Authorized Change

Authorized Change
Carol Condon
carolcondon5@aol.com

The sun was setting and the sky was absolutely gorgeous. The Master Artist Himself was adding so many colors as He was closing out yet another priceless day. The sound of the water rushing up erasing the sand castles of the day was so relaxing as a calm seemed to settle across the border of land and sea. Mark and I were walking along the beach enjoying some quality time of talking, planning and dreaming together. Mark can dream better and bigger than anyone I have ever seen! Life gets so busy and often chaotic so the moments we get to steal away together become ever so precious.

Life is full of change. You may not plan for it and you may bristle up in defiance of it; however, you cannot stop it. Change just happens. When I see change coming my way I have a habit of mentally burying my head in my hands begging it to stop. Who wants to be torn out of their comfort zone? Regardless of not welcoming change as a regular occurrence of life, it is needed for all of us. Our comfort zones cease to bring comfort when He has authorized a change to take place.

I was in this mindset as I stumbled across the skeletal remains of a fish resting firmly in the sand. I called for Mark to come have a look at this amazing sight. Here was a perfect symbol of a life that was spent totally resisting the changes that life brought its way. It is apparent that this fish resisted change but at what price?

This poor little fish reversed my view of change. It is not that I awake each morning begging for new changes to come into my life, but I do rest my life securely in His hands, as I know that His plans are to prosper and not to harm. Will you trust Him enough, enough to step out of your comfort zone and embrace what He has planned for you today?

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NIV
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The Circle

The Circle
Carol Condon
carolcondon5@aol.com

They arrived one by one driven by the decisions that they had made. For some it had only been months but for many it had been years. It all started with a first and then progressed into an addiction that was seemingly unstoppable. However, now a circle was formed and each one took their seat.

I was humbled and honored when invited by a dear friend to join their circle for an evening honoring her completion of intervention. Each one took a moment to share their inner feelings. The tears could not be stopped as I heard story after story from beautiful women sharing little portions from their lives. Stories that told of events that ultimately drove them into making some wrong decisions and thus brought them to the circle.

My heart was experiencing quite a collection of emotions as I listened to each one. I felt sadness for all they had gone through ushering them into their various addictions. I felt conviction for not being more aware of so many hurting people and not doing more to help them. I also felt such respect for them walking weekly to the circle and taking their seat as they began the journey of correcting their wrong.

I was then asked to share what was on my heart to these ladies. I began with how we all started out in life…………….

Each baby has more than enough willing arms available to hold them. It seems that all they know how to do is to eat and sleep, but as the months pass the built in desire to stand independently takes over and every chance they have to pull themself up on their feet is taken.

Each attempt at standing is quickly followed by a drop to the floor. However, the ready arms that once carried them are now reaching down to stand them up again. When their legs are strong enough to take their first step the arms are there once again to steady them and help them with each step. They will fall again and may not be strong enough to pull themselves back up but the willing arms to help are right within their reach.

That is what the circle is for. It is placing yourself in the view of willing arms that will help hold you up, pick you up, and steady you for your next step.

Have you walked to the circle? We all have made poor decisions and have had some tough curves come into our journey of life. I admonished us all today to surround ourselves with a circle of support that will be within our reach in order to pick us up each time we need it…we ALL need it.

Hebrews 10:25
New International Version (NIV)
25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Domino Effect

Domino Effect
Carol Condon
carolcondon5@aol.com

He sat quietly on the floor lining them up as close as possible without any of them touching. At first he only chose a few black and white tiles and lined them up in a short straight line. With a gentle nudge one by one the dominoes followed each another until not a single tile was left standing. Now that he knew how it worked, the little boy decided on adding some creativity out of the pile of dominoes that lay before him.

The simple straight line was now replaced with a design created by the imagination of a six-year old. There were a variety of shapes joined together in anticipation for the grand finale that would result from a simple touch. What he hadn’t considered was his little brother crawling over to join him.

The cries for “Mom” to come to the rescue did not protect his creation as the chubby little fingers of his brother came in contact with only one little tile and in a matter of seconds they all fell down.

The “Domino Effect” is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change and so on. How many times have you been caught in a “domino effect”?

We all have made our plans in order to set our future in motion. We are so eager to see and experience the finished product produced by our endeavors. The components needed to achieve our goals have strategically been lined up when someone or something reaches out and touches our plans when we were not prepared and our plans seemingly begin to topple out of control.

Had the little boy gone to his parents and talked over his plans they would have been able to protect him from the harm that he received from his little brother’s interference. We often place ourselves in the same situation as we make our plans and then execute them without consulting our Father. Let us all save ourselves from the “domino effect” that can tear down everything we are trying to do by simply going to our Father from the beginning with our every word and deeds.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossian 3:17 NIV