(Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5,6)
Lately I've been looking back over my life and thinking abut where I've been, hopes and dreams I had but never accomplished, ways I have failed God and disappointed my family. I'm not feeling very much like a child of the King, more like a child of the exile. I wanted more from my life, a family, my own home, financial security. It's hard not to see my life as a total waste sometimes. Yet I know that I am where I am because of failed opportunities to trust God and not for any failure on God's part to be there for me. If God had not been there for me in many instances I would have been far worse off. God has asked me to trust Him to be my provider, my companion and my security.
I want to trust. Father God, help me to trust.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
In Heaven
(Our Father IN HEAVEN, hallowed be Your Name. - Matthew 6:9)
It's important to me as I pray the Lord's Prayer to remember that He is in Heaven. Because He is in Heaven He sees things from a totally different viewpoint than I do. He sees the beginning and the end and everything in between. I may not be able to understand the whats, whys and wherefores of things that have, are and will happen in my life but God does. He saw everything that has happened, is happening and will happen long before it ever occurred.
One of my favorite books was written by Gene Edwards. It is part of his series, The Chronicles of The Door. In the fourth book of the series, The Triumph, the archangel Michael is ready to burst through the doors of heaven to protect his Lord from the Jews at the time of trial before the crucifixion. The Lord has instructed him to remain in heaven and to not interfere. The other angels are watching in horror as Michael reaches for the door for the laws of heaven are clear; if he rebels a third of them must follow. Just as Michael begins to open the door, Recorder, the angel whose job it is to record all things that have happened, tells Michael there is something he must see. Michael and Recorder travel forward in time to the great white throne judgement and Michael tries to understand how what is happening on earth now is effecting what is happening in heaven. Recorder is also seeing these things for the first time because they are events that have not yet happened. The amazement, bewilderment and awe that these two created beings experience as they try to comprehend the mind of God is so well written that I can feel myself experiencing the same emotions as I read.
Father, I can never begin to understand things from your viewpoint. Even if given the opportunity to witness the unfolding of time as portrayed in this book, I too would be unable to put into words the majesty of your plan for my life and the lives of those I love. So I can only say, Lord, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
It's important to me as I pray the Lord's Prayer to remember that He is in Heaven. Because He is in Heaven He sees things from a totally different viewpoint than I do. He sees the beginning and the end and everything in between. I may not be able to understand the whats, whys and wherefores of things that have, are and will happen in my life but God does. He saw everything that has happened, is happening and will happen long before it ever occurred.
One of my favorite books was written by Gene Edwards. It is part of his series, The Chronicles of The Door. In the fourth book of the series, The Triumph, the archangel Michael is ready to burst through the doors of heaven to protect his Lord from the Jews at the time of trial before the crucifixion. The Lord has instructed him to remain in heaven and to not interfere. The other angels are watching in horror as Michael reaches for the door for the laws of heaven are clear; if he rebels a third of them must follow. Just as Michael begins to open the door, Recorder, the angel whose job it is to record all things that have happened, tells Michael there is something he must see. Michael and Recorder travel forward in time to the great white throne judgement and Michael tries to understand how what is happening on earth now is effecting what is happening in heaven. Recorder is also seeing these things for the first time because they are events that have not yet happened. The amazement, bewilderment and awe that these two created beings experience as they try to comprehend the mind of God is so well written that I can feel myself experiencing the same emotions as I read.
Father, I can never begin to understand things from your viewpoint. Even if given the opportunity to witness the unfolding of time as portrayed in this book, I too would be unable to put into words the majesty of your plan for my life and the lives of those I love. So I can only say, Lord, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Our Father Who Is In Heaven
(Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. - Matthew 6:9)
The New King James Version leaves out an important verb in this verse, in my opinion. The original King James Version states, "Our Father who art (is) in heaven..." I have a heavenly Father who IS, not was, not will be but IS. There is hope in the fact that He IS because he promised that where He IS I could be also. There is power in the fact that He IS because He conquered the enemy of my soul so that I could be victorious. There is peace in the fact that He IS because He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Because the Bible says He healed the sick I can know He heals. Because He went to the home of the ruler to heal his daughter, I know He will meet me at my point of need. Because He provided food for the 5000, I know He will provide for my needs.
Father, today I praise You because You ARE, not was or will be but ARE. You are my Healer, my Provider, my Comfort, my Peace, my Strength, my Encourager, my Companion. You never leave me and are constantly watching over me. Because You ARE, I can know with Isaiah that no weapon formed against me will prosper.
The New King James Version leaves out an important verb in this verse, in my opinion. The original King James Version states, "Our Father who art (is) in heaven..." I have a heavenly Father who IS, not was, not will be but IS. There is hope in the fact that He IS because he promised that where He IS I could be also. There is power in the fact that He IS because He conquered the enemy of my soul so that I could be victorious. There is peace in the fact that He IS because He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Because the Bible says He healed the sick I can know He heals. Because He went to the home of the ruler to heal his daughter, I know He will meet me at my point of need. Because He provided food for the 5000, I know He will provide for my needs.
Father, today I praise You because You ARE, not was or will be but ARE. You are my Healer, my Provider, my Comfort, my Peace, my Strength, my Encourager, my Companion. You never leave me and are constantly watching over me. Because You ARE, I can know with Isaiah that no weapon formed against me will prosper.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Missing The Fellowship Of The Local Congregation
(And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24 -25)
Work has kept me away from church for the past two months. I miss the weekly fellowship with other believers so much. I miss hearing a fresh message from my pastor each week. Yes, I have my radio on the Christian station most of the day and I am thankful for the the encouragement that I have received from the various messages that I have heard. However, that radio can't give me that encouraging smile or a hug that I might need the way sisters and brothers in my local congregation can. Radio can't look me in the eye and ask how I'm doing with eyes that say they really care.
Lord, you gave me this job and for the past six years you have provided a way for me to be in church on Sundays. I am trusting you once again to open doors for me.
Thank you for the other believers that you have placed at the workplace that we can love and encourage one another.
Work has kept me away from church for the past two months. I miss the weekly fellowship with other believers so much. I miss hearing a fresh message from my pastor each week. Yes, I have my radio on the Christian station most of the day and I am thankful for the the encouragement that I have received from the various messages that I have heard. However, that radio can't give me that encouraging smile or a hug that I might need the way sisters and brothers in my local congregation can. Radio can't look me in the eye and ask how I'm doing with eyes that say they really care.
Lord, you gave me this job and for the past six years you have provided a way for me to be in church on Sundays. I am trusting you once again to open doors for me.
Thank you for the other believers that you have placed at the workplace that we can love and encourage one another.
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