In the stillness, I know who God is.
When my thoughts and hurts stop screaming out, I can sense Him.
Reminding me again that this life is about Him.
What I make of it fades, and for a minute I can breath deeply.
In those moments, I can praise His name.
I forget about me and find Him.
I'm certain God breaths in a sigh of relief - "Finally, she sees!"
My thoughts go to the Psalmists who cried out to the Lord
DAY AFTER DAY
and waited.
I cry out for a
MINUTE
and expect a response.
But this life is a gift from Him.
Good gifts come to us from the Father.
Thus, this present moment is a gift.
Not my idea of a gift, but I must trust in Him.
So, I suppose I will join in with the Psalmists,
crying out to my Father day by day and await His response.
I trust in two verses:
Psalm 27:13 - I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
and
Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Alass, the moment fades. Thoughts begin to crowd in. Emotions overwhelm. But I remember the moment of clarity. I will draw close to the One who loves me. Again and again I shall return for there is NO other peace.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Be Warned
Give your sorrows into the Hand of God. He can carry them.
I should warn you. Doing this does NOT guarantee: a solution to your problem, happy feelings to replace your sorrow, or an overwhelming sense of His presence. Quite frankly, bringing your sorrows to God does not guarantee anything except knowledge that He alone can carry them. I can pretty much guarantee that if you are willing, your heart may be guided to acknowledge HIM as God.
Here's the thing: God is fully capable of filling our hearts with joy, bringing back the dead, healing the sick, solving your problem, and also certainly capable of allowing you to feel his presence in a way that would change your life forever. That doesn't mean he will. He is God, not a jukebox. He is infinite and you are a mere finite being. Do you really feel you can tell God how to act towards you? He has already provided His Son as a sacrifice and payment for your sins. Does God owe you anything? He does not. God is gracious and merciful and will often respond to the cry of his broken hearted child. But in His perfect knowledge and understanding, there are times when He will respond in other ways that may be uncomfortable at the time.
I would urge you to allow God to respond as He desires. It is for your good. Your times are already in His hands, give Him your heart as well and wait. For your Deliverer and Savior will work things out for good. But sometimes, you just have to wait and Trust in who He already said He is, and revealed to you in the past. Many have died waiting for His hand to restore and redeem. But trust me, they now understand his restoration and redemption. God is amazing enough to do so many good things for us while we are here. But, life is NOT for our happiness. It's a ridiculous notion that we should pursue happiness. Pursue righteousness and holiness and stop looking for temporal happiness.
I believe God will conform our desires to match His so we might as well stop fighting. ;)
I should warn you. Doing this does NOT guarantee: a solution to your problem, happy feelings to replace your sorrow, or an overwhelming sense of His presence. Quite frankly, bringing your sorrows to God does not guarantee anything except knowledge that He alone can carry them. I can pretty much guarantee that if you are willing, your heart may be guided to acknowledge HIM as God.
Here's the thing: God is fully capable of filling our hearts with joy, bringing back the dead, healing the sick, solving your problem, and also certainly capable of allowing you to feel his presence in a way that would change your life forever. That doesn't mean he will. He is God, not a jukebox. He is infinite and you are a mere finite being. Do you really feel you can tell God how to act towards you? He has already provided His Son as a sacrifice and payment for your sins. Does God owe you anything? He does not. God is gracious and merciful and will often respond to the cry of his broken hearted child. But in His perfect knowledge and understanding, there are times when He will respond in other ways that may be uncomfortable at the time.
I would urge you to allow God to respond as He desires. It is for your good. Your times are already in His hands, give Him your heart as well and wait. For your Deliverer and Savior will work things out for good. But sometimes, you just have to wait and Trust in who He already said He is, and revealed to you in the past. Many have died waiting for His hand to restore and redeem. But trust me, they now understand his restoration and redemption. God is amazing enough to do so many good things for us while we are here. But, life is NOT for our happiness. It's a ridiculous notion that we should pursue happiness. Pursue righteousness and holiness and stop looking for temporal happiness.
I believe God will conform our desires to match His so we might as well stop fighting. ;)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
When all else fails
Answers fade
Meaning becomes illusive
Quick-fixes fail again
Temporary solution burn out
In those moments, we have to walk in the midst of what hurts and burdens our hearts.
In the pain and questions of life I feel the intense calling out of the Lord to seek His face. In the joys, I will glance up and praise God for what has been given. Okay, I do that on occasion, certainly not every time. I praise the Giver and enjoy His gifts. In the hurt and pain, I seek Him. I experience WHO He is and not only his bountiful supply. Sometimes the pain and heartache remains despite His presence. That's alright, it is a part of our life. But there is something so deep within that finds fulfillment in those moments. Something more tangible and more real that I could ever express.
God is real. I know because He loves me. His acceptance of you (and me) is something we can barely comprehend. When I am with others, the question may arise as to whether or not I am being too much of a certain characteristic. "She's too boring, crazy, talkative, focused, unfocused, spiritual, worldly, etc. etc. etc." We love to simplify and criticize one another. With God, there is no need to pretend to be anything that we are not. He accepts us as we are and loves us unconditionally.
I am quite unloveable this evening, but God's love remains. What a glorious mystery that I will happily spend the rest of my life only grasping at such deep truths of His undeserved, free gift of unmerited love and favor.
Meaning becomes illusive
Quick-fixes fail again
Temporary solution burn out
In those moments, we have to walk in the midst of what hurts and burdens our hearts.
In the pain and questions of life I feel the intense calling out of the Lord to seek His face. In the joys, I will glance up and praise God for what has been given. Okay, I do that on occasion, certainly not every time. I praise the Giver and enjoy His gifts. In the hurt and pain, I seek Him. I experience WHO He is and not only his bountiful supply. Sometimes the pain and heartache remains despite His presence. That's alright, it is a part of our life. But there is something so deep within that finds fulfillment in those moments. Something more tangible and more real that I could ever express.
God is real. I know because He loves me. His acceptance of you (and me) is something we can barely comprehend. When I am with others, the question may arise as to whether or not I am being too much of a certain characteristic. "She's too boring, crazy, talkative, focused, unfocused, spiritual, worldly, etc. etc. etc." We love to simplify and criticize one another. With God, there is no need to pretend to be anything that we are not. He accepts us as we are and loves us unconditionally.
I am quite unloveable this evening, but God's love remains. What a glorious mystery that I will happily spend the rest of my life only grasping at such deep truths of His undeserved, free gift of unmerited love and favor.
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