Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Provision, Purpose, and Perspective

So far, 2009 has been a wonderful year of re-connecting with old friends! I finally decided to sign up for Facebook, and I’ve connected with so many people I haven’t talked to in years. It’s been so fun to see everyone’s updates, comments, and current life status.

The only problem is—it can really consume my time. I need to be mindful of how much time I spend “hanging out” in FB land. It’s a blessing in that it helps me stay connected, but it can also  become a curse if I let it take over.

Lord, please help me to use my time wisely and not make Facebook an idol I place before You.

Lately, I’ve been feeling called to do another fast this year. SK was talking about fasting last Friday night, Tom has been talking about it too, and the scripture D gave me last October—Isaiah 58:6—keeps resurfacing:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

I do feel I should fast again, but not quite like last year. That fast was very difficult and painful for me because of my RLS and other physical challenges. This time, I’m considering a raw fruits and vegetables fast—a cleansing of both body and spirit. I want to give up the foods I love and crave (carbs, cheese, and sugar) while still getting the nourishment I need.

I’m thinking of starting on February 1st for 10 to 14 days, and then seeing if I should continue for the whole month—or even 40 days. I’ll let the Lord lead me in the timing, but I’m committed to at least 10 days.

On Sunday, we went to K and S’s house and brought M and little A with us. It was such a good time of fellowship. Tom talked with one of the men there almost the entire time, while I had a nice chat with his wife before we had to leave.

When the kids are with me, I don’t get as much time to interact, but it’s still special having them along every once in a while. Before we left, K handed me an envelope—and inside was a check for $100, designated specifically for the eye drops! Praise You, Lord, for Your provision and faithfulness! We put it in our savings account so it wouldn’t get used for anything else until I need to buy more drops.

Speaking of which, I called the place the doctor referred me to and spoke with a very kind woman. I made an appointment with her to fill out an application to see if I qualify for financial assistance. Oddly enough, I’m beginning to feel that maybe this process is less about getting help for myself and more about a divine appointment with her.

I still don’t want to take the program’s funds unless God makes it clear that I should—but I’ll leave that in His hands.

Since our niece was here in January, I’ve had Tom’s sister (her mom) on my heart and in my prayers. I decided to open up a dialogue so they can ask us questions and hopefully better understand what God is doing in our lives. Our niece said that after spending time with us and asking questions, she felt more at peace and encouraged her mom and stepdad to talk with us too.

They called us on Sunday and we talked with them for a while but I am not sure how far we got with them. I have a feeling this will take some time but I am willing to do whatever it takes to help them to see God in our lives, and in this situation, instead of thinking we are really off our rocker.

Lord, please guide and direct our conversations. Help us speak Your words and Your truth. Holy Spirit, open their eyes to see Your work in us and reveal Yourself to them.

One of the things I sent them was a blog Tom found called Once Dead, Now Alive (http://oncedeadbutnowalive.blogspot.com/). It highlights the “If this, then…” statements in Scripture—truths I’ve rarely heard taught in church but are so powerful.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings…” — Romans 8:17

“But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” — Hebrews 3:6*

There are so many of these conditional promises written to believers—things that really make you go “hmm.”

In the last Beth Moore DVD I watched, she shared a beautiful analogy of what God is doing with His church today. She said it reminded her of an orchestra warming up before a performance—each instrument playing a different note, tuning up, not quite in harmony. But when the conductor taps the music stand, the chaos becomes beautiful music.

She said she felt the church is in that “warming up” stage—all playing different notes for now—but when Jesus taps the stand, the Holy Spirit will bring us into perfect harmony, playing the same music on the same page.

What a powerful picture! Even if the church looks out of tune or scattered right now, I know God is working out His perfect plan for His Bride.

On Monday morning, as I was getting ready for my day, I started thinking about some things we’ll need to buy soon. The thought crept in, “God’s not providing enough money.” (Thank you, enemy.) I even started to justify using the $100 for something else!

But then I quickly pushed that thought aside and reminded myself that God is a faithful provider. He always gives us what we need when we need it—and He’s proven it over and over again. I have everything I need for today, and that’s enough to be thankful for.

As I was making breakfast, Tom read the January 26 Oswald Chambers devotion to me:

“Look Again and Consecrate”
Matthew 6:30 — “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that "if God so clothes the grass of the field . . ." how "much more" will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed "the cares of this world" to enter in (Mat_13:22), while forgetting the "much more" of our heavenly Father.

"Look at the birds of the air . . ." (Mat_6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your "feathers" too.

"Consider the lilies of the field . . ." (Mat_6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don't take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the "much more" He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?

Once again, the Lord was quick to remind me of His faithfulness and promises.

Thank You, Lord, for always being there, for reminding me how great You are, and for keeping my heart anchored in Your truth.