Sunday, February 21, 2010

WOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!  Over half way through the Bible in 90 Days.  Tomorrow I am leading worship at our state Prayer Summit.  I promise, I'll get to how the two relate, really.  Anyhoo, I needed a scripture to transition between song sets.  My thought process was, I'm reading 12 pages of the Bible every day, surely something will be in there for me to read.  Up until the other day, I was beginning to wonder.  It was all good stuff, just nothing to strike me to share in worship.  Until.....Isaiah 40, The Message: 
Who has scooped up the ocean in his two hands, or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger?
Who has put all the earth's dirt in one of his baskets, weighed each mountain and hill?
Who could ever have told God what to do or taught him his business?
What expert would he have gone to for advice?
What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work?
Why, the nations are but a drip in the bucket, a mere smudge on a window.

So, who even comes close to being like God?  To whom can you compare him?
Some no-god idol?  Ridiculous!  It's make in a workship, cast in bronze, given a thin veneer of god and draped with silver filigree

Have you not been paying attention?  Have you not been listening?
Haven't you heard these stories all your life?  Don't you understand the foundation of all things?
God sits high above the round ball of earth, the people look like mere ants.
He stretches out the sky like a canvas to live under.

So, who is like me?  Who holds a candle to me?  Says the holy.
Look at the night skies, who do you think made this?
Who marches this army of stars out each night, counts them off, call each by name and never overlooks a single one?

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or whine, Israel, saying
"God has lost track of me.  He doesn't care what happens to me"
Don't you know anything?  Haven't you been listening?
God does not come and go.  God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch His breath.
And He knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength
They spread their wings and soar like eagles.
They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.


WOW!!!!!!  My favorite part is God doesn't come and go.  God lasts.

In this season of my life (which I've yet to blog about) I need to hear that.  God is holy.  He lasts.  He knows.  He cares and He loves.  How  much we need to remember that!  When we get tired, He knows and sustains us. 

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I'm on Day 35 of the 90 Days Through the Bible.  I am reading things I had never read before.  I am reading things that I have read before, but getting a whole new perspective on things.  Recently I had a conversation with someone that was less than encouraging.  There was a difference of opinion in the air.  It was all handled like children of God, yet the differing view was there.  It was regarding an issue which should not be an issue.  And it was all about how we should deal with it.  What steps we should take to "fix" the problem.  The discussion ended, we all went home.  And then I started reading.  And here is what was smacking me in the face:  And Joshua prayed to God.....and Samuel prayed....and Jehoshaphat asked God for guidance...King Hezekiah responded by praying, calling up to heaven...

All of a sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks.  This situation is no surprise to God!!  He has perfectly ordained every day!  He has called us here, with this set of leadership and with this set of people with this particular set of issues.  HE KNOWS!!!  All He waits for us to do is call upon Him.  I am sure He was sitting up there shaking His head as we debated the possible solutions, pros and cons, outcomes.  He already knows how He is going to work this out!! 

Why do we waste time trying to figure things out on our own?  Why not immediately look to the One who knew what was going to come up and knows how it will all end?  I am challenged to humble myself, not thinking that I have all the answers or need to be in control of something, and just lay it at His feet.  Surrender it to my heavenly Father, who knows and cares.  It is all about Him, and in His time, it will all work out to His glory.  I don't need to worry or consume myself with things that I have absolutely no control over, I need to let prayer be my first action and my first reaction.