And Yet....

I was reading through the Psalms and noticed this "and yet" pattern that intrigued me.

Basically, the author starts out lamenting some wicked thing, or expressing his fear or anguish, and then says, "and yet"....God is good, God is faithful. Here's a few examples:

Psalm 12

No one can be trusted, people are lying left and right. And yet.....God's Words can be trusted implicitly.

Psalm 10

The wicked are taking advantage of the poor and setting themselves up as more important than God. And yet....God is the rightful King forever and one day the wicked will be no more.

Psalm 9

People are being oppressed. And yet...The Lord is a place of refuge and safety for all who come to Him.

Psalm 4

People continually pray for blessings and more blessings, never satisfied. Yet...The Presence of God in our lives is what brings real joy, more joy than we could even imagine.

Psalm 73

The wicked seem to prosper. The author becomes bitter and "stupid". Yet....He says, God is always with me, that's the only important thing - He is the strength of life. The wicked will receive their due.

Psalm 106 and 107 are full of the "and yet" stories of God and His people. Time and time again, the people rebel, and yet God loves them still. The people complain, but God keeps His promises. God's people have faced much hardship, yet God has lifted their spirits, given them strength to endure, and offered eternal rewards.

We are all sinners, and yet Christ died for us.

There's a lot of awful, scary things happening in our world today. But there is hope! God is still God, and He is still good, and He is still present. Not only do we have hope for the future, but we can have hope right now.

I just needed that reminder this week :)

Sheep Positions Available

Job Description

Sheep

Job Title: Sheep

Reports to: the Shepherd

Compensation: Eternal Life

Benefits: Everything you need

Job Summary

The job of a sheep is to follow the Shepherd and stay close to Him. Period.

Duties and scope of responsibility 

- Responsible for doing whatever the Shepherd says

- Should acknowledge their role as a sheep (not very smart)

- Should not try to go their own way

- Depends on the Shepherd for every need, big or small

- Watches the Shepherd closely and learns His ways

- Helps other sheep (or not-yet sheep) get to know the Shepherd better

- Becomes close friends with the Shepherd

- Loyal to the Shepherd

Skills required

Candidates for this position are accepted "as is". It will be the Shepherds responsibility to fit them for the job. The only requirement is a willing and open heart. Even then the Shepherd can offer training.

Working conditions

By the world's standards, the working conditions can often be very poor. Position requires a long journey, climbs over steep mountains and through dark valleys. However, the Shepherd will always be leading and there is no need to fear. He will carry when necessary and knows the way quite well. He has promised green pastures and still waters. He also restores souls.

This job is particularly for the faint of heart, who feel the need of their Shepherd. All applications accepted. The job will require death to self, but will provide life everlasting and unquenchable joy. The Shepherd loves His sheep fiercely, and will adopt as His own all who wish it. 

Apply now

Exhilarating Fear

I've never been the extreme sports type. Jumping out of airplanes or riding roller coasters has never been my thing either. But there's been a few things in my life that have given me that same type of adrenaline rush - fear mixed with excitement, the possibilities vs the POSSIBILITIES.

I remember one night in particular. It was around midnight and I was feeling very scared. I said, "God I can't do this! I can't possibly leave my safe and quiet life and venture out into the unknown. I'm too scared!" A few hours later found me on a plane, heading for a year of mission service, never guessing just how drastically my life was about to change. I'm so grateful He didn't let me chicken out! Exhilarating fear! It pushes us to places we ordinarily wouldn't have gone. It grows us and challenges us, if we let it. 

Another word for this exhilarating fear is "faith". Faith through the unknown, faith that we are known, faith in the POSSIBILITIES that exist when we say yes to friendship with Jesus.

Faith is diving off the cliff, stepping out of the boat, walking on the water, believing that Jesus is there to catch you. It's showing up, being all in, choosing to trust, day by day. It can also be waiting patiently while everyone else is busy doing something. Faith is that hope that God will show up, that He is enough, that I am enough in Him.

That terrifying feeling when you don't know what to do. That electrifying feeling when you realize that it really doesn't matter after all (He's got it all under control). I heard someone say once (can't remember who), that when you have nothing left but Jesus, you will find that He is more than enough.

"When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move

When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through

When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You"

(From "Trust in You", Lauren Daigle)

The God-sized Hole

I've often heard people say that we all have a God- sized hole in our heart - a spot that only He can fill. Today I read something that sparked some new thoughts. Maybe, as we begin to understand this hole, this emptiness, and we begin to see how we are really all one great big giant hole, maybe then He can step right in and fill it all up. He is a big God you know.

I'm so extremely grateful for people who are courageous enough to share their real selves, and their brokenness, with the world. Those are the people I truely admire - the ones who step up and say, hey, I'm not perfect, but here I am. People who show up as they are, perfect tools ready to be used by Him who knows no failure.

I want to be one of those people. I want to be courageous and real. I want to learn how to stop hiding, like most of us do. I want to stop trying to fill my emptiness with things that don't satisfy.

My God is a God of truth, hope, and love. And He has called me to share with others. That's my purpose in life. That's why I exist - to partake of Him, share Freindship with Him, and then let that flow out to others. A beautiful circle of loving and sharing and journeying together.

God's Economy

I kept asking God to change my circumstances, instead He changed me.

I asked God to change people, instead He gave me new perspective.

I asked for a way out of difficulty, instead He strengthened me to endure.

I asked for human support, He helped me see that He is enough.

I asked for the things I needed, He supplied all in Jesus.

I asked Him to show me which way to go, He said "It is I who am the Way".

I asked for help making choices, He said "I want you to choose Me".

I thought I knew all I needed to live a good life. But He taught me that only by dying can I really begin to live.

I asked Him to save me, He said "It's already been done."

I fought and struggled because it didn't make sense. He said, "Be still, and know that I am God".

I thought I had to do it all in my own strength, thought I had to figure it all out. Instead He gave me grace to see myself as I am, and He as He really is. I am nothing and He is all. It is He who calls, He who knocks, He who leads, He who protects and provides. He does it all, I just say "Yes, Lord". I in Him, and He in me. And somehow, through it all, He weaves the most beautiful love story ever told. It's a beautiful mystery :-)

^“ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11: 13-16, KJV)

“Have you come to the Red Sea place in your life, Where, in spite of all you can do, There is no way out, there is no way back, There is no other way but through? Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene Till the night of your fear is gone; He will send the wind, He will heap the floods, When He says to your soul, "Go on."

And His hand will lead you through-clear through--Ere the watery walls roll down, No foe can reach you, no wave can touch, No mightiest sea can drown; The tossing billows may rear their crests, Their foam at your feet may break, But over their bed you shall walk dry shod In the path that your Lord will make.

In the morning watch, 'beneath the lifted cloud, You shall see but the Lord alone, When He leads you on from the place of the sea To a land that you have not known; And your fears shall pass as your foes have passed, You shall be no more afraid; You shall sing His praise in a better place, A place that His hand has made”.--Annie Johnson Flint

The Gift of Suffering

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. (Philippians 1:29 NLT)

Suffering a privilege? Really? What is it that motivates Paul to say such a thing? 

Recently I met a lady who is suffering. She has a little "hole" In her head where they removed part of her brain along with the tumor. Life is very hard for her, in many aspects, but yet she counts it a privilege to suffer for her Lord! She lost her ability to speak in surgery, but God gave it back to her and she uses it to praise and glorify The Lord. She lives to bless others, telling everyone who will listen (and even those who don't) how good God is, and how much He loves each one of us. God is using her in mighty ways. 

A friend recently shared this really big thought with me:

It's not about our story, but rather, it's all about His story.

God's perfect will for us does not include suffering. But guess what, He's a big enough God that He can not only sustain us through it, but He can actually bless us and others by it. Contrary to popular belief, we are not on this earth to be comfortable. We are in the middle of the most important conflict of all times. God loves us relentlessly, and He is concerned with our ultimate good, rather than our momentary happiness (though of course He delights in making us happy too). 

In suffering, we are given the opportunity to draw nearer to Him, to press in, to be strengthened in a way only possible in the midst of trial. If you ask God for the biggest, best, most incredible blessing He can give you, do you know what He will give you?

His only Son.

Everything comes back to Jesus. Jesus does not only give us good things, but He IS every good thing. Thus, if we have Him, we have all that we need, all that we could ever dream of! So if suffering leads to Jesus, then indeed, what a blessing and a privilege!

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)

"For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT)

By God's enormous grace may we not only stay strong in suffering, but may we be blessed beyond our wildest dreams as we allow Him to work out His good purpose in our lives. He is utterly trustworthy, entirely good, and unfailingly loving. We have nothing to fear as long as He holds us. And may we thank Him for the blessing of suffering.

Shout it from the mountaintop

It's one of those moments where silence is simply impossible. It's one of those moments where I just can't keep from shouting out from the mountaintop - "Look what Jesus did for me!! He is so good!"

I wrote in my prayer journal "Jesus, did You really just do what I think You just did? Did You really just show up so clearly in my situation? So vividly, so boldly, so confidently, You proved that Your presence makes all the difference"

I wish I could clearly describe what Jesus has done/is doing for me, but it really kind of transcends words. But He is teaching me that the way to Life often involves great pain. And I have a choice. Do I choose the way of temporary pain and eternal life, or do I choose what appears to be the easier path, that really leads to destruction?

For me, and for any followers of Jesus, we can expect hard roads and dark nights ahead. But in this one moment, I want to lay down a "stone of rememberance" and recognize and proclaim, that Jesus came through (and He's not done yet). He will always come through, especially when the night seems darkest. He is so good! His love is so deep! 

So today is a shout-it-from-the-mountaintop kind of day: I once was blind, but now I see, amazing Grace, His Truth sets me free! Taste and see for yourself just how wonderful He is.