at times we feel the events of our lives are out of our control. the tide has turned on us and we feel there isn’t anything we can do to affect the rising waters. that may be true and in fact that may well be God working to create a new foundation for us to build upon, changing us drastically for reasons we may not  know for many years. however, other times the events of our lives are a series of decisions; choices we have made that will create “the man” we are becoming. these are the times when we have defined ourselves through our actions. these are the moments when we get to take ownership, when the outcomes are good…we may even get an award, a medal and have the approval of others for taking the harder road, for a job well done. and then there are less than favorable time, when our decisions have caught up with us, consequences have set in, relationships strained, doors are shut. and as powerful as our God can be in our lives, His ultimate goal is not to have control over us. He is the puppet maker, not the puppet master. His gift to us is the ultimate “super power of free will” and for each of us to choose our path using the “utility belt” of prayer, scripture, forgiveness, the presence of the holy spirit and so on that He has given. the trick is putting it to good use. and even though we can be ready to fight at a moments notice with our bag of weapons: the sword of truth, the shield of His strength, the cape of redemption and His is ever-present navigation, our battle to stay with Him is always challenged by the evils of our arch-enemy “temptation”.  look at the consequences of your life, the good fortunes and the declines, and notice where you were in your faith and commitment in choosing the way of selflessness instead of selfishness, charity instead of greed, the tough path or the easy road, humility instead of pride. notice the times we have fallen and what our focus was at the point of impact. but there is good news….the “super powers” that each one of us have been given to control our continual transformation is innate and renewed each day . the steady hand of God is always extended for the lift we need to rise above our consequences, start again and deliver an impact on the lives around us for His glory. and remember this, powers are only powerful when they are realized. discover the super strength that lies within and discover the God that put it there.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. -Jeremiah 29:11