If we have never had the experience of taking our commonplace religious shoes off our commonplace religious feet, and getting rid of all the undue familiarity with which we approach God, it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and familiar are those who have never yet been introduced to Jesus Christ.
O. Chambers
My Utmost for His Highest
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It’s warm and welcoming outside. He’s free from burdensome coats and the restricting cold of winter. The boy is happy, thriving. He’s had rough times, stubbed toes, scrapped knees, bumped head. I’m sure his mother remembers each well, she heard his cries. In his desperation and pain he called on her name and she was there, close, eager to heal. She knew that they were minor scares, but to him they were the epitome of excruciating. They were all he knew, and even though his mother knew better it never lessened her love for him, it never slowed her steps to him, it never kept her from providing for him.
But at this moment all memories of his mother and his injuries are far from his mind. The wind blows lightly and the little boy is free to roam. He gets his hands on the bubbles his mom had purchased for him to enjoy. He sticks in the wand, fascinated the film of flourescent soap that coats it. His mother says, “Blow hard.” She guides him.
His shock is immediate. Joy moves over his face, pride is in his smile and youthful excitement fills his giggles. His fascination grows to worship as the bubble lifted high, high, higher. He wants it. He wants to touch and behold it. His hands reach for his newly created idol, perfectly formed with its multi-colored shine.
He reaches and reaches, crouching on his knees, the need to grasp it overwhelming him, until, finally, he does. He grazes it with his small naive fingers. He has achieved his goal. then—–
POP. It is gone.
He is shocked, he is hurt, he is confused. He feels it in his bones, all the way to his core. His mother begins calling his name, but instead of turning his head to the one who comforts him, he turns his back, sticks the wand in and blows hard, creating yet another bubble, even though now knowing it wouldn’t last.
As many of you know, I am working through the application process to move to India and teach with Project Rescue. As few of you know, I have been asked to interview at Lexington High School tomorrow.
Since 11th grade, I’ve had a passion for overseas missions.
Since I wanted to be a high school teacher, I have had a passion to teach at Lexington High.
I have a big decision to make so if you can be praying this for me, I’d greatly appreciate it:
Dear Jesus,
Please help me to trust that you are sufficient. You are sovereign and you are gracious to your children, and you have a beautiful plan for me. Lord, I know that whether I stay or if I go it will be a challenge to my faith to live out your gospel to my students. My heart desires your will above my selfish ambition and vain conceit and my self-centered desires. Rid me of me; show me your path where I cannot question whether to go to the right or the left, but only that I can go straight forward to your cross. Lord, I ask for your provision in my movements; for my contentment in your decision. Lead me away from fear through the comfort and conviction of your word and by remembering your sovereignty in my past. Dad, most of all- I ask that you close and open doors, that whether it is India, Lexington, or somewhere else that there is only one choice, as I am a feeble-minded creature, an animal who does not know it’s own manger. Be my constant, Dear Jesus. Be my guide, my omniscient Shepherd. By the power of the cross which I am under I pray. Amen.
My sister’s husband Ben is deployed for a year. We’ve started a blog of her boys to keep him updated on how much his two boys (Abram almost 2 and Jackson almost one) grow up over the next year.
Join me in helping make sure their daddy stays connected while he serves our country.
Do that by
a: following the blog at FOR WHILE YOU ARE AWAY
b: prayer for Ben, Jessie, and the boys
c: taking pictures of the boys and helping write stories of time you’ve spent with them while he’s away. If you’d like to hang out with one or both of them just let me know!!!
Thanks for being family, family!
The Vicious Cycle:
again…
3:7- Israel does evil in the eyes of the Lord by worshipping other idols.
3:8- The Lord hands Israel over to her enemies.
3:9- “But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer…”
and again….
3:12- Israel does evil in the eyes of the Lord.
3:12-13- The Lord allows for Israel to be taken into captivity, subject to other nations.
3:15- “Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer…”
and again….
4:1- The Israelites, once again, does evil in the eyes of the Lord.
4:3- After 20 years, Israel cries out to the Lord.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The point is- the Lord knows we are a “wicked and faithless generation”. He knows we will stray: prone to wander, He knows this fully, because that is the story of scripture time and time again. It is evident in our lives time and time again.
But the Lord is QUICK TO BRING OUR DELIVERER:
We are his beloved- he is near to us:
“I will betroth you to me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, In love and in compassion, And I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.” Hosea 2:19-20
We are his people- “I LONG TO REDEEM THEM…” Hosea 7:13
HE is our delieverer:
“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight.
Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them.
And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven,
and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.”nehemiah 9:28
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