Yesterday’s message to me was to be one of obedience taking a look at the day from a perspective different than my own–man’s, and seeing from a perspective far beyond me–God’s. As I got to church for our worship team practice I had a gentleman come up to me asking if I were the one responsible for Christopher Yuan coming a month ago to speak at our church for the weekend? I told him yes that’s true. He thanked me for this as it had been most meaningful to him. Within a few minutes our senior pastor came up to me telling me that two couples he’d met last Sunday had made our church their home. They’d both come for the first time on the Sunday Christopher had come. They were so impressed that our church would host such an event that they wanted to make it their home.
As the service moved into sermon time, our pastor spoke on Grace. The message took us to the Grace extended to us by God and His expectation of us extending this same Grace to others in our own lives. I hate to admit this, but just last week I’d had a talk with the Celebrate Recovery ministry leaders about a conversation I was going to have with our pastor/s. It seemed to me that they’d given so little attention to the Christopher Yuan weekend in follow-up that his message seemed lost and the efforts to get him here were futile. Of course, then I hear those messages. As I get home a friend stops by our house telling me how they’d sent 6 of Christopher’s books to some people who desperately needed to hear his message.
There is more I could add to this Grace account, but just this much reminds me what God was wanting me to know about seeing the day yesterday from His perspective and to quit looking through my own lens. Grace is not found in man’s lens unless God’s perspective is in control of it. I learned a lesson yesterday I don’t want to forget. God is so good. I don’t see His Goodness if I don’t remove my own blinders and ask Him to let me see through His eyes.
Sometimes its difficult to know what the message for today is suppose to be. It isn’t often, but today is one of them. As I asked Jesus this morning what He wanted me to hear from Him, He seemed to indicate that this day was to be one of observation from His eyes and ears. Don’t respond, just be observant. I wrote in my journal following this that I’d need His help with this because I tend to drift as the day moves on and I also tend to want to respond when I see something that might “need my words of guidance”. However, more importantly to me is the message for today. So, I’m going to step into this day and release any desire I might have to Almighty God. I want to be a good servant, obedient to His Nudge.
God has a message today He wants me to register, hear and take note. It was brought out first in my devotional reading. The message is that in all God does through miracles, acts of Grace and Kindness are primarily done to bring Honor and Glory to Himself. We want to receive some of glory stroking our own pride, but God is doing what He does to bring people to Him, not to us. This message was again brought out in my scripture reading in Isaiah. In it God is telling Isaiah that the people of Israel are turning to Egypt for their protection. The same people that enslaved them are not being asked to protect them. Israel had lost sight of Almighty God being who parted the Red Sea, parted the Jordan River, broke down the walls of Jericho. Yes, He did this for the people of Israel, but in so doing, He wanted them to see Him.
My lesson in this is the reminder that no matter what I face or we face, God will do what he will do to bring Honor and Glory to Himself. We may be given some attention in the process or we may not. We are not the key–God is. Some of what I am presently doing has walls needing to crumble. I keep asking God what I should do? Today, His message is to watch what He will do. If He wants me to do something He will let me know. I just need to plant the seeds He has given me to plant and then let Him do the work of growing the seeds until harvest time. It is time for me to be a good farmer tending the crop knowing God is the One who grows the crop to harvest.
I’m glad to see Friday arrive. It is not a free day as I’m leaving to work with another school today. However, this visit today is the last of three so I can start putting a plan in place for next steps. As I was journaling about this a little while earlier I was asking Jesus for help with this. Instead, I got informed that He already has a plan and He is wanting me to see what He already knows. The plan which will be put together is already done. I just need to be a good listener at the right time and He will unfold what that is to be. I am not to jump ahead of today as I experience today. Boy, does Jesus know me well!
A couple of days ago I got an invitation to come to a middle school which is having a literacy night. The organizer is inviting Idaho authors to come and “inspire writing” for the students of the school. I emailed to this person and told them about my book and that the topic is likely too graphic for their age level. She wrote back yesterday and said she’d just finished it and it is just what is needed for them. The school is high poverty with many students who don’t have a plan for their future. She said, “Your book and being able to talk with you will give them hope.” My word, the only reason I wrote the book was to give hope for those who wouldn’t have it otherwise. This school is 150 miles away, but it seems God has opened this door so I told them, “yes” and I will come.
Jesus is a Wonderful God. Serving Him is sometimes (actually often) a bit confusing, but He always sheds Light at just the right time. I do love being a child of the King.
I wish I could be very specific right now and write down the exact pieces of today which are being addressed. For whatever reason, three of the areas where I serve have major things happening today–decisions to be addressed. There are a number of things which have brought each of these areas to the point of today. None of them are similar to one another except that none will go well if we don’t keep God’s Light in front and take only steps where He Leads.
As I have been journaling this morning and writing out all I needed Jesus to do. He so nicely pointed out the one thing I need to do–Let Him tell me what to do reversing my actions of telling Him.
In my devotional reading the authors have written that the Joy of the Lord is found only when we are in His Presence. The situations of today do not presently have joy present. However, now that I have been redirected by Christ to let Him take the Lead I know this Joy. My mind and spirit are at peace and I will step into each of today’s tasks with Jesus taking the Lead and with Joy in my heart.
So much is being awakened inside of me. As we had our class last night, it seemed that the lesson I am doing for the second time now is registering throughout my being. It is no longer something for me to know, it is all about what God created in me originally. Last night’s lesson focused on what abuse does to the original design God had for man. Not only does abuse destroy the original creation of God, it distorts in the mind of the ones abused regarding their picture of God. The devastation of sin leaves man with a better picture of Satan than it does of God.
As I was working through the lesson with the others in the class I heard so much about how this message was starting to make good sense. I loved watching how minds were beginning to open up to who God really is to us. Seeing the characteristics of God through the life of Jesus is what I’ve begun to realize. Jesus never judged or condemned those hurting. He touched with healing, gave hope, gave Light and He gave encouragement where only despair had been known. This hasn’t changed. This picture of Jesus is also the original picture God wanted His creation to have of Him. I see this so much more clearly now. I see how my own flesh gets in the way and why I must daily surrender it (my selfish desires) so God’s purposes for the day are done His Way and not mine.
Yesterday was a day of clarity. As I arrived to the school I was informed that a meeting was taking place later in the morning to address the absence of the one admin. I would be informed following the meeting. The meeting lasted about an hour and just as I was told, I was approached by the superintendent. He and I talked regarding the next steps which could now be taken. Here I am working with three fine, young men all given big assignments. One of them messes up and is actually fortunate it didn’t cost him his position. The rest of this year will likely determine any future he might have in this district and in the profession.
I have been praying for this clarity and for the different ones involved directly and indirectly. Now that I know I can be more intentional. My flesh wants to rush into this and “make all things new”. But, as I was reading my devotional this morning I found its message to be most appropriate. Its title is “Wise Words”. It states that wisdom is the ability to apply godliness in everyday living. I realize that in the days ahead there will be opportunities to apply what God wants done. I want to be His servant in this and surrender my desire to rush in. The one young man who came for the meeting told me when he arrived that he wanted to talk with me and reflect on all of this in days ahead. This will be the timing I’ll wait for–when God opens the door.
God is always good and His timing is always perfect. How I have to awaken to this truth over and over!
This morning’s devotional time has revealed to me something I need to address. A few days ago I wrote about Joyce Meyer stating in one of her writings that when we are addressing strong relationships like marriage we need to respect the differences and assist/support with weaknesses. Intimacy in relationships sees differences as just that. We can leave them alone because many differences help complete our own weaknesses. Intimacy in relationships recognizes the differences and communicates for clarity so we build one another rather than divide and often offend one another.
As I was journaling this morning regarding the consulting work I do, Jesus seemed to bring this topic into my work. Recently, I had done more than an administrator wanted me to do with a new staff member when he was absent one day. I had addressed the situation as though I were in charge. I didn’t intend to do this, but that is the way it was perceived. We talked about it and I apologized. This morning I could easily see that I had taken what was a different approach to a situation (on the administrator’s part) and addressed it as though it were a weakness on his part (as he saw it). In so doing I offended the administrator. When intimacy is healthy it builds trust. I don’t want to do something that destroys trust or stomps on it. I think Christ was showing me a lesson for which I need to be more vigilant as I work each day. I want my ways to be like Christ’s ways–not mine,
Today started with one of those “I can’t sleep for whatever reason”. So, a little before 5 am I got up and had the coffee start brewing. I thought maybe I was to hear some things in my devotional time I needed to have additional time with. That didn’t seem to be the case because I was done about the time I would normally start on a weekend morning. It was then I got a text wanting to know if I had time to talk. That call turned out to be a very important one regarding the recovery work we do. I just got off the call as I started this writing. Now we have a plan to address the problem which some of us have been wondering how to handle.
God is always good. These early morning wake ups are always intentional. I love God for this.
As yesterday began I wrote in this blog about God’s insights for me regarding intimacy. In so doing I had a lengthy talk with Kathy about it. It was amazing to me to begin to hear for the first time about “best interest”. The idea that someone has my best interest in mind is utterly amazing to me. I’ve just never realized this. Now that I’m awake to it, it is easy to see why the roots of the lies conflicting with intimacy were so deeply embedded in me. The key people in my life as a child didn’t show this. Instead, their actions destroyed the natural instinct within me to trust. Even when an adult in my life like my high school music teacher wanted to take me places to sing, dad would belittle her to me. He’d say things like she wants to use you to make herself look good. The idea that this teacher had my best interest in mind was made into an ugly lie.
I must say that having this cleared within me reaches into the depth of my soul. I have always looked for the ulterior motive behind anyone wanting me to do something thinking this would not be just for good. I see this as really sick now that I am able to write it today. I’m forever grateful for God’s patience in guiding me to the truth that “best interest” is what He has always had for me and this is true with so many of the people He has brought into my life.
Earnie Lewis 