Happy Monday.
Do you keep a diary or journal?
I do on an intermittent basis.
Yesterday, I came upon my thoughts written ten years ago. I was blessed as I recounted my experiences.
July 26, 2003, I entered my thoughts of praise to God for finding my “lost” luggage.
I was invited by my son and his family to join them in the Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee to be exact, for my first vacation after my husband’s death.
Excitedly, I packed, took a flight, and I arrived for a great time. I arrived, but my luggage did not.
For three days, no extra clothes. Do you know how hot it is in Tennessee in July? Phew!
I asked God for His intervention on my behalf, but decided to go ahead and buy a couple of things, knowing all the time He was “up to something.” He always is. It did come!
As Matthew Henry stated, “Man’s adversity is God’s opportunity.” He loves to surprise us.
Exactly one year later, I wrote to say I was relinquishing my lovely jewelry that had been taken in a burglary. It was already in thieving hands, but I didn’t want to be tied to them by a hateful, vengeful attitude.
So, in my mind, I gave it to them, knowing that we must always hold things loosely in our hands. Anyway, it’s all “wood, hay, and stubble.”
Sound too pious? Too goody goody?
Well I don’t always choose the right attitude. But in doing so, situations lose the power to hurt us.
I heard this called the “prayer of relinquishment” many years ago. It came from the book, Something More, by Catherine Marshall.
She was the wife of Peter Marshall, who was the chaplain of the senate. She was in and out of hospitals because of tuberculosis for several years, very ill.
She fought the disease and perhaps got a little mad at God. But the time came when she laid it all down and surrendered her will to God’s.
Her disease took an upward turn.
A quote of Catherine’s is:
“Often God shuts a door in our face so that He can open the door through which He wants us to go.”
Her experience gave her a depth, the “something more,” and her book blessed me. And it has stayed with me these years.
A good formula, Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoicing in hope; Patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”
Charles Swindoll says, “When God is involved, anything can happen.
Monday with Beverly 
Wonderful reminder. Many thanks.
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Thank u Mrs. Hyles for reminding me to keep things and the way I would like things to go loosely in His hands always-so needed this at the close of this month-it so fits together!!
Be strong:)-praying for u
Patty
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I love that quote! God shutting the door. so we HAVE TO go thru the door HE wants! My hubby is always reminding me…”maybe GOD has s different plan”! Love you!
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Thank you, Mrs. Hyles. I have been struggling with just letting God take control of things in my life lately. God bless you!
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“Letting go” is a hard thing to do for me. Getting ready fora move has made me realize I need a “letting go” time. Thank you. “Letting go” of some ny own will is also hard. Needed that reminder. God blesses us through you.
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Thank you for that reminder. Your posts are always a blessing.
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Always on time, always a blessing.
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Oh Boy! Do I ever need that! Even after 31 years of being saved, I still need to be reminded that if I can trust God with my eternity, I can trust Him with all my trials and tribulations here on earth. Thank you for always being so faithful. Thanks for letting God use you.
Love you.
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Needed that reminder today!! Thank you!
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I remember when you told us about your home being broken into at LBT’s Soul-winning Clinic. I felt so sad for you, because I knew that Brother Hyles had given you some pieces of that jewelry. At about the same time, a teenage neighbor boy had burglarized our home while we were at church. And you’re right about learning to relinquish your “things.” It’s better than becoming bitter.
Just yesterday, at lunch, my daughter-in-law and I were talking about Catherine Marshall. I had been reading about her amazing life this past week. Inspiring! She certainly didn’t let her circumstances hold her back
Thank you for your post today! It’s just what I needed as I’ve been trying to “let go ” of some of my books. Ugh!
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As always, another beautiful article. Thank you.
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Very good. I’m going to look for this book, sounds like a good read–and I love to read. Thank you for sharing your life and experiences.
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Thank you for reminding me how to let go of things that I have no control over. This has always been a tough one for me. Being of German heritage I am stubborn, well that is what my husband says, and he is right. What a wonderful pattern you have given me to follow this monday morning when I am once again faced with health problems and have some decisions to make. God bless you, thank you and love ya. Mrs. Lee Ann Gray
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It is wonderful that you are back from your vacation, even though you were gone just a short while you were surely missed. I was reminded once again how easy it is to get tangled up in the happenings and forget Gods intimacy and loving care. I have a little oval Christmas plaque which hangs by curled wires that says, “Don’t get your tinsel tangled.” I have a place for it now where it hangs all year long! I also remember Br. Hyle’s words when referring to moments of hardship, he would ask to see He who is invisible. Thank you Mrs. Hyle’s, what a blessing you are even to us far away friends. I love you.
cherie young
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