Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Joy in the Morning

There has been a verse that has spoken to my powerfully to my heart recently. It is Psalm 30:5b "Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning." The troubles and trials of this life can be many at times, but those times are not without meaning for the Christian. God promises us joy in the morning. It has been my privilege to have some wonderful mornings of late, because I get to hang out with this precious one. She has surely brought joy to my heart. Thank you Lord for joy in the surprises of life.




Sunday, May 18, 2008

Life Mission

"Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharoah, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" And He said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain." Exodus 3:10-12

When God called to Moses from the midst of the buring bush, He gave Moses a very specific life mission. God outlined what Moses was to say and do and what the response would be before it happened. The mission was of incredible magnitude. It must have been overwhelming, yet Moses had no doubt that the God of the universe had chosen him for this task. I wonder if God were to outline our life's mission before hand if we would be able to handle it. I think not. I believe if we knew the potential Jesus sees in us and what He wants to accomplish through us, we would pass out. Even now at "mid-life" (o.k. - it's just a guess, but since I'm 50 and my grandmother lived to be 100 - this could be "mid-life:, but maybe not; God alone numbers our days) I never would have thought myself up to the task of some of the things God has already brought me through. I never in a million years would have picked the path that He set out for me. God is so good to be in charge of all of that! I believe God is very gracious in not letting most of us know way ahead of time "our life mission." Not knowing exactly gives me the opportunity to trust Him one day at a time. As He lights one step in front of me with each step I walk I am reminded that His ways are so much above mine. God is the master orchestrator working out His plan through ordinary people and bestowing a life mission that is beyond our wildest dreams.

Monday, May 5, 2008

He Makes Me

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul." Psalm 23:2,3a

Sometimes God has to make me do things. I'm sure that's not a surprise to any of us. There are commands and principles that are clearly defined in His Word. One of those things is the concept of a Sabbath. God modeled this - He rested on the 7th day. When I don't willingly obey, sometimes out of sheer love for me, "He makes me." What a patient loving heavenly Father. He knows my soul needs restoration and sometimes I'm too stubborn to slow down on my own. Thank you Lord, for "making me" lie down in green pastures.