The Bad Things That God Allows

       It's funny because "bad things" happen and we get angry, we cry, we question God's plan and then we realize life goes on. We begin to find peace in a situation we never imagined that we would have to experience. We see the silver lining and understand that this "bad thing" was part of God's DIVINE plan for our life.

        As time goes on, we experience so many new opportunities brought about by this "bad thing". We reflect on the state of happiness we are now experiencing. God filled our heart with an overwhelming sense of peace. None of this would be possible unless this "bad thing" happened. 

       We cried when it rained because we disliked the dark clouds. However, once we dried our tears, we saw the beautiful flowers that bloomed from the rain. We were struck with a startling epiphany. We realize the grass is greener on the other side... of the storm. 

         We ask ourselves, "How can it be a bad thing, if it brought so much good? " God allows "bad things" to happen, to show His sovereignty. God allows "bad things" to happen, so that we will realize that He alone is in control. God allows "bad things" to happen, so that we can use our story to testify to others of His goodness.

Never forget Genesis 50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." 

-MemoirsOfJazz (MOJ) 

Write the Vision

It is so important to have a vision for our future. We must set goals and checkpoints of what we want to be doing and where we want to be 1 year, 5 years and 10 years from now.  Once we get a vision in our head, we should write it down. “And the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain...” Habakkuk 2:2. Once we write a detailed description of what we hope to accomplish we should put it somewhere where we can see it every day.

 When we have a vision, we become future orientated. We don’t make decisions based on where we are now. However, we make decisions that will help us get where we want to be. People who do not have a vision are present orientated. The decisions that they make are for their short term pleasure. They lack the foresight of the things they should be doing.

Everything we say and do should be to help us bring our vision to pass. We take advantage of every situation so that we can advance and get better. A lot of people say they have visions for their future but they do not act on those goals. “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” –Old Proverb.

One of the things that separate the successful from the unsuccessful is sacrifice. So many people have all sorts of dreams and vision but they lack the discipline to sacrifice things that stand in their way. When you have a vision, you cannot do what everyone else does, when everyone else does it, how everyone else does it. When you have a vision, you must take a step back from everything and everybody and see what you need to eliminate from your life to get to where you want to be.

Don’t be one of those people who have big dreams but little discipline. Don’t look around wondering why everyone is advancing but you. Take control of your future. Write the Vision. 

.:JRSN:.