I still look forward to getting to meet her someday. Sigh, I would dress like this so easily.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
OK! I'm waiting...
I have been praying about work and what to do with that whole situation. With things as stressful as they are there, I REALLY want to go elsewhere. I hear of jobs; however, it quickly becomes clear that those positions aren't where God wants me to be. A year and a half from now the job I have dreamed of having opens. In some ways that seems where God is pointing me to go. The thought of doing that job scares me silly, though. It would be a BIG change. I get frustrated at the thought of having to wait another 1.5 years. It feels like the 9 years should have been enough. David had to have felt the same way.
I got these devotions this morning. God's timing is so awesome. I'm sitting in a friends summer rental apt here in Tallahassee. I came for the weekend to see my friends. I've been here almost 24 hours and it has been amazing. I'm exhausted; however, refreshed. For the moment, this is my "Hebron". I have fellowshiped with a fellow believer. We have discussed some of our dreams and frustrations and both know God is in control. The worst part is I got sick last night with a migraine and am feeling it's after effects today...ugh
The years that David waited were very difficult. I can relate. Tom has toiled for 21+ years as a shift worker and now the end of that is in sight. Yes, big news for us is God answered a prayer and Tom has been offered a job as a "Work Week Manager" at Unit 3. A job that, for the most part, does not involve weekends, nights or being on shift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, LORD! We are just waiting for him to be released from his current position. He is so ready to start this new phase. Doors are opening, changes are starting, the light at the end of the tunnel has gotten a little bigger and a little brighter.
So now I'm going to gab a quick bite, get dressed, go to the campus bookstores to take care of a few things, go help friends with their projects and enjoy being here. I'll also keep reminding myself that God is in control.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waiting for God's Time
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1).
David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my devotion from Elizabeth Elliot, too. Do you get the feeling God is trying to tell me something???
Do You Want an Answer?
This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.
"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB).
We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.
I got these devotions this morning. God's timing is so awesome. I'm sitting in a friends summer rental apt here in Tallahassee. I came for the weekend to see my friends. I've been here almost 24 hours and it has been amazing. I'm exhausted; however, refreshed. For the moment, this is my "Hebron". I have fellowshiped with a fellow believer. We have discussed some of our dreams and frustrations and both know God is in control. The worst part is I got sick last night with a migraine and am feeling it's after effects today...ugh
The years that David waited were very difficult. I can relate. Tom has toiled for 21+ years as a shift worker and now the end of that is in sight. Yes, big news for us is God answered a prayer and Tom has been offered a job as a "Work Week Manager" at Unit 3. A job that, for the most part, does not involve weekends, nights or being on shift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, LORD! We are just waiting for him to be released from his current position. He is so ready to start this new phase. Doors are opening, changes are starting, the light at the end of the tunnel has gotten a little bigger and a little brighter.
So now I'm going to gab a quick bite, get dressed, go to the campus bookstores to take care of a few things, go help friends with their projects and enjoy being here. I'll also keep reminding myself that God is in control.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waiting for God's Time
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1).
David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my devotion from Elizabeth Elliot, too. Do you get the feeling God is trying to tell me something???
Do You Want an Answer?
This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.
"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB).
We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
For today...
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all" (1 Chron. 29:11).
"Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity" (1 Cor 13:6 AV). Let us be willing to call iniquity what is really iniquity, rather than to call it weakness, temperament, failure, hangups, or to fall back on the tired excuse, "It's just the way I am."
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me." (Ps 51:10 AV)
"Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity" (1 Cor 13:6 AV). Let us be willing to call iniquity what is really iniquity, rather than to call it weakness, temperament, failure, hangups, or to fall back on the tired excuse, "It's just the way I am."
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me." (Ps 51:10 AV)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sometimes I need reminding...
Sometimes I make mistakes and have to accept the results. Being stubborn, independent and, yes, Scottish, I often feel that I must shoulder problems on my own. I need the reminder that when I screw up and have to deal with the consequences, or when hard times simply come my way, that God is always there and all I have to do is come to Him. When needed, I can be forgiven. When needed, He will give me the strength and resources to get through. When needed, He will open the door, window, outlet, or even blow out a wall to get me though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Own Fault
Someone who is suffering as a result of his own foolishness or failure may read these words. These griefs are hard indeed to bear, for we feel we might easily have avoided them. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and there isn't much consolation there. Sometimes we imagine that we must bear this kind of trouble alone, but that is a mistake. The Lamb of God, slain for us, has borne all of our griefs and carried all of our sorrows, no matter what their origin. All grief and sorrow is the result of sin somewhere along the line, but Christ received them willingly. It is nothing but pride that keeps me from asking Him to help me to bear the troubles which are my own fault.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, take away mine.
I take Him at His word indeed,
Christ died for sinners--this I read--
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.
(Dora Greenwell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And my "quote for the day"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a separate note, but connected to my post from last night. Dr. Robert Dalzell, the father of a very dear friend of mine, lost his battle with cancer last night at 11 pm PST. He was at home with his family, like he wanted; however, that doesn't make it any easier. He and Nora were married for 49 years and he had a daughter, Jennifer who has a daughter, and a son, Drew. He was a head pathologist at 2 hospitals and an avid HAM radio user. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved watching Benny Hill.
Drew, my prayers are with you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Own Fault
Someone who is suffering as a result of his own foolishness or failure may read these words. These griefs are hard indeed to bear, for we feel we might easily have avoided them. We have no one to blame but ourselves, and there isn't much consolation there. Sometimes we imagine that we must bear this kind of trouble alone, but that is a mistake. The Lamb of God, slain for us, has borne all of our griefs and carried all of our sorrows, no matter what their origin. All grief and sorrow is the result of sin somewhere along the line, but Christ received them willingly. It is nothing but pride that keeps me from asking Him to help me to bear the troubles which are my own fault.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, take away mine.
I take Him at His word indeed,
Christ died for sinners--this I read--
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.
(Dora Greenwell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And my "quote for the day"
There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change.
~ Euripides
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a separate note, but connected to my post from last night. Dr. Robert Dalzell, the father of a very dear friend of mine, lost his battle with cancer last night at 11 pm PST. He was at home with his family, like he wanted; however, that doesn't make it any easier. He and Nora were married for 49 years and he had a daughter, Jennifer who has a daughter, and a son, Drew. He was a head pathologist at 2 hospitals and an avid HAM radio user. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved watching Benny Hill.
Drew, my prayers are with you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Cancer...
is a scourge on those it afflicts as well as the families and friends involved.
I know this is something that most people realize; however, I felt the need to state that. Cancer has affected my family. Thankfully Dad and Mom were able to sidestep its grasp quickly and without lasting consequences. Sadly, Tom lost his mom to the evil scourge in 2005 (note to any woman reading this...PLEASE GET YOUR EXAMS EVERY YEAR...IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...I know that is shouting; however, I am passionate about this fact). Now, my dear friend, Drew, is dealing with his father suffering from Stage 4 cancer (liver, lung and brain). His dad is one of those who never smoked who is being struck down by this painful disease. The doctors have given him limited time, days to weeks. His mom is suffering from Parkinson's and probably won't last long after him.
My prayers are with my friend and any others walking down this path at this time.
I know this is something that most people realize; however, I felt the need to state that. Cancer has affected my family. Thankfully Dad and Mom were able to sidestep its grasp quickly and without lasting consequences. Sadly, Tom lost his mom to the evil scourge in 2005 (note to any woman reading this...PLEASE GET YOUR EXAMS EVERY YEAR...IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...I know that is shouting; however, I am passionate about this fact). Now, my dear friend, Drew, is dealing with his father suffering from Stage 4 cancer (liver, lung and brain). His dad is one of those who never smoked who is being struck down by this painful disease. The doctors have given him limited time, days to weeks. His mom is suffering from Parkinson's and probably won't last long after him.
My prayers are with my friend and any others walking down this path at this time.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Multitude of devotions...
A dear friend of mine is going through some rough times right now. Since they shared what they were dealing with I have been "bombarded" by devotions that not only speak to my heart but also point to things they are facing. I had thought about just sending these to them; however, it seemed that others may be blessed by these as well.
I know they know I'm praying for them as they walk through this difficult time. I pray God uses these words as a comfort and continues to make Himself known to them in every circumstance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freedom from Fear
There is a sense in which every form of fear is essentially the fear of death. Jesus came to deliver us from that in all its forms. "He became a human being so that by going through death as a man he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might also set free those who lived their whole lives a prey to the fear of death" (Heb 2:14,15 JBP).
I know people whose lives are totally controlled by fear. There is no bondage more powerful and crippling. Fear takes over the mind, coercing and circumscribing all its activity. We know where that spirit of fear originates, and we know the name of the enemy who would hold us enslaved. In the name of our God we must tread down our enemies, including all the nagging "what ifs" of our lives. To those frightening possibilities Christ answers, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Let the very worst thing come to pass--even there, especially there, his hand will hold us. If we go into darkness, He is there, has been there before us, has conquered all its powers. That's why He became a man. That's why He died. That's why He rose again.
My Lord and my God--forgive my fears. Deliver me from bondage by the power of your resurrection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God's Secret Purpose
Whatever the enemy of our souls can do to instill doubt about the real purpose of the Father of our souls, he will certainly try to do. "Hath God said?" was his question to Eve, and she trusted him, the enemy, and doubted God. Each time the suspicion arises that God is really "out to get us," that He is bent on making us miserable or thwarting any good we might seek, we are calling Him a liar. His secret purpose has been revealed to us, and it is to bring us finally, not to ruin, but to glory. That is precisely what the Bible tells us: "His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory" (1 Cor 2:7 NEB).
I know of no more steadying hope on which to focus my mind when circumstances tempt me to wonder why God doesn't "do something." He is always doing something--the very best thing, the thing we ourselves would certainly choose if we knew the end from the beginning. He is at work to bring us to our full glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Way Appointed
One aspect of the mystery of God's sovereign will is how the calculated evil of men is not only permitted, but actually becomes a necessary part of the divine plan. We are tempted to think of the wrongs done to us as hindrances, frustrations, interruptions. "What has this got to do with the will of God?" we ask, irritated and, we suppose, justifiably impatient with human interference. But the truth is that both our time and our way are in God's hands--they are "appointed." Surely it is so for all his sons as it was for the Son of Man. When He was on the verge of being "handed over for crucifixion," and betrayed by one of his own disciples, He said, "My appointed time is near....One who has dipped his hand into this bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going the way appointed for him" (Mt 26:18, 24 NEB).
Out of the deepest depths of human evil the good God brought salvation--the very salvation of man whose sinfulness killed the Son He sent.
Nothing can reach us, from any source in earth or hell, no matter how evil, which God cannot turn to his own redemptive purpose. Let us be glad that the way is not a game of chance, a mere roll of dice which determines our fortune or calamity--it is a way appointed, and it is appointed for God's eternal glory and our final good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gentle as a Nurse
A good nurse does not pamper her charge, but seeks his best interest with fortitude, consistency, and love. Paul's love for the new Christians at Thessalonica was like that. It was no sentimental feeling. He writes of having brought them the Word:
*In the power of the Holy Spirit, and with strong conviction. (1 Thes 1:5)
*Frankly and fearlessly, by the help of our God. A hard struggle it was. (1 Thes 2:2)
*We do not curry favor with men. Our words have never been flattering words...or a cloak for greed. (1 Thes 2:4,5)
*We have never sought honor from men, from you or anyone else....We were as gentle with you as a nurse caring fondly for her children. (1 Thes 2:6,7)
Here is the pattern for all who would do God's work with souls: faithful giving of the Word, a heart true and pure in seeking God's glory, gentleness, self-giving, and plain hard work.
I know they know I'm praying for them as they walk through this difficult time. I pray God uses these words as a comfort and continues to make Himself known to them in every circumstance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freedom from Fear
There is a sense in which every form of fear is essentially the fear of death. Jesus came to deliver us from that in all its forms. "He became a human being so that by going through death as a man he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might also set free those who lived their whole lives a prey to the fear of death" (Heb 2:14,15 JBP).
I know people whose lives are totally controlled by fear. There is no bondage more powerful and crippling. Fear takes over the mind, coercing and circumscribing all its activity. We know where that spirit of fear originates, and we know the name of the enemy who would hold us enslaved. In the name of our God we must tread down our enemies, including all the nagging "what ifs" of our lives. To those frightening possibilities Christ answers, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Let the very worst thing come to pass--even there, especially there, his hand will hold us. If we go into darkness, He is there, has been there before us, has conquered all its powers. That's why He became a man. That's why He died. That's why He rose again.
My Lord and my God--forgive my fears. Deliver me from bondage by the power of your resurrection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God's Secret Purpose
Whatever the enemy of our souls can do to instill doubt about the real purpose of the Father of our souls, he will certainly try to do. "Hath God said?" was his question to Eve, and she trusted him, the enemy, and doubted God. Each time the suspicion arises that God is really "out to get us," that He is bent on making us miserable or thwarting any good we might seek, we are calling Him a liar. His secret purpose has been revealed to us, and it is to bring us finally, not to ruin, but to glory. That is precisely what the Bible tells us: "His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory" (1 Cor 2:7 NEB).
I know of no more steadying hope on which to focus my mind when circumstances tempt me to wonder why God doesn't "do something." He is always doing something--the very best thing, the thing we ourselves would certainly choose if we knew the end from the beginning. He is at work to bring us to our full glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Way Appointed
One aspect of the mystery of God's sovereign will is how the calculated evil of men is not only permitted, but actually becomes a necessary part of the divine plan. We are tempted to think of the wrongs done to us as hindrances, frustrations, interruptions. "What has this got to do with the will of God?" we ask, irritated and, we suppose, justifiably impatient with human interference. But the truth is that both our time and our way are in God's hands--they are "appointed." Surely it is so for all his sons as it was for the Son of Man. When He was on the verge of being "handed over for crucifixion," and betrayed by one of his own disciples, He said, "My appointed time is near....One who has dipped his hand into this bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going the way appointed for him" (Mt 26:18, 24 NEB).
Out of the deepest depths of human evil the good God brought salvation--the very salvation of man whose sinfulness killed the Son He sent.
Nothing can reach us, from any source in earth or hell, no matter how evil, which God cannot turn to his own redemptive purpose. Let us be glad that the way is not a game of chance, a mere roll of dice which determines our fortune or calamity--it is a way appointed, and it is appointed for God's eternal glory and our final good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gentle as a Nurse
A good nurse does not pamper her charge, but seeks his best interest with fortitude, consistency, and love. Paul's love for the new Christians at Thessalonica was like that. It was no sentimental feeling. He writes of having brought them the Word:
*In the power of the Holy Spirit, and with strong conviction. (1 Thes 1:5)
*Frankly and fearlessly, by the help of our God. A hard struggle it was. (1 Thes 2:2)
*We do not curry favor with men. Our words have never been flattering words...or a cloak for greed. (1 Thes 2:4,5)
*We have never sought honor from men, from you or anyone else....We were as gentle with you as a nurse caring fondly for her children. (1 Thes 2:6,7)
Here is the pattern for all who would do God's work with souls: faithful giving of the Word, a heart true and pure in seeking God's glory, gentleness, self-giving, and plain hard work.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Recently read...
Sometimes, divine revelation simply means adjusting your brain to hear what your heart already knows.
Sometime God reveals interesting lessons from the most unusual places.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A quote and a question...
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
~Mary Oliver
I received this "quote" in my e-mail this morning. Over the years I have become a collector of quotes and use them in my classes to encourage and challenge my students. Sometimes the quotes do the same for me, which is why I chose them!
This is one of those "challenge me" types of quotes. The basic answer is "serve God and follow the path He sets before me". However, right now it's a little hard. I feel a little stuck. Things are starting to change and prayers are answered. There are other things that are slow, though. I guess I'm struggling with the "wait". In the end 'I' am not planning my live, God is planning it. I am still confident it will be a wild and precious life.
~Mary Oliver
I received this "quote" in my e-mail this morning. Over the years I have become a collector of quotes and use them in my classes to encourage and challenge my students. Sometimes the quotes do the same for me, which is why I chose them!
This is one of those "challenge me" types of quotes. The basic answer is "serve God and follow the path He sets before me". However, right now it's a little hard. I feel a little stuck. Things are starting to change and prayers are answered. There are other things that are slow, though. I guess I'm struggling with the "wait". In the end 'I' am not planning my live, God is planning it. I am still confident it will be a wild and precious life.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
God has a sense of humor...
As I mentioned yesterday, we have gotten an answer to prayer (and I'm still not ready to talk about it as there are still some things yet to be revealed). While the answer took time and has been difficult to wait to learn the outcome, there are other things we have been praying about for a much longer time. As I said yesterday, my job is something I have been praying about for a while. The last 1.5 years have been especially difficult. I don't understand why I am being told to wait; however, God has said wait is his answer.
Today I got this devotion. God truly works in mysterious way and does has a sense of humor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few of us enjoy having to wait for something we want. It is human nature to desire instant gratification, and it is divine nature to do many things very, very slowly. Growth is always imperceptible. But the farmer exercises long patience in waiting for his crop. He has done his work and is assured of the result, hence he waits quietly. He is at rest because the outcome (barring disastrous "acts of God") is certain. If we could simply remember that this is true of everything--that God's purposes are slowly being worked out for his glory and our good--we would, like the farmer, keep faith and wait quietly.
Lord, take from us all fretting and hurrying and teach us to rest our hearts in the "ultimate certainty" (Jas 5:7 JBP).
Today I got this devotion. God truly works in mysterious way and does has a sense of humor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few of us enjoy having to wait for something we want. It is human nature to desire instant gratification, and it is divine nature to do many things very, very slowly. Growth is always imperceptible. But the farmer exercises long patience in waiting for his crop. He has done his work and is assured of the result, hence he waits quietly. He is at rest because the outcome (barring disastrous "acts of God") is certain. If we could simply remember that this is true of everything--that God's purposes are slowly being worked out for his glory and our good--we would, like the farmer, keep faith and wait quietly.
Lord, take from us all fretting and hurrying and teach us to rest our hearts in the "ultimate certainty" (Jas 5:7 JBP).
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
For today...
So things are starting to change around here. We finally got an answer to a prayer (more on that to come). The word for me, though, where my job is concerned is still "wait." I'm struggling with the waiting. For 9 years I have served in this position. For much of those 9 years it hasn't been the blissful experience I would have hoped it to be. There are things I would like to do and those doors haven't opened, yet, either. However, I am committed to doing what God wants me to do. Sometimes I'm not sure what it is that God wants. I have dreams, hopes, aspirations.
Today's devotion really spoke to me. This truly seems to be where I am presently sitting. I want to say "thy will be done." I want to put myself totally at God's disposal. I want God to lead and put me where He would have me be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The primary condition for learning what God wants of us is putting ourselves wholly at his disposal. It is just here that we are often blocked. We hold certain reservations about how far we are willing to go, what we will or will not do, how much God can have of us or of what we treasure. Then we pray for guidance. It will not work. We must begin by laying it all down--ourselves, our treasures, our destiny. Then we are in a position to think with renewed minds and act with a transformed nature. The withholding of any part of ourselves is the same as saying, "Thy will be done up to a point, mine from there on."
Paul gives four important steps to discerning the will of God:
1. "Offer your very selves to Him,"
2. "Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world."
3. "Let your minds be remade."
4. "Your whole nature transformed."
"Then you will be able to discern the will of God" (Rom 12:1,2 NEB).
Today's devotion really spoke to me. This truly seems to be where I am presently sitting. I want to say "thy will be done." I want to put myself totally at God's disposal. I want God to lead and put me where He would have me be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The primary condition for learning what God wants of us is putting ourselves wholly at his disposal. It is just here that we are often blocked. We hold certain reservations about how far we are willing to go, what we will or will not do, how much God can have of us or of what we treasure. Then we pray for guidance. It will not work. We must begin by laying it all down--ourselves, our treasures, our destiny. Then we are in a position to think with renewed minds and act with a transformed nature. The withholding of any part of ourselves is the same as saying, "Thy will be done up to a point, mine from there on."
Paul gives four important steps to discerning the will of God:
1. "Offer your very selves to Him,"
2. "Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world."
3. "Let your minds be remade."
4. "Your whole nature transformed."
"Then you will be able to discern the will of God" (Rom 12:1,2 NEB).
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