Below is an excerpt from my devotional yesterday, and I thought it was too good not to share from Day 162:
“Handley Moule, when he was Bishop of Durham, had the task of visiting the relatives of 170 miners who had been killed in a mining accident. While he was wondering what to say to them, he picked up a little bookmark his mother had given him. As he held it up, on the reverse side of the handwoven bookmark there was a tangled web. There was no rhyme, no reason, no pattern, nothing. But on the other side it said, ‘God is love’. The world sometimes seems to us like a tangled web. Often we cannot work out what is going on or why we are suffering in the way we are. But the claim of Jesus and the Scriptures is that behind it all is the love of God. Even though things may seem very difficult for us to understand now, God is working out his loving purposes in the world. God can weave a pattern from the threads of our lives—including the suffering, heartaches and even our mistakes and make something beautiful. The apostle Paul tells us that ‘in *all things* God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).
Reflect today on the fact that, even though your situation may be challenging, God is weaving his purpose for your life. Job said, ‘You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your *providence* watched over my spirit’ (Job 10:12). Everything that happens in this world is within the sphere of God’s working. ‘Providence’ means God’s foresight: the way he anticipates and prepares for the future. ‘Providence’ is the way God guides and steers human history – he is present and active in the world – sustaining it and ruling it. It is also the way he guides and steers your life personally and individually. God has a specific, unique destiny for you. Sometimes this thought worries people: that they might somehow mess things up and miss out on God’s purpose. But that isn’t the case. *Even your mistakes* he uses for good. In all the circumstances of your life and the events going on around you, you can trust in the providence of God.”
Written by Nicky Gumbel
This past week, I stepped over what would have been my 19th wedding anniversary. I had three days of radiation (so far so good). My kids were gone for three whole days without me. A friend suddenly underwent major surgery. I had drivers everyday. Gifts and food showed up, and it even gave me sometime to play on my piano. It was a fulfilling week.
As I’m crossing into another full week of radiation, a friend sent me this verse to reflect on:
I was flooded with such incredible grace, like a river overflowing its banks, until I was full of faith and love for Jesus, the Anointed One!
-1 Timothy 1:14 TPT
This is from The Passion Transition, and I just love the imagery. His incredible grace comes in like a flood. Flooding has a negative understanding in the natural, but in the spirit, it’s a mysterious and wonderous experience. I’ve had moments on my piano when I felt the love of God wash over me like this passage expresses.
Presence trumps person. This revelation was gifted to me in 2017, and it’s still helping me walk through heart things today.
This summer is all about family, fun, fellowship and food.
You see, I believe God has a plan for me and you this whole time, as mentioned above. There are open doors of mystery when someone walks through heart things. We have to stay open to the revelation that’s right in front of us and around the corner. I have been forced to slow down this summer, and with that is a choice to either lean in or to fight it. I’m choosing to lean in. Leaning, in the natural, doesn’t feel stable. However, the stronger your core is, the longer you can lean without falling. I think we can take this example and use it in the spiritual. The stronger your foundation, identity, and desire to follow Christ no matter your circumstances, the eaiser your days become. You can handle whatever, for as you trust He knows, He can also trust you are going to ask Him for help along the road.
I will leave you with this new song called The Narrow Way by Steffany Gretzinger:
Leaning by Matt Maher and Lizzie Morgan:
Until next time,
Keep gliding 🪁
Abiding 🙇🏼♀️
& Smiling 😁
Comments