Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day! I have no shame...a Happy Friday on Tuesday!!! Truth of the matter is I knew what this Happy Friday was on Friday, didn't get around to writing it over the weekend and then it became painfully obvious this evening that I had to write it. You see, this is a testimony.
I have three men who I have the privilege of being with on this life journey. We encourage each other, we joke & laugh, we pray for each other, we joke & laugh, we challenge each other to be the men, husbands & fathers we were created to become, we joke & laugh, we give each other advice, we joke & laugh...you get the point. I am going to share some text messages one of these Brothers and I have shared with one another over the past couple of weeks.
2/27/14
My Bro
"I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." - Isaiah 22:22 NIV
Notice this Kevin. YOU hold the keys. Pray what needs to be opened in your situation and pray what needs to be closed. :)
Me
Wow, incredibly powerful. I am gonna be thinking on this one for a while...
*Seems I am always the one doing the thinking!!! Seriously, I am blessed to have men in my life that feed me this kind of stuff.
My Bro
I'm not a name it and claim it person but there are some things you DO Know. We can pray - Lord unlock the doors that would allow Kevin to be a Division I AD [my goal, my dream], unlock the doors that continue to create future opportunities for his sons. Lord, lock the doors that would hinder Kevin's family's dreams and desires. Stuff like that. :)
Me
Amen! I receive all that. Wow...
*I would pray this prayer - that doors would be locked and unlocked - leading, guiding and directing me according to the will, calling & purpose God has placed on my life several times over the next few days. You ever heard the expression, "be careful what you pray for?" The next time the topic pops up in our text exchange is nearly 2 weeks later.
3/10/2014
Me (in part)
It was funny, when I first heard [a door had been firmly slammed shut...loud bang and all!] there was a moment of disappointment. Then I remembered your text, that I had been praying for doors to be locked and opened...I realized that the prayer had been answered. In an instant I went from disappointment to praise. :)
My Bro (in part)
Wow. That's cool.
*He's so dramatic.
*The topic returns for us four days later.
3/14/2014
Me
Answer this: If we know - we truly believe - that He is locking and unlocking doors for us [please note that it is FOR us, FOR our good...so we can fulfill the calling the purpose He has for our lives] what in the world do we have to fear or worry about?
My Bro
I know the biblical answer - nothing. But here is what sometimes messes with me. I know God puts responsibility on us in this partnership with Him and I second guess my part sometimes. :)
*Ever feel that way? Me too...all the time!!! See Friends, we are all the same.
Me
We all do! Here is the deal, our responsibility is to knock on the door, to turn the knob. Here is what I think is the key: what we do when we get the answer at the door. What we want is not always what God wants for us. I wanted to be at ____, I didn't want to have to move my family, I didn't want to have to "start over" in a new town. He very clearly locked the door. I had done what I was supposed to do and He did what He promised to do, what I asked Him to do. When I remembered that I felt an incredible peace. Because he didn't do what I wanted didn't mean He wasn't there...it meant that this was not the door that leads to where I am called to go, what I am called to be.
You know what I struggle with as much as the locked door? The unlocked one! I get hesitant, finding it hard to accept that God would want to bless ME. When I think about it, this is a lack of faith also...just disguised differently. Think Daniel when He was appointed. Be strong & courageous, be confident. Yes, this is where I need prayer. He has very clearly unlocked the door at _______ and yet I am taking baby steps, turning around after every step essentially asking God, "You sure?"
Wow, thanks for listening to my conversation with God! :)
My Bro
Dang, that was GOOD! The door knob is one of those perspective changes for me. :) I'm going to be rereading this today. Thank you!
A few things I want to share with you:
1. Bro's and Sis's are a blessing. If you don't have one, I really want to encourage you to find one. A true Bro or Sis is one who loves you just the way you are, they see all your yuck and find the beautiful you. They help you become all that you were created to become. They are there for you when you need them and they turn to you when they are in need...or just to celebrate. It was really neat to just type the above and see the ebb and flow...the times I was leaning on my Bro and the times he was leaning on me. Bro's and Sis's are blessings...and I am triple blessed!
2. You can pray for doors to be locked and unlocked for you too according to the will, calling & purpose God has for your life. He will uphold his promises...He will lock and unlock doors. If you choose to pray this prayer, to give God the leadership of your life, please don't get discouraged when a door is locked...remember it is an answer to prayer.
3. It is easy to say these things when we are on the mountain top isn't it? How about when we are in the valley? When I typed my last text - all full of the Holy Spirit and everything! - I might not have been on the mountain top but I could darn sure see it! What if I told you that the door I mention being wide open got slammed in my face tonight? That, perhaps, there was a double door? (I am just kidding about that part...don't freak out and worry about praying for multiple doors!) That by definition right now, in this moment, I am in a valley. Everything I hoped for, that I thought was going to be is...gone. Now, I am not going to lie to you...at first I felt like I got shot right through the heart. I hurt...bad. May I please tell you that now, after talking to God, praying and being reminded again - by the Holy Spirit and by typing these text exchanges - that I realized that a door was simply locked. Nothing less, nothing more. It isn't all about mountain tops Friends...great testimonies are professed in valley's as well. I know that God has a plan, I thank Him for faithfully answering my prayers - even when I don't like the answer...initially anyways! - and I look forward to tomorrow, for I know that God is already there, ordering my steps.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great evening, a wonderful rest of your week and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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