Though.. That’s a word we use to introduce a new condition…sometimes it connects and combines two…it means nevertheless…even if…even when…
“…though I walk through…” . Many of us learned to recite the scripture containing these words. As a child, I didn’t really grasp the meaning of ‘the valley of the shadow of death…’ nor understand the concept of the complete helplessness in the face of suffering and death. Death has the final say. Except over Jesus Christ.
Death is something that no other person in this world can help us do. Nobody can do it for me, or for you. Except Jesus Christ.
We struggle against cancers and disease. We make dreadful mistakes that cause accidents of horrific consequence. Death’s shadow looms over those situations and circumstances, and we are helpless in its presence. Except through Jesus Christ.
Life is uncertain, though we forget that. Every one of us will go thru the experience of our bodies death, though we don’t like to think about it, and certainly don’t expect it today.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.”(Ps. 23:4)
“Oh death, where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory?…thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ( 1 Cor. 15:55, 57)
“When I walk into the thick of trouble, …..with Your Hand…save me.” (Ps. 138:7 The Message )
Even when I don’t see how..,,,Jesus does. Even if I can not…..Jesus can. Though the weight of sorrow settles in, when the stress of life heaps up…nevertheless, He is God, and He is my Caregiver, my Friend, My Rescuer, My Comforter…and He lives. Death has no power over Him. Hallelujah.
“finish what you started in me, God…Your love is eternal…” (Ps. 138:8 The Message )
“do not abandon the works of Your Hands…” (Ps. 138:8 NIV )
Many walk the path of death today...may God be so very near, they feel His Breath....
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Judgment
Judgment… Long black robes…the stern face of the person who has the final say. No…that’s the judge. What about judgeMENT? Never mind the WHO of it (God is The Who)….what about the IT…judgement….
Scripture tells the story of how the nation of Israel, who had been called out as a special people for a special purpose, got so settled into their cushy life that judgment fell on them. God had warned… “…when The Lord your God brings you into the land…..to give you ..houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide….when you eat and are satisfied…be careful that you do not forget the Lord Who brought you out….do not follow ..the gods of the peoples around you…the Lord commanded us …so that we might always prosper…’ (Deut. 6 scattered verses )
God is still the same God. His character has not changed. His mind has not changed. He is still holy and just. And He still metes out judgment in order to accomplish His purposes. He still warns us from the pages of scripture and the circumstances of our life.
“My soul yearns for You in the night, in the morning my spirit longs for You. When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) WHEN Your judgments come, not if….
The Babylonian army came. Life was dramatically changed. They were no longer free, but under tyranny and slavery. They lost their homes, everything they called ‘mine’ …was no longer.
“Lord, they came to You in their distress…when you disciplined them..” (Isa. 26:16) When disaster strikes and tragedy unfolds, we seem always to call Him then.
“Oh, God !!” we cry. And because He is The God of perfect Love, He still hears…
The judgment comes often BECAUSE of His love. The final judgment will also come. And because He is the perfect Holy God…when time is no more, it will be too late to cry out to Him. People…let’s look for His judgment now. Let’s see His Hand at work in the world around us. Let’s look hard to see His Fingerprints on our life and on our circumstances. He is God. And we are not. He is all powerful. We have only what He gives.
I have no fear for my eternal destiny. But I am fearful of the hardships that may lay ahead for us and for our children’s children if we do not return to Him. “IF my people, who are called by My Name…” That is me. And you, if you call yourself a follower of Christ. I don’t care about your ‘church’ label. If you belong to Christ….we must ‘humble ourselves”…lest He humble us ! We must ‘seek His Face’….and stop seeking only His Hand’s blessing ! We must examine ourselves and not just others….we must ‘turn from OUR wicked ways’ …
“Have mercy upon us, O God…” (Ps. 51:5)
Scripture tells the story of how the nation of Israel, who had been called out as a special people for a special purpose, got so settled into their cushy life that judgment fell on them. God had warned… “…when The Lord your God brings you into the land…..to give you ..houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide….when you eat and are satisfied…be careful that you do not forget the Lord Who brought you out….do not follow ..the gods of the peoples around you…the Lord commanded us …so that we might always prosper…’ (Deut. 6 scattered verses )
God is still the same God. His character has not changed. His mind has not changed. He is still holy and just. And He still metes out judgment in order to accomplish His purposes. He still warns us from the pages of scripture and the circumstances of our life.
“My soul yearns for You in the night, in the morning my spirit longs for You. When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) WHEN Your judgments come, not if….
The Babylonian army came. Life was dramatically changed. They were no longer free, but under tyranny and slavery. They lost their homes, everything they called ‘mine’ …was no longer.
“Lord, they came to You in their distress…when you disciplined them..” (Isa. 26:16) When disaster strikes and tragedy unfolds, we seem always to call Him then.
“Oh, God !!” we cry. And because He is The God of perfect Love, He still hears…
The judgment comes often BECAUSE of His love. The final judgment will also come. And because He is the perfect Holy God…when time is no more, it will be too late to cry out to Him. People…let’s look for His judgment now. Let’s see His Hand at work in the world around us. Let’s look hard to see His Fingerprints on our life and on our circumstances. He is God. And we are not. He is all powerful. We have only what He gives.
I have no fear for my eternal destiny. But I am fearful of the hardships that may lay ahead for us and for our children’s children if we do not return to Him. “IF my people, who are called by My Name…” That is me. And you, if you call yourself a follower of Christ. I don’t care about your ‘church’ label. If you belong to Christ….we must ‘humble ourselves”…lest He humble us ! We must ‘seek His Face’….and stop seeking only His Hand’s blessing ! We must examine ourselves and not just others….we must ‘turn from OUR wicked ways’ …
“Have mercy upon us, O God…” (Ps. 51:5)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Enter
Enter… Do you pay attention to the arrows that tell you where to enter at the bank drive thru? Ever try to get in the another way? Doesn’t make drive-thru banking very convenient…
Wal-Mart and some other places now have doors that will open for you from both directions…but a lot of times, you have to pay attention…you can’t enter thru the exit door. There is a specific way to come into the building.
There is one specific way to enter into The Presence of God. We’re blessed in this age to have that privilege…it hasn’t always been so. There was a time when only the high priest of that year could enter into that Holy Place, the Place Where He was….and only then after a lengthy set of rituals, rituals rich in meaning for us when we study them…with the knowledge available to us…we can know the ‘rest of the story’, as Paul Harvey would say.
“No one may enter The Temple of God except the priests and designated Levites..they are permitted in because they have been consecrated…’ (2Ch. 23:6 The Message) (That consecration process was something I am SO thankful to not be bound by!!)
The consecration process involved way too much to address in this short writing…it involved much time and detail, not to mention the animal sacrifices etc. To ‘consecrate’ pictures the actions of making something that is empty of a particular content…no longer so. The reason for consecration was to ‘sanctify’…to prepare and purify, to withdraw someone/something from ordinary use, and set them/it apart for a holy work. And it didn’t make them/it so for all time…
There is now a different way to enter…one way. But you don’t have to be a certain nationality, or of a certain family line..( as it once was..) There is no need to kill a bull or a goat. (Heb. 9:12) No sprinkling blood on specific places… No need for particular garments. (there was then..) No waiting on a certain day…not a temporary thing that has to be re-done next year.
Jesus fleshed out ALL that this whole thing pictured. He needed no ritual cleansing, He was pure, perfect, and holy. “..we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the Body of Jesus Christ, once for all..” (Heb. 10:10) His sacrificial blood is on the altar of heaven…and He extends the privilege of entrance to the Holiest of Holy Places to us……to me. And you.
I can enter in to that Holy Place. One Way. “Nothing impure will ever enter it…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev. 21:27) “I AM the Way, The Truth, and The Life…No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Praise God for the privilege of coming into His Presence on the merit of Messiah, thank You Lord Jesus…help us to grasp the magnitude of this blessing.
Wal-Mart and some other places now have doors that will open for you from both directions…but a lot of times, you have to pay attention…you can’t enter thru the exit door. There is a specific way to come into the building.
There is one specific way to enter into The Presence of God. We’re blessed in this age to have that privilege…it hasn’t always been so. There was a time when only the high priest of that year could enter into that Holy Place, the Place Where He was….and only then after a lengthy set of rituals, rituals rich in meaning for us when we study them…with the knowledge available to us…we can know the ‘rest of the story’, as Paul Harvey would say.
“No one may enter The Temple of God except the priests and designated Levites..they are permitted in because they have been consecrated…’ (2Ch. 23:6 The Message) (That consecration process was something I am SO thankful to not be bound by!!)
The consecration process involved way too much to address in this short writing…it involved much time and detail, not to mention the animal sacrifices etc. To ‘consecrate’ pictures the actions of making something that is empty of a particular content…no longer so. The reason for consecration was to ‘sanctify’…to prepare and purify, to withdraw someone/something from ordinary use, and set them/it apart for a holy work. And it didn’t make them/it so for all time…
There is now a different way to enter…one way. But you don’t have to be a certain nationality, or of a certain family line..( as it once was..) There is no need to kill a bull or a goat. (Heb. 9:12) No sprinkling blood on specific places… No need for particular garments. (there was then..) No waiting on a certain day…not a temporary thing that has to be re-done next year.
Jesus fleshed out ALL that this whole thing pictured. He needed no ritual cleansing, He was pure, perfect, and holy. “..we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the Body of Jesus Christ, once for all..” (Heb. 10:10) His sacrificial blood is on the altar of heaven…and He extends the privilege of entrance to the Holiest of Holy Places to us……to me. And you.
I can enter in to that Holy Place. One Way. “Nothing impure will ever enter it…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev. 21:27) “I AM the Way, The Truth, and The Life…No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Praise God for the privilege of coming into His Presence on the merit of Messiah, thank You Lord Jesus…help us to grasp the magnitude of this blessing.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Mercy
Mercy… That is my by-word. Perhaps I should break that habit, after looking closer at the word, I may be using it ‘in vain’….
In vain…what is that ? A quick word study shows me that it’s ‘worthless’or ‘useless’. I certain do not want to use the word ‘mercy’ in such a way that it diminishes the concept of mercy in any way…I don’t want mercy to ever be portrayed ‘in vain’.
‘chanan’ is a word that is used 75 times in the Bible. In the King James Version of our Bible, sixteen of those times, it is translated ‘mercy’, twelve times it is translated ‘merciful’ It means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, to have pity on…
Mercy is important…profoundly important. There are many times when I am faced with situations and circumstances that are beyond my ability to understand.
I don’t know why young women suffer cancer…or ANYone….and why do they enjoy renewed health, and suffer yet again. Why do children suffer disease? Why do babies have to suffer and die? Worse still, why do they have to live suffering?
Why do people who love and cherish children have inability to have children of their own, while others have child after child only to neglect and ignore them?
Why do good people die in tragic accidents, absolutely no fault of their own?
Why do spouses decide to reject their vows and turn their backs on commitments? Why do parents reject their own offspring, or even worse….mistreat and abuse them?
I don’t know. And often, I don’t know how to even pray about it. I wouldn’t know how to give my orders to God even if that were the way to approach Him. But I KNOW that He sees, that He cares, and that He can bring blessing from ALL suffering when we put both the suffering and ourselves in His capable Hand. “..ALL things word for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans8:28NIV)
“….we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26,27 NIV)
Praise God we who love Him and have been called are not left alone and to our own devices. ‘I’m absolutely convinced that nothing…nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable…absolutely nothing can get between me and God’s love because of the way that Jesus my Master has embraced me.’ (Rom. 8:38,39 The Message personalized by me)
Lord God open the floodgates of Your mercy to those who need You so desperately right now.... Hallelujah…
In vain…what is that ? A quick word study shows me that it’s ‘worthless’or ‘useless’. I certain do not want to use the word ‘mercy’ in such a way that it diminishes the concept of mercy in any way…I don’t want mercy to ever be portrayed ‘in vain’.
‘chanan’ is a word that is used 75 times in the Bible. In the King James Version of our Bible, sixteen of those times, it is translated ‘mercy’, twelve times it is translated ‘merciful’ It means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, to have pity on…
Mercy is important…profoundly important. There are many times when I am faced with situations and circumstances that are beyond my ability to understand.
I don’t know why young women suffer cancer…or ANYone….and why do they enjoy renewed health, and suffer yet again. Why do children suffer disease? Why do babies have to suffer and die? Worse still, why do they have to live suffering?
Why do people who love and cherish children have inability to have children of their own, while others have child after child only to neglect and ignore them?
Why do good people die in tragic accidents, absolutely no fault of their own?
Why do spouses decide to reject their vows and turn their backs on commitments? Why do parents reject their own offspring, or even worse….mistreat and abuse them?
I don’t know. And often, I don’t know how to even pray about it. I wouldn’t know how to give my orders to God even if that were the way to approach Him. But I KNOW that He sees, that He cares, and that He can bring blessing from ALL suffering when we put both the suffering and ourselves in His capable Hand. “..ALL things word for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans8:28NIV)
“….we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26,27 NIV)
Praise God we who love Him and have been called are not left alone and to our own devices. ‘I’m absolutely convinced that nothing…nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable…absolutely nothing can get between me and God’s love because of the way that Jesus my Master has embraced me.’ (Rom. 8:38,39 The Message personalized by me)
Lord God open the floodgates of Your mercy to those who need You so desperately right now.... Hallelujah…
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wrath
Wrath… The Bible mentions ‘the wrath of God’ often. I don’t often use the word ‘wrath’. When I do, I have in mind uncontrolled anger….What is wrath in your mind?
“He that believeth on the Son has everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.’ (John 3:36 KJV )
After reading that verse, what image do you have of our God? An angry, out-of-control, fit-throwing Deity, lashing out at the very man He created because of their disobeying His directions?
I confess, that was once my image. And it was idolatry, for that is indeed another god…it is not the one and only true God.
God has no problem with self-control. In The Person of Jesus Christ, He allowed much ridicule and suffering, even to innocent death on a Roman cross. I would have lost my self-control long before Calvary’s hill.
In this passage, the word that is translated ‘wrath’ is ‘orge’. As with all words, it has a wide meaning, some that broadened my view as to what is involved other than anger.
Desire
Movement or agitation of the soul
Impulse
Indignation
Violent passion
I believe with no doubt, that there will be consequences of rejecting God’s Son. But it won’t be because God is angry and wants revenge. It will be because that has been our choice. Even in our disbelief, God’s desire and agitation of His heart is still that we would believe and accept Him in obedient faith. ‘The Lord ….is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’(2 Peter 3:9 KJV)
I also believe with no doubt that He will eternally reject those who have rejected Him. And it will be without the life that He offers….the everlasting life that is ours when we believe on the Son….(believe…another word to consider, ‘the devils believe, and tremble’ James 2:19 it must mean more than accepting as fact… )
To enter into the next realm without the life God provides….that is an option. But I’ll choose life. I choose Jesus. I think those who reject Him have no idea what they are choosing…death instead of life. Eternally….. .
“He that believeth on the Son has everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.’ (John 3:36 KJV )
After reading that verse, what image do you have of our God? An angry, out-of-control, fit-throwing Deity, lashing out at the very man He created because of their disobeying His directions?
I confess, that was once my image. And it was idolatry, for that is indeed another god…it is not the one and only true God.
God has no problem with self-control. In The Person of Jesus Christ, He allowed much ridicule and suffering, even to innocent death on a Roman cross. I would have lost my self-control long before Calvary’s hill.
In this passage, the word that is translated ‘wrath’ is ‘orge’. As with all words, it has a wide meaning, some that broadened my view as to what is involved other than anger.
Desire
Movement or agitation of the soul
Impulse
Indignation
Violent passion
I believe with no doubt, that there will be consequences of rejecting God’s Son. But it won’t be because God is angry and wants revenge. It will be because that has been our choice. Even in our disbelief, God’s desire and agitation of His heart is still that we would believe and accept Him in obedient faith. ‘The Lord ….is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’(2 Peter 3:9 KJV)
I also believe with no doubt that He will eternally reject those who have rejected Him. And it will be without the life that He offers….the everlasting life that is ours when we believe on the Son….(believe…another word to consider, ‘the devils believe, and tremble’ James 2:19 it must mean more than accepting as fact… )
To enter into the next realm without the life God provides….that is an option. But I’ll choose life. I choose Jesus. I think those who reject Him have no idea what they are choosing…death instead of life. Eternally….. .
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Diet
Diet.. Everyone is on a diet. You probably are thinking about the ‘don’t eat anything you really want’ diet…..the ‘lose weight’ kind. Trouble is, a lot of us are on a ‘gain weight’ diet, or perhaps a ‘be unhealthy’ diet….
If you eat, you are on a diet. Maybe not a specific, conscious, on purpose diet, but you have one. We eat or we don’t live long….and sometimes we don’t live long because of our eating.
It’ a complicated subject, one I am led back to time and time again. My mouth. What I put in it, and what comes out of it.
Jesus said this, ‘Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated?’ (Matt. 15:17 The Message) There is purpose in our eating, and I believe we are to enjoy our meals…Jesus Himself feasted... but the ultimate purpose of food is to fuel the engines of this body we reside in. The nutrients are extracted and the rest is eliminated. It’s gross, but that’s the truth of it.
There is another diet that is critical to our health, the spiritual diet of feeding on God’s Word. ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s Mouth.’ (Matt. 4:4 The Message)
What is this ‘staying alive’ thing in the Matthew 4 passage?…just keeping the motor running? I think not.
‘The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the final day….whoever eats this Bread will live always.’ (John 6: 54,58 The Message )
I have a candy jar on my workstation. People comment on how pretty it is. But when they put their hand in and taste what it holds…they want more. (chocolate easter eggs are gooooood !! )
‘Taste and see that the Lord is good..’ (Ps. 34:8NIV)
I have tasted…and now I crave Him more and more. It has a much more powerful draw than candy eggs….I can’t sustain a healthy life on candy eggs, but I will have a long life…eternal life. I intentionally feed on The Bread of heaven. He sustains my spirit. He will sustain my life eternally.
‘…If anyone eats of this bread, she will live forever….’ (John 6:51 NIV personalized by me ) Hallelujah.
If you eat, you are on a diet. Maybe not a specific, conscious, on purpose diet, but you have one. We eat or we don’t live long….and sometimes we don’t live long because of our eating.
It’ a complicated subject, one I am led back to time and time again. My mouth. What I put in it, and what comes out of it.
Jesus said this, ‘Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated?’ (Matt. 15:17 The Message) There is purpose in our eating, and I believe we are to enjoy our meals…Jesus Himself feasted... but the ultimate purpose of food is to fuel the engines of this body we reside in. The nutrients are extracted and the rest is eliminated. It’s gross, but that’s the truth of it.
There is another diet that is critical to our health, the spiritual diet of feeding on God’s Word. ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s Mouth.’ (Matt. 4:4 The Message)
What is this ‘staying alive’ thing in the Matthew 4 passage?…just keeping the motor running? I think not.
‘The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the final day….whoever eats this Bread will live always.’ (John 6: 54,58 The Message )
I have a candy jar on my workstation. People comment on how pretty it is. But when they put their hand in and taste what it holds…they want more. (chocolate easter eggs are gooooood !! )
‘Taste and see that the Lord is good..’ (Ps. 34:8NIV)
I have tasted…and now I crave Him more and more. It has a much more powerful draw than candy eggs….I can’t sustain a healthy life on candy eggs, but I will have a long life…eternal life. I intentionally feed on The Bread of heaven. He sustains my spirit. He will sustain my life eternally.
‘…If anyone eats of this bread, she will live forever….’ (John 6:51 NIV personalized by me ) Hallelujah.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Ask
Ask.. I remember when my sons were small, they would point and grunt. In order for them to learn language, I insisted that they speak. I made them say what it was they wanted. I made them ask, and they learned to communicate…
I wonder if we don’t point and grunt to God. Two times this morning in my reading, I have come to the issue of articulating our desires to God in prayer. Why should it matter if we actually articulate into words, whether spoken, written, or mental? Why go to that extent, when God knows everything already? Why make my child say the word ‘water’…when it was obvious to me he was thirsty?
I am convinced that God wants me to tell Him specifically what my issue is. When I name it, I then go on to ask Him to ‘fix’ it. In my asking, it is ME who learns what the issue really and truly is. ALL of the issue…the deep dark places of it…and sometimes it’s not pretty
So often when (and IF) I honestly and openly go to God with things, going thru this proceess…I discover things in my own heart that I didn’t realize were there…and should NOT be there. Often, I end up with an entirely different agenda in prayer ! Because He instructed me to say what it was I wanted… I learned to communicate TO Him…and in turn, and because of that, I am blessed to have communication WITH Him.
My sons would point to soda. They needed water or milk. I often point to things when in fact, those things are not best. I ask that God use me…then I complain about the difficult situation I’m in, and want an escape. My sons pointed to cookies, and they needed food that would provide nutrients for their growing bodies and sustain longer than a sugar rush. I point to a feel good place of ministry, and He hands me an assignment that makes me grow faith muscles.
“I cry out loudly to God…I spill out all my complaints before Him, and spell out my troubles in detail…” ( Ps. 142:2 The Message)
“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jer. 33:3 NIV)
It’s not a drive thru window…we don’t place our order with God. There’s no ‘have it your way’ slogan. But I can trust Him enough to spill out the entire truth of my heart to Him, revealing it to Him AND to myself….knowing it is safe to do so. He loves me enough to look at all the ugly with me, and He is mighty enough to make it into something beautiful. I didn’t even know some of that stuff was there…even though it was no surprise to Him.
Yes indeed…God did know, always knows. But I do not. It is in communication with Him that I learn.
I wonder if we don’t point and grunt to God. Two times this morning in my reading, I have come to the issue of articulating our desires to God in prayer. Why should it matter if we actually articulate into words, whether spoken, written, or mental? Why go to that extent, when God knows everything already? Why make my child say the word ‘water’…when it was obvious to me he was thirsty?
I am convinced that God wants me to tell Him specifically what my issue is. When I name it, I then go on to ask Him to ‘fix’ it. In my asking, it is ME who learns what the issue really and truly is. ALL of the issue…the deep dark places of it…and sometimes it’s not pretty
So often when (and IF) I honestly and openly go to God with things, going thru this proceess…I discover things in my own heart that I didn’t realize were there…and should NOT be there. Often, I end up with an entirely different agenda in prayer ! Because He instructed me to say what it was I wanted… I learned to communicate TO Him…and in turn, and because of that, I am blessed to have communication WITH Him.
My sons would point to soda. They needed water or milk. I often point to things when in fact, those things are not best. I ask that God use me…then I complain about the difficult situation I’m in, and want an escape. My sons pointed to cookies, and they needed food that would provide nutrients for their growing bodies and sustain longer than a sugar rush. I point to a feel good place of ministry, and He hands me an assignment that makes me grow faith muscles.
“I cry out loudly to God…I spill out all my complaints before Him, and spell out my troubles in detail…” ( Ps. 142:2 The Message)
“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jer. 33:3 NIV)
It’s not a drive thru window…we don’t place our order with God. There’s no ‘have it your way’ slogan. But I can trust Him enough to spill out the entire truth of my heart to Him, revealing it to Him AND to myself….knowing it is safe to do so. He loves me enough to look at all the ugly with me, and He is mighty enough to make it into something beautiful. I didn’t even know some of that stuff was there…even though it was no surprise to Him.
Yes indeed…God did know, always knows. But I do not. It is in communication with Him that I learn.
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