"11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:11-13, King James Version)"
12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:11-13, King James Version)"
2009. Mmmhmmmhmmhmm. It's been a year. Not all, but many people that I know have been going through some paring down, some pruning, some refining. Yeah. Been going on in my house fo' sho'! Look around you at current events and think back over the past year's news stories. Companies, local governments, families, schools, hospitals all cutting back, streamlining, more carefully targeting growth. How about whole family's investments being lost in ponzi schemes (like Madoff). Not fair. Not just. Unexpected. No going back. How about the people of the local government in Indiana (I believe that was the state) who the court system broke the rules of law in order to accommodate the Obama Administration's desire to have an automobile company go through bankruptcy without honoring the hierarchy the law requires for secured creditors to be honored first. Their retirement gone - kaput. Vamoose. God doesn't like it when court systems are unjust. Read through Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. Not. At. All.
I could go on to say that the current Administration, and both Houses of Congress, they're probably all I know of not feeling pain this year. They are on the upswing....or so it would seem!
In my own family there were challenges in so many fronts. And the Lord faithfully kept us, taught us, healed us, provided for us, sustained us, covered us throughout it all! During all of it I felt He wanted me to Know, wanted us to know - He was our Church, He was our provision, He was our friend, He was our covering. That He does NOT have LIMITS! You name it, He was IT!
Me personally? He kindly let me recognize hardheadedness, pride, grudging on behalf of my family members, weird complacency where I should not be complacent.
I mentioned all these woes and troubles, to say that God has been bringing it to my attention that not ONLY have all these things been for our good, that we would wake up, that we would seek Him, that we truly, in every way which we can at this point, see Him as our provision, not our jobs - they are just a tool in His hand, not our stock, they are just a tool in His hand. He puts one tool down and picks up a new one, who are we to say otherwise? We go where He goes, we stay where He stays, and so on. Not only were these experiences and trials for our good, BUT, I feel in my heart the Lord pointing out and wanting me to see and ACKNOWLEDGE, REJOICE, RELISH how much we are better off for what we have learned, how much more rooted in Him, how much more trained to look to Him and Him alone, how much more ready and likely to praise in the midst of panic and watch an opening for Grace to move in. Important to recognize that as we say good bye to 2009, we leave it stronger in the Lord and the power of His might, in joy, in hope, in great expectation, in stability.
Only a stable foundation can be built on and remain strong, steadfast. I remember when I first found out that if a building is not built strong enough for the later second story to be added, it sometimes isn't possible, and if done requires MUCH renovation. He has been preparing us for things, opportunities, great feats, relationships, authority, prosperity, things that would have been harmful to us, caused collapse, if we had not undergone these experiences which have pressed us and caused us to KNOW His goodness towards us, KNOW His faithfulness. We have been going through PREPARATION! Makes me giddy!
And knowing that, I have recognized we have an obligation to speak into the upcoming New Year. Post coming tomorrow about that!
I could go on to say that the current Administration, and both Houses of Congress, they're probably all I know of not feeling pain this year. They are on the upswing....or so it would seem!
In my own family there were challenges in so many fronts. And the Lord faithfully kept us, taught us, healed us, provided for us, sustained us, covered us throughout it all! During all of it I felt He wanted me to Know, wanted us to know - He was our Church, He was our provision, He was our friend, He was our covering. That He does NOT have LIMITS! You name it, He was IT!
Me personally? He kindly let me recognize hardheadedness, pride, grudging on behalf of my family members, weird complacency where I should not be complacent.
I mentioned all these woes and troubles, to say that God has been bringing it to my attention that not ONLY have all these things been for our good, that we would wake up, that we would seek Him, that we truly, in every way which we can at this point, see Him as our provision, not our jobs - they are just a tool in His hand, not our stock, they are just a tool in His hand. He puts one tool down and picks up a new one, who are we to say otherwise? We go where He goes, we stay where He stays, and so on. Not only were these experiences and trials for our good, BUT, I feel in my heart the Lord pointing out and wanting me to see and ACKNOWLEDGE, REJOICE, RELISH how much we are better off for what we have learned, how much more rooted in Him, how much more trained to look to Him and Him alone, how much more ready and likely to praise in the midst of panic and watch an opening for Grace to move in. Important to recognize that as we say good bye to 2009, we leave it stronger in the Lord and the power of His might, in joy, in hope, in great expectation, in stability.
Only a stable foundation can be built on and remain strong, steadfast. I remember when I first found out that if a building is not built strong enough for the later second story to be added, it sometimes isn't possible, and if done requires MUCH renovation. He has been preparing us for things, opportunities, great feats, relationships, authority, prosperity, things that would have been harmful to us, caused collapse, if we had not undergone these experiences which have pressed us and caused us to KNOW His goodness towards us, KNOW His faithfulness. We have been going through PREPARATION! Makes me giddy!
"Better is the end of a thing, than the beginning of it," Ecclesiastes 7:8
And knowing that, I have recognized we have an obligation to speak into the upcoming New Year. Post coming tomorrow about that!
Great post! Sometimes it is so easy to lose sight of the good the Lord has for us after He brings us through the trial. This is a wonderful reminder.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you dropped by to introduce yourself. It gave me reason to return the hospitality, and I'm so glad I did. You're a thinker, and I appreciate the way you weave your thoughts into colorful patterns.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to tomorrow's post as it speaks of a similar truth the Lord has dropped into my own heart for the coming year. From Psalm 30 I believe He's calling me/us - His beloved - to go forth with peace & much joy, and with much boldness and courage in speaking of His matchless name!
Blessings,
Kathleen
God's provision in my life and in the lives of those I love has been immense over the past year. When I consider all the "struggles" we've encountered, I see them now in hindsight, knowing that God went ahead of the struggles, paving the way for us to see it through to the end! I pray for the faith to face the next 12 months with remembrance of his faithfulness to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by the blog, Maria. You are always welcome there.
peace~elaine
Amen sweet sister. Well said. To look back and see the trials and the failures and the hard lessons as good...and look forward to the fruit that they wrought! Oh...to really rest there in our spirits...not just in our head knowledge. Hugs! Great post! Amen!
ReplyDeleteHi, Staceystace!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you! Yes, it is sometimes easy to lose sight after the trials. Yet another reason I am grateful that He makes able to interact with each other and help "stir up the gift within" us.
Hi, Sassy Granny!
Thank you! I can't wait to finish up here and come read what God has put on your heart!
Hi, Elaine!
I am not over the shock of what I found your place. I wouldn't begin to know how to express what Hebrews 11:11 is to me. Part past, part present, part promise. I was so moved by the teaching moment in the beauty of the night sky! Those moments are priceless!
Hi, Leslie!
Amen! To rest there, that is so important, so very important! Seeing fruit already, and I am ready to pick some more!
Happy New Year, Ya'll!
There were some good things in the past year...but at this moment I see a year that I would never want to repeat. And starting this year....one I would love to skip over.
ReplyDeleteBut I know...if only in my head...that He is working. Working to draw me to himself so that He can further change me into the image of His son.
Right now I'll just say that I'll be glad to get to the other side of the dessert. :)
And I will proclaim that this year will be filled with incredible blessings from our Lord...counting on it! :)