stop trying and just start trusting…

last month margaret and i flew back to long island from colorado where we were with brett my son and his family.  now how about when the 747 that we were on is starting to taxi down the runway and as it begins to go i start trying to help it, try to get one foot off the ground then both feet off the ground.  i’m flapping along.  then all of a sudden the flight attendant comes back and says, “sir, what are you doing?”  i say, “i’m helping it get off the ground!”  she says, “sir, you don’t have to do that!”  i say, “yes i do!  i am committed to making this thing work.”  she says, “you don't have to do this.  just relax.  trust the force!”  i say, “no.  i can’t trust.  i’ve got to try.  i’ve got to help this pilot get this thing off the ground.”  and inevitably the plane takes off.  but my hands are getting more and more tired and soon my arms collapse because i can’t do it anymore and i just let go.  guess what?  the plane keeps going.  i needed to stop trying and just start trusting. 

that didn’t happen but you get the point.

GOD brought some of you here to the front porch so HE could say this to you – i hope you’re listening – “you can stop flapping your arms.” 

i have seen some single adults – men and women – who are so eager to get married they pop from single’s scene to single’s scene flapping as hard as they can and it looks silly.  they’re making a fool of themselves.  “i’ve got to get married somehow!” 

the battle is not yours but GOD’s.  “i’ve got to make this business deal work....  i’ve got to raise perfect kids...  “  name your flap! 

some of you have been flapping for a long time and if the truth were known you’ve come here to the porch saying, “GOD, i’m so tired!  i can’t do this.  it is too hard.  it is too much.  it requires too much emotional and physical and spiritual energy.  i cannot keep up.  i quit!”  GOD says, “it’s about time!  congratulations. now I can get something done in your life.” 

as long as you’re trying to help out GOD, you’re trying to control things.  you can’t help out GOD.  HE helps you out.  the moment you relax and begin to trust, things can start happening.  GOD says, “you give up?  good.  I’ve been waiting for this for years.  are you going to start letting me take over?”

just a thought from the front porch…