Recently read a book that was alright but not spectacular. This is a quote that I liked from it. It was by Lauren Austin and she did a great job in the book of showing joy in the Lord through horrible situations. Which I appreciate. Not that I'm able, but it's so nice to read about people that are there and giving advice on the way.
Early in our marriage my husband was a Biblical Studies major and encouraging me to read the Old Testament more. I kept trying. I hated it. I told him so. I said, "I hate how God was then! I just don't see the connection between that God and Jesus." Robert ofcourse told me they are one in the same, which logically I knew. But my worldly human emotions would not accept it. I was so shallow and close minded against what God just IS vs what I wanted God to be. I wanted God to be quiet and gracious and moldable. "God is SO good!" I would've told you, but really there was this fleshly whisper in the back of my mind that said, "Yeah, Jesus is good, but the God of the Old Testament wasn't good. I'm glad He changed by the New Testament." I am learning to forgive myself for my past ignorance. God was gracious to me then with my lack of wisdom and I'm sure in 20 years I will look back to now and be thankful for Him being gracious to my lack of wisdom now! Lord willing I will continue to learn and be sanctified every day for the rest of my life! But what the last couple years has taught me is that God is good. No matter what He does or allows, it is good. He created "good", He is the only source of "good". We, as humans, don't know "good". At all. We think we do. What a mighty God that makes good out of ALL. "Often I have heard people say, 'How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!' Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. "No, Corrie," said Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him." Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of God's love available - there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love - whatever the circumstances." Corrie Ten Boom "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 ESV My thoughts lately follow along a trail of being thankful and seeing that God is good in all circumstances. We had a particularily hard day yesterday. Poor behavior, more discipline, stress, feeling depressed, running unexpected errands. Bryse looks like Two Face because she has an awful case of poison ivy (or something like that) and it's my first time to deal with that. Cal is three. (That is all, he's three. That's all it takes to up the stress. Ha!) Darby is fixing to take her first unit tests. And Deakin just screams all day. Happy or sad, he's screaming! And not only that but after months of continually praying for opportunities to minister in our own neighborhood the Lord plopped a big ole' opportunity right in my lap! And ofcourse, it's one I wouldn't have chosen. ; ) But instead of begging God to change all these things, I want to thank God for them all. Instead of only saying He has blessed me when He gives me what I want, I want to say, "Wow! Yesterday was hard! God really blessed us with lots of opportunites for lessons and sanctification! He sure does love us!" Because they will work together for the good of those who love Him. Because He loves me enough to send me a curve ball so that I will cling to Him harder. This bread makes us stronger. Because a Father that only gives candy is a bad father. Thank you for the opportunities to disciple my children in their poor behavior, Lord. For the chance to teach them young so that they won't face worse when they are older. Thank you for the sanctification that it breeds in me! Thank you for Cal being three as I know that three, Lord willing, will lead to him being four and five and six and we will see the fruit of the lessons learned at this age. Thank you for Bryse's poison ivy! For the things her and I both are learning because of it. For teaching us that there are some things in this world we just need to stay completely away from. Thank you for Darby's Unit tests as they are a sign that we have survived the first Unit in all her subjects so far! Thank you for changing me into the mom she needs instead of the mom I want to be. And thank you for my baby that is alive and healthy enough to scream all day. Thank you for his passion in all things and thank you for the lesson he will conquer one day, that you have to channel those passions. And thank you for this opportunity to minister to neighbors. I am not here, in this world, for myself, but to serve You and others'. No matter how insignificant it might seem.
5 Comments
Al Fowler
8/30/2012 12:47:48 am
Lindsey I just finished chapter 7 in Chuck Swindoll's book on the Apostle Paul. It's about much of what you're writing about. He says: "I need to underscore a foundational fact: God’s goal is not to make sure you’re happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it’s time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It is about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God!"
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Al Fowler
8/30/2012 12:50:53 am
Not that I think you have "spare time" :).
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Melissa Barrett
8/30/2012 01:07:35 am
Such hard truths to incorporate into our life in a society -secular and often church - that appeal to "self" and happiness. But, if we can truly grab hold of this, it completely changes how we think and who we are in Christ.
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Lindsey
8/30/2012 04:07:40 am
Thanks, Dad, I will check that chapter out!
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Kim Fowler
9/1/2012 12:43:42 am
Of course continued pray, also.
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