Thank God?

I was spending some time read, journaling, praying, resting today. In the midst of an amazing, convicting study about the Moses and Israeli  wandering the in the desert God brought what felt like a very random verse to mind.

Philipians 1:3 

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Quickly after this verse drifted through my head a couple of names followed. Names of people I am sad to say I do not thank God for. Names of people who tend to leave me rolling my eyes, muttering under my breath, or fighting with annoyance when I deal with them.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God brings people into our lives for a reason. I may not always like that fact. O.K. I may RARELY like that fact, but it is a fact. I wonder how my attitude toward the difficult people in my life would change if rather than huffing and puffing I took time to thank God for them every time I thought of them. I bet my attitude toward them would be a little different after a while.

Why Grace and Manna?

I crave routine. I live for steady, predictable, and secure. Oh, I like the occasional adventure, but I like knowing what is coming next.  

For the past five years my life has been a life of completely and utter flux. Nothing has staid the same for long. Truth be told things stay the same just long enough for me to get my feet under me and lure me into a false sense of stability only to take some wild, unpredictable turn. 

And it has been an amazing gift from God. 

Since being married my husband and I have had a number of sayings. They change with our seasons, but the one that keeps coming back over and over is Grace and Manna for today. Time and time again we have come to a place where we aren't sure how we will get through. 

Over and over we have faced our deserts

Financially, Emotional, Physically, Spiritually.

And each time God has provided. 

Just as he did when Israel wandered  in their waste land.

He has provided. 

Just enough.

For the day.

The needed.

The crises.

Just enough. 

Like manna from heaven.

Luke 9:57-62

The Cost of Following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

 ⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
 ⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”
   But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
 ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
 ⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
 ⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Waves

 Picture curtsy of Sarah Abbot Photography.

Psalm 93:4 (NIV)
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – The LORD on high is mighty.

Proverbs 30:4 (NIV)
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!

You know when you go out into the ocean for the first time and you swim out as far as you can? You just simply float there as wave after wave after wave crashes over you. Some waves even seem determined to drown you. But you come up for air only to find the sky and water more brilliant then before. It is almost more then you can take. It is so amazing that you can't make yourself swim back in. That is what life as a Christian is like. It is not always easy, it doesn’t always feel safe, but it is amazing. Once you give yourself over to it completely, and if you allow yourself to be totally immersed, you will find it difficult to ever swim back to the safety of shore.