Monday Morning Devotion ®-January 6, 2014

The Puzzle

God knew from the beginning what He was doing.  He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son.  Romans 8:9 (MSG)

      "Life is like a puzzle that has many pieces…In life you don't know in the beginning exactly how your life here on earth will turn out.  You don't see the final picture then live it."

            My friend Ron Wallace (Encouraging Words in a Discouraging World) penned those words for his January 2 devotion.

            It's interesting because, yes, when we begin a puzzle there are many pieces scattered everywhere.  So, the first thing we do is look at the picture on the box cover to see what our end result is supposed to look like.  Then we start trying to make sense of those disparate pieces. 

            When you stop to think about it, our lives…in a way are somewhat like that except we do not have a clear cut picture to go by.  We can't see that picture and try to live it out.

            We have to piece together our life a day at a time that turns into weeks, months and years.

Some of the pieces have smooth edges, i.e. things run smoothly.  Others confuse us.  Now where does this piece with no edges at all fit in this 5000 word puzzle?

            Ron writes, "As you grow older, you begin to see how the pieces beautifully connect with the other pieces and the picture of you life comes more into focus.  Things which didn't seem to fit in your life are now a perfect fit."

            And that's the way it is in this puzzle called Life. Our lives gain meaning and we understand more as we go along.  But, we never have it all figured out. It's not like that jig saw puzzle that, after a relatively short time, depending how frequently you work on it, you can get the final picture.   I seldom get the final picture with a puzzle because I lack the patience to stick with it.

            But, in life too we will eventually get the pieces sorted out and have that final picture.  There is order amongst the chaos, no matter how it may seem at times, because God created the puzzle.

            He had a master plan for your life before you were born.  He knew how many pieces---years of life---you would have and what experiences (puzzle pieces) would be a part of it.  Even though we often don't know what we are or were doing, for example, ever do something then say "what in the world was I thinking?"

            God has made allowances for these "worldy-thinking gaffes" that we pull.  I like the fact that our scripture today starts of with "God knew from the beginning what He as doing."

            I used to have a friend who, when something good happened especially if it was unexpected would say "God knew what he was doing."

            At first I thought that statement was kinda ridiculous.  That it was so obvious that God always knows what he is doing it was foolish to even say it.  But, after I heard it a few times I thought differently.

            It's not that He doesn't always know because He does.  It's just when we say He knew then that is a way of praising him.  It is a way of acknowledging how awesome He is and how thankful we are that in His divine love He gives us a piece of the puzzle one at a time because to know it all at the start would be overwhelming.

            If we had the total picture we would be so caught up in striving for perfection and not achieving us our frustration level would grow to heights that it would overcome the joy God wants us to get out of life.

            As Ron says "Your life begins to look less like a puzzle and more like a purpose."  Think about the pieces of the puzzle that God has placed in your life and when he gave them to you.

Sometimes these were major events.  Some of the biggest most rewarding parts of my life puzzle have included, for example, going to college at Florida State University.  That not only gave me an education and provided an opportunity to make a living it gave me a place to live.  Since I fell in love with the college town I would return there to make a living.

            That enabled me to meet and marry the Lovely Susette.  Not sure what God had to do to get her to say "yes" when I proposed in a mountain top experience.

            It's also where my beautiful granddaughter has come along and in His wisdom God placed her Mom and Dad here, just a couple of miles away.  I have one friend who has one granddaughter and her parents live in Seattle, Washington clear across the country from Tallahassee, FL.

            It's the place I became a sports journalist.  Broadcasting my school's baseball games, reporting on football and becoming a writer while covering the games.  Depending on when you read this I might be able to say I am covering the National Champions of College Football.  That is if you read it after January 6, 2014 and of course if they do win that game.

            These pieces of the puzzle fell into place over many years.  But, guess what?  God knew what He was doing.  He had a plan and no matter how impatient I may have been for these events to unfold they did in His time.

            Ron Wallace writes further:  "One day you'll see the picture on the box God used to put the puzzle of your life together.  It's a picture of His Son, Jesus.  You'll see how your life was put together in the image of God's Son. That's the shape the life of each believer is to take while living life here on earth, day by day and piece by piece.

            Fortunately, thanks to godly parents and early exposure to the Lord through going to church as a youngster, I have that one piece of the puzzle in place already having accepted Him as Savior.

            Now it is just a matter of putting the rest of the pieces together with each event the Lord sends my way.  It's fun.  I'm blessed.  Thank you Lord.

            Happy New Year to all!

Monday Prayer: Hoping that your life in 2014 will reflect the life of the one who provides each piece of life's puzzle.  Amen!

***author's note:  May you be blessed and be a blessing this year.