Draw Near…

I was listening to the radio this morning and meditating on the words of the song, “Draw me close to you.” I thought about a Wednesday night Bible study on John Bevere’s ‘Draw Near.’ The main message was draw near to God and He will draw near to us. We have to take that step to draw near to Him.

After the song, the radio DJ, Andy, then spoke about his experience at the grocery store. He was purchasing his groceries and about to take the cart from the bag boy to go to his car. The bag boy told him he would be happy to take out the groceries for him. Andy argued with him saying ‘it’s pouring rain out there, I will take them myself.” But the bag boy would not let go of the cart and instead said, ‘Cmon let’s go!’

After reflecting on the encounter later that evening, Andy said he thought about his own reaction and relationship with God. In his own strength, he wants to control everything he can in life, and take charge of it. And instead of letting God take control of it, he won’t let go. His burden, Jesus reminded us, is easy and light. That is what he wants me and you to carry, not the heaviness of life.

Wow. It was a beautiful word for me today, folks. I told you in the previous blog about the spine surgeon’s surprise phone call. I want to take control of Philip’s spine myself. I have put that burden on myself. And yet, Jesus says, to give it to Him, and find rest instead in Him, not the burden that He will carry. Today, I realize that Philip’s spine health is not my burden or my name or my glory. Jesus is on the throne, my King is on the throne. And He has Philip in His strong hand. And nothing will happen but what is in His plan for Him. I trust Him, and I will take that step and draw near to Him.

God give you grace and strength to draw closer to Him…He invites you to come…

Susan

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Take no Thought

One part of the message last Sunday was ‘take no thought.’ This is in reference to Matthew 6 where Jesus tells us to take no thought for tomorrow, or for our lives, or for the substances of life. INSTEAD, seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

You may know the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from Daniel 2. He has this dream and can’t remember it, then threatens to kill his magicians unless they reveal it to him. Amazing. Anyway, through God, Daniel reveals the dream and the interpretation, which basically talks about the Kingdom of God and the counterfeit kingdom that the enemy tries to set up in our lives. We read that a stone which was carved out of the mountain without hands, was the destroyer of this counterfeit kingdom.

I guess one part that resonated for me was the message to not worry about tomorrow. Throughout our youth conference last weekend I felt strengthened to believe that God was healing Philip’s back. I believe it and praised God believing He has already healed him “without hands.” 🙂 I couldn’t help but laugh with that image in my head.

Then Monday evening I heard the answering machine, and Philip’s spine doctor had called wanting to know if we had reconsidered the new kind of spine surgery they had talked to us about last August. I couldn’t believe the timing of this phone call. They could not call me any other time, but right after I felt so confirmed that God was healing Philip. But even after the phone call, I just felt even more so that God had begun an amazing work. I am so tempted to call them and say we need to repeat an xray!

Praise God, our God is greater, our God is stronger, our God is higher than any other, our God is HEALER, AWESEOME IN POWER, OUR GOD…

God bless and strengthen you in His power and might!

susan

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The story that haunted me today

I had a few extra minutes this morning to iron my clothes and prepare for work after we sent the kids off to school. I happened to notice that my calendar above the ironing table was still on October. So I pulled down the calendar and a paper about National Orphan Sunday fell out. I stopped to read a story about a couple who decided to become foster parents. They wanted to house and care for kids who were abandoned or had no parents to care for them, until the state government finds someone to adopt them. So one day this couple gets the call to see if they can on an emergency basis take care of a young boy named Duane (not real name). They agree to and Duane comes to their home. He spends several days there and begins to get comfortable. The mother of the house goes one morning to do the laundry in the laundry room, and he follows her. When he sees her pick up the bleach bottle, he immediately screams, “Please don’t put it in my eyes, please, I’ve been a good boy.” She immediately drops everything to console and comfort him.

I wept after reading the story. And all day long while at work and at home, I could not get the story out of my head. I began to pray for the hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of children who are orphaned, physically tortured, sexually abused, neglected and hungry. I finally shouted at God. You have given me this passion to defend them. But what do you want me to do? I need an answer.

The crying, praying and interceding on the behalf of the children is necessary and appropriate. But I pray to know what to do with this passion for the children. I request your prayers. I asked God for an answer before 2011 comes. He must show me how and show me the way to help the children.

Here’s a song that illustrates this beautifully.

Psalms 32:8

Because every child matters!

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