Tuesday's Toot

I was inspired to create a new look for my blog this week, so I worked on it yesterday and found a layout I loved! I created the banner using Photoshop. Over the past several months I've had a few projects to do on Photoshop, and I know I haven't even scratched the surface of knowing how much that program can actually DO! In any case, I am quite pleased about the header I created using some photos I took of my children this summer. One more thing, that I am even more excited about! My good friend has sent her first youth novel away to be published and I was privileged to design and create the cover for the book! It is so exciting to see an idea actually come to be!

Questioning God's Plan?

“Why is this happening to me?”

I have asked this question too many times in my life. As humans, is this a natural tendency? We try so hard to find answers to everything in life, from the most simple to the complex; the spiritual realm to the physical world.

Scan through Job 38-39... God asks many questions that reveal how limited man’s mind really is. How dare we claim to “know” the answers to things. God has willed that we know some of the answers. He certainly reveals truth to us in His word, and yes, scientists have discovered some very basic information about how nature responds to certain elements, and perhaps even some basic causes in weather patterns. But our understanding must stem from simply trusting in God!

What I have been reminded of this morning is that God is sovereign and our understanding (even the most intellectual man who has ever walked this earth) is but a grain of sand in comparison to God’s unlimited understanding and power. So why do we question God’s plan? We do it all the time with our lack of trust in Him. Even with the simplest things in life.

 

“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42.2

TRUST

Meditation:

 

“Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.”

 Psalm 32.10                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Unbelief Leads to Disobedience

2 Kings 17: The root of the Israelites’ disobedience was their lack of faith in God. (“But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God.” Vs. 14)

They thought making their own gods would be better. Sounds ridiculous, especially after all God had done for them and all the mighty miracles they witnessed first hand. However, I lack faith in God at times and find myself turning to my own strength or other people to satisfy me in ways only God can. I find myself worrying about things completely out of my control, and that worry usually leads to even more sinful attitudes and behaviours; anger, lashing out verbally, forgetting God’s promises, self-reliance.

 

Trust in the Lord and do good ... Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn. Psalm 37. 3-6

Out of the Heart, the Mouth Speaks

“My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.” Ps 71:15

 

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,” Phil 2:14-15a

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Ja 1:22

 

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Lk 6:45

 

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps 19:14

 

Whenever I meditate on God’s word in regard to my tongue, I am convicted in so many areas... I will say no more.

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Meditation on the doxology:

 

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counsellor?

Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever!

Amen”

 

Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

 

There are things that I cannot understand. If I understood them, I would be equal with God in some ways. In areas of my life, and with doctrines that confuse me or perhaps I don’t fully understand, I am reminded that I am called to trust. Not necessarily understand, but simply trust in my Father in Heaven.