One day, a young, new preacher was walking with an older, seasoned preacher in a garden. Feeling uncertain about God’s plan for his life, the younger man asked the older man for some direction.

 

The veteran preacher picked a rosebud from a nearby bush and asked the younger man to open it without tearing any petals. The young man wondered what a rosebud could possibly have to do with knowing God’s will for his life and ministry, but attempted to open the rosebud anyway.

 

It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this task was. Noticing his difficulty, the older and wiser preacher said:

 

“It is only a tiny rosebud…a flower of God’s design;

But I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine.

 

The secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I.

God opens this flower so sweetly, then in my hands they die.

 

If I cannot unfold a rosebud, the flower of God’s design,

Then how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine?

 

So, I’ll trust in Him for leading each moment of my day.

I will look to Him for guidance each step of the Pilgrim’s way.

 

The pathway that lies before me only my Heavenly Father knows.

I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments just as He unfolds the rose.”

 

No matter what age you are, it can be frustrating to figure out God’s will at times. But we serve a God who knows how many hairs are on our heads…and His plan for your life is perfect! Instead of worrying about what tomorrow or the next day holds, take one day at a time and trust in the Savior for His faithful guidance. Pray that God would help you focus on today, not tomorrow. And ask Him to give you wisdom as He reveals His plan for your life one day at a time.–From Senior Living

 

I read about a fellow who was driving up the steep, narrow, winding road in the Cave of the Winds near Colorado Springs. Coming to a very narrow passageway, with high rock walls on both sides, it seemed impossible for the car to get through. Just then he noticed a sign that said, “Yes, you can! Millions of others have.” So, proceeding very carefully he drove through the narrow passage and soon came to a wider roadway.

 

Someone else had faced the same fears and out of concern for others erected the sign to encourage them to keep going. We need more people like that. There are folks all around us who are facing what seems to be impossible situations, and they are afraid. They need someone to encourage them.

 

Those of you who have faced difficulties and discovered God’s grace to be sufficient need to share the news with others. Do you remember how you felt in the midst of your worst trial? Somebody else is in a similar situation. They are confronted by the same fears that haunted you. Let God use you as an instrument of His peace.

 

I’m not talking about a pep talk or the power of positive thinking—that’s not enough. People need what God alone can provide, and they can make that discovery through your word and example.What that sign was to the frightened traveller, you can be to some fellow traveller on the road of life. Your testimony can help them see that there is a way when there seems to be no way. Tell somebody, anybody, what “great things the Lord hath done” in your life. A few words can make a big difference.

One man used to play tennis quite a lot. He wasn’t very good, but he was always open to anything that could help him. One day he was watching a match on TV, and saw a commercial advertising the Wilson T-2000 metal racquet. It showed Jimmy Connors making a lot of fancy shots while a hidden narrator said, “If the Wilson T-2000 could win Wimbledon and Forest Hills, it could certainly handle my little matches.”

So he played with one all that summer. And he lost all summer. That racquet didn’t do anything for him. The truth is, the Wilson T-2000 didn’t win Wimbledon or Forest Hills. Jimmy Connors did—using the Wilson T-2000. When the fans walked away from the match that day, they didn’t talk about what a great racquet the Wilson T-2000 was; they talked about what a great player Jimmy Connors was. And the prize check was made out to Jimmy Connors and not to you-know-what.

Now in tennis, a racquet is essential—but it isn’t the racquet that wins. It’s the champion who wins, using the racquet. In the doing of works and greater works, Jesus is the champion and we are the racquet in His hands.