It has been forever since I have written. I have been going through so much refining with the Lord lately (well...more like surgery) and words just have not come to share. He is good though. I don't have any mega encouragement, I don't have any precious story to tell, but I can say that He is faithful. Even when nothing makes sense, He is faithful. It is imperative we surrender to Him completely and listen to everything He says to us. Any check in our spirit should not be ignored, but instead we should sit in front of Him in stillness and ask Him what it is He wants us to know. I think we also underestimate the importance and value of Godly counsel in our life. A lesson I have learned is-- just because someone is a Christian, and seems to live a life in pursuit of the Lord, does not mean they are godly counsel. Let your godly counsel be someone who is wise and mature in their relationship with the Lord. Someone who's paths are straight and who is well grounded in the Word and very committed to prayer. If they are not looking into your life and using the sword of truth to cut through your own immaturity, if iron is not sharpening iron, then you probably need to pray about going to different counsel. I have made some decisions on the road in my life with the counsel of those that I really thought were godly. Yes, they are godly, in that they pursue the Lord, but still immature. As I look back I see that there was a ton of evidence that indicated I should have tested/disregarded their counsel. I am not saying that God can not speak through the immature (heck- I am immature) but I am saying that you better know it is from God if you are trusting it. Our steps matter, our decisions matter. We should not be careless about listening to the direction of God. After all, His direction is founded in love, graciousness, and goodness.
This is completely unrelated- but there is a new song that I just love. I won't include all of the lyrics, but here are the ones I adore:
I will find a way
Jason Gray
At the end of this run down tenement hall, is the room of a girl I know. And she cowers behind all the deadbolt locks- afraid of the outside world. So how should I come, to the one I love? I will find a way.
Many thieves and collectors have used that door, but they only brought her shame. So she wont even open it anymore. Still I will find a way. I could call out her name with love through the walls, but condemnation is all she hears. I could break down the door, take her into my arms, but she might die from the fear. So how should I come to the one I love? I will find a way. I will find a way.
No hiding place ever kept her safe. So, she hides inside herself. Now to reach her heart, the only way, is to hide in their as well. I will hide in there as well.
All the beauty and joy will return to her face
And what of the loneliness?
Now it is gone.
Every sin that she suffered at the hands of man
Every single disgrace will be washed clean again
I will love her completely
I will carry her out of that tenemant home
I just love this song because I think it describes the character of God and His love for his children. He gives attention and thought (so I believe) into How He can get to His children. A godly man said to me once- "I can have all kinds of love for a person, but how I administer it is important" God is looking for the way to rescue our hearts, whether you are a believer of not. He is pursuing you. He will come to you in the way that He knows fits best, the way that will communicate to you His love, gentleness, and safety. He is good.
Luke 15: 4-6
4What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and should lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness (desert) and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
5And when he has found it, he lays it on his [own] shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he gets home, he summons together [his] friends and [his] neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep which was lost.
Verse 6-- I love it. He calls us "Mine" We are HIS.
