God Is In Control

God ordering our steps!

By Ryan Jones

Romans 8:28 (New Living Translation)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

A few short years ago I was absolutely no where close to where God’s Will for my life was.
I was doing things for myself and my own self pleasure and gratitude.  That led me absolutely nowhere but even further from righteousness.  We are called to be in this world but NOT of this world.

1 John 2:16 (New Living Translation)

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 

It was only until I surrendered to God and served Him whole heartedly would I receive His gifts and plans for my life.

God absolutely Does Not have to give us Anything but does. His grace covers all of our past and failures.

Am I perfect? NO! 

But as you submit your life to Him he ultimately opens all doors.

And opens the blessings from Heaven to those who live right before Him. 

You Will not fully receive His blessings till you fully surrender ALL of you to Him.

Proverbs 16:9 (New Living Translation)

We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.

January of 2009 I was in Southern California. What I saw as dream land.

“Be what you can be” land! 

I went out to join a Christian band just south of LA.  Needless to say that it wasn’t Gods plan for my life and I felt God shut that door so quickly that I was barely at the door.

I was living with my cousin just north of San Diego, CA.

I was searching for a job because I felt God was leading me to the west coast. What God was really doing was stretching my faith.

I couldn’t even get a job at Taco Bell or Mc Donald’s!

I was out on the west coast when I started with a good amount of money but soon was down to $5.

I walked everywhere seeking employment and seeking Gods will for my life in California.

God didn’t call me to California to join a ministry but to allow me to finally listen to him!

I had all but given up. I searched for jobs back here in the Jersey Shore Area. Just as a last resort. And wouldn’t you know. I found a job at FedEx!  After praying about it I felt a peace about it. I planned to fly home to take this job.

Here I am $5 to my name. 

Randomly I had an email saying I had a deposit of $400 in my pay pal account.

I thought to myself… “That’s weird” nobody has my account number or anything that I know of. I asked my parents and they had no clue about it. I’m pretty sure God can heal finances. I mean I was asking God to feed me every day in California and he was!

It was obedience to him that he was making things happen.

As many of you know I took the job at FedEx and soon after I took it 1 month passed and I was in a near fatal accident that almost took my life.

March 27^th was the date of the accident. Almost a year ago.

I was left with a broken neck, several broken ribs, a punctured and partially collapsed lung, and a broken left wrist.

I was totally identifying myself with Job.

Job didn’t walk from God but drew closer to him in times of need.

At this point I really needed to lean on God and put ALL my faith and trust in Him. So I drew closer to God.  Just as Job did. And when I did God began speaking to me about my future and what He wanted. I’m not saying God made me wreck a car and almost die! I’m saying he took the BAD and was using it for GOOD!

I started seeing God open doors left and right in my life.

 Financially and spiritually.

Proverbs 3:5 (New Living Translation)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.

He’s continuing to open doors! And close the doors that are not His will.

Months back I was lonely and praying for a wife.

I said God “I’m finished looking”.

 Several Months later enters Tabby in my life.

Psalm 37:23 (New Living Translation)

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
      He delights in every detail of their lives.

I’m saying God can take ANYTHING when you surrender to Him and turn the Bad to the Good.

Life isn’t perfect but God is! He’s the only constant thing in our lives!

When man fails God Prevails.

Drastic Measures

*Taking drastic measures to make your spiritual life a lot better. 

Spending time with God and really not stop talking with him through the day. 

I went through a real mess for awhile. Not to say that the things I'm going through right now aren't a mess but surrounding yourself with people of prayer makes the difference.
 Trying to watch what you do and say more. I'm not perfect and I do mess up alot. 
But the one who always picks you and I up when we fall is God. 
Rest assure that if we died tonite in our sleep that we would go to heaven.
 Not based on  acts or good deeds but that we have a true authentic relationship with God. 
I walked away from that for some time. I've always been a struggling christian. And at points in my life I just didn't care.  Somtimes when you hit rock bottom you find what you really need to do. I like this saying and I'm not sure if i'm the only one who's come up with this saying or not. but that doesn't matter.

"sometimes when you fall on your face, you find who you are"

It's a humbling feeling to know that you've hit rock bottom. The only place to go is up from there on. We become so busy with  life and our problems that we forget God was there to help us through them. 
Admit that I'm weak and He is strong.  No longer care what others think about how I live my life. 
Gods approval matters more than anything. 
We've all done some really stupid and messed up stuff in our pasts. 
Times of being so selfish need to die. We're embarrassed that we did or said certain things.
Apologize to anyone that we've hurt directly or indirectly. 
Apologize to God for we have done. 
He's the one who's forgives us for every sin we commit.   

It's easy to say but harder to do.....