Life is meant to be lived. Ideas are born; desires thwarted. Parents decline; children depart. Choices multiply--or disappear altogether. Opportunities twist and turn. In each, through each, we are. Emotions rise, exposing rich conflict, deep depravity, illogical hope, tested faith. Words escape into open meadows of thought, displaying motives, dreams, one's inner self. Choices land, revealing loves, likes, even preferences, at someone's expense--yours or mine.
In and through it all, God is comfort. Because I am His and He is mine, I believe. I believe He is light, that in Him there is no darkness, no shadow of turning. His light does not come from behind or beside. It is He. I believe that as the Giver of every good and perfect gift, He knows all, allows all, sees all and can be trusted--with all: fledgling ideas, thwarted desires, declining parents, departing children, multiplying (or disappearing) choices, twisting and turning opportunities.
Because He is, He indwells, and He empowers, then "we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.... For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us... For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 3:18-4:1, 5-7, 15 NKJV).
When in doubt, live. Not in fear. Nor despair. Nor resentment or bitterness. But live by faith, in love, with humility and trust. As others see His grace lavished on us, they cannot help but marvel at His goodness.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, in Whom our heart rejoices. (Martin Rinkart)
(A post-Thanksgiving thought as I made up beds with flannel sheets this windy, wintry night, listening to a daughter work out piano compositions, walking past another reading, and hearing laughter from the remainder of the family: living life! How blessed we are.)
One week later: If you're suffering, struggling with not serving the way you'd like, or feeling inadequate for one reason or another, check out this post by David Whitcher. You will be blessed!
In and through it all, God is comfort. Because I am His and He is mine, I believe. I believe He is light, that in Him there is no darkness, no shadow of turning. His light does not come from behind or beside. It is He. I believe that as the Giver of every good and perfect gift, He knows all, allows all, sees all and can be trusted--with all: fledgling ideas, thwarted desires, declining parents, departing children, multiplying (or disappearing) choices, twisting and turning opportunities.
Because He is, He indwells, and He empowers, then "we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.... For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us... For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 3:18-4:1, 5-7, 15 NKJV).
When in doubt, live. Not in fear. Nor despair. Nor resentment or bitterness. But live by faith, in love, with humility and trust. As others see His grace lavished on us, they cannot help but marvel at His goodness.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, in Whom our heart rejoices. (Martin Rinkart)
(A post-Thanksgiving thought as I made up beds with flannel sheets this windy, wintry night, listening to a daughter work out piano compositions, walking past another reading, and hearing laughter from the remainder of the family: living life! How blessed we are.)
One week later: If you're suffering, struggling with not serving the way you'd like, or feeling inadequate for one reason or another, check out this post by David Whitcher. You will be blessed!
As we experience our first Thanksgiving in The Gambia, this post was very uplifting and encouraging. Thanks for posting your thoughts. Thanks for sharing. Praise God you do.
ReplyDeletePraise God for His work through each of us! Thank you. You are remembered often in prayer.
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