First, I just want to say Thank You to those who have listened or read and encouraged me with comments or conversation...God is using you to speak to me...I am so very thankful.
Our situation has not changed, but I am generally feeling more calm about everything. God is close.
I want to record how God has met me...I want to remember what this time was like and how God worked...I want to meditate on His faithfulness.
The rest of this post may seem random or like tid-bits here and there...but God is not random and He has lovingly reminded me of His care.
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." Psalm 77: 11-12
I have been reflecting on times in my life when God has been there...in big and little ways. I mean, He is always there, but I've been remembering times when it was extra apparent that God was behind the care and provision that we received.
Like with our car...you can read about that here.
Like when our home in Colorado had competing offers and sold in 2 days...at a time when the housing market was in a slump and the average time on market was over 90 days.
Like when I was in labor with Gracia.
There are so, so, so many examples of God's grace on our lives...it has been so, so, so good to remember and reflect.
I have also been more purposeful in expressing thankfulness to God. Focusing on gratitude is so good for what ails you.
"Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Psalm 77: 19-20
I am thankful for some dear friends who reminded me of this. I hope you recognize that this passage refers to the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their journey through the Red Sea. The Israelites had escaped from Egypt and were traveling through the desert. Pharaoh was in hot pursuit and they were trapped between him and the Red Sea...death and destruction was just a matter of time in their eyes. They panicked and complained, they were scared and could not see any way out. Moses says, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." Ex. 14:13-15 And soon after that God parted the Red Sea and they walked through it. "And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." Exodus 14: 22 I can barely imagine what that would have been like...to be so scared, to be so sure of death...and then to walk on a dry path through the sea...a path whose walls were made of the sea you were walking through.
I don't pretend to think that our situation is on the same level as the Israelites, but I've had many moments of despair concerning our life circumstances right now. I've panicked and
complained, been frustrated and scared. I have looked around and questioned God's ways. I feel like we're between a rock and a hard place...neither are comfortable. But my Lord is reminding me that He can do anything...He can move mountains and part seas.
"For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved." Psalm 21: 7
This passage was sent to me by a wise friend. She pointed out that the king trusts, but it is
the Lord's love that keeps the king from being moved...the king's trust is not what holds him steady, it is the Lord. Oh, how this spoke to me! I can be tempted to try to muster up enough faith and trust to get through things...I can decide to dig in and be strong, to work hard at being a worthy recipient of God's grace. And I know this isn't possible...I know there is no earning my way with God. I know that my Lord is the steady and strong One...any faith I have is a gift from Him.
We met with our community group last week. Due to different circumstances, the group was smaller than usual, so we focused on simply sharing what's been going on in our lives in more detail than we sometimes get to and then we prayed together. What a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer. I am so thankful for that night and for friends who we can really share life with. I am thankful for their encouragement and so very thankful for their prayers. It was also so good to pray for others. I have been so focused on our tough situation that prayer for others had taken a back seat...it was good for me to lift others up, to think of more than just our circumstances. God has blessed us with such wonderful friends!
There is more I want to share, but that's all for now...thanks for reading~
Rach
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