Preparation

Jamie had some errands to run and I had to pick up my rodeo badge at Reliant so why not make a field trip out of it for Sam. He kind of started out a little fussy but when he heard the word train, he was all smiles. I drove downtown, parked near the station for the train line, and we were off. It is a very easy field trip. There were no crowds as the rodeo doesn't actually start til later in the week, oh but the trucks and the busy preparations were in full throttle. I took a stroller just because I knew the walks were long and occasionally he would get a little tired and want a ride. They had moved a few cows in their stalls, but we stumbled on the cages with the longhorns, and they were grand and beautiful. Sam held tight to the bars of the cage every time I begin to put him down, for he was totally entranced with watching him eat and drink and negotiate those beautiful horns as he turned his head with such graceful intent. I finally sat him on the adjoining barricade, the longhorn in full view, and he was happy and still for quite a while.

Every year the rodeo pulls on my senses and fills my heart with anticipation, but as we walked the grounds
and watched the set up, whether it was the food courts, the barricades, the animal pens or retail booths,and I couldn't help but be reminded of all the work and planning that goes into making the livestock show and rodeo a true success year after year for so many thousands of people to enjoy. But everything has to be coordinated to work together and each vendor has its purpose, each activity represents a new set of players, and each cowboy has his or her gifts.

This is just a rodeo, one special event. God is running a show beyond our comprehension every minute of everyday. There is no way to imagine the way that he coordinates circumstances and people for the purpose of pulling off his plans. But just as the folks at the rodeo are in constant preparation for the big event, so are we in the eyes of God. We are being prepared everyday to do his will, for his purposes. He builds us up in his strength, places us in his appointed place, and encourages us to use the gifts that he has given us for the glory and honor of his name.

We are all in preparation mode, as God prepares us for eternity. And he connects each of us through his trials, situations and designed detours of life. No matter how insignificant our contribution may seem to be, God is using us to complete the wellspring of a plan that he has initiated. Each of us have an active part in the unveiling of his daily events. And it is through our preparation in our quiet time, and our desire to seek his will that he will transform our very minds and body to be an active participant in his plan for his good purposes.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

For we cannot see what God is doing behind the scenes of our lives to prepare us for eternity, but I am guaranteed through his word, that what he has planned, and the avenues he takes to accomplish his will will ultimately be for our good reward, and his great pleasure. We must stay faithfully tucked into his word and trust in his ways, even when they seem contrary to our prayer requests and hardships seem to take hold of our lives. God remains constant, consistent, concerned and caring. He is ever gracious and ever loving and as long as we are dependent on his word and his ways, we will be able to stay steady in our efforts to abide in doing what is right.

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your daily preparations in my life. Help me to recognize your blessings and give me the strength and wisdom to deal with the obstacles. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!