“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
~Psalm 37:3 (NIV)
Book: Life’s Compass for Eternal Treasure
Chapter 1: Who Needs Blueprints?
Webster’s dictionary says the first definition of trust is “Total confidence in the integrity, ability, and good character of another.” Wow! What a loaded definition, and this is only the beginning. Is God worthy of our total confidence? The answer is not complicated by any means. Yes, God is absolutely worthy of our total confidence…
…Can you think of any areas of life in which people put their total undeserving confidence? I certainly can! I think about bridges and the human hands that put them together. Man himself is full of flaws, yet he is used over and over again to create flawless structures. There is no room for error in the design of a bridge. One error could mean many lives lost. Yet, I have crossed over them many times in my life without thinking about their possible faults.
I’ve never stopped at the beginning of the bridge and said, “Can someone show me the blueprints for this bridge? I can’t drive across it until I see them.” That would be ridiculous. Sure, I could look at the blueprints, but they wouldn’t mean much to me. So then why is it that we often ask God for the blueprints of our life when He is a flawless Creator? His design is immaculate.
Another area that we put total trust in is vehicles used for transportation. Some examples are trucks, boats, trains, buses, and airplanes. You name it, and we put our confidence in it. Do we put our confidence in these things because of the great warranty offered with them? The last time I took a bus, no one provided me with a warranty that said I would make it to my destination in one piece.
I’ve never been to an assembly line to see how my vehicle was put together, yet I totally depend on it to get me from point A to point B. All too often God uses vehicles of circumstance to draw me closer to Him. I don’t get to see why it’s there or how it got there. I don’t even get to choose how it looks. In this circumstance I find myself needing to put my full confidence in God, letting Him direct my steps and making me into a greater person through perseverance. This is one of the vehicles God uses. Some other vehicles you might know of are faith, patience, long suffering, and joy. Do these sound familiar? If so, it’s because they are part of the fruit of the spirit. We attain the likeness of God by grabbing hold of the ways He wants to produce character in us, and many times this character is produced through long standing in His presence.
Author: Sarah Beth (Lindberg) Malanowski, myself
This book has been given a tremendous opportunity to be used in the prisons across America through Prison Fellowship. I count it a great joy to watch God’s love be expressed through the words in this book to inmates who want to further their relationship with God. I am praying that you too will choose to partner with me in this great adventure. I have been told that the prisons will take as many books as they can get and many of the inmates would enjoy an opportunity to read this book.
All it takes is a $5 donation to get one book into the hands of someone who desires to know God in a deeper way. You can make it possible! We have been able to send 100 books so far and would love to send many more. I will be posting chapters from my book all throughout this week to give you an idea of what you will be supporting. Here is a link for more information about the Prison ministry and the way to donate, if you so choose to help in this way.
Donate Book for Prison Fellowship
Please contact me if you have any questions at the link below.
I appreciate your prayers, as God continues to lead me in this endeavor.
Dear Father God, I pray for those who are in prisons across America. May You continue to reveal the need for Yourself in their lives and use Your Word to disciple each one. Only Your Word can change people, so I pray You will inspire, convict, and change lives. You are the Answer in life. The One who gives True Life and through You I know the blueprints of my life will be magnificent indeed!
I’m
Depending on God’s Design,
Sarah