January 22, 2010
Exodus 14:31 - When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD used, they feared the LORD and they trusted Him.
Without their long exodus to freedom the Israelites would have missed out on seeing God's great power. Without our situation continuing for three plus years, we would have missed out on witnessing the Hand of God at work in our lives. That is why we now say, "Thank goodness it didn't end quickly like we originally prayed."
Lord, we would have missed so much. This faith journey we have been on has been simply amazing. We would have missed the full blessing of Jane (Her Name was Jane) and the special times of closeness my husband and I shared as we walked together hand-in-hand while praying—for years. We would have missed experiencing YOUR presence during those walks. The time the sun hit our backs and cast such elongated shadows, we knew at that moment YOUR presence was with us. The time we were walking in the dense fog and our way seemed so obscure. I remember the fervency in my husband's voice as he was praying and pleading our case before you asking you to please show us your presence and direction. We had just rounded a corner and were walking up a slight rise when the skies opened, the thick fog parted, and YOUR sun's rays shone brightly through a small grove of trees which was just ahead of us. YOUR sun shone clear and bright for a few seconds and then the skies closed and we were once again enveloped in the thick fog. We learned an important lesson that day. We may be enveloped in fog and our way may seem obscure, but you are there!! We treasure that moment. There are so many other things we would have missed. The "story" of Jane that we have shared with so many people—missed. Our desire to be in your word daily—missed. The growth in ourselves, our children and the impact on generations—MISSED!
All we can do is PRAISE YOUR NAME!
And, that is what the Israelites did. They praised the LORD. Psalm 150. That is our response as well. God has given us a song in our heart and praises on our lips even though we are still in the midst of "the storm." We trust Him. Period. It isn't when the "problem" in your life is over that joy and peace comes. It is in walking "through the valley" that you can see, touch, feel, hear, and experience God in a way that you can't get any other way but than to go "through." When you can do nothing about your situation, you discover (in our small human way) the God who can do everything! Psalm 150:2 - "Praise God for his surpassing greatness." Not just adequate or barely enough to eke out a victory—surpassing—MORE than enough.
The song lyrics from, "How Can I Keep From Singing" your name, how can I ever say enough, how amazing is your love ... for I have been loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing" is going through my mind. Listen to it here. When you begin to get a glimpse of who God is, even the words of Isaiah—HOLY, HOLY, HOLY—seems woefully inadequate.
Moses and the Israelites broke out into song, praising the LORD for all He had done. Exodus 15:1-2 - "I will sing to the LORD, because he is worthy of great honor ... The LORD gives me strength and makes me sing ... He is our God and we will praise him. He is the God of our fathers and we will honor him." Exodus 15:9 - "The enemy bragged, 'I'll chase them and catch them. I'll take all their riches; I'll take all I want. I'll pull out my sword, and my hand will destroy them.' " The problem of "I"—it almost always leads to wanting power, control, revenge, and greed.
Exodus 15:11 - "You are wonderfully holy, amazingly powerful, a worker of miracles."
God has put us on this path. No matter where the path leads—we will trust Him. No matter the outcome—we will praise Him. We are thankful our lives were built upon the Rock when the winds of "the storm" hit. We are thankful for "the storm." We are thankful for how the LORD has revealed Himself to us in new and deeper ways. The Lord is "wonderfully holy, amazingly powerful, and a worker of miracles." Blessed be the name of the LORD.
Next Entry: Exodus 15:22 – 17:7
Exodus 14:31 - When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD used, they feared the LORD and they trusted Him.
Without their long exodus to freedom the Israelites would have missed out on seeing God's great power. Without our situation continuing for three plus years, we would have missed out on witnessing the Hand of God at work in our lives. That is why we now say, "Thank goodness it didn't end quickly like we originally prayed."
Lord, we would have missed so much. This faith journey we have been on has been simply amazing. We would have missed the full blessing of Jane (Her Name was Jane) and the special times of closeness my husband and I shared as we walked together hand-in-hand while praying—for years. We would have missed experiencing YOUR presence during those walks. The time the sun hit our backs and cast such elongated shadows, we knew at that moment YOUR presence was with us. The time we were walking in the dense fog and our way seemed so obscure. I remember the fervency in my husband's voice as he was praying and pleading our case before you asking you to please show us your presence and direction. We had just rounded a corner and were walking up a slight rise when the skies opened, the thick fog parted, and YOUR sun's rays shone brightly through a small grove of trees which was just ahead of us. YOUR sun shone clear and bright for a few seconds and then the skies closed and we were once again enveloped in the thick fog. We learned an important lesson that day. We may be enveloped in fog and our way may seem obscure, but you are there!! We treasure that moment. There are so many other things we would have missed. The "story" of Jane that we have shared with so many people—missed. Our desire to be in your word daily—missed. The growth in ourselves, our children and the impact on generations—MISSED!
All we can do is PRAISE YOUR NAME!
And, that is what the Israelites did. They praised the LORD. Psalm 150. That is our response as well. God has given us a song in our heart and praises on our lips even though we are still in the midst of "the storm." We trust Him. Period. It isn't when the "problem" in your life is over that joy and peace comes. It is in walking "through the valley" that you can see, touch, feel, hear, and experience God in a way that you can't get any other way but than to go "through." When you can do nothing about your situation, you discover (in our small human way) the God who can do everything! Psalm 150:2 - "Praise God for his surpassing greatness." Not just adequate or barely enough to eke out a victory—surpassing—MORE than enough.
The song lyrics from, "How Can I Keep From Singing" your name, how can I ever say enough, how amazing is your love ... for I have been loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing" is going through my mind. Listen to it here. When you begin to get a glimpse of who God is, even the words of Isaiah—HOLY, HOLY, HOLY—seems woefully inadequate.
Moses and the Israelites broke out into song, praising the LORD for all He had done. Exodus 15:1-2 - "I will sing to the LORD, because he is worthy of great honor ... The LORD gives me strength and makes me sing ... He is our God and we will praise him. He is the God of our fathers and we will honor him." Exodus 15:9 - "The enemy bragged, 'I'll chase them and catch them. I'll take all their riches; I'll take all I want. I'll pull out my sword, and my hand will destroy them.' " The problem of "I"—it almost always leads to wanting power, control, revenge, and greed.
Exodus 15:11 - "You are wonderfully holy, amazingly powerful, a worker of miracles."
God has put us on this path. No matter where the path leads—we will trust Him. No matter the outcome—we will praise Him. We are thankful our lives were built upon the Rock when the winds of "the storm" hit. We are thankful for "the storm." We are thankful for how the LORD has revealed Himself to us in new and deeper ways. The Lord is "wonderfully holy, amazingly powerful, and a worker of miracles." Blessed be the name of the LORD.
Next Entry: Exodus 15:22 – 17:7
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