Life has a funny way of dealing cards.

I know a lot of my friends have no idea how to play poker.  My step-dad taught me when I was young.  We played with toothpicks. 

When I went to Europe when I was in high school, it was valuable information.  We had a group of boys from a California that liked to play on our bus.  We didn’t play with real money, I’m thinking we played with chips but I really can’t remember.  I remember beating them but I acted like I had never played before…yes, it was fun!  Totally a “Poker Face!”

There are some days in my life, I feel like I’m holding a royal flush.  That means I’m holding the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of any suit.  (My preferred would be hearts, because hearts remind me of God’s ultimate love.  Can you tell I’m a visual person?  Everything has a meaning down to the color of my toe polish.)
When everything is going my way –i.e. my hubs calls me beautiful, my kids are playing together while encouraging one another in hushed tones, dinner (sushi) is prepared, the mailman leaves a huge box full of un-melted chocolate on my doorstep, and I’m able to take a long long long bath with a great book…my cards and heart is just FULL!

Some days I might have a flush.  A flush is 5 cards all of the same suit.  (Again, I like hearts!)  There are days when I barely have time to take a shower.  We get so busy, I forget to get something out for dinner.  Kids are fighting.  Husband barely talks to me, much less calls me beautiful!  You know the days.  But!  I still am breathing, still have food, still have a Father in Heaven that adores me, and not to mention perfume to cover the smell from the lack of shower. 

Then there are days that I have been dealt a straight.  5 cards, any suit, that are dealt in order, 10-9-8-7-6.  These are days that I have had a death in the family, my car won’t start, my kids are sick, my a/c goes out in 120 degree weather or my doctor gives me news that I have asthma or something worse.  A straight can be life changing.  These are the hands that God seems to be right there saying – “I’m here…I’m not letting go!  You are still the love of my life daughter!”

But, never-ever-ever in all my days, have I been dealt a hand of “garbage” or a “nothing” hand.  This is the hand where nothing matches other cards, no pairs, no straights, just a hand that needs to be put down.  God won’t allow it for his children!  There will always be HOPE and LOVE for you and me!

God is the ultimate dealer.  He deals cards to glorify Him!  He deals us cards for our good and not evil.  He never cheats or does something crooked to make us fail for the fun of it but rather for us to have to lean on Him, and Him alone.

I just need to be alone with the Dealer!  I need to learn His heartbeat and His way of doing things – which is certainly not how I would do things.  (That is why He is God and I am not!  Not to mention…not even possible.)

The scripture that keeps ringing in my head over and over this week is:
1 John 4:19
We love Him because He first loved us!

He loved me even before I was even introduced to Him.  He loved me before I even knew of His wonder and majesty.  He loved me before I knew that He was to be feared.  He loved me before I knew we could be friends.  He still loves me if I mess up.  He still loves me when I sin.  He still loves me when I have chosen to sin and disobey Him on purpose.  He still loves me when I come to Him and say I’m truly sorry.  He still loves because He is the ULTIMATE definition of LOVE!

Blessings to you!  You are loved today and forevermore!!!