When we have done all we can, we must still wait for God to accomplish His purposes. As we wait, we can fix our eyes on Jesus as a companion who empathizes with our suffering and a Savior who is working behind the scenes. Difficult circumstances seem to increase our ability to experience intimacy with Christ.
Ruthann Ridley
Monday, September 24, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Days of Old
What a day today has been. Well, nothing REALLY spectacular happened. It is just a day where all i could think about was GOD. Last night I set my alarm for 0415. (For all you non-military types, that is 4:15 in the morning.) The plan was to get up, go onto my back porch and see the sun rise. Did not happen because I fell back asleep. All good.
When I re-awakened the sun was steadily climbing towards its apex in the sky with its beams filtering through my window. Awesome start!! Told you so.
Next on my agenda was to feed the hunger that was coming on fast. No not the hunger of my body, but of my soul. I felt such a need to be in the presence of my heavenly Father. Although only a few hours had passed, since our last get together I missed him. This moment typifies my whole week. I enjoyed the time of koinonia (fellowship) between God and I.
Much of this past week was spent in prayer, reading the bible, listening, learning and falling back in love with my Creator. It was just like 'old times'. Are you feeling a bit melancholy yet? I am.
Before my life became hectic and at times out of control, God was all that mattered to me. I did not know much of Him, but I was discovering who He was and what this thing called life meant. One can liken it to children being out of school for the summer and doing nothing but lounging around the house without a care in the world. There are no priorities, no homework, no books to read or projects to work on. Life was finally seeing things their way.
That is how it was with me and God in the beginning. Lately not much so.
I had to get back to those times where my priorities were straight and even when an eventual curve ball was thrown at me I still found time later in the day to spend with Him. I WANTED TO. Nowadays with work and school and other interests God has been pushed aside. Heck, I even put on classical music this morning and have had it playing all day. Wolfgang A. Mozart rocks.
There is a verse of scripture from Isaiah that talks about "remembering the things of the past" which is good, but God also warns that we are not "to pine for them." This caused much confusion for a few minutes. Why?
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Looking back in remembrance I longed for the days of old, while at the same (certainly not on purpose) time turning my back on God. Now I understand why Malachi talks about a book of remembrance. Its purpose was to keep the people focused on the God who was there through the tough times, the captivity and the unknown.
Second Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
God, everyday, has something fresh and new planned for me, you and future sons and daughters of His. It is very much like His mercy and unfailing compassion. God and His word has become like a treasure to me and every time I dig into the treasure chest called the Holy Scriptures I get a new nugget. Gold and silver cannot compare. Now I can identify with Job when he said "I hunger for Your word more than my necessary food."
So, in closing, when you think about the past and remember when...
Just think to yourself, "I cannot bring it into the present" and ask God to give you something fresh for now. It will be like manna from heaven.
When I re-awakened the sun was steadily climbing towards its apex in the sky with its beams filtering through my window. Awesome start!! Told you so.
Next on my agenda was to feed the hunger that was coming on fast. No not the hunger of my body, but of my soul. I felt such a need to be in the presence of my heavenly Father. Although only a few hours had passed, since our last get together I missed him. This moment typifies my whole week. I enjoyed the time of koinonia (fellowship) between God and I.
Much of this past week was spent in prayer, reading the bible, listening, learning and falling back in love with my Creator. It was just like 'old times'. Are you feeling a bit melancholy yet? I am.
Before my life became hectic and at times out of control, God was all that mattered to me. I did not know much of Him, but I was discovering who He was and what this thing called life meant. One can liken it to children being out of school for the summer and doing nothing but lounging around the house without a care in the world. There are no priorities, no homework, no books to read or projects to work on. Life was finally seeing things their way.
That is how it was with me and God in the beginning. Lately not much so.
I had to get back to those times where my priorities were straight and even when an eventual curve ball was thrown at me I still found time later in the day to spend with Him. I WANTED TO. Nowadays with work and school and other interests God has been pushed aside. Heck, I even put on classical music this morning and have had it playing all day. Wolfgang A. Mozart rocks.
There is a verse of scripture from Isaiah that talks about "remembering the things of the past" which is good, but God also warns that we are not "to pine for them." This caused much confusion for a few minutes. Why?
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Looking back in remembrance I longed for the days of old, while at the same (certainly not on purpose) time turning my back on God. Now I understand why Malachi talks about a book of remembrance. Its purpose was to keep the people focused on the God who was there through the tough times, the captivity and the unknown.
Second Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
God, everyday, has something fresh and new planned for me, you and future sons and daughters of His. It is very much like His mercy and unfailing compassion. God and His word has become like a treasure to me and every time I dig into the treasure chest called the Holy Scriptures I get a new nugget. Gold and silver cannot compare. Now I can identify with Job when he said "I hunger for Your word more than my necessary food."
So, in closing, when you think about the past and remember when...
Just think to yourself, "I cannot bring it into the present" and ask God to give you something fresh for now. It will be like manna from heaven.
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