How did I get here?

How did I get here? Here is right where I just left. Here is the last place I want to be. Here is right back where I started out. But I'm here again.

You'd think that after all we've been through, all the lessons and examples lived out, that I would have learned. But I took my eyes off HIM and looked at the waves instead. I decided I needed to save myself, to tread water and look for a buoy. But there was no buoy...and my arms grew tired of holding this weight. I looked around and immediately recognized where I was - drowning in a sea of doubt and unbelief.

There is a beautiful part in this mess I've made.

There's a loving Father with open arms. Already forgiven, forever forgotten. HE says, "Welcome home, my child. Let's take it from here."

Too busy not to pray...

I'm reading a book called 'Too Busy not to Pray: Slowing down to be with God' by Bill Hybels. Anyone else identify with that title?

Chapters one, two, three and four were great, as expected. Also as expected, the botom laine comes down to clearing everything aside and giving your focused attention to spending time listening and talking to God. I just can't ever figure out where to start and what to say.

Page 45 spelled it out so clearly:

Psalm 62:8 says, "Pour your heart out to Him." Talk to Him. Say, "Lord, this is how I feel today...I've been thinking about this recently...I'm worried about this...I'm depressed about this...I'm happy about this..." Talk to the Father sincerely.

One of the gifts we've been given is that we can come to God at any time, just as we are. He doesn't ask us to become perfect husbands and wives, sin-free examples, committed Sunday School teachers, surrendered missionaries in a jungle, or to break the addictions first. Just as we are. With our crushed hearts, our skinned knees and our dirty hands. Let Him bind the wounds. All we have to do is bring in to Him and allow Him to take over.

Pour your heart out to Him." Talk to Him. Say, "Lord, this is how I feel today...I've been thinking about this recently...I'm worried about this...I'm depressed about this...I'm happy about this..."

Talk to the Father sincerely.

And we'll wait....

Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides You,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
Isaiah 64:3

One definition of 'to wait' is to look forward to eagerly. Another says to remain inactive or in a state of repose until something expected happens.

And so we will wait. We trust that Your plan is better than anything we can concoct (been there, tried that). We'd much rather wait for You to show us the next step than move without You.

In Your perfect timing, in your perfect way, show us. We're waiting...and we're excited.

Tonight...

11:59, by Jonny Diaz

Eleven fifty nine pm
and I lie in my bed awake,
afraid that tomorrow and all of its problems
are only a minute away.

I guess that’s how I’ve always been
never content with my place
but scared at the very thought of growing up
and how I compete in that race.

You are the one who controls all time.
Can I bring you all of my fears tonight?
'Cause it’s getting cold and it’s sad but true
that it’s been a while since I laid here with you.

I have been hiding from you.
Silly you know where I’m at.
I guess it just took me here scared and alone
to spur on this overdue chat.

Sorry that I’m rambling on.
I just need you to hold me tight
and please will you stay with me until the morning
'Cause I am so lonely tonight.

Billions of people each with their needs
but I am so thankful that you’re here with me.

I know it’s me who has fled the scene
and you have been waiting there patiently
prodigal son I have chased my pride
but you’re always there with your arms open wide.

But because HE is...

It's a good thing that I'm not GOD....

If I were, I would have provided for our needs by having my paycheck come in on time.

If I were, I wouldn't have allowed her to go through that experience that left her hating her reflection in the mirror.

If I were, I would have given him the ability to speak the language perfectly to make all of this easier.

If I were, I wouldn't have let that baby die before it met its wonderful family.

If I were, I would have softened his father's heart so that he could tell his family that he believed.


But because HE is...

HE provided for our needs through unexpected ways and even gave us the chance to take a vacation together.

HE used that experience to show her how beautiful she is to HIM.

HE is teaching us to rely on HIM to equip us.

HE wrapped HIS strong arms around them and comforted them in the way only someone who has also lost a child can.

HE spoke to him dreams, building the courage he needs to share with others.

Pour la durée des temps...

L'Eternel règne.
Il est majestueux.

L'Eternel règne.
Il est ceint de force.

L'Eternel règne.
Il est sur son trône.

Pour la durée des temps,
Pour la durée des temps.

Dieu est puissant dans les lieux célestes.
Ses témoignages sont véritables.
La sainteté convient à sa maison
Pour la durée des temps,
Pour la durée des temps.

Puissance et force sont dans ton temp
Devant ta face, tout est splendeur.
Famille des peuples, rendez-lui gloire
Pour la durée des temps,
Pour la durée des temps.

Pour la durée des temps, nous t'adorons.
Pour la durée des temps, nous t'exaltons.
Car tu es grand, et digne de louange.
Eternel, tu as fait les cieux.
Amen

-- Fabienne Pons, 1989

Lift them high...

Written by my friend, Marcy Watt

"I remember once in Sunday School class,
when I couldn’t have been more than 9 years old.
Our teacher told us the story of Moses and Joshua/Israel fighting Amelek.

How Moses stood on the hilltop, his arms raised high,
while Joshua battled in the valley below.

When Moses’ arms grew tired he lowered them
but when he did Joshua began to lose.
So Aaron and Hur helped him keep his hands raised high.

Our teacher had us stand and raise our arms above our heads.
As I stood there,
with my skinny little arms stretched above my head
they began to ache after a long minute
and I felt sorry for Moses, being such an old man
and having to keep his arms raised for so long.

We sat down and went on with our lesson.
I remember being relieved
I wouldn’t ever have to do what Moses did,
I wouldn’t ever have to stand with my arms lifted high for such a long time.

But my teacher didn’t tell us
that we would have to do this someday.

That there would come a day
when we would have to raise our arms high above our heads,
lifting our hands to a sky that seemed empty as a bell.

Because the battle waging around us would require that.
And our arms would grow tired
and our feet would grow tired
and our hearts would grow tired.

And it would feel as though the battle would never end.
That our tears would never run dry.

And we will lift our gazes to the cloudless sky
wondering why sometimes He’s so silent.

We’ll question the silence
and we’ll weep at the silence
and scream at the silence.

But we’ll keep our arms raised.
Because that's what faith does.

It keeps it’s skinny arms lifted high
even though the waters are raging
and our hearts are so weary we can barely breathe.

Because what else is there to do?
But stand in the middle of every fiery attack
with our hands stretched out to Him,
believing He will prove Himself faithful,
just as He has time and time again."

Be seen...

Change my eyes.

Show me that the obstacles are not mountains to climb alone, but an opportunity to be carried by You.

Remebering my way to faith...

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. HE humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.
- Deuteronomy 8:2-4

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:22-24

Thanking in faith...

"Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist."
-- Peter Kreeft

I read about Jesus feeding the five thousand recently. (Apparently I like this story.)

This time what struck me was this verse:

"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves."

He thanked GOD before the miracle - before the fish and loaves filled five thousand stomachs, before the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of leftover bread and fish. He knew their needs would be met (and exceeded) and he thanked GOD in advance for the miraculous provision to come.

So now it's my turn to follow His lead, and choose to I thank GOD for the blessings to come.

Peace

Senegal is the only West African nation---and possibly the only African nation---that has never had a coup or a violent turnover in government. May GOD grant that this stability continues.

We have received several e-mails from people in Senegal asking us to pray for the presidential elections there today, Feb. 25th. There seems to be unrest in the country about this and even the potential that things could take a violent turn. Some small-scale violence has apparently already occurred. Please pray for the situation there not only during the elections but also in days following as the results become known. We understand that the results may be made known on Wednesday. Please pray for the situation in Senegal and especially that the door to sharing God’s Word there would continue to stay open in every way.

Thank you for praying. As always, our Senegalese friends and families are on our hearts.

Read more on BBC.

Reflection...

Our relationships with people reflects our relationship with GOD.

(From a sermon by Dr. Ken Williams)

Beautiful strength...

There is a friend I love to pray for.

Not because her life is so smooth-sailing and easy.
But because has relied on HIM to carry her through.

Not because GOD answers her prayers faster or better.
But because she'll stay and wait until she hears from HIM.

Not because she's always happy and smiling.
But because she opens her heart for HIM to heal her pain.

There is a friend I love to pray for.
Because she is a woman of GOD and her strength is beautiful.

Quiet you with HIS love...

The LORD your GOD is with you,
HE is mighty to save.
HE will take great delight in you,
HE will quiet you with HIS love,
HE will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17