Forward to School Night
Two nights ago was “Back to School Night.” My husband and I ran into old friends. However, my husband had never actually met them. I knew them. From before. When I went to my old church.
They (I’ll call them the Smiths – they are the Smiths!) knew me from when I used to go to church alone. My husband had never attended for 150 years.
As I introduced Mr. and Mrs. Smith to my husband and we were talking about the kids activities and this and that you, you just kind of see their minds thinking, or trying to think and figure things out.
I wanted to exclaim, “God has done a new thing – well, He did what He said He was going to do!” (Only took about 20 years.)
Looking back over the years, despite the great difficulties and heartache, God never let go even when it didn’t look like God was in control. Now, He brought us to a new land and there was no divorce, separation, bankruptcy, arrests or firings! Like birth pangs of a baby. No damage done. Just a pretty baby. His baby. We are His project and I give myself entirely to anything that He, my faithful God and King wants to do with and through me. I just want to worship at His feet and enter in to the eternal life – which is to know Him and partake in the life of Christ through faith.
The Lord used to encourage me, day after day and month after month and year after year that the Lord was going to bring Brad in, that Brad was included in His plan. I used to recited the Psalm to Him that cried, “How long, oh Lord, how long.” (Till I’m ready baking my cake – “You are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians).” – I am His cake – don’t rush a masterpiece! – I am just ordinary but have an extraordinary God, which is what is special.)
The amazing thing about our family now is the level of peace that is here. Perfect? No, not that. Problems, yeah. It is just that I forget about them. “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in” – not yet but in God’s faithfulness that is where He wants me to be and is bringing me to one day, at least on my death bed, Lord willing.
Even with my work God has been faithful. There was a time it seemed that I couldn’t do anything “successful” there that I wanted to do. I had ideas and tried to implement them and – zap – no; no go. Anyway, that is changed also. And His plans were so much bigger and more seamless and great and fun and EASY than mine.
Yesterday the Lord spoke to me in a great way. I was listening to a Greg Laurie CD from a conference I went to recently at Precepts Ministries in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This is what the CD said, citing a verse:
“ ‘The Lord cause His countenance to shine upon you.’ Countenance means to look to see, to know, to understand, to be interested it, to be watchful of and to pay full and undivided attention. That is what the Lord does for you.”
This was such a blessing because often times I am lonely at work and working these days. I realize that a lot of my pride problem stemmed from just a hunger and an ache to want to be paid attention to. God Himself is the perfect healer as He fills me up specifically with that which is lacking.
So, anyway, I got to work and I opened up my Oswald Chambers book, “My Utmost for His Highest.” I flipped to any “random” page. This is what is said, (approximately) on about Nov 14 devotional page: “Just as a servant’s eyes are riveted to his master, likewise we need to have our focus and attention onto God. This is how we come to know His CONTENENCE and how He reveals Himself to us.”
What a blessing. God speaks personally to me. He is a minister and a wonderful counselor. Rather, The Wonderful Counselor.
So I wrote out the two things – the one from the CD and the other from the book and I drew arrows between the two and I taped it up where I could see it – on my computer monitor. God puts His countenance and focus upon me, being ever watchful and I put my attention upon Him as my Lord and He puts His countenance upon me and reveals Himself to me.
Well, today is Saturday. For me is it the start of another week of ADVENTURE!
They (I’ll call them the Smiths – they are the Smiths!) knew me from when I used to go to church alone. My husband had never attended for 150 years.
As I introduced Mr. and Mrs. Smith to my husband and we were talking about the kids activities and this and that you, you just kind of see their minds thinking, or trying to think and figure things out.
I wanted to exclaim, “God has done a new thing – well, He did what He said He was going to do!” (Only took about 20 years.)
Looking back over the years, despite the great difficulties and heartache, God never let go even when it didn’t look like God was in control. Now, He brought us to a new land and there was no divorce, separation, bankruptcy, arrests or firings! Like birth pangs of a baby. No damage done. Just a pretty baby. His baby. We are His project and I give myself entirely to anything that He, my faithful God and King wants to do with and through me. I just want to worship at His feet and enter in to the eternal life – which is to know Him and partake in the life of Christ through faith.
The Lord used to encourage me, day after day and month after month and year after year that the Lord was going to bring Brad in, that Brad was included in His plan. I used to recited the Psalm to Him that cried, “How long, oh Lord, how long.” (Till I’m ready baking my cake – “You are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians).” – I am His cake – don’t rush a masterpiece! – I am just ordinary but have an extraordinary God, which is what is special.)
The amazing thing about our family now is the level of peace that is here. Perfect? No, not that. Problems, yeah. It is just that I forget about them. “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in” – not yet but in God’s faithfulness that is where He wants me to be and is bringing me to one day, at least on my death bed, Lord willing.
Even with my work God has been faithful. There was a time it seemed that I couldn’t do anything “successful” there that I wanted to do. I had ideas and tried to implement them and – zap – no; no go. Anyway, that is changed also. And His plans were so much bigger and more seamless and great and fun and EASY than mine.
Yesterday the Lord spoke to me in a great way. I was listening to a Greg Laurie CD from a conference I went to recently at Precepts Ministries in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This is what the CD said, citing a verse:
“ ‘The Lord cause His countenance to shine upon you.’ Countenance means to look to see, to know, to understand, to be interested it, to be watchful of and to pay full and undivided attention. That is what the Lord does for you.”
This was such a blessing because often times I am lonely at work and working these days. I realize that a lot of my pride problem stemmed from just a hunger and an ache to want to be paid attention to. God Himself is the perfect healer as He fills me up specifically with that which is lacking.
So, anyway, I got to work and I opened up my Oswald Chambers book, “My Utmost for His Highest.” I flipped to any “random” page. This is what is said, (approximately) on about Nov 14 devotional page: “Just as a servant’s eyes are riveted to his master, likewise we need to have our focus and attention onto God. This is how we come to know His CONTENENCE and how He reveals Himself to us.”
What a blessing. God speaks personally to me. He is a minister and a wonderful counselor. Rather, The Wonderful Counselor.
So I wrote out the two things – the one from the CD and the other from the book and I drew arrows between the two and I taped it up where I could see it – on my computer monitor. God puts His countenance and focus upon me, being ever watchful and I put my attention upon Him as my Lord and He puts His countenance upon me and reveals Himself to me.
Well, today is Saturday. For me is it the start of another week of ADVENTURE!
posted by An Ordinary Christian | 9:19 AM
8 Comments:
Hi, I just ran across your blog and noticed on your profile that you like Keith Green. Wow! I loved his music back in the early 80's. Enjoyed reading your blog.
This is a great example of how to teach Gods message in terms even I can grasp! Thanks for being obedient in sharing your heart.
Amen amen amen!!! He is a great God and yet He looks at us...and we look at Him...just sharing our smiles at one another...He makes all things extraordinary! and amazingly easy...His yoke is easy...
Great Post, such transparency! Oh to be like HIM!! It sounds as if things are going along as God planned! Same here in Sanger, Texas, He is still working, still healing, still loving and I am still changing! God Bless!
thanx for the encouraging blogpost as i wait for God to bring to pass some things in my own life. i've only been waiting forever (or so it seems), but i'm the clay in The Potter's Hands, and He's molding and shaping me as i continue to wait and trust Him to bring them to pass.
Yeah!
It's always so wonderful to meet up with old friends =)
I hope all your adventures this week are good ones. I grew up with "My Utmost..." amazing devotional.
Amen! The Goodness of our King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords, Christ Jesus!
Thank you sister for sharing encouraging testimonies to face another day.
I experience your testimony some time back so I love this verse:
The LORD bless you, & Keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 [NASB]
Thank you for visiting my blog, just did an entry call "NOW", visit when you have the time:-)
Shalom~
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