Beauty ahead...

"A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." (Isaiah 42:3)

Father, 

We take comfort today in the gift of Your presence and we trust Your leading to see us through. We praise You as a God of justice and mercy even though there are many things we cannot figure out on our own. We don't know, dear Lord, why some people seem to struggle so much while others seem to suffer so little. Guard us from trying to discern all the details and enable us to rest more and more in the peace of knowing You. Yours is a peace which transcends that which is seemingly certain, comfortable, and secure. Yours is a peace which allows for faith even when circumstances around us are uncertain and fragile. 

If we are known to You and You've called us by name, then we can draw strength from the knowledge that no one can snatch us from Your hand (John 10:28). We need not fear for You have willed Your truth to triumph through us.

Powerful One, work powerfully today in the lives of those who are weak, oppressed, and lost.Work mightily in the hearts, minds, and lives of those who need You, Your touch,  and Your amazing grace.

Jesus, enable us to shine brightly in places where our world seems so dark, so confused, and so forsaken.

You are still the hope of nations, Servant King. 

In gracious love, grant us glimpses of beautiful tapestry where right now we might be seeing only tangled threads. 

Manageable

My Father has the wonderful ability to help me manage that which I would otherwise name as unmanageable.


Every week, I need to be reminded He's not going to fail me while I flounder, flub, and fumble around. His mercies are new every morning and He's as close as my next breath of air . I love the thought of His compassion being fresh every day; His faithfulness is abundant and His grace is ample.


I can know and experience His full sufficiency even as I question, wrestle, and wonder. I can feel uncertain in my adventure even while being certain of my expected destination. I don't have to know everything about all the stops in between, before I board the bus. If I was aware of all the paths the Guide would lead me down before I arrived where I was going, I would possibly abandon ideas before I had opportunity to search them out. To walk with the Lord in faith, is not necessarily to abandon my fears all at once; to walk with the Lord in faith is to appreciate the gradual fading of my fears as I gain understanding of His plan piece by piece by piece. 

Often, renewal is not achieved by means of a singular Aha moment; often, renewal comes in incremental measures as I breathe in and out and find myself moving from peace to peace to peace. Admittedly, some days, times, and seasons are more peaceful than others. It's not wise, honest, or realistic for me to pretend that my days are always flowing smoothly and things are always proceeding swimmingly. It is much wiser for me to confess my neediness and move forward comforted by His presence and direction in the midst of my apprehension, agitation, or nervousness. His nearness despite my disquiet makes advancement possible step by step or inch by inch. Together with the Lord, I am able to persevere in whatever surprising activities a given day brings forth. It means a great deal to me to consider the fact He is not astonished by events which occur without my prior notice or intention. 


Each day is but a part of a bigger picture and I serve a Master whose call to hope and life extends way, way, way, beyond my fickle imaginations and momentary frustrations.


May I not "write off"  those things God is still working out...


He has a plan and those who believe are active members in it... 


I yearn to keep an open heart, mind, and will before Him.

Glimpsing the winner...

Amid all the talent and family displayed at yesterday's worship service, I desperately needed to remind myself I have not been cheated somehow. The Lord knows my heart and I'm so glad He does. He knows how close I felt to defeat yesterday in spite of the fact it was a glorious Easter remembrance. He needed to have a personal word with me about not feeling deprived and seeking to rejoice. I've got a lot to be joyful about even though I sometimes focus on what I have not rather than on what I have.


He's still the King and He's still calling people to find their life in Him. His kingdom is not of this world so it makes sense we won't find it completely unveiled here. We will only catch glimpses of it through what we know of Him and those He has chosen by His grace.


He's still the hope of those who seek Him.  He rose again from from the dead and  in so doing, He defeated the power and sting of death. He reconciled generations of lost and blinded children with their Father who created them and loves them as His own.


He's still the help of those who find. Those who have found Him and have been found by Him recognize what a treasure they have inherited in being known. The sense of rightness which accompanies being known is incomparable in part because it affords a person security in a world which changes from moment to moment.  "The saying is sure: If we have died with Him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him;" (2 Tim. 2:11-12a). He will give me what I need to stay strong and continue on in Him. He will allow me to participate in regular memorials so that I don't turn aside from the gift He is giving and applying to my heart.

None other is so loving, so good, and kind.  I can truly testify to God's love, kindness, goodness, and generosity as I remember where He has brought me from and exactly how faithful He is. I don't deserve anything I have been given, but He has dealt with me in grace and has been rejected and forsaken so that I would be abandoned not.


Not cheated...
Not deprived...
Not duped...
and only really momentarily disappointed...


Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son...endless is the victory You over death have won...