Discovering God in every part of life is probably the most challenging and exciting adventure of all.
Where is He in dark storms?
Where is He in confusion?
Where is He in pain?
Where is He in failure?
Where is He in His silence?
Yet I have found He is just as eager to participate in life with us, to communicate with us in all these places as He is in our successes, delights and victories.
He stilled the storm for His disciples - it only took one Word.
He creates order from every confusion if we come to Him in humility.
He comforts and heals in our pain - both emotional and physical.
He enlightens us with fresh revelation in our failures as we trust Him.
And in His silence He communicates either our sin and refusal to listen to Him, reminds us of past instructions we still need to complete or expresses His desire to strengthen and stretch our faith as we wait so that we are strong and ready for the future.
There is nowhere to go to avoid Him.
Thank God for that!
Friday, May 27, 2011
New Life Begins in Person
A miracle of life! Harriet Lucy, my first grandchild.
Everyone says I am too young. And they must be right!
But the surprise is - I'm not and I so love this!
God is so clever.
Imagine planting a baby factory inside a tummy!
Imagine having the perfect frothing beverage on tap 24/7!
Imagine that first puff of wind that curls up the edges of her rosebud lips to produce that first little smile!
And yes - it all melts my heart and jerks memories from the past of sleepless nights and tiredness that digs so deeply into your pshyc that you can hardly function and yet that God-given instinct propels mothers on and on and on nurturing, protecting, loving.
There is no logic to this. It is a gift. And I get to watch and share and let my heart be melted beside my son and daughter-in-law's hearts, and aunties, and uncles and other grandparents and close friends. The melt oozes out into the community and reminds us all of You Lord - the Creator of us all. The Provider of sleep and food, our Protector, our Comforter - it brings Your character closer so that as we kiss the tip of that pretty up-turned nose - we are kissing You!
Everyone says I am too young. And they must be right!
But the surprise is - I'm not and I so love this!
God is so clever.
Imagine planting a baby factory inside a tummy!
Imagine having the perfect frothing beverage on tap 24/7!
Imagine that first puff of wind that curls up the edges of her rosebud lips to produce that first little smile!
And yes - it all melts my heart and jerks memories from the past of sleepless nights and tiredness that digs so deeply into your pshyc that you can hardly function and yet that God-given instinct propels mothers on and on and on nurturing, protecting, loving.
There is no logic to this. It is a gift. And I get to watch and share and let my heart be melted beside my son and daughter-in-law's hearts, and aunties, and uncles and other grandparents and close friends. The melt oozes out into the community and reminds us all of You Lord - the Creator of us all. The Provider of sleep and food, our Protector, our Comforter - it brings Your character closer so that as we kiss the tip of that pretty up-turned nose - we are kissing You!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Hearing God's voice
Watching the Spirit work can be difficult when you are beginning something new.
Questions can arise such as :
Did I really hear from God?
Is this just my own idea?
What do I do with what I believe God said to me?
When do I do it?
Do I move forward or wait for God's next move?
The Bible tells us that when God spoke to someone the person He was speaking to knew that it was God. They were not confused.
However often the people around them were! Remember Paul on the road to Damacus. When God spoke he fell to the ground and listened to those powerful life changing words. God spoke actual words to give him direction and instruction. However the people around him heard the noise as thunder!
God is very personal. He knows us each by name. He counts the very hairs on our heads. Jesus says He is our Shepherd and we, as His sheep, will hear His voice. Once we have heard all we need to do is follow!
Is this just my own idea?
What do I do with what I believe God said to me?
When do I do it?
Do I move forward or wait for God's next move?
The Bible tells us that when God spoke to someone the person He was speaking to knew that it was God. They were not confused.
However often the people around them were! Remember Paul on the road to Damacus. When God spoke he fell to the ground and listened to those powerful life changing words. God spoke actual words to give him direction and instruction. However the people around him heard the noise as thunder!
God is very personal. He knows us each by name. He counts the very hairs on our heads. Jesus says He is our Shepherd and we, as His sheep, will hear His voice. Once we have heard all we need to do is follow!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Encounters
We live each day in the Spirit watching and waiting to see what God is doing and then we can join Him in His work. Recently at Easter I experienced my first houseswap and went to a seaside town on New Zealand's coast. There was a jazz festival on at the time and I went to the city centre to enjoy the music.
Later in the early evening I decided to eat at a resturant and listen to more jazz played by a band in the open air walking street. I eventually began talking to a couple next to me and after a short time the man asked me what I did. Of course I mentioned my work as a counsellor and then mentioned I also wrote books. He was interested in my KICK ADDICTION book for his daughter and also in my faith.
He asked me, 'Have you always been religious?' When I said 'No!' he wanted to know the story about how this changed and I had the opportunity to give my testimony. I have shared it in KNOW GOD MORE. I found Jesus beside the Red Sea in Israel (at the time) many years ago when I was twenty-one. If you want to know the story, which is fasinating, you will need to buy my book.
Here on holiday - a God appointment! God is wonderous!
Later in the early evening I decided to eat at a resturant and listen to more jazz played by a band in the open air walking street. I eventually began talking to a couple next to me and after a short time the man asked me what I did. Of course I mentioned my work as a counsellor and then mentioned I also wrote books. He was interested in my KICK ADDICTION book for his daughter and also in my faith.
He asked me, 'Have you always been religious?' When I said 'No!' he wanted to know the story about how this changed and I had the opportunity to give my testimony. I have shared it in KNOW GOD MORE. I found Jesus beside the Red Sea in Israel (at the time) many years ago when I was twenty-one. If you want to know the story, which is fasinating, you will need to buy my book.
Here on holiday - a God appointment! God is wonderous!
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