“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:11-13.
At this point God gave Elijah a set of commands for him to carry out. This story holds such a dear place in my heart for God is in the whispers of life – He sustains and guides us during our trials and seasons of testing but is often most visible to us during the calm after the storm to rejuvenate and restore us. When something catastrophic occurs we are tempted to petition God as to why He sent the tragedy. In the story of Elijah we are told three times that the Lord was not in the chaos but was in the whisper after. If Elijah had not been obedient to the Lord but instead stayed in the cave out of fear he would have missed the “passing by of the Lord.” To receive the whisper he had to experience the wind, the earthquake and the fire all the while keeping his eyes focused on finding the Lord. In our pursuit of finding God in our trials, we must stay focused on hearing the whisper of the Lord and not on the circumstances of our earthquakes. We may not know what today will bring but we will always know Who each day will bring!
How can you position yourself "on the mountain" to ensure you will not miss the "passing by of the LORD"?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
True Peace
"My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27.
Peace - an interesting word. The word peace in Hebrew, shalom, means the completion, fulfillmemt, unity and harmony that come as a result of God's presence. The word peace in Greek, eirene, means to bind together creating the harmony, security and joy that come from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Both interpretations have one thing in common - permanence as a result from God's presence.
When we decide to navigate our lives with the peace of God instead of the counterfeit peace of the world we live a life apart from chaos and changing circumstances. We have a permanent peace grounded in the Who and not the what! Once we defeat the temptation of placing our trust in what we see, true peace in all circumstances will be experienced.
Peace - an interesting word. The word peace in Hebrew, shalom, means the completion, fulfillmemt, unity and harmony that come as a result of God's presence. The word peace in Greek, eirene, means to bind together creating the harmony, security and joy that come from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Both interpretations have one thing in common - permanence as a result from God's presence.
When we decide to navigate our lives with the peace of God instead of the counterfeit peace of the world we live a life apart from chaos and changing circumstances. We have a permanent peace grounded in the Who and not the what! Once we defeat the temptation of placing our trust in what we see, true peace in all circumstances will be experienced.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Man's Approval
When David fled from Saul for fear of his life, Achish, King of Gath agreed to assign David and his servants a place in the country town called Ziklag. When Achish and the Philistines were getting ready to fight against Israel, David wanted to join them. “So Achish called David and said to him, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until now, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers” 1 Samuel 29:6-7.
David was still allowed to live in his assigned place but was not given the same rights as a citizen. He was a stranger in his assigned town and was subject to the approval of man.
How many times do we feel like a stranger or alien in our assigned seasons? We are living through a season where we can't seem to find our peace, value or satisfaction. We are simply existing without real purpose and our future seems based on the outcome of something or the approval of someone else.
By seeking the approval of God instead of man we are able to gain the satisfaction and approval of God with any season in which we are living. Man comes with his own agenda and rarely matches what God has for us.
Father, help me keep my eyes on your agenda, your favor and your assignment. Don't allow the opinions of others to dissuade me from accomplishing the goals you have for me in this assignment for the Kingdom. Amen.
David was still allowed to live in his assigned place but was not given the same rights as a citizen. He was a stranger in his assigned town and was subject to the approval of man.
How many times do we feel like a stranger or alien in our assigned seasons? We are living through a season where we can't seem to find our peace, value or satisfaction. We are simply existing without real purpose and our future seems based on the outcome of something or the approval of someone else.
By seeking the approval of God instead of man we are able to gain the satisfaction and approval of God with any season in which we are living. Man comes with his own agenda and rarely matches what God has for us.
Father, help me keep my eyes on your agenda, your favor and your assignment. Don't allow the opinions of others to dissuade me from accomplishing the goals you have for me in this assignment for the Kingdom. Amen.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Shattered Dreams
I don't have but a minute because I am taking my dear sister Beth to chemo. It was a rough day yesterday and hopefully better today. I read something this morning I would like to leave as my post. It is a quote from Ken Gire, The North Face of God.
"When suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, God stoops to pick up the pieces. But he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves. Instead, he sifts through the rubble and selects some of the shards as raw material for another project - a mosaic that tells the story of redemption."
This supports my belief that everything that comes to us passes through God's filter and He will not allow anything that doesn't support His purpose for us. He selects what pieces of our lives need to be removed, reworked and restored. If we allow Him, he will create a new "vase" in us - one of beauty, purpose and one that displays the reflection of Christ in our lives.
"When suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, God stoops to pick up the pieces. But he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves. Instead, he sifts through the rubble and selects some of the shards as raw material for another project - a mosaic that tells the story of redemption."
This supports my belief that everything that comes to us passes through God's filter and He will not allow anything that doesn't support His purpose for us. He selects what pieces of our lives need to be removed, reworked and restored. If we allow Him, he will create a new "vase" in us - one of beauty, purpose and one that displays the reflection of Christ in our lives.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Recognizing God's Voice
"When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" John 10:4. (italicized mine)
As a mother of three and grandmother of two, this verse holds such an endearing place in my heart. A parent's voice is recognized by the loving and continual communication of love between parent and child. This is exemplified in a baby when its mother enters the room and begins speaking. From early on in the life of a baby they learn to recognize, depend and respond to its parents' voices. How many times have we held someone else's child only to have them strain to find their mother as she speaks? There is a comfortable and secure awareness on the part of the child that now all is alright since they have heard the soothing and loving voice of the one they recognize as mother or daddy.
Our Father desires for us to have this instant recognition of His voice. It is only through our efforts and pursuit of "knowing His voice" that we may recognize and enjoy the security and awareness that our loving Father desires to protect, nurture and guide us through our lives. Knowing His voice involves reading and meditating on His word, continual communion with Him during the day, both believing and anticipating that He is going to speak to us.
What steps can you take to position yourself daily to "recognize His voice"?
As a mother of three and grandmother of two, this verse holds such an endearing place in my heart. A parent's voice is recognized by the loving and continual communication of love between parent and child. This is exemplified in a baby when its mother enters the room and begins speaking. From early on in the life of a baby they learn to recognize, depend and respond to its parents' voices. How many times have we held someone else's child only to have them strain to find their mother as she speaks? There is a comfortable and secure awareness on the part of the child that now all is alright since they have heard the soothing and loving voice of the one they recognize as mother or daddy.
Our Father desires for us to have this instant recognition of His voice. It is only through our efforts and pursuit of "knowing His voice" that we may recognize and enjoy the security and awareness that our loving Father desires to protect, nurture and guide us through our lives. Knowing His voice involves reading and meditating on His word, continual communion with Him during the day, both believing and anticipating that He is going to speak to us.
What steps can you take to position yourself daily to "recognize His voice"?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Unsearchable Things
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" Jeremiah 33:3.
"Calling on God" to me is an intentional and continous pursuit of God and what His purpose is for our lives. It is not a "call on demand" type of relationship but more of an "always on the line" type of relationship. The answers from God will come once we have decided to commune with Him all during the day much like we do with ourselves. We talk to ourselves consciously and subconsciously throughout the day in an effort to resolve mindful things. How many times have I called upon myself only to be disappointed in the results I have ended up with due to the fact that I didn't have all of the information? The beauty of God is that His answers are grounded in the fact that He knows what the big puzzle should look like in the end. We make decisions based on a corner of the puzzle and we do not see how it fits with the remainder.
God knows all of these great and unsearchable things that will complete the puzzle if we are simply patient with the Gamemaster. When we call on Him prepare to wait for His answer for it is unique to us and He has all of the information needed to complete that beautiful and purposeful puzzle in our lives.
"Calling on God" to me is an intentional and continous pursuit of God and what His purpose is for our lives. It is not a "call on demand" type of relationship but more of an "always on the line" type of relationship. The answers from God will come once we have decided to commune with Him all during the day much like we do with ourselves. We talk to ourselves consciously and subconsciously throughout the day in an effort to resolve mindful things. How many times have I called upon myself only to be disappointed in the results I have ended up with due to the fact that I didn't have all of the information? The beauty of God is that His answers are grounded in the fact that He knows what the big puzzle should look like in the end. We make decisions based on a corner of the puzzle and we do not see how it fits with the remainder.
God knows all of these great and unsearchable things that will complete the puzzle if we are simply patient with the Gamemaster. When we call on Him prepare to wait for His answer for it is unique to us and He has all of the information needed to complete that beautiful and purposeful puzzle in our lives.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Spiritual Recipe
"Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" Phil. 2:6-8.
Jesus, God the Son, set aside all rights He had and came down to "take on" sin and was victorious. Sin was defeated through the cross by His humility and the obedience to do the will of God the Father. The success of walking like Christ is partially found in this "spiritual recipe".
- Set aside what we see as our rights ("...to deny a man his rights before the Most High" Lamentations 3:35) such as our right to be angry, bitter or entitled to something.
- Take on the nature of a servant ("But I am among you as one who serves" Luke 22:27b) and think of something you can do for others.
- Humble ourselves to God ("Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves" - Phil 2:3) such as get face down in prayer.
- Become obedient to death ("Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it" Luke 9:23-24) such as letting go of our old ways which have proven unsuccessful.
We can never be perfect on this earth but we can live "blamelessly" (living a life focused on sinlessness). We must intentionally take on the attitudes Christ did while on earth such as those listed above to set us up to be as blameless in our walk as we can.
Jesus, God the Son, set aside all rights He had and came down to "take on" sin and was victorious. Sin was defeated through the cross by His humility and the obedience to do the will of God the Father. The success of walking like Christ is partially found in this "spiritual recipe".
- Set aside what we see as our rights ("...to deny a man his rights before the Most High" Lamentations 3:35) such as our right to be angry, bitter or entitled to something.
- Take on the nature of a servant ("But I am among you as one who serves" Luke 22:27b) and think of something you can do for others.
- Humble ourselves to God ("Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves" - Phil 2:3) such as get face down in prayer.
- Become obedient to death ("Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it" Luke 9:23-24) such as letting go of our old ways which have proven unsuccessful.
We can never be perfect on this earth but we can live "blamelessly" (living a life focused on sinlessness). We must intentionally take on the attitudes Christ did while on earth such as those listed above to set us up to be as blameless in our walk as we can.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Dark Moments Unresolved
"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God" 1 Samuel 30:6.
The Amalakites had raided Ziklag, where David and his men had left their wives and children. The woman of all ages had been carried off by the Amalakites and David's men were outraged. Their sadness turned to bitterness and talk of stoning David was circulating. David turned his distress and fear towards the LORD to find strength. Notice that the situation didn't resolve itself creating strength. He found strength in the unresolved season independent of the circumstances. This is a huge lesson and the sooner we can learn it the better we can navigate through our seasons. The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us (Charles Stanley - Life Principle 7). The ending of our dark moments are not always the resolution of our trial but the dark moments ending should be aligned with when we feel peace and strength from God apart from the circumstances. We can feel and experience Light within our dark like David.
Are you experiencing a dark season illuminating light or are you being engulfed by the dark?
The Amalakites had raided Ziklag, where David and his men had left their wives and children. The woman of all ages had been carried off by the Amalakites and David's men were outraged. Their sadness turned to bitterness and talk of stoning David was circulating. David turned his distress and fear towards the LORD to find strength. Notice that the situation didn't resolve itself creating strength. He found strength in the unresolved season independent of the circumstances. This is a huge lesson and the sooner we can learn it the better we can navigate through our seasons. The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us (Charles Stanley - Life Principle 7). The ending of our dark moments are not always the resolution of our trial but the dark moments ending should be aligned with when we feel peace and strength from God apart from the circumstances. We can feel and experience Light within our dark like David.
Are you experiencing a dark season illuminating light or are you being engulfed by the dark?
Friday, June 13, 2008
Prison or Palace?
"But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden...The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did" Genesis 39:20b-21, 23.
Joseph was unjustifiably accused of a crime and imprisoned. Joseph remained faithful in his trust in God and his belief that God was with him whether he was in the prison or in the palace. Our prisons should not be a resting place for our eyes but a resting place for our knees. Joseph would never have been exalted to the level in Pharaoh's kingdom that he was without the experience of his imprisonment. The blessing and reward came as a result of his faithfulness during his time in prison.
Do we respond to God the same whether we are in prison or in the palace, in the valley or on the mountain and regardless of famine or fruitfulness?
Joseph was unjustifiably accused of a crime and imprisoned. Joseph remained faithful in his trust in God and his belief that God was with him whether he was in the prison or in the palace. Our prisons should not be a resting place for our eyes but a resting place for our knees. Joseph would never have been exalted to the level in Pharaoh's kingdom that he was without the experience of his imprisonment. The blessing and reward came as a result of his faithfulness during his time in prison.
Do we respond to God the same whether we are in prison or in the palace, in the valley or on the mountain and regardless of famine or fruitfulness?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Out of the Mouths of Donkeys
In the Old Testament there is a story tucked away which always makes me laugh! In Numbers 21 we find King Balak terrified of the army of Israel due to the fact they have just defeated the Amorites who were much stronger an army than King Balak's Moabites. In an effort to defeat the Israelites King Balak summoned Balaam, a pagan prophet to come and curse the Israelites. Although God commands Balaam to go He commands Balaam to only do what God tells him. Instead of waiting on God's instructions he mounts his donkey and travels toward King Balak at which point God uses an Angel of the Lord to distract and deter the donkey three times. God finally reveals to Balaam what the donkey has been seeing all along. "Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown." Numbers 22:31. The words God spoke came through the mouth of the donkey. How humiliating Balaam must have felt that God chose to use such a lowly beast to relay wisdom to this prophet.
It is easy to go through life making decisions based on our own knowledge. Many times God uses the simplest of ways to convey His message to us. It is up to us to recognize and see "the Angel of the Lord standing in the road". Has God ever used a "donkey" to bring about your humility in a situation to reveal to you His thoughts and words?
It is easy to go through life making decisions based on our own knowledge. Many times God uses the simplest of ways to convey His message to us. It is up to us to recognize and see "the Angel of the Lord standing in the road". Has God ever used a "donkey" to bring about your humility in a situation to reveal to you His thoughts and words?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Taking Hold of the Scarlet Cord
“The men said to her, ‘This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down…’” Joshua 2:17.
In preparation to Joshua taking Jericho, spies were sent to scope out their enemy. Rahab, a prostitute secretly hid the spies and pled that she and her family be spared when the land of Jericho was invaded. The scarlet cord became a covenant between Rahab and the spies. It symbolized that each party had promised something to the other party. It was a visible reminder that God would be in control and both Rahab’s family and the children of Israel would be victorious in the upcoming battle.
When Jesus Christ was crucified He became the scarlet cord who delivers us from all of our trials and tribulations in life. The scarlet cord is afforded to everyone but only some will hang it in their window.
Once we have found Christ and have a safe place of refuge in Him we must always draw near to the Scarlet Cord and not stray away. When the battle comes and the enemy nears will the scarlet cord be visible in our window and blow in the wind to show God's glory and power or will the window be dark?
In preparation to Joshua taking Jericho, spies were sent to scope out their enemy. Rahab, a prostitute secretly hid the spies and pled that she and her family be spared when the land of Jericho was invaded. The scarlet cord became a covenant between Rahab and the spies. It symbolized that each party had promised something to the other party. It was a visible reminder that God would be in control and both Rahab’s family and the children of Israel would be victorious in the upcoming battle.
When Jesus Christ was crucified He became the scarlet cord who delivers us from all of our trials and tribulations in life. The scarlet cord is afforded to everyone but only some will hang it in their window.
Once we have found Christ and have a safe place of refuge in Him we must always draw near to the Scarlet Cord and not stray away. When the battle comes and the enemy nears will the scarlet cord be visible in our window and blow in the wind to show God's glory and power or will the window be dark?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Sword Drawn!
"Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places" Deut. 33:29.
This is one small part of the blessing Moses pronounced onto the Israelites before they entered the promised land of Canaan. He is exhorting them to see themselves through the eyes of God - a people who is saved and protected by the Almighty God serving as their shield. The glorious sword is of course the Word which is everything we need to be victorious in all situations. I began thinking about a sword and how vital it was in war. The success of using the sword was to have it fully drawn so it could penetrate deep into the enemy giving that final deathblow. We too are to always have our Sword fully drawn ready for war opposed to having it buried deep in the sheath!
Don't enter your battles with a partially drawn Sword and sharpen your Sword daily to prepare for those battles.
Looking back in my life I see that during my daughter's drug use my knees were raw and my heart broken but my sword was not drawn. Although I was raised in the church and committed many verses to memory I had never used the Word as a weapon against my circumstances. My Sword was dull and deeply buried in its cover. Thankfully God delivered me through this time of deep and long running suffering. Had my Sword been sharpened daily and fully drawn I could have experienced the peace and comfort that God promises through knowing Him and His word. I now enjoy running into battle with my Sword fully drawn and I spend time in His word daily so I will enter battle with confidence, trust in Him and complete faith in the Commander!
Is your Sword sharp?
This is one small part of the blessing Moses pronounced onto the Israelites before they entered the promised land of Canaan. He is exhorting them to see themselves through the eyes of God - a people who is saved and protected by the Almighty God serving as their shield. The glorious sword is of course the Word which is everything we need to be victorious in all situations. I began thinking about a sword and how vital it was in war. The success of using the sword was to have it fully drawn so it could penetrate deep into the enemy giving that final deathblow. We too are to always have our Sword fully drawn ready for war opposed to having it buried deep in the sheath!
Don't enter your battles with a partially drawn Sword and sharpen your Sword daily to prepare for those battles.
Looking back in my life I see that during my daughter's drug use my knees were raw and my heart broken but my sword was not drawn. Although I was raised in the church and committed many verses to memory I had never used the Word as a weapon against my circumstances. My Sword was dull and deeply buried in its cover. Thankfully God delivered me through this time of deep and long running suffering. Had my Sword been sharpened daily and fully drawn I could have experienced the peace and comfort that God promises through knowing Him and His word. I now enjoy running into battle with my Sword fully drawn and I spend time in His word daily so I will enter battle with confidence, trust in Him and complete faith in the Commander!
Is your Sword sharp?
Sunday, June 8, 2008
To See or Not to See - That is the Question
"Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'" John 20:29.
When the disciples told Thomas that they had seen Christ, he proclaimed that unless he put his finger in the holes where the nails were and put his hand into Jesus' side he would not believe. Christ accommodates him but in a round about way rebukes his disbelief through blessing the ones who believe without seeing man manufactured proof! Many times we make Christ "show us a sign" when He is the sign. Before we believe, we decide in our mind what would "earn our belief". God may accommodate by giving us a sign but we will be more deeply blessed through our belief in what He says than our belief in something He shows upon request. God still uses our unbelief to grow us up gradually but it is when we do not see but still believe that our faith explodes!
Yesterday, while Grandmother's "proxy" was sitting at a bookstore for her book signing, a couple came by her room at the nursing home for her to personally sign their copy. God was experienced, realized and alive at both places. How will you choose to believe God today? How did you see Him yesterday?
When the disciples told Thomas that they had seen Christ, he proclaimed that unless he put his finger in the holes where the nails were and put his hand into Jesus' side he would not believe. Christ accommodates him but in a round about way rebukes his disbelief through blessing the ones who believe without seeing man manufactured proof! Many times we make Christ "show us a sign" when He is the sign. Before we believe, we decide in our mind what would "earn our belief". God may accommodate by giving us a sign but we will be more deeply blessed through our belief in what He says than our belief in something He shows upon request. God still uses our unbelief to grow us up gradually but it is when we do not see but still believe that our faith explodes!
Yesterday, while Grandmother's "proxy" was sitting at a bookstore for her book signing, a couple came by her room at the nursing home for her to personally sign their copy. God was experienced, realized and alive at both places. How will you choose to believe God today? How did you see Him yesterday?
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Promises Never Expire!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give us" Galatians 6:9.
I would be remiss today if I didn't dedicate this blog to Gipsie Miller, our grandmother. She is 100 years old and today marks a miraculous day in her life. She was called in 1942 to record her pilgrimage of finding God daily through spiritual journaling. God promised her that down the road she would be commissioned to write a book documenting her pilgrimage. In the 1980's He called her to the task which she faithfully responded. Today is her book signing for the release of Pilgrimage to the Promised Land! God's promise of 1942 has been realized in 2008. Glory to God in the highest! When we truly and completely surrender our own agenda and timeframe we allow Him to fulfill His promises to us "at the proper time" which glorifies Him - not satisfies us! My grandmother is truly an example of a surrendered spirit not rushing God's timing but resting on His promises. Promises never expire - they age perfectly!
What have you been promised that you are still waiting on?
I would be remiss today if I didn't dedicate this blog to Gipsie Miller, our grandmother. She is 100 years old and today marks a miraculous day in her life. She was called in 1942 to record her pilgrimage of finding God daily through spiritual journaling. God promised her that down the road she would be commissioned to write a book documenting her pilgrimage. In the 1980's He called her to the task which she faithfully responded. Today is her book signing for the release of Pilgrimage to the Promised Land! God's promise of 1942 has been realized in 2008. Glory to God in the highest! When we truly and completely surrender our own agenda and timeframe we allow Him to fulfill His promises to us "at the proper time" which glorifies Him - not satisfies us! My grandmother is truly an example of a surrendered spirit not rushing God's timing but resting on His promises. Promises never expire - they age perfectly!
What have you been promised that you are still waiting on?
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Devouring Fires
"But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire" Deut. 9:3a.
"Going ahead of us" marks the unknown becoming known with a band of protection around us. Many times when we look onto our lives we see it as an out of control wildfire wondering when the flames will be extinguished! The heat drains us, the burns wound us but it is the uncertainty of the duration of the fire that does the most damage to us for it injures our spirit. As I look onto my life and see my past wildfires I realize that the "out of control" circumstances were my Father's planned way of burning up the parts of the forest that need to be removed so He could display the beautiful greenery and healthy foliage in His forest. He uses the fire to burn up the impurities in our lives and in hindsight we view the fires as a directed and orchestrated effort to realign His children with their Father. Faith is looking from behind the fire and knowing and believing that the fire is our Father going ahead of us for our good.
What fire are you following? Can you see that our Father is going across ahead of us to clear the way for a better land?
"Going ahead of us" marks the unknown becoming known with a band of protection around us. Many times when we look onto our lives we see it as an out of control wildfire wondering when the flames will be extinguished! The heat drains us, the burns wound us but it is the uncertainty of the duration of the fire that does the most damage to us for it injures our spirit. As I look onto my life and see my past wildfires I realize that the "out of control" circumstances were my Father's planned way of burning up the parts of the forest that need to be removed so He could display the beautiful greenery and healthy foliage in His forest. He uses the fire to burn up the impurities in our lives and in hindsight we view the fires as a directed and orchestrated effort to realign His children with their Father. Faith is looking from behind the fire and knowing and believing that the fire is our Father going ahead of us for our good.
What fire are you following? Can you see that our Father is going across ahead of us to clear the way for a better land?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Deep Waters
"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. ( 2 Samuel 22:17-20)
This was David's prayer to God after the Lord delivered him from the hands of his enemies and the hand of Saul. We all face deep waters and need to be rescued. It is when we acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves from our disasters but must surrender our own strength and be carried into a spacious place. Not only do we delight in the Lord but He delights in us. When my daughter was addicted to drugs I was definately drowning in my circumstances. As hard as I fought to make my way back to the surface for a desperate breath of air it was only cut short as I quickly began sinking again. It is now that I realize my "spacious place" is the Living Waters. He is the Living Waters. I have always known who God was but never really knew who He was for me. I had walked beside the shore of the Living Waters my entire life kicking shells back into the water. I had occasionally “waded” in the Living Waters when the heat got too much but I have just recently dived into the Waters for complete satisfaction. I have witnessed the great power of the Living Waters in the lives of others from the shore but now I am abiding in the Waters with the shore in the distance. I hope to stay drenched and encourage others to get wet!
How deep do you reside in the Living Waters? It is never too late to go deeper!
This was David's prayer to God after the Lord delivered him from the hands of his enemies and the hand of Saul. We all face deep waters and need to be rescued. It is when we acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves from our disasters but must surrender our own strength and be carried into a spacious place. Not only do we delight in the Lord but He delights in us. When my daughter was addicted to drugs I was definately drowning in my circumstances. As hard as I fought to make my way back to the surface for a desperate breath of air it was only cut short as I quickly began sinking again. It is now that I realize my "spacious place" is the Living Waters. He is the Living Waters. I have always known who God was but never really knew who He was for me. I had walked beside the shore of the Living Waters my entire life kicking shells back into the water. I had occasionally “waded” in the Living Waters when the heat got too much but I have just recently dived into the Waters for complete satisfaction. I have witnessed the great power of the Living Waters in the lives of others from the shore but now I am abiding in the Waters with the shore in the distance. I hope to stay drenched and encourage others to get wet!
How deep do you reside in the Living Waters? It is never too late to go deeper!
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