One of our HP members, Kim Bierman shared with us what God has been teaching her...

God's pre-determined plan ends with only one satisfying answer -- the one He planned out ahead of time. The "puzzle" is only complete when every one of the "one through nines" is correctly inserted into the right space He has prepared for it. Some numbers aren't our favorites, but each one is necessary. Some numbers ARE our favorites, but too many of that number make the solution impossible.

If each "small game" is a different person's life, I'm reminded that my puzzle is only complete when those around me - and even at the opposite corner of the grid! - properly place each circumstance of his/her life in the perspective of what completes the "big game." By the same token, my failure to properly deal with the "one through nines" in my own life keeps others from arriving at the solution for their individual "puzzles".

It's not just about keeping my little "box of life" in order, it's also about seeing how each "line of events" is ordered properly as it intersects my life as it continues from and into the lives of others, and vise versa. And the amazing thing is, it's not just about the people whose lives directly touch mine - the "other corner people" are just as important to the completion of the puzzle as the people whose lives directly touch my own.

Maybe it sounds kind of "philosophical," but it's really just God's daily reminder that He is a God of order, not chaos. I've gotten a couple of "3s" lately when I was looking for my favorite "8s," but with each one I keep reminding myself of the satisfaction that is found in His completed plan with exactly the right number of 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, and 9s -- each allowed and carefully placed exactly according to His perfect plan.

God IS good!

Kim Bierman

Interested in sharing what God has been teaching you? Email joshmccarnan [at] hamptonpark.org