Sovereign Over Mishaps

I have a head cold.
Nothing major…just enough to keep the tissues handy.
Watery eyes that look like I’m crying…lots of sneezing.
It is inevitable this time of year.

I should learn by now, however.
Each year I begin to do Christmas shopping in the fall.
I like to get everything done by the beginning of December.
I never like that hectic feeling…or the rushing around.
I try to space everything out and pace myself a bit.

Getting done early leaves December with all the important things.
Christmas concerts, programs at our church, baking for friends and neighbors.
Stillness.

Stillness is something we should have at the top of our Christmas list.
Stillness allows you to savor the moments instead of rushing through them.
Stillness allows you to ponder HIM.

Even with my “pace myself” plan, I still get sick this time of year.
Just when I’m feeling like I am a bit ahead, reality comes nipping at my heels.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

I remember another time pride went before a fall.

My children were all little.
We had many errands to do that day.
We were sneaker shopping for my boys…everyone came along.
We went out to lunch afterwards.

We saw one of our neighbors at lunch and her son was with her.
My boys asked if he could come home with us.
We had seat belts for seven people so we were fine.

I was driving home thinking of all I accomplished that day.
I managed my time well.
I got good sales.
I had dinner in the crock pot.
I did good!

The word that kept repeating in my head was “I”.

As I gloated over my accomplishments, hooking my proud fingers into my metaphorical shoulder straps…I heard the pop.
There are ruts on these back roads.
Your tire could easily get caught in one.

That is what happened.
My car caught a small ditch on the side of the road and I blew out my tire.
Everyone was fine.
I immediately stopped the car.
I was literally around the corner from home.

What made it even more interesting was that my husband was away on business.
We had just gotten my car inspected the day before…and needed new tires!
We had just purchased four new ones.

My husband was understanding.

I have never forgotten.
I have never forgotten the way I felt before the blow out.
I was on top of the world…thank you very much.
I was feeling pretty good about my accomplishments that day.

The day ended differently from the way I would have expected.
That mishap has taught me something.

We are all just a breath away from something that can change the course of our day.
Each minute…each breath…is in God’s Hands.
He is Sovereign over our mishaps.
He is Sovereign over our agenda.
He is Sovereign over our pride.

We have nothing to boast about in and of ourselves.

Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17,18)

Whether it is a tire blow out, a head cold that stops you in your tracks, or some other inconvenience that puts you on a detour…HE is Sovereign over all.

We feel as if somethings comes out of left field.
We never saw it coming.
HE did!

This is actually comforting.
God graciously saves those who come to Him through faith in His Son.
God also graciously saves us from ourselves.

Especially this time of year, when we are burning the candle at both ends…be still.
Nothing is worth all the rushing around…all the frantic searches for the perfect gift.

There is only ONE perfect gift.
That is the gift God the Father gave to us…His One and Only Son.
God wrapped His Son in flesh.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:2,3)

By appearances alone, Jesus would be the gift no one notices beneath the tree.
He has no glitzy packaging.
He has nothing to call attention to Himself.

For those who really look…for those with eyes to see…He is so beautiful!

Be still.
See Him.
He is the only gift that needs to be opened.
He is the first gift…the best gift of Christmas.