Great Is Thy Faithfulness

This morning, this song was on my heart - "Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father.  There is no shadow of turning with Thee.  Thou changest not; Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"  In looking to see what verses in the Bible this hymn might be based on, I found myself in one of the books I haven't read as often - Lamentations.  In the International Standard Version, it reads like this: 

"Because of the Lord’s gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end. They are new every morning—great is your faithfulness!"  Lamentations 3:22-23  ISV  

It is so true!  God is so faithful, and indeed every day I can see new blessings if I look for them.  This past weekend I once again experienced this in a very clear way.  We were scheduled to perform in a state-wide venue and I was really nervous about it.  All sorts of little details threatened my serenity - from what we would wear to concerns about making glaring mistakes.  I sought guidance that morning, and once again asked that God's will be done - knowing that while I WANTED our performance to be free of at least GLARING errors, I had to be willing for His will to be done - even if that meant some rather public mistakes.  I then tried my best to set aside my concerns and just trust that God had everything in hand.  

I had been reading a Christian novel and returned to that to give myself something else to think about.  I was near the end of the book and soon came to the "credits/acknowledgements" page.  I don't always read these, but these particular ones really caught my eye as they were quite different than many I've read with a VERY clear gratitude to God.  As I read the acknowledgments, I came across a reference to Ephesians 3:20 and it just really jumped out at me.  There was no mention of what the verse said, just a reference to the verse.  I just HAD to look it up.  At the time, I had the Amplified Bile with me.  This is what I read:

"Now to Him Who, by the action of His power that is at work within us is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams . . . " (brackets removed for easier reading)

As I read this verse, I felt God saying to me "Cheryl, this is my promise to you. Don't be afraid. I am with you."  The words of that verse just jumped out at me.  He was promising to give me far over and above all that I dare ask or think - infinitely beyond my highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams!  What an amazing promise!  What an amazing God!  

And He's done that not just with the performance Saturday night, but with the class(es) we're teaching too.  He told me He had placed before me an open door that no one could shut - and it is SO clear that has happened!  He is an amazing God, and I continue to praise Him.

Father, thank you for being such a kind, gentle, and GENEROUS Father!  You are amazing and I am so grateful for all you are doing in my life!  Thank you for your guidance, your support, your resources.  Thank you for the open doors - no matter how scary walking through them feels sometimes!  Thank you for granting love and peace that overcomes my human fears!  I love you, Father!

Guide Me

This morning I hear a song running through my head.  "Guide me O thou great Jehovah".  This is what I want.  It is so easy to "lean unto mine own understanding" but I don't want to do that.  I want God's will to be done in my life.  So this morning I turn to these words from the Psalms:

"In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." Psalms 31:1-3 KJV

I seek God's guidance, not because I deserve it, but because of who God is.  It is in His nature to care for me and guide me, despite the fact that I don't deserve it.  I want to be less willful and more open to His guidance.  I know He is indeed my rock and my fortress and I choose to trust His guidance so I will not need to be ashamed.  

Father, you know how challenging it is for me sometimes to even be willing to pause and seek your will - but I want to do it, Father!  I know my own way is not the best and I want to be led by you.  I feel so driven to complete this task that I believe you have set before me, but I do not want to focus on it to the exclusion of hearing any changes you might have for me today.  I recognize the open door you have placed before me and am grateful for it, but I also recognize the futility of laboring without your guidance.  So, Father, once again this morning I ask you to increase my desire for that which is mine to do today and decrease my interest in anything that is not your will.  Thank you, Father!

Amazement

Recently I've found myself so amazed at God's timing and the way He works things out in my life.  But I actually started beating myself up a bit for that!  I said things to myself like: "Of course He worked things out well. He promised to do so didn't He?  Why should I be amazed?  Doesn't that demonstrate a lack of faith?"  It's pretty crazy the way I can cause problems for myself even when things are going well!

As I was reading a Christian novel I came across the following couple of sentences: "I don't know why I'm always surprised when God puts people in the right places at the right time, but I always am.  I hope I never lose my amazement at God's plans." (from the book Cross Country by Jill Penrod)  These two sentences really jumped out at me.  The first was something I had been saying to myself - but in such a negative way!  The second sentence really helped change my perspective.  

"I hope I never lose my amazement at God's plans."  As I contemplated this sentence, I realized what the results would be if I DID lose my amazement.  That would mean I would be taking God and the way He cares for me for granted!  I NEVER want to do that!  God indeed does all things well (Mark 7:37) and I want to praise Him for it. I am so glad for the amazement I feel when I get a glimpse of His handiwork in my life. He even finds a way to help me put things in perspective when I start to beat myself up!  I am so grateful!

Father, thank you for your continued support and guidance, despite my foolish negative thoughts!  Thank you for setting me straight and for giving me Your peace once again.  Father, I once again seek your will in my life and ask that you continue to guide me in the way you see is best.  You are an amazing Heavenly Father and I am so grateful for your continued guidance.  You indeed keep everything running right and I am SO grateful! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!

Thank you, God!

This morning I am once again in awe of the way God works.  I prayed to be in His will and to be guided in all my activities and I KNOW I was!  The day ran so smoothly!  His timing is impeccable.  I had figured I needed to stop with one task by a certain time in order to meet an obligation, but He knew it would take longer than I thought and somehow told me quite clearly it was time to stop before I had planned to do so.  I was so close to finishing, and I hate leaving things unfinished, but all of a sudden I just KNEW it was time to stop! Watching His timing unfold throughout my day was just awe-inspiring.  Father, I am so grateful!

I think of passages like the one in Psalms 107 that call for "sacrifices of thanksgiving":

"Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and talk about his works with shouts of joy." - Psalms 107:22 ISV

Some days, gratitude may indeed be a sacrifice - on those days where we don't understand why He's led us a certain way.  On those sorts of days cultivating an attitude of gratitude, despite what is occurring, may indeed feel like a sacrifice.  Today, for me, it is no sacrifice!  I am SO grateful for the clarity and guidance He gave me yesterday! What an amazing God!

Of course, today comes with its own set of challenges.  I choose to look forward to this day with joy, eagerly watching for the way God leads as he "keeps everything running right" (Ps 119:164 - the Message Bible).

Father, I thank you for your guidance, and continue to seek it as I move through this day.  I once again ask that you increase my desire to do that which is within your will, and decrease my desire to do those things which are not in your plan for me this day.  I am SO grateful for the way you keep everything running right!  You know the challenges I face this day.  Please give me the wisdom and discernment needed to move forward in the way that you see best.  Thank you, Father!

 

Wisdom

"Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without any doubts. . . "  James 1:5-6 ISV

Today I am really feeling my "lack of wisdom".  I am in a position of needing to provide services for others in a way that meets their needs - without fully knowing what their needs are.  This morning, this verse reminds me that God DOES know their needs! And since I've been promised that He will give wisdom generously as long as I ask in faith, I see there are only two things I need to do - ask, and have faith. In fact, while I'm at it, I'm going to ask for the faith needed as I ask for wisdom!

Father, you know my situation and the challenges I face.  I need Your wisdom, Father.  I thank you for the guidance received thus far.  You are an amazing Father, and I praise you for your love and care for me.  I simply ask that I continue to receive the guidance I need as I continue to step forward into the work you have given me. Father, I know sometimes my faith wavers - not my faith in you, but somehow my faith in me to hear you clearly.  But isn't even that just doubting your ability to get through to me?  Father, I choose to trust you.  As I go about my tasks this day, I want to do your will.  If the tasks I choose are not the ones in which I should be investing my time, please decrease my desire to do them.  Please increase my inclination to do what you would have me to do, that I may know your will.  And please help me to set aside any personal desires that may get in the way of my hearing your voice clearly.  Thank you, Father!  Thank you for the work you are doing in me and your promise to see it to completion.  I love you, Father!

I Was Afraid

“I heard your voice in the garden,” the man answered, “and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid from you.” Genesis 3:10 ISV 

This morning I woke up thinking about balloons.  I thought about how much fun it was to pop balloons with a small child - but how you usually had to first train them to think it was funny.  The first time a baby hears a balloon pop, they're likely to startle and cry, but they soon learn it is "fun".  The same thing happens with the game of peek-a-boo.  We're training babies to take unexpected events in stride and even enjoy them.  Why do even babies initially find unexpected events frightening? As I read Adam & Eve's story in Genesis, it sure sounds as though fear was unknown until disobedience and sin entered this world. 

Popping balloons, peek-a-boo - just some of the things we do to train our children to take the unexpected in stride so they can experience joy in life. But how do we do as adults?  How do we handle surprises?  Have we really learned the lessons we try to teach the little ones? Take for instance, a surprise party - how do we react?  Do we enjoy it, or hate it?  What about other unexpected events in our lives?  Do we find joy in the unexpected, or do we react with apprehension?  

As I pondered these things, I realized how often I am apprehensive (if not downright afraid) when unexpected things occur. And many people would even argue that this is quite reasonable.  Loud noises can be indicators of danger (perhaps a gunshot rather than a balloon popping or fireworks).  Unexpected events often can have dangerous consequences.  For instance, what if I suddenly discover (as I did several months ago) that someone has been trying to obtain credit using my personal information?  Identity theft!  A scary thing!  And yet, if I really believe my Heavenly Father loves me and is in charge of my life as I have asked Him to be, wouldn't I trust that unexpected things are designed for my good and to bring me pleasure?  

I think of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:9-12:

“There isn’t a person among you who would give his son a stone if he asked for bread, is there? Or if he asks for a fish, he wouldn’t give him a snake, would he? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who keep on asking him! Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets.”  ISV

As I think of these things, I imagine what my life would be like if - no matter what unexpected things came my way - I reacted with joy, knowing them to be good gifts from my Heavenly Father.  Isn't this indeed what we are counseled to do?  

"In everything be thankful, because this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 ISV

I think of my nephew when he was little.  He was flying in a plane with his mother who worked for the airlines and had taught him that flying was fun.  On this particular day, the plane hit some pretty heavy turbulence and many of the passengers were afraid.  For my nephew, however, it was like a fun ride at Disney World!  He sat in his seat and every time the plane hit a "bump" he joyfully exclaimed "Wheeee!"

Father, I want to be more like that little child in the way I relate to the unexpected events that come my way.  You have given so many promises of protection and I do believe that you give good gifts to your children!  I don't want to continue to live a life of apprehension when faced with the unexpected, but instead one of joy and thanksgiving - whether expected or unexpected.  I want to fully trust you as a child trusts his parent. 

 

I am indeed grateful at the way you helped insure that I found out about the identity theft as quickly as I did and was able to take timely action.  I am grateful for the many opportunities you have brought my way in my work - and I apologize for the way I faced some of those opportunities with fear. I praise you for the way you care for me so carefully.  You are indeed like a wonderful shepherd, and I am so grateful.  

 

Just as I prepare my students so they will be able to meet the challenges of each new thing I teach them, so you prepare me to meet the challenges of each day.  Thank you, Father! And yet, it is so hard for me to let go of apprehension, Father!  It's like it is ingrained within me.  I ask you to remove all fear and fill me with trust in you.  Thank you for being like a loving Father that plays peek-a-boo with me, teaching me gently that all is okay no matter how unexpected.  Father, I am so grateful for your gentleness!  Once again, today I seek your guidance in my life, that your will may be done in and through me this day.  Thank you, Father, that I know this means GOOD things!  Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief as I face the challenges that this day brings.  I love you, Father!

Let There Be Light

This morning I read a story in Guideposts Magazine (Dec 2013) about the power of prayer.  Specifically, it was a story of how God provided light in one home while the surrounding homes remained without power.  It got me thinking about light and the way God lights our way in the darkness - and how when we are without God's light, we are truly "without power" no matter how powerful we may appear in terms of the way the world sees things.

And it takes me back to that first day of creation where God created light and separated it from the darkness (Genesis 1:1-5), and I remember that I blogged about it here.  As I re-read that blog, I am reminded to be patient with the fact that some days I don't seem to get as much accomplished as other days - despite working hard.  I am also reminded of the importance of being JOYFUL!

Father, this morning I once again praise you for your many blessings.  As I thank you for the many material blessings, I am reminded of the challenge we face there and ask that your will be done in this situation.  And I thank you for a quick and easy resolution if that be your will.  I think of the blessings of your guidance and thank you for that.  And most of all I thank you for the spiritual blessings - for my daily bread.  That you, as Lord of the Universe, would want to take the time to commune with me, fill me with joy and love, and gently guide me is a blessing I can hardly fathom - and I am so grateful!  I think how I would feel if a famous expert in the mundane world was willing to take the time to help me - and then I realize how much more famous and expert you are at everything.  Thank you for being that light for my path, Father.  May your will be done in my life this day as you continue to work in me both to will and to do of your good pleasure.  Thank you, Father!

God Cares

This morning I've been doing a little "beating myself up" over the fact that I haven't posted on my blog as often as I had hoped to recently.  In fact, though I hate to admit it, I've found it too easy recently to make excuses about my own devotional time (I've got too much to do, etc.).   I KNOW the TRUTH that the busier I am, the more I need to take the time with God to have Him set my agenda for the day - but it's tempting some days to pretend I don't know that!

This was the way I approached God's throne this morning.  Not with the joyful praises to God for the many many blessings He has sent my way, but with castigation of myself.  I thought about this verse:

But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41,42 Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

I KNEW I was being "a Martha" in the way I was handling life, and I was NOT happy with myself about it.  I went to my Bible software to re-read the story, and another verse caught my eye instead:

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7  Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

What an eye-opener that verse was for me today!  God doesn't want me beating myself up.  He simply wants to lift my burdens! He CARES about me!!!!  Yes, I know this.  I've read this verse and others like it plenty of times.  But today, it was like a direct message from God to me saying, "Please stop beating yourself up!  That is not my plan for you.  You are human and make mistakes and I understand that.  Now I need you to understand how much I love you and want to lift your burdens.  I want you to come to me and find rest for your soul!  That quiet time is my GIFT to you - not an obligation!"

As I write this, tears of gratitude flow.  God is so good to me!  He is such a caring Heavenly Father!  How sad to have started thinking of my time with God as an obligation instead of remembering what a great gift it is!  Father, Thank you for this gift!!! You have once again shown me that you take many steps toward me as I take one step toward you.  You clearly do indeed care about me and I am so grateful!  Thank you for lifting my burdens this day as I once again seek your will in my life.  May my thoughts, words, and actions be in alignment with your will, I pray.  Thank you, Father!  Amen.

A God of Miracles

This morning as I pause to think about things, I am once again so grateful to God for His guidance and power in my life!  Yesterday what I faced felt overwhelming and impossible.  But nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 17:20), and today I am praising Him for the miracles I've seen since my last post 

1. The challenges I was so concerned about yesterday have been faced.  Everything turned out better than I could have hoped (despite the fact that in some ways I prepared for the wrong goal!).  What occurred was exactly right, and I have one more piece of evidence that despite my lack of ability to see the future, God can and does and leads me in the best way.  Thank You, God!!!
2. Today I am feeling much better health wise as well.  Thank you, God!!!

"I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, I will declare all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praises to your name, Most High!"  Psalms 9:1-2 ISV 

Thank you, Father!  You are so amazing, and I am SO grateful for once again getting a chance to see how powerful you are and how you are able to use me despite all my faults and my mustard-seed faith!

Happy New Year!

Do you make New Year's resolutions?  It's not something I necessarily formally do, but in a new year, my thoughts DO naturally turn to thoughts of how things went over the last year and what I want to see in the new year.  This morning my attention was caught by a quote in the December 2013 Guidepost's magazine.  

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas lights." - Maya Angelou

What would people learn about me by the way I handle these types of things?  I know the way I would like to handle them.  I'd like to follow God's advice to "in everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:18) and always demonstrate my faith in Him to sort everything out.  I also know that many times I fall far short of doing so.  Today is a good example of that.  I'm not feeling as well physically as I would like, nor am I feeling as well prepared as I'd like to be for the tasks I face today. I wish I could just take the day off and rest, but I have responsibilities to meet. It's tempting to murmur and complain about things, and giving thanks for them is such a foreign concept - yet it's what I'm called to do!

As I contemplated the idea of New Year's resolutions, I remembered some Bible passages that talked about having "resolved" to do something, so decided to use a concordance to look up that word in the New International Version.  Four passages came up:

1. II Chronicles 20:3 - "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord" NIV - Jehosaphat was faced with an army that was much larger than his resources appeared ready to meet, so he gathered the Israelites and they fasted and prayed about the situation.  Then God sent an answer through Jezariel - Zechariah's son.  "This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."  2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV  This is what I need to remember.  No matter what it is that I am facing, I need to resolve to inquire of the Lord, and I need to remember that the battle is not mine, it is God's! When I remember this, then I can find a basis for which to indeed meet all challenges with thanksgiving.  They are opportunities for me to really see God's power at work in my life!


2. "I have resolved that my mouth will not sin." Psalms 17:3 NIV   My first thought as I read this verse was of my inclination to complain and the suggestion of a resolve to avoid that. Then as I read the 3rd "resolved" verse (see #3 below), I realized it could also relate to a resolution about healthy eating.


3. "Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." Daniel 1:8-9 NIV As I read this verse, I realize that indeed, eating rich foods that are not good for me is "defiling myself".  Why would I want to do that? Father, please remove in me any desire for such things!


4. "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 NIV  I think this is part of what God wants to see in me as I continually find myself facing situations for which I don't feel I have the energy or resources to meet.  I need to learn to relax and trust that there will be a demonstration of the Spirit's power as I step into what I've been called to do.  I indeed am facing my tasks today with "weakness and fear, and with much trembling" but I know that He that hath begun a good work in me will see it to completion (Phil 1:6). 

Father, like in Jehosephat's story, I see your hand in bringing me to where I am today.  I am grateful for the reminder that the battle is not mine, but yours!  Father, if it is your will, I pray for healing and strength both physically and mentally as I prepare to meet the tasks you have set before me.  Father, at some times, it's hard to see that "open door" you've set before me and said no one can shut. (Rev 3:8-9)  It sure looks like it's closing sometimes!  Father, help me to keep your word and not deny your name!  I remember your many words of wisdom to me, including the reminder that "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Ps 127:1).  Father, I look to you to do the building.  May I be fully in alignment with your will this day and let you do the battle.  As Jehosephat said in 2 Chron 20:12, I too recognize that I have no power to face what is ahead, and I don't know what to do, but my eyes are upon you, Father.  I need your energy and your strength for this day.  I cannot make it on my own.  Please fill me with your joy as I remember that is where my strength comes from (Neh 8:10).  Thank you, Father!  Amen.