Legacy

Psalm 78:4
English Standard Version

We will not hide them from our children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

My dad passed away a couple days ago. As I start trying to learn to live without him, I find myself being reminded of him in random and unexpected ways. I miss him. This may take a while to fully settle in and adjust to.

At the same time, I feel driven to look into scripture for comfort – as usual. And I am again reminded of him. This is something he taught me. His faith in God, God’s Word was the main thing I knew about him. His faithful commitment was the example I watched from the day I was born. So, it is ingrained in me, and I find myself saying now what my dad would’ve said, “where could I go but to the Lord?” 

My dad did his best to tell his children the glorious deeds, might, and wonders of the Lord that he had experienced in his own life. He did not hide his faith and gratefulness for all that God had brought him through and the blessings he had been given. He gave all credit and glory to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So, yes, I do miss him, and my heart is aching a bit today, but I am also feeling thankful, grateful, and blessed to part of his legacy. To have the faith that he exemplified also resting in my own heart and mind.

Thank you, Dad. I love you.

Until we meet again.

Every Little Step

Psalm 119:105
Easy-to-Read Version

Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.

Picture this. You are taking a walk in the woods at night. You have a flashlight. Every now and then you swing the flashlight up and around to keep your bearings. Mostly you have the light trained on the path directly in front of you so you don't stumble. You mainly need to see that very next step in case there is something in the way.

As we navigate situations and circumstances in our life we might feel like we can't really see which way to go or what decision to make. We'd like a giant florescent lightbulb so we can see everything that's going on. Or a handy 'writing on the wall.' We'd like to know the details. It can seem hard to make decisions and choices without knowing the end result. 

What if your next step is the only one you need to know? What if we let God (His Word) truly guide that next step? Just that one little step without worrying about the next one hundred steps?

This all comes down to trust, of course. And when we stop trying to be our own word, our own direction, and our own light - we can trust Him. If we trust Him with our path - our life - do we think He will lead us astray? 

I find comfort in knowing I don't have to worry about anything other than my next step, my next situation, my next circumstance, my next decision. Just focusing on the next step he has lighted before me. 

A Devotional from The Thankful Heart

Looking for new devotional? Consider this devotional from The Thankful Heart, available on Amazon.

The Thankful Heart: A Devotional Journey Through Healing

See The God Who Sees

Genesis 16:13
New Living Translation

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, "You are the God who sees me." She also said, "Have I truly seen the One who sees me?"

The story of Hagar seems so far removed from our current world and society, the life of Abraham and Sarah and the way they were trying to arrange their family are not how we do it today. However, I am not going to try to understand the cultural norms of several thousand years ago. What I would like to do is find little nuggets of truth, comfort, and relevance for me and you today.

This particular scripture is about when Hagar was being used by the aforementioned couple to try to do God's job for him. (And if that isn't relevant...but that's not the point of this...) Based on her relationship to Sarah, it doesn't seem like she probably had any choice in the matter. She was going to do what she was told. She seems to have had a mind of her own, though, which is why she ended up in the place where God saw her. 

Putting our cultural differences aside, and just focusing on the story as told, Hagar was being used for someone else's advantage and convenience. Maybe she was willing. Maybe she felt like if she was "good enough" she would be treated better and included. Did she feel like the situation would make her part of the family? Respected? 

My guess would be that she did not get that respect, which is why she started her attitude with Sarah. When Sarah retaliated, Hagar ran away. She had done what she was told to do, helped make someone's dreams come true (however inappropriate) and yet had been discarded. Not needed. She must have felt pretty invisible. 

And this brings me to the beauty of this whole story. God saw her. He knew who she was, where she was, and what was going on in her life. In my own modern take on it, He said, "I see you and I got you." 

I've taken a little liberty here, of course, and a little imagination to help us see the God who sees. I have had my experiences of feeling invisible. Feeling like I'm just a convenience. A means to and end for someone else. Have you? It hurts, for sure. I sometimes get an attitude about it. 

I am reminded by Hagar's story to lift my eyes up to the One Who Sees. To be reminded of how He looks at me. I want you, as well, to be reminded. Let's not let the situations and people who make us feel like we are invisible or just a means to an end cloud our view of Him - the One Who Sees. Like Hagar, we can receive His care and blessing, and be in awe of Him. See Him! He sees you.

                                                

The Path to Miracles

Exodus 13:17-18
Easy to Read Version

Pharaoh made the people leave Egypt. God did not let the people take the road leading to the land of the Philistines. That road by the Mediterranean Sea is the shortest way, but God said, "If the people go that way they will have to fight. Then they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.” So God led them another way through the desert by the Red Sea. The Israelites were dressed for war when they left Egypt.

You know how you worry about making the right decision?  Or you do your best to do the right thing, make the right move, even praying about it all.  And then trouble comes, or something happens that is contrary to your purpose, you start feeling like you missed the will of God. You start scrambling because you think you chose the wrong thing. 

Well...enter the Israelites coming out of Egypt. I will assume the reader knows the story. This part of their story struck me - did they know why God took them the long way 'round? I doubt it. They possibly even wondered why they weren't making a beeline for the Promised Land. 

God, in His omniscience, knew if they went the direct route, they would be discouraged very quickly by what was in their path. In fact, He took them the way of miracles! Wow. What a mindset change we would have if we quit looking at the obstacles in our life as we're doing something wrong, but instead as a path guided by the One we trust and lean on - a path to the miraculous. You may not need a sea parted, or manna from the sky - but do you need healing? Do you need restoration? Do you need deliverance?

Insert your need here that you can't see a solution for. Then face the day, stay on the path, trust in God and let Him lead you to your miracle.

    Side Note: The last part of this passage says the Israelites were dressed for war - they were ready to fight, but still God thought they would be discouraged by having to fight the Philistines. He knew them better than they knew themselves. He knows us, too. We gotta trust Him!!

Seeing in the Dark

Psalm 139:12
New English Translation

Even the darkness is not too dark for You to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to You.

This Psalm is one of the most beautiful ones, and clearly shows why David was a man after God's own heart.  I have been rereading it the last few days and this particular scripture keeps shining out at me. 

I have found myself in dark places a time or two in my life.  Places where I could not see the path ahead of me, let alone "see" God, or even feel His presence.  Those are times when I wondered if He could see me! Did He even know I existed?  I wonder if anyone reading this today has ever felt that?  Ever wondered if God could see you, hear you? 

It is so comforting to know that even in our dark times when we can't see our way through, God is not blinded by the dark.  He is not blinded by our darkness.  He sees just as well as if it was light.  There is peace to be had even in the dark times - God is not hindered by the darkness.  Keep going.  He's got you.

Moving Into Hope

Romans 5:1-5
KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I set out today to work on The Worth Project, but I was detoured to the path of Hope.  In part, I'm sure, because it is my word for the year. Or to be exact, the word "hopeful". In looking back at my word choice, I realize it was instinctive, but as I began to look into the scriptures today about hope, I can apply divine intervention as well. 

Initially, I was led to Romans 5:5 - hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Hope doesn't shame us. Oh, how that warmed my heart. But then something told me to go see where did the hope come from?  

Well. That would be tribulation. I used the KJV today because of how often I have heard (you, too, I'm sure) the big, bad, scary word "tribulation". But the original Greek word means "pressure", and that sounds less scary and more real to explain things in my life. 

We all have pressure(s). Whether it's a job, family, relationships, finances - life comes with pressures. Sometimes they can really make us feel like we are suffocating. Out of control. Burdened. Scared. You can go ahead and add your own feelings here. 

But the thing is, pressure, when faced and walked through (I've had to crawl here and there) brings patience (to have fortitude, persevere). Which gives us the experience (proof) that we can actually get through the pressure! 

And so then hope is created. Hope created by the perseverant experience of pressure. Hope is not really possible without the pressure. Hope is the result of of it! And once it is created, the pressure(s) can be more easily tolerated. It is a process (oh, isn't everything!). But if we allow the process (we're going to experience pressure anyway) and let it create hope in us - we can rejoice and be glad in the love and glory of God without shame. If you're reading this, you're human and you have pressure(s) you are dealing with - go ahead and persevere the experience and move into hope!