Jan. 19, 2006 - Refreshing love...
Isn't God just totally awesome?!!! I have completed a most trying year this past year...one of those years that on New Year's eve you exclaim "Good riddance!" LOL! But God is so faithful to send us just what we need to get back on track. I was reading just minutes ago at Jeannie Fulbright's blog about her printer jam and how it's all these little things that get us dragged down...but we are to praise God in ALL things. As 1Thessalonians 5:18 says,
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of GOD
in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Truly, at times our praise is a SACRIFICE of praise...but as it says in Hebrews 13:15-16..it is a sacrifice in which God is "well pleased". I am going to share my Thanksgiving journal entry and pray that it will bless someone too. Thanks for the reminder Jeannie...to praise God in ALL things!
Thanksgiving journal:
As I prepare for Thanksgiving, the holiday, this year I am faced with the truth of "the sacrifice of praise". Much has happened this year that in my natural mind I would've preferred to escape from. It is an awesome thing to serve a God that can bring beauty from ashes, and I look forward to seeing the fruit of righteousness that must come from this present affliction.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal"
-2 Corinthians 4:17-18
"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doeth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
-Romans 8:24-25
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
-2 Corinthians 5:7
Most of the time, as we are in the midst of a battle, we become overwhelmed-just sure that this affliction will last forever. But we must look at things from an eternal viewpoint. Our life here on earth is such a fleeting moment, a whisp of air; and also remember that no sufferingis without gain. God IS still on the throne. He HASN'T turned His face away from us...And He DOES have a plan in this. Nothing will be wasted if we will just stay on the altar.
I sometimes picture myself lying on the altar...I've given myself to God as a living sacrificewhen I accepted His gift of salvation. But when pain comes my way, I yell, "OUCH!" and jump off the altar. "That HURTS!" I holler. But then I see the love in God's eyes and slowly, almost reluctantly, crawl back on the altar. he has a purpose. His ways are not my ways. I must submit.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be ye not conformed (external-which will eventually affect you internally) to this world: but be ye transformed (begins inside and eventually affects the outside) byt the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God".
-Romans 12:1-2
So, as we stay on the altar, a living sacrifice, submitted to His will...we are transformed. As we are transformed, we begin to understand the will of God.
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
-Philippians 1:6
Our path is not always easy, but our path IS straight. Usually as I'm praying for God to show me His will concerning something, I have to say, "Lord, you KNOW me. Make the path easily seen, put up big lights, maybe some bright, flashing light. You know I want to follow your way, but I have such trouble seeing." Sometimes He WILL make it easier for me to see, but at other times-most of the times- He just gives me enough light to take just the next small step. I'm impatient. I want to see the end result. But isn't He merciful? How many of us, if faced with what the whole path has to offer to get to the end, would be too afraid to start on that path? We'd be overwhelmed if we saw it all. All the trials, tribulations, set-backs. So God, in His loving mercy, lights the way for our next step, and never leaves us not one single step, to face the path on our own.
So with an understanding of His great love and mercy-we are able to obey and in EVERY thing give thanks. Let us bring the sacrifice of praise and lay it at the feet of the God who loves us more than we can comprehend.
Well, if you are still with me, LOL, I hope that you are encouraged and strengthened to continue in your walk. Let us ALL remember to not grow weary in well-doing. I sure would like to reap the good things that God has promised us if we don't faint.
I will post later with another wonderful website suggestion. May your day be peaceful and full of joy!
BLessings,
Mistymoo
Comments
Apr. 1, 2006 - Great musings!
Posted by julie
I'd love to hear more! Come back to HSB!!!
