Have I said this before? Waking up in the morning is very painful - I open my eyes and remember Julius is not here and never will be. I think of the morning coffee he bought to my bedside for 26 years and his gentle teasing me out of bed. Even if I was awake, I would childishly wait for him to come up and he did, without fail.
But now I have a need and it is not childish. It is vital - I need to grab my bible and sit at the Lord's feet and hear His voice or I will not be able to do function.
I love the story of the women at the well in John 4. Jesus was sitting beside the well - how sweet for the woman to just find him there.
And yes when I wake up and get down to my quiet space, He is always waiting for me.
It is with a sense of excitement and wonder that I approach Him and ask what are you saying to me today Lord?
Today's lesson was from 1 Kings 19. Elijah was hiding in a cave and I love how the Lord asks " What are you doing here Elijah?" It makes me smile. God you know what I am doing. But what strikes me even more is that the God of creation, would care to ask that question. He is saying to me I care, I want a deeper and more intimate relationship with you. I want to hear how you are feeling, I want to speak to you.
And like Elijah who does not hold back even to the extent of saying "I, even I only, am left" I give Him a full reply. So many questions. So alone. So fearful of the future ...Like Topol in the movie "Fiddler on the Roof" I even ask God "would it have ruined a vast eternal plan if I had Julius for a few more years? or could you not having taken me first? Why did he get to go to you first?
And as the prophet waits and listens for God to speak, a great windstorm occurs, so big that it " tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks." and then came an earthquake and then a fire but the Lord was not in any of these.
I have been through this windstorm (May 7th on the 404 - Julius driving to work, 15 minutes away from home) the earthquake that followed, has shaken my life to the very core, and then the fire of refinement...
As I look closely at what God was saying to me this morning in this ancient text I was struck with wonder that Elijah was able to get out and stand on the Mount after all these calamities!
"Yes Lord and I am still standing - not because of any inner strength but because of You Lord and Your faithfulness. I praise you Lord and I stand here as a witness and testimony to Your grace which alone is sufficient."
Dear reader, are you going through a terrible storm or has an earthquake hit you so hard, your world is still shaking? If you are a believer in Christ, know that you are standing on the Rock. Turn to Him - He is waiting to hear you and whisper to you.
If you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, I plead with you to seek Him earnestly.
Dear friend we cannot make it on our own. Open God's Word and ask Him to reveal Himself to you and He will. He promised. He is the Only Way.
Not only was Elijah standing but he was able to hear a "whisper". Lord I pray that I will always be so attentive to your voice that I will hear you whisper.
But now I have a need and it is not childish. It is vital - I need to grab my bible and sit at the Lord's feet and hear His voice or I will not be able to do function.
I love the story of the women at the well in John 4. Jesus was sitting beside the well - how sweet for the woman to just find him there.
And yes when I wake up and get down to my quiet space, He is always waiting for me.
It is with a sense of excitement and wonder that I approach Him and ask what are you saying to me today Lord?
Today's lesson was from 1 Kings 19. Elijah was hiding in a cave and I love how the Lord asks " What are you doing here Elijah?" It makes me smile. God you know what I am doing. But what strikes me even more is that the God of creation, would care to ask that question. He is saying to me I care, I want a deeper and more intimate relationship with you. I want to hear how you are feeling, I want to speak to you.
And like Elijah who does not hold back even to the extent of saying "I, even I only, am left" I give Him a full reply. So many questions. So alone. So fearful of the future ...Like Topol in the movie "Fiddler on the Roof" I even ask God "would it have ruined a vast eternal plan if I had Julius for a few more years? or could you not having taken me first? Why did he get to go to you first?
And as the prophet waits and listens for God to speak, a great windstorm occurs, so big that it " tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks." and then came an earthquake and then a fire but the Lord was not in any of these.
I have been through this windstorm (May 7th on the 404 - Julius driving to work, 15 minutes away from home) the earthquake that followed, has shaken my life to the very core, and then the fire of refinement...
As I look closely at what God was saying to me this morning in this ancient text I was struck with wonder that Elijah was able to get out and stand on the Mount after all these calamities!
"Yes Lord and I am still standing - not because of any inner strength but because of You Lord and Your faithfulness. I praise you Lord and I stand here as a witness and testimony to Your grace which alone is sufficient."
Dear reader, are you going through a terrible storm or has an earthquake hit you so hard, your world is still shaking? If you are a believer in Christ, know that you are standing on the Rock. Turn to Him - He is waiting to hear you and whisper to you.
If you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, I plead with you to seek Him earnestly.
Dear friend we cannot make it on our own. Open God's Word and ask Him to reveal Himself to you and He will. He promised. He is the Only Way.
Not only was Elijah standing but he was able to hear a "whisper". Lord I pray that I will always be so attentive to your voice that I will hear you whisper.
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