The Blueprints Of Our Lives … Hello weekend readers. Just so you know, we did not close due to the government shut-down because you cannot shut-down the Army Corp of Engineers—if you did, and no one was there to take care of the dam—well one tiny blip and thousands of people could die. Let me put it this way: it’s great to work for the Corp because we are Department Of Defense!

OK, my musings today are about “what’s gone” and that may sound weird but hang on. For instance, when we came up this year to New Mexico for the Army Corp’s campground, we saw several little places that had great Mexican food were shut down. A few months later one of them was in rubbles and the entire place was taken down and now the land is up for sale. We found a lot of this in Colorado as well, small businesses shutting down, as well as some of those who were hit by direct tornadoes, floods, etc. It reminds me a bit of the devastation in Palisades, California—an entire town burned to the ground. And the other day I called my mom to wish her a wonderful 98 birthday! Of course, I have to listen what is going in little Mercer, Wisconsin and that’s OK. However, she told me one resort that was by ours was gone. They put it up for sale and the folks literally razed everything so they can put in a huge mansion. That resort was over 100 years old—seems like quite a loss-my mom sure thought so.

After I ended my call with my mom, it made me thank of so many things that I enjoyed but many are gone. Sometimes I feel like my own self is like that mess—rubble, debris, and wondering if it can be reconstructed. I’m sure you have gone through those times as well and we probably will again because it seems that it is a cycle that keeps going through the loops.

Often my prayers get me frustrated—with God. I know that’s not good but sometimes you just have to vent. Such as, God can you hurry up on this need -or- God why is it taking you so long -or- at least give me some patience—now?!  I think we all fall into frustration when the results we want do not come quickly.

In Hebrews 3:4-6 from The Message, we find out that God holds the blueprints of our lives. The heading from The Message Bible puts it like this: “The Centerpiece of All We Believe” 

“So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God’s house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house!” 

Some may say it is silly to think God is the architect of our lives but it’s true. God indeed holds the blueprints of our lives—in fact, God had that all set-up long before you arrived! We need to remind ourselves that while things may seem to be in shambles from the outside, God is carefully creating a new and improved version of each and every one of us. After all, wasn’t Jesus a carpenter, indeed he was and he can still reconstruct our broken lives.

Think about this: would you like to gain patience that can smooth out those rough edges that you get caught in?  Then give over your “blueprint plans” and trust in God’s process. It will change your life in ways you couldn’t imagine! AMEN.