Fading ... why???

About 6 weeks ago I went on an amazing retreat.  Really saw and experienced the grace of God.  Felt peace. Felt true joy. Thought relationships were being built. Nutured. Upon return we were supposed to get into small groups and not lose what we found. Continue growing and learning in God's grace.

Supposed to.

What usually happens to things that are 'supposed to' happen? They don't.  The weekend is a distant memory. Almost a figment of my imagination.  I wonder if it all really happened.  If it was real. Now I am wondering what I have done wrong.   I have tried to seek out prayer partners. 1-2 to be in a small group - even temporarily. I don't feel like I am asking too much, but obviously I am.

I can sense myself fading.  Retreating back into my isolation. Finding it easier to avoid people.  I don't like the holidays.  If I could slip into a deep sleep from November 1 to January 31, I gladly would.  God didn't intend us to be alone, but there are many times that I wonder about that.

I am tired of depression. Tired of faking it 'til you make it. Tired of being told to be patient. Tired of people who act like a friend one day yet won't even make eye contact the next.  Tired of not sleeping.

Something I am going to do for the month of November is NaNoWriMo - national novel writing month.  Essentially - the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.  1667 words per day. (quantity not quality) I am planning on writing out my journey - in detail.  Will anyone get to read it? I don't know. Would anyone want to read it? I doubt it.  Will God use this opportunity to help me gain some perspective? I  pray he does.  Please pray too.

Knowing God - Philippians 4:6-7

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Your Name is GENEROUS

Right now ... I thank you

for everything in my life — especially _______.

Make a list — real or mental, long or short — of things you pray for.

 

in everything

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

 

Have you ever desired peace but felt there was a locked door between you and greater peacefulness?Well, the key to that door -- indeed, the key to peace -- is "prayer" and "thanksgiving."

 

Prayer -- which is ultimately a conversation -- draws us into relationship with God. Thanksgiving transforms that conversation ... and thereby transforms our lives.

 

Here's what you need to know about that door and that lock. The door to peace is very tall, and the door knob is very high. And we rarely unlock this gift because our wants and fear keep us focused down.

 

Indeed, the natural bent of the human heart is "I want" and "more." Our secret fear is "what if someday there's not enough?" Do you see the downward focus and the downward spiral. Focus up. In prayer and thanksgiving, reach high for the latch to the door that Christ says he knocks on.

 

Indeed, if you want to develop an attitude of gratitude, start making a list. It can be real or mental, long or short, but the more thorough it is -- each day -- the higher you'll reach.

 

In Christ's Love,

a spiritual midget

who stands on a stack of Bibles

to discover more peace 

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I can't reach it anymore.

Knowing God - Romans 15:13

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Your Name is FORGIVER

Right now ... I confess my sins,

because I trust you to free me.

Right now confess your sins ... then don’t let Christ die in vain. You are forgiven. Trust in this victory.

 

May the God of hope fill you with

all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

 

Look at those words ...

 

Do you have joy?

 

Peace?

 

Overflowing hope? 

Spirit and power?

 

One of life’s greatest barriers to joyful peace and overflowing hope is sin. And not just sin, but our inability to forgive and trust that we are forgiven. We’re held in a death-grip of guilt, shame, betrayal, and bitterness.

 

It doesn’t have to be that way. God tells us — 1 John 1:8-9 — "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just WILL forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Trust in that. Believe in that. Be set free by that.

 

And confess it just once. Repeated confession — caused by shame and guilt — paralyzes us. It causes us to believe that God is not really gracious. We keep crawling back in bondage and chains wondering if he is forgiving. Believe his word. Trust in that. Be set free by his love.

 

Think about it this way ... Jesus loved YOU enough to die to save YOU from YOUR sins. So don’t let him die in vain. Give him those sins. Nail them to the cross. Trust in that. Believe in that. Be set free by his grace.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to overflow something

other than his coffee cup today

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I am convicted. again. and yet I am still closing my fists. again.  Freedom by his grace is so hard to continually accept. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Knowing God - Psalm 21:3

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Your Name is EXALTED

Right now ... O Lord, I lift my voice

as I sing a song of praise to you!

Let the words or melody of your favorite song of praise begin to rattle through your head today.

 

Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength;

we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 21:3

 

Have you ever hummed a tune all day and all night? It was just stuck in your head and couldn't get rid of it?

 

Confession time ... Do you know the most recent song that's been stuck like glue in my poor head? It's a silly country song called appropriately enough, "Stuck like Glue."

 

In the Psalms, the word "sing" appears 66 times. Rather than having "Stuck like Glue" stuck in my brain, what if I intentionally stuck a new song in my brain today. For example ...

 

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save, /He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation / He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave.

 

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

 

The splendor of a King / clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice / all the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in light / and darkness tries to hide

it trembles at his voice / trembles at his voice

How great is our God!

 

It doesn't matter whether you're a singer or not -- because I'm not asking you to sing outloud! Rather, I'm encouraging you to try sticking a song in your head this morning. If you have a CD, play it two or three times. Online, you can find almost any song -- google your favorite. Then, until the harmony of praise becomes the melody of your day, keep intentionally humming, singing, praising.

 

God can walk closer to you today, if you just sing a little more to him.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's stuck like glue

to you know who

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Music speaks so much to me.  I often wake up with a song and hum and sing under my breath constantly.  What I especially love is to hear my children singing praise songs that they learn at church or hear on the radio.  The girl will hum and sing while she is playing and coloring.  Shows me that they are learning to stick God in their hearts!  

Oh Lord! Oh Lord!

How majestic is your name in all the earth!!

Oh Lord! We praise your name! Oh Lord! We magnify your name!

Prince of peace. Mighty God. Oh Lord God Almighty!!

Knowing God - Judges 3:9

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Your Name is DELIVERER

Mighty Lord, wherever the great battlefront is today,

I trust you to be my victory.

Identify your personal points of struggle. Now trust him to be stronger than the enemies.

 

But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord,

the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites ...

Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

Judges 3:9

 

Judges is one of my favorite books in the Bible to teach. I can summarize the whole book in five simple sentences:

1. When things were bad, the people cried out for help.
2. God sent them a deliverer.
3. Then things became good ... and the people forgot about God.
4. So God removed his hand of protection.
5. And then things became bad ... (go back to 1, and repeat process about forty times for forty generations).

From time to time, every one of us struggles in life. In fact, let's call it what it is: Life is an ongoing series of battlefronts.

 

So, heed the Bible's simple advice: Do steps one and two -- 1) cry out to God and 2) expect his help -- then repeat. Indeed, that's our prayer invitation for today: 1) Identify your personal points of struggle (and don't just make a mental checklist, talk to God about it!). 2) Then trust him to be stronger than your enemies.

 

(And while you're at it, just skip steps 3 and 4. So you have time to keep repeating 1 and 2.)

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's not the pizza man

(I don't deliver ... but God does)

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One if my favorite songs by Rich Mullins was "My Deliverer."  I know I don't cry out to God enough nor do I expect his help ... Why not? not enough trust. too much fear. 

"My Deliverer"

by Mitch Mcvicker & Rich Mullins

Joseph took his wife and child

And they went to Africa

To escape the rage of a deadly King

There along the banks of the Nile

Jesus listened to the song

That the captive children used to sing

They were singin'

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by (x2)

Through a dry and thirsty land

Water from the Kenyon heights

Pours itself out of lake Sangra's broken heart

There in the Sahara winds

Jesus heard the whole world cry

For the healin' that would flow from His own scars

The world was singin'

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by (x2)

He will never break His promise

He has written it upon the sky

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by (x3)

I will never doubt His promise

Though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by (x3)

He will never break his promise

Though the stars should break faith with the sky

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by (x7)

Knowing God - Matthew 11:28

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Your Name is COMFORTER

Mighty God, wherever I am weary or carrying heavy burdens,

answer my prayers for you are my sustainer.

Give him your burdens. Let him carry your worries.

 

Jesus said, "Come to me,

all you that are weary

and are carrying heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

 

When I hear the word "comforter," I think of autumn leaves and smoke from the chimney. This is the glorious time of the year when the temperature turns, and sloths like me have an excuse to lay on the couch and cuddle up in a blanket. Indeed, hunkered down, wrapped in a thick, down comforter!

 

I'm a guy. I carry my own burdens. And other forms of "comfort" are for children. Right?

 

Wrong!!!

 

Think about it this way: Women's bodies -- with child-birth and other perils -- go through so much more trauma than men's bodies ... and yet women live, on average, four years longer than us guys. How come? It's because Satan's lies are very clever. He says "Men, pick yourselves up by your own bootstraps, carry you're own burdens, and quit whining, because comfort isn't manly." 

 

Well, I think it's past time to turn that around ...

• What if we said, instead, that ... Work is manly, working hard is heroic, and weariness might just be the natural fruit of boldness.
• What if we said, instead, that ... Carrying heavy burdens is a sign of strength, and weight lifting and burden bearing are signs of brute force and backbone. 
• What if we said, instead, that ... Illness and death charge at us and our families like Trojan soldiers, and cool water and rest are the trophies of the valiant.
• What if we said, instead, that ... Letting someone carry our burdens is teamwork and commaraderie among fellow warriors.

Soldiering through life is brave and tiresome. But our Crucified Captain says, "I see how hard you're working, and I simply want to journey alongside of you -- carrying a piece of the load as a fellow warrior, giving you a cool cup of comfort when your tired and thirsty, taking his turn at the nightwatch so you can get some sleep."

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who'll take

a cool cup of living water

any day

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I like to be comfortable.  Like pastor I enjoy snuggling in a blanket on a cool day.  I even have a favorite pillow that I have had for years (since I was a toddler).  It is what I cling to when I am troubled. It has absorbed millions of my tears. my screams. even my laughter.  I have trouble giving or even sharing my burdens with Christ.  I think that they are mine ... I did something to deserve them. earn them ... thus I must be the one to carry them.  Recently I was able to give some of my burdens to Christ.  To open my fists and let him help so I "can get some sleep."  However, lately, I have been returning to old and familiar ways and have felt my fingers slowly curling around my burdens again.  Giving my burdens to christ was so freeing. Peaceful. right. But we can't do it alone.  We need to rely on Christ. And ask other travelers to help with our burdens when needed.

Knowing God - 1 Samuel 17:45

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Your Name is BOLD

Great Shepherd of the Journey, create in me an excitement for today.

And draw me into a God-sized adventure in these next 12 hours.

Look at today with greater expectancy than you normally do. Expect to see God show up today.

 

 

David shouted [to Goliath],

"You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin,

but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty.

1 Samuel 17:45

 

This past Sunday I said one word -- in the midst of thousands of words -- and two men rushed up to me afterward, saying, "You said exactly what I've been thinking!"

 

That one word was "adventure."

 

I know why these two men were captivated by that word. Both of them happen to be reading John Eldredge's recent classic, "Wild at Heart." In a world of drudgery and routine, "Wild at Heart" attempts to reawaken the boldness, passion, and adventure of the Christian life. 

TO MEN, John Eldredge says, "Every man was once a boy. And every little boy has dreams, big dreams: dreams of being the hero, of beating the bad guys, of doing daring feats and rescuing the damsel in distress. But what happens to those dreams when we grow up? Most Christian men are...bored. [Let's] recover [our] masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God." (www.ransomedheart.com) 

 

TO WOMEN, Eldredge's wife Staci -- in her companion book, "Captivating" -- says, "Every little girl dreams of being romanced, being swept up into a great adventure, and being a beautiful princess. And yet, when women grow up, they exchange those dreams for a life often filled with nothing more than duty and demands. But Jesus Christ did not move heaven and earth to make you tired. He came to restore your heart as a woman and set you free through His love."

YOUR LIFE IS MORE THAN THE WORLD'S REDUCED IT TO. So embrace those wonderful, old dreams again. You are a boy facing a giant! You are a girl who is captivated and captivating! You are on a mission from God!

 

Ask the Lord of your journey to draw you into a God-sized adventure TODAY. Indeed, may he sweep you -- day by day --into a new and glorious season of meaning and purpose and significance.

 

In Christ's Love,

Sir Edward,

a Knight of the Kingdom,

reporting for duty today

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Do we still get adventures? Do dreams really exist? Or is my mission to raise these two kids and be a good wife? Not very exciting. romantic. In fact it is mundane. exhausting. wearying. How does a person find adventure in today's hectic world? In a life filled with doing for others?  

Knowing God - Hebrews 6:18, 19

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we who have fled to him for refuge

can take new courage, for we can

hold on to his promise with confidence. 

This confidence is like a strong and

trustworthy anchor for our souls.

It leads us through the curtain of heaven

into God's inner sanctuary.

Hebrews 6:18,19

 

What is the anchor for your soul?

 

What do you ground it on? Rest it on? What holds you firmly in place when the hardest currents of life threaten to rip you out into the deep and dreadful water?

 

The author of Hebrews invited us to anchor our faith on the promises of God.

 

In fact, in this chapter, he invited a bunch of Hebrews -- not-totally-yet-convinced-Jews -- to anchor their faith on the promises of God. He was saying essentially, "You've anchored your faith on '13 God's promise to Abraham,' why not also anchor your faith on the promises of the Messiah. You've believed that '13 Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name,' why not believe his testimony about his own Son? Indeed, he testified about him by "13:20 br[inging Him] from the dead."

 

In a debate, those promises would have rung powerfully true with the Hebrews. What rings true with you?

 

We live in a world of skepticism and doubt. Busyness is perhaps our greatest obstacle to faith. I'm glad you spend four minutes many mornings reading these devotions. Who else do you know who needs four minutes of grace -- and an anchor throughout the day? Why not share these devotions with them?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's been anchored long enough

and is now ready to pull up anchor

and set sail on behalf of others

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I do share these devotions ... with all who read my blog.  Thank you for reading.

Knowing God - Philippians 2:9-11, Ephesians 3:14

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Your Name is ALMIGHTY

My Lord and Creator, as I start this day, buckle my knees

and help me start today by bowing before you!

Begin your prayers by literally getting down on your knees and bowing your heart in reverence and awe.

 

at the name of Jesus every knee should bend

Philippians 2:9-11

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

Ephesians 3:14

 

I'm stubborn.

 

The Bible talks again and again about using our bodies to pray to God. Sometimes people raise their hands in joyful praise. Sometimes they fall prostrate in humbleness and awe. More commonly their knees bend -- bowing, kneeling, praying.

 

But me? I'm stubborn. And intellectual. Technically, I know that I can pray with my mind ... so why bow?

 

Excuses, excuses. For the next 26 days, I'll be on my knees. Not because I have to, but because I want to. If I want to grow more (and believe me, these 26 days are as much for me as they are for you), then I have to submit myself to God's design rather than my pride.

 

The broader text of both of these passages reminds me of why I ought to bow. In Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul says, "8 Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is [remember, he persecuted and killed the first Christians] I was chosen for this special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. ... 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome.14 [And] when I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father."

 

If Paul's that humble, maybe I should be too. And if that doesn't get me no my knees, then maybe the other passage should. Paul starts with, "Let the same mind be in you as in Christ Jesus." Remember Jesus praying? If he was on his knees, why am I so proud and stubborn.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to

wear out a pair of pants

this month 

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I have trouble praying. Much less on my knees.  Or out loud.  Guess that is a discipline I need to start.  

Knowing God - Hebrews 2:1, 3

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So we must listen very carefully

to the truth we have heard,

or we may drift away from it. ...

What makes us think that

we can escape if we are indifferent

to this great salvation that was

announced by the Lord Jesus himself?

Hebrews 2:1, 3

 

My son Robbie has a racing game on the computer. As you progress through the game, one of the challenges they present is learning how to "drift." "Drifting" is basically sliding around the corner. It's a controlled skid.

 

How many of us can say that some days that's the best we can do in our faith? Our days are racing by, out of control, and sometimes it seems that the best we can manage is a controlled skid.

 

Hebrews says that "indifferent" means "no escape." In other words, a crash is coming. Can you hear the squeal of the tires in your own life?

 

We wear ourselves out ... wear ourselves out ... wear ourselves out ... and are surprised when we don't have the inner resources to deal with life's collisions.

 

Instead of "indifferent" what if we were "different"? Indeed, what is God calling you to do different. With our car we do routine maintenance and practice defensive driving. So that we don't "drift," how might you slow down this coming week and enjoy the journey more?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who drives old cars

because they're less expensive

(and sometimes go slower

... which apparently is a good thing)

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I crashed.  I was worn completely out - mentally. physically. emotionally. spiritually. Three weeks in intensive depression treatment. An amazing grace-filled weekend at Via de Cristo several months later.  I am s...l...o...w...l...y gaining the inner resources to prevent another crash.  How am I slowing down?  By not doing 3 simultaneous bible studies. not expecting myself to get things done yesterday. trying to breath deeply. pray freely. I do have a good instructor who often laughs at me, yet helps me try new things to work on. pushes me sometimes and gently encourages at other times.  That goes a long way to prevent drifting and indifference. To you know who ... thank you.

Knowing God - Ephesians 5:25

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Husbands, love your wives,

just as Christ loved the church

and gave himself up for her

Ephesians 5:25

 

In the modern church, it is hip to bash the Apostle Paul. In fact, apostle-bashing has been "hip" for a couple of decades. To use a phrase from back-in-the-day, Paul needs to be branded "a male chauvenist pig." Why? Because in the verse before this, he said, "wives should submit to their husbands."

 

Taken out of context, any verse can paint just about anyone in any way we want to. Even God can be painted in an unflattering light if we fail to hear the whole story.

 

But here's the context ... I can imagine people shaking their heads in agreement when Paul said, "wives should submit to their husband." In Bible-times, it was still a patriarchial society, and of course "wives should submit to their husband."

 

But then Paul dropped the bomb! "Husbands, [should] love your wives, just as Christ loved the church." What?!!! He "gave himself up for her"! Honoring your husband is a whole lot less demanding than God's call to husbands: "Die for her!" Indeed, "die to yourself."

 

The full weight of this statement is on the men ... not the woman. And if men were dying to themselves and living totally, passionately, gracefully for their families, then I think most wives would gladly give themselves back to this.

 

But this discussion is not politically correct. And in fact, this is one of the threads people -- even people in the church -- are pulling on to unravel the authority of the scripture. The logic goes like this: "If we are free to doubt the logic of this passage of Paul's, then we're free to doubt the logic of other passages."

 

Don't buy into it.

 

God's way is the best way.

 

Read the context. Find the gift! It's always there.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who loves his wife

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Submitting isn't easy.  Sometimes I say to someone, "My husband would rather I not ____."  But is how I show love and respect to him.

Knowing God - Matthew 16:18

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you are Peter,

and on this rock

I will build my church,

and the gates of death

will not overcome it

Matthew 16:18

 

Occasionally, God renames his servants.

 

Abram was renamed Abraham, which means "father of many nations."

 

After he wrestled he with God, Jacob was renamed Israel, which mean "the one who strives with God." 

 

And Cephas was renamed Peter, which means "the rock" and, said Jesus, "on this rock I will build my church."

 

Now, what if I put MY NAME into this sentence? "Ed, from now one, you are to be called, Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Please understand, I'm not equating myself with the great apostle! Nevertheless, don't you think that God wants my faith to be solid enough to build a church upon?

 

Well, what if we put YOUR NAME into this sentence? "_____, from now one, you are to be called, Peter, and on this rock I will build my church."

 

Most of us are content to let the church to be built on pastors and apostles, but really it is built on you.

 

Every person in the church can and should be one of the foundation stones. What are you doing to build your faith and build Christ's church on earth?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who finally has an excuse

to have rocks in his head

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Someone recently told me that I should have been called 'Peter' - not for my faithfulness, but for my stubbornness.

To build my faith I am trying to pray more. learning to pray outloud. studying the bible. trying to develop relationships (not always successfully).

To build Christ's church in earth I am trying to raise my children to trust in God.  to live a life that shows Christ to others.  helping the poor through Compassion and Love Without Boundaries.

I know there is much, much more I can do. but I don't know what.

Knowing God - Ecclesiastes 7:3

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Frustration is better than laughter,

because a sad face is good for the heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

 

Here's an example of why you don't read scripture out of context!!!

 

Do you remember what Ecclesiastes is? It's the final result of living life in a worldly way.

 

As a young man, Solomon asked for wisdom. God granted his request and Solomon lived his life in this way. Many times it served him very well. But ultimately, doing it his-own-wise-way ended in despair.

 

As an old man, Solomon's wisdom led him to a cold and seemingly inevitable conclusion: "death is the destiny of every man ... [therefore] it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting." And next verse, "frustration is better than laughter."

 

That's the context.

 

Do life in a worldly way, and "mourning," "death," and "frustration" are the end of every man.

 

Thank God that God offers an alternative! Indeed, "thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15:57).

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's foolishness is finally paying off

 

(because "the foolishness of God 

is wiser than human wisdom" - 1 Cor 1:25)

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Ya know - my cynicism actually likes that verse ... a good come back for all the "Just be happy." people.  Of course, I know that continued frustration and sadness can lead to true despair and despondency ... not a good combination for anyone.  I want to "have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Knowing God - Romans 8:20

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creation was subjected

to frustration

Romans 8:20

 

God created

 

... and it was good.

 

And yet, Romans 8:20 goes on to say that "creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by [God]."

 

But that's still not the full verse.

 

"In the hope that ..." ends the thought. Ends the thought ... but begins a long awaited plan ...

 

Want to know God's delight and God's plan? Here's God's full thought -- Romans 8 from The Message --

17 And we know we are going to get what's coming to us - an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! 18 That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. 19 The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. 20 Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in 21 until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens. 22 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. 

In Christ's Love,

a little kid

(can't wait)

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My cynical side is coming out. That isn't a good thing.  So for now I won't write any more on this post...

Knowing God - Matthew 10:29

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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground

outside your Father's care.

Matthew 10:29

 

I was teaching a group just the other day, and I pointed to one of the members. "Does anyone know what she's thinking right now?"

 

"Of course not!"

 

"Sometimes," I said, "we seem to assume things about other people. We like to think we know what other people are thinking and why they are acting like they are acting. But we don't! Don't we need to quit assuming? Because no one knows what that person is thinking better than themselves, right?"

 

"Right!"

 

"Wrong!"

 

I laid a trap for them. It is correct that we need to quit assuming. But we also need to quit assuming the we know our own selves better than God knows us!

 

To make the point, I said, "How many of you know how many hairs you have on your head? God does. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your hopes and dreams and motives long before you do. Have you ever scratched your head and said, 'Why'd I do that?' He knows. He knows. He knows the sparrows falling (Mt 10:29). He knows the hairs on your head (Mt 10:30). He knows."

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy that God knows less well today

than he did 20 years ago

(nowadays I have fewer hairs to know)

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If God cares for the sparrow, the penguins, the least of these ... the lilies of the field ... he should care for and know us so much better.  I do assume I know myself better than God. and what I need better then him. and how to handle situations.  I am slowly learning that God knows above all and I need to trust him ... above all.