JULY 31, 2005

"I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU BUT YOU CAN NOT BEAR IT NOW."

"IT IS GOOD THAT I GO BECAUSE THEN THE COMFORTER WILL COME AND HE SHALL LEAD YOU INTO ALL THINGS."

THESE VERSES ARE QUOTES AS BEST THAT I CAN REMEMBER THEM. THEY ARE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT. JESUS SAID THESE APPROXIMATE WORDS TO HIS DISCIPLES. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK UP THE PRECISE WORDS AND REFERENCES, THAT WOULD BE WELCOMED.

LET ME NOT CONSTRAIN YOU, LORD, FROM WHAT YOU WOULD DO-
RATHER, MAY YOU CONSTRAIN ME BY YOUR GREAT LOVE;
YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN TAKE,
WHAT I CAN DO,
HOW MUCH I CAN HANDLE,
WHAT WILL LEAD ME ASTRAY.
CONSTRAIN MY HEART, OH LORD-
THAT I MAY BE PLEASED WITH YOUR WORD TO ME;
LET ME NOT LOOK TO ANOTHER,
LET MY NOT GO AWAY,
FOR YOU ALONE KNOW MY ONLY SOUL-
YOU OWN IT OUTRIGHT.
TO WHOM WOULD I GO ANYWAY?
I WILL REMAIN IN YOU ALONE.
LET ME NOT RESIST YOUR HOLY SPIRIT,
LET ME NOT TURN AWAY,
LET ME BE PLEASED TO STAY IN THEE,
FOR YOU HAVE DIED FOR ME.
TAKE ME JESUS,
TAKE ME NOW,
LET ME NOT GO OUT THERE ALONE.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEST,
WHAT IS BEST FOR ME;
YOU CAN SEE BEYOND THE DISTANT SEA,
YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST-
WHAT IS BEST FOR ME;
AND IN YOU I DELIGHT,
AND IN YOU I AM SET FREE.
IN YOU I SOAR,
IN YOU IS MY TRANQUILITY;
SO I REST IN YOUR BOSOM-
QUIET DO I LAY;
RESTING ON MY SAVIOR'S CHEST,
AS HE WATCHES OUT FOR ME.

July 30, 2005

I'm so glad that Jesus didn't die on the cross to put my circumstances on earth in order. I'm so glad that God's highest aim for me is not to get all of my paperwork done. I'm relieved that when I think it would be best for me to be a hermit and stick my head in paperwork all day, God has another plan. He put me into a family for a reason. What I come up with all on my own isn't best for me. God knows what is best for me.

Today, I only got a little fraction of the things I done that I wanted to do(see my entry early in this day) but I am content with what did get done. Today, I found blessings in places that were not completely convenient. I spent some of the day assisting my 11 year-old to clean out her room - i.e. "deep cleaning" - and in the process placed a pleasure and an ability in her heart for deep cleaning her room? Well, perhaps somewhat because early in the day, it all seemed so overwhelming to her. We broke the room into separate, more manageable tasks. By the end of the day (she took a lot of breaks, long breaks at times), she had a diligence and an ease with which she worked that gave me pleasure. But I think more importantly, I just related to her. We shared a relationship today. It was centered around breaking through stuff gathered through a year or more of hoarding. Other blessings centered around relationships with other family members. There was also the simple but devine pleasure of being lifted above the everyday cares and circumstances. I am free, and when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

God is building an eternal church whose home is not in this world. In the end, He isn't going to save the planet, just some of the people in it. Our new home will be with Him in heaven. And there my treasures will be - "for where your treasures are, there will your heart be also."

Prayer: Thank You for lifting my cares above the cares of everyday life and circumstances. Thank You that You reign far above the world and Your purposes for me are eternal and beyond what I could ask or think or imagine. Help us to stay in Your will and to seek the things above, where Christ is. Bless each one who has read this with Your presence that You know, You understand, You care and You provide. You are the Great Provider. We love You.

July 30, 2005

"All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give." From the old hymn.

I was reading in Henry Blackaby's book this morning, Experiencing God (I'm not sure how to underline that title) that we are to try to get to the point where we have no will of our own. This way God can better use us in what He is wanting to do rather than being driven by our own dreams and purposes. If we just try to fulfill our own purposes, then God's power is not able to be concentrated through us and He is not able to accomplish those things that only He can do. When God works through us to do those things that only He can do, we experience and come to better know God. When that happens, we are fulfilled in Him and have the joy that only God brings.

Theory and reality sometimes strain to intersect. Reality: My will for today is to complete the cleaning of my home office this weekend before I have to go back to work on Monday. (I've had this past week off for "catching up".) My will is to have my husband complete the computer stuff I want him to do. I want to clear off my desk of months of old mail, wipe down the dust and gime on the desk itself, update my bank balances that hasn't been done in seven months, complete 12 hours of dictations, 3 hours of medical records at the hospital, complete 4 hours of other paperwork forms and it would be nice to file my 2004 taxes, for which I got an extention in April. That represents my will, desires, hopes. Oh, and it would be nice not to eat too much. It would be nice to have my husband meet all of the needs of the children, both physical and emotional over this weekend time period. And it would be great if a bunch of people suddenly discovered this great new website and were wonderfully ministered to by God Himself. Theory: to get to the point that I have no will of my own so God can do through me the things that only He can do.

Prayer: Jesus, I give my will to you. Make my perspective Your perspective. Circumstances don't last. You are building up an eternal kingdom that lasts forever. You have always been faithful to carry me in spite of the fact that I can not accomplish what I feel I need to. Your grace has been sufficient for me thus far and will continue to be so. Like that stone of the Old Testament that was laid to signify, "thus far the Lord has helped us," so too is my testimony. What do I have that I have not been given? Since when have I started to be able to carry my own load? You have been my steady supply of resources all of my life, ever more so since I have come to know and walk with You. What can I produce on my own? I am dependent upon You. Help me that my aspirations are not disappointing to You, but are consistent with Your will. Help me to get a lot done this weekend and may I rejoice in Your faithfulness. But if I get nothing done of this agenda, may all of Your agenda be accomplished. May this weekend count for eternity. That when the last trumpet blows, that when the dead in Christ rise first, that when I stand before You and look over my life, that I can say regarding this weekend, "thus far the Lord has helped me," and see Your hand has been working for Your purposes. Help me not strain, but release myself to You because You are good. You know my needs and have always been faithful to meet them. Bless the people who read this with Your touch and direction. Show them Your sufficiency. In Jesus name, Amen.

July 29, 2005

It was just a comment he made in passing (that my Pastor made as I listened on my CD player while cleaning out the office in my house) but I remembered it as being poignant as I heard him say it and I recalled it again later. Then I wrote it down even later, and while I slept it's sweet aroma nestled by my nose and I caught it's sweet fragrance.

"God isn't going to accomplish His work by the energies of the flesh."

Galatians 3 confirms it, but as I laid in bed that next morning trying to squeeze out a few more moments of lingering solitude on my soft bed between the warm sheets, I caught myself wishing that it were not true. I wish something I could do would accomplish God's work. Like the little drummer boy who could at least play his drum for Him.

Well, there is something that I can do, sort of. Stay connected. Stay tapped in to the Source and let Him use me for what He wants, when and how. Even though that is something that I can "do," it isn't a work of the flesh. It is a work of the spirit. That is okay, because by the works of the flesh no man will be justified.

July 29, 2005

Phil 3:10 This blog is dedicated to the Lord Jesus whom I want to know.