Scattered thoughts of Miracles and Love

Some of you have heard about my youngest brother, who crashed his bicycle and broke his skull. He had his final follow-up appointment this past week and this is what the doctor said: "You know, we're all just kind of nonchalant about it, but you are a miracle." *Wow* We have been saying that, but to hear it from the doctor's own mouth is amazing! When he first went into the ICU all of the medical personnel were telling us, this will be a long road, we don't know how much brain damage he sustained. And the doctor was saying, I've seen a lot of these cases with young guys, in six months he should be up and around, maybe a slight limp, almost back to normal! (Us: *choke!!!* Six Months!!!!)
It has been a mere Three and One-Half months since his accident and we have been seeing God do miracles the whole way through! Praise His Holy Name!!!!!!!

I read Psalm 136 earlier this past week and I understood it in a different way than I have before. The latter half of every verse say, "for His mercy endures forever." As I was reading through it I started to realize that every verse is saying, "God did this. Why? Because His mercy towards us is forever!" Twenty-two times in a row, twenty-two different things that God has done, and what is the reason? Simply because His mercy is boundless, unmatchable,infinite, unexplainable, immeasurable, and unending! That's just Who my Daddy Is! I heard a new term for Him recently, and after pondering it, I like it. He has, Scandalous Love!!! That He would love me, that much.

As we are all rejoicing here I can't help but also remember the long, hard, days and night along the way to get here. There was a lot of heart-pain involved, especially while we were waiting for him to wake up...we didn't know if he ever would; or if he did, would his mind be functioning; if it was, how much? It is not exactly fun to remember those days, but they were good days. Days of learning to trust, to say yes, to rest peacefully knowing that God was doing whatever was going to bring Him the most Glory, and whatever was the very best for each one of us.

Something a missionary from India, to Tibet and India, said at one time when he was here in the States speaking has served as a bit of a rebuke to me:

"America is already a Christian nation. But although America has many sincere Christians, the majority of the people here have no religion. Here, where it is easy to have religion, where religion is offered on every side, and no one is persecuted for being a Christian, life should be happy and peaceful because of Christianity. But it is not. Instead, there is a hustle and bustle after money and comfort and pleasure, and that all clouds out thoughts of religion. Because it is so easy to have faith in this country, Americans do not appreciate what a comfort there is in religion. At one time the ostrich could fly, but because it did not ever use its wings, it lost its ability to do so. Just so, the people here who do not appreciate the religious faith of their fathers shall lose it."            - Sundar Singh

What this said to me is this: take more time to meditate. Go out and just enjoy being alone together with God. Not thinking my thoughts, dreaming my dreams, worrying my worries. No, enjoy Him, Who He Is!

Jesus Himself

Faint with the heat and the length of the road; 
I was oppressed with a wearisome load;
One came, so tenderly saying to me:
"Give Me thy load, 'tis too heavy for thee"

Jesus Himself,
Jesus Himself!

I was so poor, not a penny had I,
Clothing, or food for the journey to buy;
One came and whispered; "Leave that to My care;
Wealth of a kingdom with thee will I share."

Jesus Himself,
Jesus Himself!

I was so lonely for lack of a friend,
One came and offered me love without end.
Love that is mighty to strengthen and save,
Love that can triumph o'er death and the grave!

Jesus Himself,
Jesus Himself!

What tho the valleys be many and deep, 
What if the pathway be stony or steep;
Mountain or moorland, or valley of death:
"I will be with thee", my Comforter saith.

Jesus Himself,
Jesus Himself! 

Though the Path be Rough and Rugged...

This past week has been full of many things...from making marshmallows and sitting around bonfires with friends, to shoveling compost and playing in a muddy creek with six jolly children! The thing freshest on my mind, though, is the brevity of life and the sovereignty of God.

When a friend dies suddenly who it seems has just begun something great with "all of life" ahead of them, it gives one pause.  Is it just? Is it right? Is it kind? Is it good? This is a blessing?  .... What?

A "coincidence" (which I don't believe in) happened the other day when my friend sent me this quote:

"I will not be hurried because I love you. I know what I'm doing. And if you try to impose your understanding of schedule and timing on Me, you will struggle to feel loved by Me."

 Perhaps I do not understand, I cannot see how such a thing could be the best thing, for anyone involved. Yet, as God said to Job, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and you answer Me. Where were you when..." (Job 38:2-3). He knows the way that I am going. Even when I don't understand, I don't see His plan; when I can't trace His hand: will I trust His heart? He says:

"..Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; neither will the flame kindle upon you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior:..." (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Before the foundations of the world, He ordained a plan for each of us, and His plan is the very best. I can almost guarantee that it won't be easy, or a smooth road, but it will be a good road because you and I will be walking hand in hand with the One who made the road and planned the route!

God said to Moses:

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." (Exodus 33:14).

He promises to be with each one of us for always as well. He is our rest.

Life

God, I really want to live...You. My life's not worth living...and I just really really want to have You flowing out of me. I don't like what I see when I see me talking with people, interacting with others, working, serving. You are beautiful....You're everything that I want to be. Please Daddy, please help me. "...if [a son] ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?....how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"!!!!!!!!! (Matthew 7:10-11).

I have been asking. This has been my prayer more or less. (I have also asked for awake-ness, alertness, and comprehension when I'm reading my Bible in the mornings!....my brain tends to wake up slowly it seems....) What a wonderful thing, I read a beautiful promise in 2 Corinthians! "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." (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Seeking to dwell in His presence, beholding His glory, just enjoying sharing every part of my day with Him, talking with Him, being thankful, rejoicing in His goodness....this has been my week, and it has been wonderful! God is faithful. He is the one at work in my heart.

I have still been basking in the revelation of how much my Daddy loves me and just wants to hang out with me, it makes me want oh so much to be with Him, to know Him, for His life to be living in and through me. Truly, we only love Him because He loved us first! Reading my Bible these past few days has been so rich and full of life, so precious and "just-for-me"; speaking to my needs, my thoughts, my feelings. I should not be surprised since the Word is alive and personal...and I asked. *happy smile*

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom..."
These words have been almost like a constant theme playing in my thoughts over the past week: perhaps that is not surprising considering that I have been asking God to help me to live in His presence continually. Psalm 16:11 says, "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." The Word, the Word, the Word. Oh how important I am realizing it is! (again.) This relationship I'm in, how do I get to know this amazing Guy if I don't listen to what He's saying, or don't pay attention, or don't remember? When I treasure these Words, it makes them come alive! He is the Word and He is Alive!!! (1 Peter 1:22-25).

Oh yes, this week has been full of wonderful Life! ....which brings abundant Joy! Sure, there've been plenty of bumps, question marks, and pain throughout the week; but there is always joy as well, because I am not walking by myself, I have a Friend....and everything's okay as long as I'm with Him, 'cause He makes it that way. *happy, contented sigh* Life is good! (because God made it. *grin*)

I Love You, Daddy

We love Him because He first loved us!

Love. Quite possibly the most powerful force on the planet. 
I heard a story the other day of a young boy who refused to pay attention, talked back, and generally just would not listen in class. One day the teacher went up to him and quietly asked him, "Damion*, look me in the eyes. Has anyone ever told you that they loved you?" The answer was no. She then said, "Guess what, I, love you. Damion, I truly love you." This young boy had never heard the words "I love you", and hearing them changed his little life. It was a new revelation, the beginning of an awakening of the heart. 
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.

My heavenly Father says the same thing to you and me, He says, "I love you. I truly love you." 
I have been learning (re-learning) that my Father did not save me because of the good things that I can do for Him, He saved me because He loves me. He wants a relationship, not just a slave. He calls me His friend (John 15:15), and more than that, His bride. That is what He wants the relationship to be, as the relationship between a husband and a wife should be; when they both just love to be together, to enjoy life together.  
For me this is a very freeing thought, and also challenging: it helps me to focus. One thing, that is my focus -- to be loving God with all of my heart. I believe that as this love grows deeper and more perfect the Christ-like Life will naturally flow from that love. I know the person that I would like to be, the character that I would like to possess, but I cannot attain it. In my own strength, I can only hold on for so long, and then I fail. How wonderful to know that it is He which does the good work in me and through me! My job is to love Him and trust Him. 

"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" 
- Philippians 1: 6

"Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it." 
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." 
- Colossians 3:10-11

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P.S. Hi there! Maybe you are new here. Perhaps you never received the emailed newsletters that I sent out previously...it has been a while since I sent out a newsletter. My hope is that I will be able to write here on this blog either weekly or bi-weekly, sharing what I am learning. Also, hopefully the things that I share will be encouraging to you as you also journey down the path deeper into the loving heart of our Father.