Boiling Water

For God does speak--now one way, now another-- though man may not perceive it. -- Job 33:14

It's been said that "a watched pot never boils" but that isn't exactly true. I believe it's the staring at the pot and the waiting for the boil that makes it seem so. And when we turn our back it often boils over!

I think hearing God's voice is a little like that. We set out to hear God's voice and we sit there watching and waiting (and listening) and the "pot" never seems to boil, but turn your back for a moment and it bubbles up.

I think we need to be "intentional" and "unintentional" in our pursuit of God's voice. Reading God's WORD, the Bible, is intentional and a practice that should not be neglected. God speaks most often through His Word.

But I also believe (and have experienced) God's voice in the "unintentional." Many of my blog posts were inspired by such moments with God -- I call these unintentional because I was not specifically setting out to pursue His voice. 

I do love how God is always intentional in communicating with us, whether or not we're being intentional. I hear Him loud and clear in these unintentional moments such as a walk on the beach with my grandkids, or when I retire at night to the symphony of the crickets, and even in the mundane task of painting of a room.

The next time you need to hear from God concerning a matter, be both intentional and unintentional and I believe the answer will bubble up ... just like boiling water. Read the WORD so that God has something in you to breathe upon and then go get unintentional -- take a walk, immerse yourself in a project, play in the water or dance in the rain -- and then get ready for the water to boil over with His voice.

Two Coats

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." -- Genesis 9:16

I recently undertook a painting project -- transforming a white wall into rum raisin. Applying the first coat of paint is always exciting and a task I really don't mind, but it's the second coat that gets me. It feels like I'm duplicating my effort and I am. When it comes to decorating or painting I want an original every time, so you can see why that second coat is a little monotonous. 

But it was during that painting project, and only after I got to the second coat, that I had a "God moment." I began to think about the creativeness of God and how everything He created was an original -- no duplicates. Was my restlessness in that second coat somehow a reflection of the God who created me and lives inside? And what about this sudden desire to transform white walls into all the colors of the rainbow? Hadn't I recently been inspired by "raspberry fizz" in the master bath, "the good life" in the master bedroom, and "heavenly peace" on the fireplace wall? And what about some of those paint color names? Call it OCD but once I find a color I like, the name has got to be fun and inspiring too!

God created endless variety in people and in nature -- and He even put a rainbow in the sky as a covenant to all living creatures of EVERY kind on the earth. Every time I paint the second coat and every time I look at the "rainbow" that is invading my home, I will turn my thoughts to God and remember His covenant to me. Thanks God for the moment!

Crickets

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? -- Romans 9:21

There is something cathartic in listening to the crickets outside my window ... and I suppose some might find this symphony of the night annoying, but for me, it soothes the soul and turns my thoughts toward our great Creator. 

As I ponder the life of the cricket I turn my thoughts toward the Potter and how HE makes each vessel unique and for a purpose. Who are we to say to the Potter, "Why did you make me this way?" God chooses as it pleases Him. To paraphrase Bill Johnson, "If God chooses to lift me to noble position or if He chooses to throw me into the street as a common penny, what is that to me? Blessed be the Name of the LORD!"

Remodel

You cannot do a new thing until the old one is passed away. We're in the middle of a remodeling project and I can see how it would be easy to get discouraged, especially when I look at the mess -- right now it's a pile of rubble in the middle of my living room! But if we focus on the end result and press forward, keeping our eye on what lies ahead, then I think we can make it.

In the same way, I believe God is shaking us up. I think He's working on the perfect remodel, molding us into the image of Christ. It's messy. It takes time and there is certainly a lot of dust and dirt, and even some uncertainty.

But take heart and be of good cheer, because out of the ashes (and dust and debris) we will rise! There is NO ONE like OUR GOD!

Our God, Chris Tomlin:

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Resting Place

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." -- Psalm 62:5

While on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico last week, we came upon this sight -- a flock of pelicans stopping to rest. I began to wonder if their wings were tired from flapping. Were they weary from the journey? Sometimes we get weary -- the journey can be long, hard, and fueled by stormy seas. God promises a resting place for all who are weary. But also the Holy Spirit is searching for a resting place in us. The Lord led Moses into the wilderness. He provided a cloud by day and a fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22). The cloud was a symbol of divine guidance -- the cloud of God's presence. All of this reminded me of a song by JoAnn McFatter called Fire by Night. Most of the song is a repeating of these 3 lines:

Cloud by day
Fire by night
I need a resting place

Today's prayer: "God, I need a resting place. And in turn, make me a resting place. Amen."

How Is He?

"In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him." -- 1 John 4:17

If we are like HIM, then we should be asking the question: "How is He?"

Since we are partakers of the divine nature of God, and bear resemblance to God, even in this present state of things; we are to be holy in all manner of conversation, as He is holy, and to be merciful to all men, as He is merciful, and to love the saints as He does, and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgive one another, as He for Christ's sake has forgiven them; for as God is love, we should be all love likewise; or of Christ.

Generations

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. -- Psalm 90:1-2

Praise to the Father of our four generations; for you have been our home! So grateful to have taken a beach vacation with my mom, daughter (& son-in-law), and my two grandsons -- four generations traveling together, sharing and bonding, while enjoying one of God's amazing creations -- the ocean!

Sand

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them;  they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up,  you are still with me! -- Psalm 139:17-18

I cannot even begin to count the grains of sand in one child-size sand bucket! And yet when I looked at the sand to my left and to my right, as far as my natural eye could see, the sand just went on and on. God says his thoughts about me outnumber the grains of sand. That's a lot of thoughts!

Boundaries

He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. -- Psalm 33:7

I love to watch the ocean waves hit the shore. Each wave knows its boundary and only comes that far. Only God holds the answer as to why some are permitted to come farther than the others. 

As I watched the waves at the beach this week I began to think about God's plan for us and why it seems some people's boundaries are set farther out than others. I have to believe that a God who numbers our hairs (Matthew 10:30) must surely work out the details of those boundaries for each child. Surely He knows just how far to let us wander before we crash. For me I prefer that He keep a tight rein on my boundaries for therein I find my safety. 

Today's Prayer: "Hem me in Lord, behind and before." (Psalm 139:5).

Ancient of Days

"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened." -- Daniel 7:9-10

When an injustice has occurred we can take comfort in knowing that our God is the Ancient of Days! He knows all and has seen all, including the hearts and intents of men. He was there in the beginning and He will be there in the end. There will be no need for "he said / she said." There will be no need to call on human material witnesses, their memory often spotty at best. There will be no mistrials or appeals; no exam and cross-exam by clever attorneys; no witness protection program; and certainly no excuses. Yes, with not even one glance the Ancient of Days knows all. Praise be to the Ancient of Days -- the only ONE worthy to judge.