Tonight our quartet along with a trio is singing for an event where 150 or so people will be gathered. As I was praying this morning I asked God how He would bring all of these folks together and have unity for a moment? His response was immediate–“Have them praise Me.” The lady who hosts these events does so for the very sake of praising God. She also makes it a point to have unbelievers invited so they can experience praising God and hear a message of surrendering one’s life to God.
There is so much division in our country today–even among Christians. I prayed that tonight as we glorify Jesus in song, there will be a unity of spirit. Satan wants to divide and destroy, but we all know he is a defeated foe. Today and tonight–GOD Reigns!
I wrote yesterday about a young man I was to meet with last night. The meeting took place and I was astounded. He is a young man 19 years of age. His mom and her fiancé were with him. I didn’t know I’d be meeting with the three of them but we went ahead and and I was amazed watching God work through this. It was very obvious The Holy Spirit had been at work. How many 19 year old men want to see a counselor? Very few! However, this one wants to. I texted the counselor I like so well as I got home and they are setting their appointment today. I rejoice in seeing God’s Kingdom Work taking place. The counselor also informed me that the man I’d met with the night before had also made contact so they would be starting too.
Today in my scripture reading of John 7, Christ is challenging the followers to recognize Him as the Bread of Life. He had just fed the 5000 the day before and now He is telling them to not worry about man’s food, but trust Him as the Bread of Life. Reading God’s Word a couple thousand years after it was written is far easier to understand than hearing it for the first time as these followers did. I wonder how I would receive this message if I were one of them? All I can say is that I’m so grateful that I have been able to recognize Jesus as my One True God. He is my Savior, Redeemer, Friend and Leader.
Last night the young man’s mom text me thanking me for taking the time to meet with them. I hadn’t even thought about that. For me, I was completing what Jesus had asked and the Joy of watching Him work is the greatest thanks of all–another life now seeing the Light of Jesus!
Sometimes I awaken in the night and am seemingly wide awake. There seems to be no apparent reason for it, it just happens. Last night was one of those times. This morning I asked Jesus if there were a reason for this and I was surprised by the response. He said He rejoices in our times of communion, when I seek Him and pray for whatever He puts on my heart. I was instantly humbled and joyous to think that the King of the universe rejoices spending time with me?? My word, I hope I never sleep again if that is the case! I don’t mean to make light of this and diminish the value of this message. I know this is all true, I just so often forget it is true also for me. What a joy it is to be reminded by Jesus Himself that He desires time with each of us.
One of the things I prayed about in my awake time was for a young man I’m meeting with tonight. I’ve been asked by one of our pastors to meet with him regarding a recent event where he made some pretty poor decisions. I wanted to hear what God had to say about my role in the meeting. He shed Light on it as I meditated on this. Our God is so Amazing and so Intimate all at the same time. What a humble honor it is to serve Him each and every day.
Yesterday morning I went to see my prayer warrior. It had been over a month since we’d spent time together. What was to be an hour turned into two. She diligently prays for our men in the class Mending the Soul. As I began to tell her about the issues they were facing I simply became overwhelmed myself. It was as though I was sitting in my old chair with my counselor/therapist facing my own demons all over again. I didn’t realize I was carrying such weight for them. I needed to let it go and I did so. I must admit it is overwhelming at times to hear your own story from another knowing the grief they will need to come through to find the victory on the other side. Yet, I wouldn’t want it any other way for that path through the grief is so cleansing as well as freeing. I must remember to rejoice in the grief knowing the grief is the proof of stepping out of denial and facing the reality of abuse and its effects.
The day will come when these men will be using their own story for the help of another. God is like that. He knows how to take our ugly past and turn it into a pathway to peace for another who is ready to face their own struggle. How good God is!
My grandson left our home at 4:00 am headed to Denver. He is on his trek to Florida where he will be living on base for the next 1.5 years receiving his training for his area of expertise in the Air Force. He’s coming home for Christmas which will be another treat for everyone. All of us were together last yesterday afternoon and evening to send him off.
Yesterday morning I met with just one of the men in our Mending the Soul class. Several were gone so we cancelled class. However, this one gentleman was staying home and needed to catch up on a lesson he missed. It was Shame. I knew he was missing it because Satan didn’t want him opening himself to this powerful control he had over him–the power of shame. However, for over 2 hours he and I faced some real demons he has needed to accept as real in his life. He hadn’t wanted to admit they were true for him, but the curriculum of this class does force one to either look directly into these issues or turn directly away from them. Yesterday, with The Holy Spirit’s help he began to face them. I know personally every step he is needing to face having needed to address them in my own recovery. At the end of class he thanked me for taking the time to work this through with him. I told him just what Celebrate Recovery has taught me–our mess becomes God’s message for others. This will be true for him in the near future.
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus. This morning for no apparent reason, I was sluggish when I got up and began my journaling. I told this to Jesus and He instantly reminded me to look up. Had I forgotten already all that He has done? Had I forgotten for a moment all that He does which no one seemingly gives any attention to–seasons, sun, moon and stars, the rain in due season and so much more? As I was reminded of all the handiwork of God my sluggishness turned into thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for!
Our quartet practiced yesterday morning for a couple of hours. We are singing this coming weekend for a big gospel jamboree that a lady hosts annually in her barn. It is a tremendous event which usually attracts 130-150 people. She feeds everyone. Last night as I was getting ready for bed I got a text saying our piano player is symptomatic and wanted us to know. This led to a flood of text messages from everyone questioning much. I wish we could put all of this in our past, but it keeps rearing its ugly head into our present. I know this is why God was reminding me to keep my eyes looking up to Him. We are to live in this world and be a messenger to others for God. Yet, our hope is not in this world, it is in God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit.
My heart is at peace now and I’m ready to face today knowing the things of the world will not control my life. I have given this over to God. I will need to do this again each and every day, but that is exactly what God is wanting me to do!
Have you ever noticed that our daily journey doesn’t necessarily coincide with our wishes? I use to think that when this happened I was being punished for something I didn’t know I’d done wrong, but I should look and see what it was and repent for it. Well, that was likely true some of the time, but there are other times when the daily wishes simply need to be set aside for the greater purposes of God within the day.
Yesterday I was with the new site I took starting this school year. It was a professional development day for them and I had a consultant working with them regarding an area of instruction for which they needed improvement. The day went extremely well. On my way home I thought I’d call my dear sis so we could talk while I was on the road. We not only talked while I was on the road but for over an hour when I got home. I had no idea we would have so much to talk about! I was wanting to get home so I could crash. Instead, I got home and talked for over an hour with my sis and then I took one of my grandson’s to dinner at the suggestion of my wife. By the time I got home from this I did crash. I wouldn’t have wanted to do either of these in my own selfishness, but God’s greater purpose was just what happened and I’m so grateful it did.
God is AMAZING. Little did I ever know how much He cares about every detail of our lives. I’m learning these things in my older years, but I encourage any reader to listen and respond to God’s nudges. They are always a better plan than the one we would take.
Yesterday I wrote this blog and pushed the publish button. As I read it at this point I wanted to edit a couple of words so I went to do so and the entire thing disappeared. It vanished! I could not edit anything and I needed to move into the day so I had no more time to rewrite it. Well, today I will do better (I hope) at getting this one to stay put!
My entry yesterday was about worshiping God. He had impressed on me yesterday morning my importance of not seeing our worship at Celebrate Recovery as singing 4 nice songs which praise Him. All of that is nice, but…. The much bigger picture of worshiping God is centered around our looking up to Him in all areas of our lives–our day. No matter what we may be facing, look up to God–this is all a part of worshiping Him.
Last night’s Celebrate Recovery was a mystery. Much of the leadership was either gone or sick. Only a few of us were there and even then, two were leaving early. This was causing my “stew”. However, as I surrendered my stew and “worshiped” I found God taking charge. There was a good group and the sharing in share group time was rich and powerful. God sure doesn’t need man’s detail in order to fulfill His Purposes with us. Just do what is needed at the time and leave the “in charge” things to Him. What a wonderful God we serve!
For some reason I’ve always loved September. It is much the way I feel about March. Each of these two months are the start of new. March is the start of Spring which always means that new life is being given birth. September is quite the opposite. It is the start of putting to rest what has worked so hard through the Spring and Summer from the vegetable garden to the flowers in the yard. Both months are the beginnings and I love the fact that God gives us opportunities for new starts as well as putting to rest what has done their part.
Last night I went to dinner with my oldest daughter’s family celebrating her birthday. What was the biggest surprise was her oldest son walking into the restaurant. Dante had flown in yesterday to the surprise of everyone. He has finished his first 2 stages of training for the Air Force and doesn’t need to be in Florida for his next leg of training until Sept. 10. After the meal and celebration he drove to our home to surprise grandma! Kathy was feeling much better by last night. Even though she could be contagious still, Dante didn’t care. He has already had it last Spring and has since had his vaccinations. We had our own wonderful visit.
Do you believe? God is teaching me the importance of believing. Over and over He accentuates this importance in His Word–“the faith of a mustard see” is all it takes to start the seed of BELIEF germinating within us. I never believed I could be so free as I am today, yet I am! How much I want others to find their own belief through Jesus Christ. It all starts with the simple, yet powerful step of planting this seed of BELIEF! It may be September, but new life can start anytime of year.
Earnie Lewis 