This morning my reading was in the book of Jeremiah. It's a hard book to read as it deals with the destruction of Judah for not obeying the word of the LORD. Jeremiah minces no bones and deals straight forth with the sin, though it is hard for him and he struggles with all of it. He is known as the Weeping Prophet.
He brings the wind out of His treasuries. Jeremiah 10:13
But in the midst of all this, I found the above statement. Now as for me the wind is usually troublesome. It blows things away that I want. It can be so severe it knocks over trees or light poles and causes immense damage. It can keep a person up during the night from the howling it makes. There are times when it is so hot that a gentle breeze is welcome, but most of the time, I can do without it. BUT
He brings the wind of out of His treasuries.
I have NEVER looked at the wind as being a part of the treasuries of God. It's a rainy day in our little town today and the wind has been blowing, not hard, but enough to get a breeze going through the house. This is a part of the treasuries of God.
My devotional reading from Let's Take a Walk Together said this about God:
Just as parents protect and defend their own children, nothing can reach the
child of God without having to first pass through our Almighty Defender
and then through our Advocate. Parents comfort and reassure; the Holy
Comforter works from within, settling our fears and re-routing our mis-
guided thoughts.
Our God works in our lives for our good, but ultimately for His glory. He cares for me as a child, and yet I find myself rebellious and stubborn. How much of the treasuries of God am I missing because I am so focused on me?
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.
As I watch the wind gently moving the leaves in the trees, I am struck that He did this for me... out of His treasuries... for my blessing... so that I might praise Him.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Perfection
This morning in Grace for the Moment
by Max Lucado, he said, “God doesn't improve (us); He perfects.”
And it hit me that's what God is trying to do with me. He doesn't
want better, He wants perfection. But I can't do perfection. And
that's okay, because He knows I can't. What He wants is for me to
admit that and let Him work through me to bring about that
perfection.
He sees me in His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. I am covered in His righteousness. My reading in Zephaniah said this about the LORD:
The LORD is righteous in her midst,
He will do no unrighteousness.
The her He is referring to is Israel, but it's apropos for this morning. The LORD will never do any unrighteousness. He lives in me. His desire for me is only perfection and that is for His glory.
On my screen-saver as I was reading my devotions was the photo with me sitting at a Rockies game with me pregnant expecting our 3rd child and the older two, almost 3 and almost 5, next to me. Right now those three are ages 20, 23, and almost 25.
As I looked at each of them, it occurred to me that God is dealing with each one in a very unique way. Our oldest (J) is married to a beautiful young woman (A). We still can't get over how God has blessed us by bringing her into our lives. Well, they are suffering right now experiencing their first miscarriage. They are looking to our Heavenly Father and relying upon Him and trying not to be bitter. They are finding it hard when they look around them and see people who don't follow the LORD and have babies out of wedlock with no problems. But they have also found joy in this – their child got to meet the LORD Jesus before they did. Hard Times
Our second child (T) has had the great opportunity to serve the LORD overseas in a difficult land for 3 months. She loved her time there. She wants to return for a year to serve Him in working with a foster mom who works with handicapped children. But it seems no matter which way she turns the answer is wait. She now has a temp job until January as a nanny. She's hoping at the end of that time that the LORD will say yes. Waiting Times.
Our youngest (C) has a flare for drama. He's hoping to attend a conservatory. He's made application and auditioned but is awaiting word of his acceptance. And though we believe this is where the LORD wants him, he's doing nothing else. He had a job but was let go because of laziness and there really wasn't enough work to keep him on. Since then he's not done anything except sit around and play his video games. Do I believe this is where the LORD wants him? No. Do I encourage him to look for work and do other things? Yes. Can I make him? No. Times of Going My Own Way.
As I look at each of my children, I realize that God has allowed me to go through each of those times and will probably again in the future. And even in the times where He allows me to do what I want by going my own way instead of what He wants, I am realizing He still uses this for my good and His glory. I am struck by how amazing God is in that He can use all of these times to perfect us. I am humbled this morning by what He is doing in my life and so thankful that He is also doing the same thing in each one of my children's lives, no matter where they are. His goal is perfection.
(written 8-23-13)
He sees me in His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. I am covered in His righteousness. My reading in Zephaniah said this about the LORD:
The LORD is righteous in her midst,
He will do no unrighteousness.
The her He is referring to is Israel, but it's apropos for this morning. The LORD will never do any unrighteousness. He lives in me. His desire for me is only perfection and that is for His glory.
On my screen-saver as I was reading my devotions was the photo with me sitting at a Rockies game with me pregnant expecting our 3rd child and the older two, almost 3 and almost 5, next to me. Right now those three are ages 20, 23, and almost 25.
As I looked at each of them, it occurred to me that God is dealing with each one in a very unique way. Our oldest (J) is married to a beautiful young woman (A). We still can't get over how God has blessed us by bringing her into our lives. Well, they are suffering right now experiencing their first miscarriage. They are looking to our Heavenly Father and relying upon Him and trying not to be bitter. They are finding it hard when they look around them and see people who don't follow the LORD and have babies out of wedlock with no problems. But they have also found joy in this – their child got to meet the LORD Jesus before they did. Hard Times
Our second child (T) has had the great opportunity to serve the LORD overseas in a difficult land for 3 months. She loved her time there. She wants to return for a year to serve Him in working with a foster mom who works with handicapped children. But it seems no matter which way she turns the answer is wait. She now has a temp job until January as a nanny. She's hoping at the end of that time that the LORD will say yes. Waiting Times.
Our youngest (C) has a flare for drama. He's hoping to attend a conservatory. He's made application and auditioned but is awaiting word of his acceptance. And though we believe this is where the LORD wants him, he's doing nothing else. He had a job but was let go because of laziness and there really wasn't enough work to keep him on. Since then he's not done anything except sit around and play his video games. Do I believe this is where the LORD wants him? No. Do I encourage him to look for work and do other things? Yes. Can I make him? No. Times of Going My Own Way.
As I look at each of my children, I realize that God has allowed me to go through each of those times and will probably again in the future. And even in the times where He allows me to do what I want by going my own way instead of what He wants, I am realizing He still uses this for my good and His glory. I am struck by how amazing God is in that He can use all of these times to perfect us. I am humbled this morning by what He is doing in my life and so thankful that He is also doing the same thing in each one of my children's lives, no matter where they are. His goal is perfection.
(written 8-23-13)
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