This song has been on the radio and on my heart for the past few weeks. I thought I'd share it with you because it's such a great song to get stuck in one's head. It reminds us of who our Savior is and what He has done for us. And I know I need that all the time!
And then this song came up right after I listened to that one, and since it's a favorite I thought I'd share it as well. A musical morning here in Copiague. LOL
I feel the Lord saying someone needs to hear these today. Life is beating them up and He wants them to know He has not forgotten nor forsaken them. He loves them with an everlasting love and His plans are good. The dark does not extinguish the light, your darkness does not overwhelm Him. Rest in His Presence and His love.
Lord, thank You. You are the God who sees us. Thank You for the beautiful music You give us to lift our hearts and sooth our spirits. You are an amazing, creative God who flows power and blessing through those who open their hearts to You. Lead each or us to the area where You desire us to be a blessing, be it music, writing, serving, comforting.....whatever Your purpose for us, help us walk in it. Thank Your for giving us these musicians and songwriters who bring Your heart to us. Lord comfort whoever reads this entry with Your love, mercy and compassion. I praise You this morning...You are worthy! In Jesus' saving Name. Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
I'm going to change entries here. This was the verse that starts out Mom's journal entry on spiritual intimacy. But it was my God visit for the morning, and for all the crazy going on in my life right now.
I need to give some additional information to our Human Resources department at the USPS on my pending retirement. Getting through to this department is notoriously difficult and time consuming. Add onto that the fact that prompt system they use for navigating the system is not only annoying and long, it doesn't always work right. UGH!! I've been disconnected, hung up on and told the wait was more than two hours multiple times. This morning was no exception. After waiting an hour for a call back from the HR people, I get the call and the system will not allow me to answer the question of who I am. I was then told time was up, "Goodbye." Talk about wanting to scream!
So, I'm sitting here at my computer ready to type this entry up when Proverbs 3:5-6 pops off the page of my Mom's journal. Talk about God's timing. It is exactly what I need to remember right now.
When we started this moving process, things did not exactly go smoothly. But each and every thing worked out better when it didn't happen as I thought it should than if it had gone along with my plan. God was in control. We once again are facing a situation where my plan is falling by the wayside. We were originally looking to rent a house for next year in our new location so we could explore our new state before committing to buying a house and setting down roots. Well, all those doors for rentals are literally closed to us because of the number of animals we have (5 cats). It looks like God has a different plan in mind once again. And you know, I'm okay with it. What started out as frustration has transformed into faith. God has carried us through this far, and He will continue to do so.
So once again this morning I find myself stymied by the un-cooperation of this world and once again God shows Himself faithful. And gives me His Word to hang onto. What a beautiful Father we have!
Is there something not working right now? Not going according to your plan and design? Be open to something different. Be open to God's plan. It is always better than ours. Even when it's harder or painful or frustrating. The end is always perfect for us. Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.
Proverbs 8:32 And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.
Lord, help us to trust in You with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. Let us acknowledge You in all our ways, following Your leading and guidance into a joyful, perfect outcome of Your choosing. You tell us that You have plans for our good, not for harm. Help us to rest in that when things seem to be going against us at every turn. Your plans are far above us and our thinking. Keep us in peace when we are surrounded by chaos and let us rest in You during the storms. With Your leading we can walk through the deep waters and the flames and come out in a beautiful place. Lord, this is so hard to do sometimes, keeping faith and not railing about the problems and unfairness and pain. Life hurts. But thank You that You already know all this and will stay by our side, surely, and perfectly working all things out for our good. Make us like Jesus, trusting and submitted to Your plans and ways. It's in His precious Name that I pray, amen.
I woke this morning tired. Physically, mentally, emotionally bone weary tired. Okay, what gives? I slept all night. Not a lot of tossing and turning. So why did I feel this way? And how the heck am I supposed to get through the day? A day with a to do list longer then the hours in it, a busy night at work looming...GOD HELP!!!
I'm sure most people have been there a time or two (or three or four.....). We all have those days. And sometimes we just really need to rest. Our body is telling us that it's time to slow down and settle down for a bit. Of course we argue back with it. Who has time?!? How will I get things done?!? I'm feeling that now.
And then in the back of my mind comes the thoughts and lessons born out of this blog. Speak peace to your circumstances. Do what you can and let God do the rest. These are not problems but opportunities to see God's faithfulness. You are not a human doing but a human being. Rest in the Lord. Seek first the kingdom.....on and on the thoughts come. A culmination of the Lord's teaching over the years. And my mind settles. He's got this! He's got me!
I'm so grateful for the Lord's school of life that I've been in over the years. When we keep at it, keep trying (even through many failures and much forgetfulness), eventually things start sticking. Even with everything I have to do to prepare for retirement and moving out of state, even living with everything about this process up in the air and nothing nailed down, I am at peace (most of the time lol). God's got this.
My encouragement to you is not to give up. Keep putting into practice the things the Lord shows you. I know we definitely don't get that perfect all the time, but keep doing it. You will see the fruit. Hebrews 12:11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Don't stop praying, don't stop listening, don't stop studying, don't give up on God or yourself.
Lord thank You for the years of patient teaching and leading You provide. Thank You for never leaving nor forsaking Your difficult children. I'm one of them! I take forever to learn things, fail more often than succeed, but thank You for never condemning me..,.but loving me through it all. Unconditionally and with keeping score. It's not over, I know. But I'm so glad to see fruit. Lord encourage everyone reading this to keep going forward with You. To trust Your process and Your timing. Your heart is always kind, always good, always loving....even when we hurt. Increase our faith. Lord, You know the circumstances in each of our lives, please continue working all things for good, all things for Your glory. Shine through each of us. And help us to get through our days in Your grace, abiding and resting in You. I'm in awe of Your care. In Jesus' sweet Name. Amen.
