So, It’s A Mystery Box!

Welcome to Trace’s Space! In my job I spend a lot of time taking notice of children what they know, what they do.  What is the process, how do they get from point A to point B.  What level of expertise or difficulty do they have in obtaining a goal.  Children are enlightening, we can and should take notice, we can learn a lot about who we are from watching them.
So our Grandson Jase enjoys Lego’s. He loves to build, he loves to create.  So I knew he was coming over today so I decided I would treat him to a very small LEGO set. This was not a typical set, it was a “Mystery” set.  At first he was intrigued, the whole idea of it being a mystery was very appealing.
So he quickly rips open the box, pulls out the bag of various shaped and sized legos, and the instruction book.  He’s immediately says, “Mawmaw, what is this suppose to be?” I answer, “ I don’t know, it’s a mystery.”
His demeanor changes. Not that he is overwhelmed, this immediately becomes serious business.  The instructions for these sets show you exactly what pieces you need for each section, so even though he didn’t know exactly what was being built, he had the plan, a visual aide to help him along.  So about thirty minutes later he was finished not only with the five items in the set, but with also creating something from the leftover pieces.
He never gave up, he just followed the plan.  He is five.
How often do we give up when something we are struggling with deviates from what we know or what we need to see? Even if there is a plan, how often do we throw up our hands and say forget it because we have no clue in how it’s going to turn out.
See life is a mystery, and in a sense the things and the ways of God are too. A lot of Who He is, is revealed in His word, but so much more as we simply live.  We really never know what’s coming unless we plan, or have been given a plan.  So much of our life journey is trial and error, and so much of our journey needs to be trust driven.
We often find ourselves future tripping trying to figure it all out with out a set of instructions, that is life.  Our mind game or visually created trip is always much worse than the actual journey, see that’s how it is when we try to figure it out on our own. But sometimes it is what it is.
Jase wanted to go off plan when he was finishing up because there were left over blocks.  The problem was the pieces were random, using his mind and having vision, he created exactly what his imagination saw, it made little sense to no one but him, and that was fine, but for the rest of us, is being so random ok? Perhaps! See again it’s trust!
Sometimes we need to just go with it.  That is very hard for most folks.  I am a ducks in a row girl, so going a little rogue is hard for me.  I need rules, I need order, although when I was a kid that wasn’t reality! I was the poster child for ADHD, lol! But as I grew older I found my ability to function was controlled by order, it’s what I need.  I have to be given a plan.
So I pray a lot for direction and clarity of His plans for me, because even though I have walked a lot of my journey with Him, I’m  still a little lost!  My life is still has a lot of mystery left to it.
I guess what I’m trying to say is our mysterious life should be looks upon as an adventure.  We may be often surprised by outcomes but in the end it’s all good because our God is Faithful.  We have to learn to lean on Him for understanding and simply trust Him.
Lord today I pray for understanding and clarity.  I pray that I am walking the path and following the plan you have for my life! Lord I also pray to you on behalf of those who are reading this, that they too embrace You for who You are, Amen.
See you next time.

Take Me To Your Leader

Welcome to Trace’s Space.  Being a leader is not easy.  In one way or another, we all have opportunities to lead others in some way or another.  Whether we are technically a supervisor, or in charge of a group of folks in an informal way, life tends to pull us in that direction at some point.
This week a phrase from a the Bethel song, “ It is Well” has been on my mind.  “ The wind and Waves still know His Name”.
I have been thinking about the disciples,  and how interesting, even though the disciples chose to follow Jesus, they spent the majority of their time with Him learning to be led by Him.  They felt drawn, they witnessed the miracles, they heard the words, yet, they still had to be taught to be led.
The qualities of leadership vary depending on the task, but when I think about effective leadership, I think about folks who are kind, expect your best, take notice of it, and never shame you, even when you may have it coming.  I know sometimes a leader has to deal with uncomfortable situations, but, response and delivery doesn’t need to be cruel, ruling with a whip gets you no where.  A leader never sends a bolder rolling at you from the top of the mountain, they jump in the way, and protect who they are leading, they take the bolder with you, even if it means being shoved into a valley!
Years ago when our son played football, my husband decided coaching was his deal.  I would love to say that Mike excelled at the logistics of football and teaching the kids valuable playing skills, but I don’t believe that was his thing, he’s a musician! But, he cared about these boys.  See in our community there are a lot of kids that wouldn’t have a way to practice or games, for some money to play was a miracle in itself.  He even moved these kids into a different league so that a guy with a troubled past could help coach, the reason being this guy deserved a second chance.
These boys did not win one game.  It didn’t matter.  What happened even though they looked humiliated, they were proud, and they tried, and they respected coach Mike.
I remember being beyond angry with my husband.  These kids had no way to get where they needed to be so he loaded them up in the back of our pick up truck! My God, what was he thinking? He was like “Trace, what am I suppose to do?”
Because of his leadership, these boys who are almost thirty, when they see him out somewhere get excited yell out to him, and most times, greet with a handshake that leads to a hug.  He cared for them and they knew it.  He was a good leader!
He looked beyond their circumstances, he provided their need, and he legitimately cared for them! It was REAL!
When Jesus and the disciples where out on the sea in the storm, those men were panicking, Jesus slept, and when they finally went to Him and He spoke to the wind and to the waves,  and the storm stopped, their response was, even the wind and sea knows His name.  In other words, they knew (wind and waves) Who was speaking to them, and  it was almost like the twelve were in shock that Jesus could calm the storm.
Time after time each event was a learning experience, a trust building exercise, even though they knew, they didn’t, if that makes sense. They constantly were learning.  They often questioned Him, but He knew their hearts, He knew His plan, He knew He was leading the right group! He never gave up on them, He never gives up on you.
People gravitate towards positive influences, they produce well when they feel valued.  Being a leader isn’t easy, it is also a position to not take lightly.  A good leader puts on your shoes even when they don’t fit, they walk your path with you, sometimes without you... they care...when some one asks you to take them to your leader, you aren’t afraid to.
Just like God, where He leads I will follow, and when I need Him I go, I am not afraid to take folks with me, because He is Who He says He is! He is my Leader! Amen? Yes!
Lord today I pray for folks in leadership positions, whether it in ministry, or in the world at any level.  I pray that You guide their thoughts, give them wisdom, and guard their hearts.  I also pray for those who follow, that you give them the grace to follow, and an open heart and mind to accept their leadership and the wisdom to learn.  This I pray in Your Name, Amen.
See you next time.