Month: October 2017

Have you ever been somewhere at the perfect time and had a wow moment? Life could have gone a dozen different directions in that time frame but you happened upon something at the perfect time? A gift from God that usually happens in nature?

I had my moment yesterday. I was somewhere at the perfect time. The sun was at just the perfect angle to catch a mirror and  make rainbows indoors ?? …are you thinking its not much? It doesn’t take much to make my heart happy and I love unexpected surprises that happen when I’m alone ? teeny tiny God-moments that open up a conversation between God and me. I could have been there five minutes later and missed it AND missed a time of thanking God.

It got me thinking about what we call quiet times. And structure, formula, set routines. You see, I can’t talk to God like that. In practical everyday duties I need structure but when it comes to relationships – the same thing over and over doesn’t work for me.
So quiet times are different everyday for me. Maybe its quiet. Maybe its crying. Maybe its singing. Maybe its loud. Even the songs change. Today it may be an old hymn from childhood. Tomorrow may be a new praise song. Maybe it will be my own song. Maybe there won’t be a song. Maybe I use a devotional. Maybe its my favourite audio Bible. Everyday is different. And its like if its the perfect time….the Son will reflect off me like the sun reflected off that mirror….and I too will make beautiful praise and thank You rainbows ???

Today I have some thoughts after listening to Job.
I was first of all wondering if he was super over-protective over his kids. He sacrificed on behalf of them every morning. And this may have meant he was upstanding as a parent…..but on the other end it would have created (maybe) very lazy children who were covered even if they sinned without actually bringing an offering….its a thought to ponder and it kind of reminds me of us when we lean too far on the grace side ?
Continuing with Job – his wife also lost her children. I can understand her “curse God and die” statement. She had also lost. And her reaction sounds more human than Job’s. She also lost but she did what we do all too often….we run from God and not to God.
The Book of Job reminds me of concentric circles….ripples that continue to be felt long after the initial event. Job’s wife suffered even though this was his test. And Job’s friends were tested even though this was Job’s test. Families of addicts understand the negative aspects of concentric circles. What Job was experiencing was directly affecting all in his inner circle.
And the question that I hear under all his lamenting sounds so familiar ……”But I loved You God” and “I didn’t ask for this” ….we ask those questions over and over in many different ways just like Job…
I loved the community scripture he flung out in chapter six from verse fourteen to thirty (Message Bible). Community. Brotherhood. Speaking the truth in love. Not giving up on past bonds. I love it – bam ?  – the hard part of community…

“…we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good…” This scripture from Romans is quoted often.
I am sure this takes circles, and some circles we don’t see, other circles others don’t see, we just have to know deep down that we trust God enough to believe it. I don’t think your circles are good if you have disobediently messed up your finances or your relationships or your health. When we do that we put ourselves on the throne and the circles that emanate are negative. But when our motives were on track and we can also say, “but I loved You God” ….then know that the circles that move from your hardship will be good.
Just like Job’s circles touched those around him as well as himself  in a negative fashion, think how far the circles of his testimony of God’s restoration has reached. That in the year 2017 we can still rejoice with Job after crying with him ❤.
I have always believed in God as the God of restoration. I had always planned to name my first child with the same name as one of Job’s next children. I probably still will.
Never forget that what you do today affects your friends and family tomorrow. Never forget that when we go wrong there is restitution. Never forget that God hears every word we speak and also sees our inner heart. Know that life is tough. Know that God will visit with you in the toughest times if you cry out to Him. Never forget that He will restore. If it has been stolen it WILL be restored. Sit on the ash heap…but keep your gaze upwards while you’re there ??

Some days it happens. Especially when you’ve been trudging for a while. It happens. You get a day where you just love Jesus. Where nothing has worked out but you’re grateful anyway. Where life may be hard but your heart is blessed anyway. Where the burdens don’t hurt quite that much because your soul feels lighter. It just happens. And you sit back and marvel at what Christ has done in your life. It doesn’t matter that others can’t see a change in your circumstance because the change has been inside…an inner shift….the moving away from a negative thought pattern….the grateful that replaces the pity….the forgiveness that was finally meant because you realized it wasn’t important to hold it anymore… The opening of the hands a little more than yesterday….the acknowledgement that God has not forgotten you….the gentle reminder that life goes on anyway and beauty is still there even if its understated….these minute shifts that fill a heart that yearns for her Maker. And it just sorta happens. And you can take that deep breath and surrender even the hard bits. Life is beautiful once again….and it would not have happened had I given up a day a month a year ago. It’s two feet that have realized they are stable enough on their own and they don’t need to limp or drag anymore. It’s when the valley was your home and you reached the sunrise without even realizing that you had gained altitude. And its the knowing beyond a doubt that’s God’s hand is still beneath you….maybe it always was? And it just happens. And how the gratitude grows with each stronger breath and each surer step. And yet the outside is still the same. It’s like a secret between Abba and me. I good secret. A blessed secret. I’m grateful. And it just sorta happened. It’s like summer arrived at the moment you thought winter would last forever ?