Who Knew?

       My family is moving on to a different congregation this week.  It is with excitement for what God is about to do in our lives and in 'the church' that we move forward, knowing that His plans for us will be fulfilled in these last days.  There is of course some sadness as I am very emotional and will miss seeing many of the people- the faces I have come to know and love.

 

       It was a few weeks ago the Lord set the date for me to leave- the end of December.  His plans were for me to stay to bring hope and healing.  In my mind I understood this to mean helping with a difficult congregational time, but in hindsight it was not that at all.  Now I believe it was more personal in nature as I made two important connections, one in each of the last two weeks.  One of those connections helped to bring some healing in my own life.  In fact, a third beautiful lady made a simple statement that brought some freedom into my parenting life.

 

       It is so incredible how God can use unexpected people and moments to effect change in our lives.  So not only did I receive some healing, but the Lord is positioning me to do a particular work for Him- namely, love people and show them His love.  What an honour it is that He wants to use me despite all my flaws and failures.  What a great, merciful and gracious God we serve!

 

 

       I didn't know what God intended for my future life when I was first saved.  I didn't know the stress and troubles we would go through in our married life.  I didn't know the sharpening and pruning that would need to be worked on or the many changes that I needed to go through in order to be useful to the Lord.  I never knew how much the Lord would find the right way to bring His strength and my surrender into my life.  With all the past, the present and the future it begs the question:  who knew? because I sure didn't.

 

God knew.

 

       He knew every moment, every decision right and wrong, every tear, every arrogant brush off, every movement towards Him, every step backwards, every sin and worldly action, every surrender and time of growth.  God knew every trial and sorrow I'd go through and my positive or negative reactions thereafter.  He knew every thought and how it would change me.  He knew every friend I would have at every different step of my life and every characteristic I would need to keep moving my feet in His direction.

 

God knew.

 

       And He knew where I needed to be this last couple weeks and specifically in which part of the building at exactly the right time to make contact with the people He wanted me to in order that we may follow His will- to love one another and bear one another's burdens.  I am so excited to see what the future holds for the Lord and me as we continue on this journey together.

 

Who knew how much I'd enjoy this new life I'm living?

 

God knew!

 

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  ---so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do. Is. 55:8,9,11

 

Remember former things from forever; for I am God, and no other is God, even none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from the past things which were not done, saying, My purpose shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure; Is. 46:9,10

Happy New Year!

       What is it they say, "Out with the old, in with the new"?  This makes it sound as if the "old" is always worse than the "new", but in my opinion that isn't always the case.  Old cheese is far tastier than newer cheese.  Old furniture is classic while newer stuff all seems common.  Older appliances last longer than newer ones.  Old is sometimes better- wisdom comes with age...

 

       We should decide to throw out some of the old things in our lives we don't need or want any more.  Old thoughts: the ones that keep us back from moving forward with the Lord.  Old habits:  those that hinder us from getting healthier, happier, from saving money or improving relationships.  Old attitudes:  laziness in getting done the tasks the Lord wants us to take on, pessimism when bad things happen, apathy concerning living godly, selfishness in the body, guarded or false masks we wear among the brethren, wasteful (of time, money, things) lives.

 

       As for me, I'm ready to throw out an old relationship.  It's an old 'boyfriend' I'll call Bill.  He was my first when I was young and stupid.  We did everything together.  I thought he cared about me, but in the end I realized Bill really only cared about himself.  At first he seemed to give me everything I needed, but eventually he crushed my spirit and brought me down as low as I could go.  The weird thing is, I still returned to him time and again: when I got scared of an unknown future or tired of trying or just plain allowed my selfishness to exert itself again.

 

       All these years, even since I've been married to the most perfect man,  I've continued to hang on to Bill- just in case: in case things didn't work out, in case I didn't like what the future held, in case I missed the old times, in case there was any other excuse I wanted to use...  Just keep him waiting in the background to run back to whenever I want.  That's why I've finally decided to throw Bill out with the old- leave him in the past where he belongs.

 

       Bill is the world.  See, I had just run back to Bill in a really big way the past couple weeks, and though I saw myself head back into that selfish, life suppressing mess, I continued towards it with my eyes wide open.  It was like I was taking a break from my marriage.  Then my perfect man (the Lord) said to me, "Is this really what you want?" meaning no responsibility, no obedience, no moving forward in Him pressure.

 

      "No," I decided, but I questioned for the umpteenth time, "Why did I do this again?"  He told me to watch 'Hope Floats' about a woman who gets dumped by her husband Bill on national tv after he cheats on her (with her best friend).  She can't get over him, goes into depression, remains desperate for his love and attention and still hopes he'll come back even after his ill treatment of her.  She stalls moving forward out of fear of letting go and the unknown future.

 

       It takes a tragedy for her to realize that Bill never did love her, wanted only what was best for him, and his lack of good character was profound.  Despite my knowing these things about the 'world' I continued to partially hold on instead of completely letting go and that is why my moving forward always seemed to stall for days at a time.  But I'm done with that.  Out will the old (Bill) and in stays the new (My Lord).  I don't want a fall back left anywhere that I can return to.  I want to burn that bridge forever.

 

       A little bit scary... yes.

              The best way to start the New Year... absolutely!!!

 

Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world... is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1Jh. 2:15-17

 

 

Bye Bye Bill

Improbable

        He sat on the couch with his feet resting on the coffee table and his device in his hands as his fingers quickly moved over the screen.  Every now and then he would laugh out loud or comment to his mom who was working hard to clean the house while making dinner.  She asked him for the third time to pick his clothes off the floor and put them away in his room, but again he ignored her knowing she'd eventually give up.  The fourth time she asked he said in a disrespectful voice, "Not now, I'm busy."

 

       Not long after he said, "Mom, for my birthday I want the newest game system, two new games, a black and red pair of converse, a lucky scooter, a next gen. iphone, and a 22 in. flat tv for my bedroom.  And this year, don't get me no stupid socks and underwear," he said as he tossed a candy wrapper on the floor.  "Mom, can you get me a cold pop please?"

 

       Do you think the above description could fit Jesus as a teen... or not?  This story is completely improbable in all its parts.  Many people try to guess what Jesus was like in the years between being found in the Temple by His parents (12 yrs. Lk. 2:41+) and the beginning of His ministry (30 yrs. Lk. 3:23), but the Bible is silent on the matter other than to say,

 

And He (Jesus) went with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them... And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Lk. 2:51.52

 

       Now, those verses can be further expounded on, but that's for a different post.  For this one I want to focus on the improbability of Jesus being anything other than polite, loving, kind, obedient, hardworking, helpful, honest, etc. at all times- in other words- good.  The Bible says He was tempted, and surely went through many of life's trials as all humans do, yet was without sin (2Cr. 5:21; Hb. 4:15).  So why is it we see Him differently when He returns to Heaven to sit at the Father's right hand?

 

       All of a sudden He's condemning us for our sin, He's putting people who mistreat us in our path, He's making bad things happen in our lives, He's keeping us from being healed or getting ahead financially.  He's not meeting our needs, not keeping us safe, not blessing us as He should, He's leaving us alone in the mess that is our lives, and He's not speaking to us the words we need to hear- why can't we hear His voice?  These thoughts challenge His goodness, yet it is completely improbable that His being good changed.

 

       If Jesus was sinless in human flesh, than He is surely sinless in His 'Godness'; so that means He is still good.  All the time.  Even when we don't see it.  Even when we don't feel it.  Even when the world falls down around our ears, our loved ones are suffering and we see no rhyme nor reason for anything; He is still good.  We need to acknowledge that!

 

You are good, and do good...

Ps. 119:68

Oh give thanks to Jehovah; for He is good...

Ps. 136:1