God has lovingly reminded me this morning that He is always working on my behalf for His glory.
As I was in my study of Exodus this morning I was impressed with the fact of how the Israelites seemed to trust God when they could see His miracles and His works on their behalf and when it benefited them personally. When God had brought them across the Red Sea the scripture says that they feared the Lord, they believed in the Lord, and they believed in Moses but how quickly they forgot His faithfulness when they could not see what God was doing. I had to ask myself how quickly can I doubt when I can not see what God is doing? The Lord lovingly reminded me that I am to walk by faith not by sight and that He is always working on my behalf even when I can't seem to see anything happening. I am so thankful that God in His mercy and grace spoke to me this morning through His word to remind me of this beautiful truth and to caution me to remember He is always with me, He will never leave me nor forsake me, and He is working on my behalf for His glory and I can trust Him. It may not always be how I see it because my ways are not always His ways but I can trust in His faithfulness!
I read the words to this Hymn and I was so blessed that I thought I'd share. I hope it encourages you in your walk with the LORD as it did me. We have been asking the Lord to fill our mouths with praise and laughter even in situations that seem difficult for it is so easy to give praise when everything goes my way but oh how different it can be when they do not. As I ponder over the last few years I can definitely see how God is teaching me this very truth.
HYMN: FILL THOU MY LIFE
Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and Thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor e'en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in every part:
Praise in the common things of life,
Its goings out and in;
Praise in each duty and each deed,
However small and mean.
Fill every part of me with praise;
Let all my being speak
Of Thee and of Thy love, O Lord,
Poor though I be and weak.
So shall no part of day or night
From sacredness be free,
But all my life, in every step,
Be fellowship with Thee.
We were reading in Exodus 14 a few weeks ago and I was really struck by this: God took the Israelites by way of the Red Sea, where they could go no further on their own.
Although this this seemed to be an impossible situation to man, God was in control. The Israelites have left/fled from Egypt by the hand of God. The Pharoah, with his army, decides to follow after them because he has once again changed his mind ( with the Lord's help ). As the Israelites head to their promise land they run smack into the Red Sea with an army behind them that is pursuing them and the Sea in front of them. They were in a position where they could go no further on their own.
They immediately say to Moses....
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
[Is] not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Then Moses replies:
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Then this is what happens:
And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.
And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry [ground]: and the waters [were] a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, [even] all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, [and] all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
What is so amazing to me this time through this passage is that God brought the Israelites to a point of complete dependence on Him. Then not only did he deliver them he destroyed the enemy completely by bringing them to a body of water that seemed impossible to cross to them but was necessary because it needed to be big enough to swallow up the whole Egyptian army. If God would have taken them an "easier" route like a small river - something they could see the other side of, it would not have been big enough to accomplish that part. Not only did He deliver them ( even though they thought they were just going to die ) God swallowed up any chance of thier enemies coming after them at another time ! He COMPLETELY FREED THEM FROM THIS BONDAGE! ISN'T THAT AWESOME!
Ahhh...just like a good book. The other day while I was cleaning I came across some old journals of mine. They are records of my walk with God. I settled in with a cup of coffee and began to just enjoy the goodness of the Lord....seeing how there were times of tears and times of laughter and how my faithful friend Jesus was there every step of the way. It was very encouraging to look back and see how God worked in situations with a clearer view. While my hand was writing those thoughts and prayers to the Lord in the past I had no idea how he would answer them but now as I read the words at a future time.....the answers were before me because they had already transpired in my life. I was able to see the whole picture in many areas. Everything may not have been written in those journals but that record of God's faithfulness has encouraged me to continue to trust in Him.
Journaling has also stemmed into other areas in my life....like my kitchen. Several years ago our family traveled to Virginia and one of the places we visited was Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello ( ?sp ) I was amazed at how much they recorded about the running of the home. They were able to recreate the whole garden area to what it would have been like when they were living because of the journals that Mr. Jefferson and his daughter kept. It's quite amazing to see and I highly recommend it.
When we moved to a different region I had such trouble trying to keep in my mind when certain fruits and vegetables came into season. Since I like to can this was a problem...I kept missing the good prices and the fresh vegetables. So finally last year I wrote down when I bought strawberries, peaches, and corn and now I have a record of what to look for this year. I know about what I paid, how much I bought, where I bought them from, what it yielded and when they come in season. My family has enjoyed the fruit of this and they are thankful!
As I type this it reminds me of the record that Jesus is coming again: It has been written for us! Some day we will see the whole picture but for now we must but trust!
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ( don't you love that part...how God personalized it and didn't leave it just with great God but OUR SAVIOUR) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14.
This world is not my own........I'm just a passing through....my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.........ahhh just love that song!
2 Corinthians 6: 1-10
I was reading in Corinthians this morning the above passage and my heart was so blessed by God's word. The whole passage is awesome but what really struck me was verse 10:
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
By sight....I may be poor, yet I am rich in the Lord Jesus and can make many rich by sharing Jesus with them. By sight again...I may have nothing but according to scripture...I possess all things in the Lord Jesus. What wonderful reassurance from God's word in times of turmoil in my own life. To be reminded of what is important and how much I have in Him. "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing" !
This paints a picture for me of a person that appears as someone who may not have anything..........a homeless person sleeping on a bench, or standing on the corner with a sign. In a wordly sense at times we may appear just like these beggars/homeless to those who chase after wealth and fame; yet the Lord tells us in Him not only are we rich but we have the ability to make others rich. Not only do I have nothing but in Him I possess all things. In Sorrow, I can rejoice.
Ahhhh....I pray that in my life I will not receive the grace of God in vain! ( 2 Cor. 6: 1 )
Psalm 48: 1, 2
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
Because God is so great, He is greatly to be praised. He is worthy to be praised as the great Creator, the great Sustainer, the great Prophet, the great High Priest, the King of all kings, the great Redeemer, and the great Deliverer of His people. In Psalm 48 it is His greatness as the Savior and Protector of His city and His people.
commentary by William MacDonald
How wonderful to be reminded of how great the LORD is.............
I have been meditating on the song:
We serve a risen Savior,
( Do I live like I serve a risen Savior - I must confess..not always )
He's in the world today!
I know that He is living,
whatever men may say;
( many will say man things but God's word is Truth)
I see His hand of mercy,
( praise God for His mercy )
I hear His voice of cheer,
( Isn't wonderful to think that He's our biggest cheerleader )
And just the time I need Him
( which in reality is all the time I just don't always realize it )
He's always near
( He will never leave me nor forsake me )
HE LIVES HE LIVES, CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY
( not just today but for all eternity )
He walks with me
( may I walk with Him )
He talks with me
( may I talk with Him )
along lifes narrow way
( the narrow way of grace through faith, not of works ; Oh how I must constantly remember that it is not of me but only of HIM )
HE LIVES, HE LIVES, SALVATION TO IMPART
( may I remember to share His great gift )
You ask me how I know He lives
( I'm so glad that people ask )
HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART!
What a difference Jesus has made/and is making in my life....all glory to HIM! For I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works ( clay in the potters hand - just plain ole dirt yet precious to God )
Which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
( may I walk in what God has prepared for me; a life of just being who I am in Christ and may the fullness of who He is overflow my cup and spill over into the lives of others)
I STAND AMAZED IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS THE NAZARENE!
Today I was reading about Zechariah and Elizabeth. I was really struck by the fact that the angel Gabriel shut Zechariah's mouth as he questioned what was going to happen. As I reflected on this I thought about this: did God not want his unbelief to spread before John the Baptist and the Savior were born? I do not know but it did cause me to wonder how my unbelief at times can effect others and that when I doubt or fear I need to trust God. I can tend to want all the details revealed just like wondering why God did this yet there are times I must simply trust that He is in control.
