time.  Denise has now lost almost 50 pounds, and I expect to have her in my life for many years to come.

What about you?  Is God doing a new thing in your life?  What is His word to you today?

• Do not dwell on the past!  Your memories will be with you forever, but the past is the past.
• God is doing a new thing!  Look for the new thing God is doing in your life and thank Him for it even though you don’t yet understand.
• Do you not perceive it?  One day you will understand what God was up to, but it usually takes awhile to perceive what the change is all about.  Hindsight is always 20/20.

Blessings!

Carole

When Carole attended the First Place orientation in March of 1981, she eagerly anticipated what God might want to do in her life. She had recently seen an old friend that looked great and who reminded her that they were soon approaching 40 years old. Carole determined she did not want to be "fat and 40." She joined First Place and soon lost 20 pounds. Learning how to bring balance to her life, she became a First Place leader to motivate others to achieve this goal.

Carole is a popular speaker and author of the books, Choosing to Change, First Place 4 Health, Today Is the First Day, Living Well, Back on Track, A Thankful Heart, Stop it, The Divine Diet, and Mother/Daughter Legacy. Carole regularly leads Conferences, Wellness Weeks, Change Your Life Events and seminars across the country in the areas of personal balance, fitness, encouragement and temperament analysis. Her audiences know her as warm, honest and humorous.