"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalm 27:10-14
A verse the Lord has brought to my attentionat least a couple of times in the last few weeks or so is verse 10 of Psalm 27: “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”
If you don’t know my life, or even if you do, you may not know how little of my parents I saw while I was growing up. My dad was often not home, sometimes for days at a time. And though my mother was there physically, emotionally and mentally she was not. I was basically left to fend for myself most of the time. I still feel the loneliness of it to this day. And my God knows my heart and He is gently and compassionately reminding me that I am not alone. He is always with me and I take comfort in that.
In verse 10 where it says, “then Jehovah will take me up,” the words “take me up” mean to gather for any purpose. God gathers His children to Himself for His divine purposes. I need not fear that I am left to fend for myself ever again, for I have the Lord God Himself as my mother and my father. He will look after me and will take care of me. He has a divine purpose for my life and though I seem to lack the foresight of what those purposes are, I know He is weaving together something that will be beautiful in His perfect timing.
Perhaps you, too, need to be reminded that you are not alone. That if you are a child of God through His Son Jesus Christ, then God is your parent, your spouse, your caretaker, your brother, your friend. Everything we have need of is found in our Heavenly Father. And the events of your life are being skillfully woven together, as well, and God is making of them something beautiful to behold.
And He goes on to give us still more hope when He says, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, (this means to hold onto, as to the Lord) and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
No matter what the day may bring, we can hope in the Lord. We will see the goodness of the Lord as long as our eyes are focused on Him. Do not look around for hope elsewhere, for it will always fail. But God will never fail.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Lost Boy
Pastor Greg Laurie has written his own amazing life story in the autobiography Lost Boy. I'm trying to hold off reading it until I can finish the other three books I'm currently reading, but when it arrived in the 
mail I couldn't help cracking it open to peruse the Contents to see the titles of the chapters. Then I had to read the forward by Franklin Graham.
"And oh! There's a foreward by Chuck Smith! Well I have to read that....and a preface..hm..well, I'll just skim that and see what Pastor Greg says...well, these first couple of chapters don't seem very long.."
Okay, so I was able to finally force myself to put the book down after chapter three so that I could go back to the serial killer, Eve, who at this point seems to be running rampant in Ted Dekker's thriller, Adam.
But I'll be able to get another taste of Pastor Greg's story on Sunday, June 22, when the documentary, Lost Boy, will premiere at 6 pm Pacific Time on his website http://www.harvest.org/. If the documentary is half as powerful as his book is, it's sure to be a faith-builder.
Greg Laurie's story is one of just that, a boy who had lost his way, but then found himself right in the middle of God's love and grace and miracles. A place of hope.
So, I thought I'd post the link for you in case you'd like to watch the documentary and see Pastor Greg talk about the God who plucked him from an almost certain life of remaining lost in drugs and being swallowed up by the world to a life of purpose and joy. A life of redemption where he now has a father, his Heavenly Father.
Be sure to check your time zone.
Have a blessed day.
mail I couldn't help cracking it open to peruse the Contents to see the titles of the chapters. Then I had to read the forward by Franklin Graham."And oh! There's a foreward by Chuck Smith! Well I have to read that....and a preface..hm..well, I'll just skim that and see what Pastor Greg says...well, these first couple of chapters don't seem very long.."
Okay, so I was able to finally force myself to put the book down after chapter three so that I could go back to the serial killer, Eve, who at this point seems to be running rampant in Ted Dekker's thriller, Adam.
But I'll be able to get another taste of Pastor Greg's story on Sunday, June 22, when the documentary, Lost Boy, will premiere at 6 pm Pacific Time on his website http://www.harvest.org/. If the documentary is half as powerful as his book is, it's sure to be a faith-builder.
Greg Laurie's story is one of just that, a boy who had lost his way, but then found himself right in the middle of God's love and grace and miracles. A place of hope.
So, I thought I'd post the link for you in case you'd like to watch the documentary and see Pastor Greg talk about the God who plucked him from an almost certain life of remaining lost in drugs and being swallowed up by the world to a life of purpose and joy. A life of redemption where he now has a father, his Heavenly Father.
Be sure to check your time zone.
Have a blessed day.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Who Is God? Part 3
Here Comes the Judge
Okay, onward in our quest to know the true God.
The second attribute that God tells us about Himself in Jeremiah, chapter 9, is that He is a God of judgment. Because we live in a time of grace through the blood of Christ, many forget that there will still come a time when God will judge the works of believers in Christ. In the end, the unsaved will be judged to eternal damnation, and the works of the saved will be judged and either burned or rewarded.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
We, who are in Christ, have been given a foundation for our lives, which is Jesus Christ Himself. And it is on the basis of His lordship, and the extent to which we acknowledge it as such, that we choose the materials with which we build upon the foundation of faith the service of good works. Will we build with the beauty of God’s will and strength which will be proved by the fire of judgment, or will we build according to our own will, our own desires and in our own strength, which in the end, will be burned?
So how do we know what constitutes a good work and a bad one?
“For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
Let us not be lulled by the commonplace occurrence of owning one, two, three or even more bibles and so forget that the bible is not just another book. It is the very word of God. He spoke it into existence and by His words we will be judged. (Not for salvation if we have received Christ, but the works that we do as Christians.) He has shown us His will in His word and it is up to us whether we are going to build with that perfect will, or if we are going to live apart from it. It is our choice: either the works that will last that are compared to gold, silver and costly stones, or the works that will be burned like wood, hay and straw.
Yes, by God’s grace and mercy we have received salvation through Christ. But we are not done! Now each day we must choose how we will build on the sure foundation of Christ. What does your spiritual structure look like? Will it stand in the fire? How much of it will be burned away? Praise God that He gives us all we need to build, through our service to Him, a legacy of glory to God that will last for eternity.
I find it interesting that the description given in Revelation of the new and eternal city of Jerusalem coming out of heaven is made of all costly stones, pearls and streets of gold.
Could it be?
Could it just be that those works which we build on the foundation of Christ, those godly works that are described as being as gold, silver and costly stones..could it be that those works we do in Christ which bring Him all glory and eternal praise are what make up the gates, the walls and the streets of the eternal city in which we will soon live?
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. And its light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And it had a great and high wall, with twelve gates. And on the gates were twelve angels, and having names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel:
“From the east three gates, from the north three gates, from the south three gates, and from the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he who talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lies four-square, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
And the foundation of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city had been adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Respectively, each one of the gates was one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb.”
Rev. 21:10-22
Okay, onward in our quest to know the true God.
The second attribute that God tells us about Himself in Jeremiah, chapter 9, is that He is a God of judgment. Because we live in a time of grace through the blood of Christ, many forget that there will still come a time when God will judge the works of believers in Christ. In the end, the unsaved will be judged to eternal damnation, and the works of the saved will be judged and either burned or rewarded.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
We, who are in Christ, have been given a foundation for our lives, which is Jesus Christ Himself. And it is on the basis of His lordship, and the extent to which we acknowledge it as such, that we choose the materials with which we build upon the foundation of faith the service of good works. Will we build with the beauty of God’s will and strength which will be proved by the fire of judgment, or will we build according to our own will, our own desires and in our own strength, which in the end, will be burned?
So how do we know what constitutes a good work and a bad one?
“For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
Let us not be lulled by the commonplace occurrence of owning one, two, three or even more bibles and so forget that the bible is not just another book. It is the very word of God. He spoke it into existence and by His words we will be judged. (Not for salvation if we have received Christ, but the works that we do as Christians.) He has shown us His will in His word and it is up to us whether we are going to build with that perfect will, or if we are going to live apart from it. It is our choice: either the works that will last that are compared to gold, silver and costly stones, or the works that will be burned like wood, hay and straw.
Yes, by God’s grace and mercy we have received salvation through Christ. But we are not done! Now each day we must choose how we will build on the sure foundation of Christ. What does your spiritual structure look like? Will it stand in the fire? How much of it will be burned away? Praise God that He gives us all we need to build, through our service to Him, a legacy of glory to God that will last for eternity.
I find it interesting that the description given in Revelation of the new and eternal city of Jerusalem coming out of heaven is made of all costly stones, pearls and streets of gold.
Could it be?
Could it just be that those works which we build on the foundation of Christ, those godly works that are described as being as gold, silver and costly stones..could it be that those works we do in Christ which bring Him all glory and eternal praise are what make up the gates, the walls and the streets of the eternal city in which we will soon live?
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. And its light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And it had a great and high wall, with twelve gates. And on the gates were twelve angels, and having names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel:
“From the east three gates, from the north three gates, from the south three gates, and from the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he who talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lies four-square, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
And the foundation of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city had been adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Respectively, each one of the gates was one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb.”
Rev. 21:10-22
Thursday, June 5, 2008
From Strength to Strength
My son tells me this video is "old," but I've just seen it for the first time. And while I'm not a sports fan, (my family will quickly attest to that) this story is about much more than two girls' softball teams.
It is a perfect picture of how the Lord carries us in our weaknesses. Just when we think we have been defeated, He picks us up and tenderly, lovingly, carries us to the end.
He takes us from strength to strength even when we have no strength. He sees us to the end so that we can know the joy of finishing and glorying in His mercy.
And the Body of Christ should emulate the same grace for one another that the Lord examples. If we could just remember that we are all on the same team and rush to the aid of our brothers and sisters when they have fallen, how would that impact not only the Body, but the world around us for Christ?
How much glory could we bring to our King and how much joy could we share with others if we would only look around and tenderly, lovingly, carry one another's burdens with God's strength?
"Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they will still praise You. Selah.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts. Passing through the valley of weeping, they will make it a fountain; the early rain also covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength, appearing in Zion before God."
Psalm 84:4-7
It is a perfect picture of how the Lord carries us in our weaknesses. Just when we think we have been defeated, He picks us up and tenderly, lovingly, carries us to the end.
He takes us from strength to strength even when we have no strength. He sees us to the end so that we can know the joy of finishing and glorying in His mercy.
And the Body of Christ should emulate the same grace for one another that the Lord examples. If we could just remember that we are all on the same team and rush to the aid of our brothers and sisters when they have fallen, how would that impact not only the Body, but the world around us for Christ?
How much glory could we bring to our King and how much joy could we share with others if we would only look around and tenderly, lovingly, carry one another's burdens with God's strength?
"Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they will still praise You. Selah.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts. Passing through the valley of weeping, they will make it a fountain; the early rain also covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength, appearing in Zion before God."
Psalm 84:4-7
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
By His Blood
By His Blood
Full price was paid for my sin,
A debt no longer
For my sin is forgiven;
By His Blood
He’s redeemed my soul
In Him I am made
Perfect and whole;
By His Blood
His Spirit indwells me
And gives me the Power
To live victoriously;
By His Blood
I’ll live for eternity,
Singing “Glory to the Lamb
Who was slain for me!”
By Jesus’ Blood
And His alone
I am free
To go home;
Will you meet me there
In the presence of Love:
The One Who paid for you
By His Blood?
by Dorci Harris
Full price was paid for my sin,
A debt no longer
For my sin is forgiven;
By His Blood
He’s redeemed my soul
In Him I am made
Perfect and whole;
By His Blood
His Spirit indwells me
And gives me the Power
To live victoriously;
By His Blood
I’ll live for eternity,
Singing “Glory to the Lamb
Who was slain for me!”
By Jesus’ Blood
And His alone
I am free
To go home;
Will you meet me there
In the presence of Love:
The One Who paid for you
By His Blood?
by Dorci Harris
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Who Is God? Part 2
His Lovingkindness
If you knew me before I came to Christ and still knew me today, you would see in action the lovingkindness of the Lord. For God has redeemed me from a pit so deep and so dark that only He has the arms long enough and the will strong enough and the love so merciful to pluck me up out of it, brush me off and give me an embrace that reached all the way from Calvary mount. And His love continues as He is gracious enough to walk the rest of this life with me, loving me, teaching me and still bringing me up out of the pit when I fall.
If you knew me before I came to Christ and still knew me today, you would see in action the lovingkindness of the Lord. For God has redeemed me from a pit so deep and so dark that only He has the arms long enough and the will strong enough and the love so merciful to pluck me up out of it, brush me off and give me an embrace that reached all the way from Calvary mount. And His love continues as He is gracious enough to walk the rest of this life with me, loving me, teaching me and still bringing me up out of the pit when I fall.
"A Psalm of David. 'Bless Jehovah, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from ruin; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good; your youth is renewed like the eagle's.'" (Psalm 103:1-5)
As we saw before in Jeremiah, the Lord tells us that the truth regarding His character is that He is a God Who exercises
As we saw before in Jeremiah, the Lord tells us that the truth regarding His character is that He is a God Who exercises
lovingkindness. Some may wonder if that is true given all that
is happening in our world today. Even in our own personal lives
so many are experiencing very deep and difficult trials. Where is God when those trials are taking place? Is He truly a God of lovingkindness?
In David's psalm, he speaks to his own soul, reminding himself that our God is worthy to be praised and worshipped. That His very name is holy and one that is worthy to bow down to. As David does, may we who worship God as our Lord daily remind ourselves of the endless benefits that have been borne out of our relationship with Him and for those benefits we should be eternally thankful.
Our every sin has been forgiven by the sacrifice of the blood of the Son of God. He temporarily gave up His throne and then His very life to redeem each of us from our own pit of sin so that we could live with Him forever.
That is lovingkindness.
In that salvation that we have received God heals our soul's infirmities. As we seek after Him, He purifies our hearts and our minds so that we are no longer bound by sin as we once were. But we are set free from the chains of bondage as God's Holy Spirit ministers to us and comforts us daily, through every trial and decision and heartbreak and then rejoices with us in every mountaintop experience. He trades our sorrows for His joy, holding us close to Him as He promises to never leave us.
That is lovingkindness.
He redeems our lives from the spiritual darkness in which they were and brings us into the light. He encircles us with His endless lovingkindness and compassion so that there is nowhere we can go without them. And as a perfect parent, He gives us all things that are good for us.
And though our bodies are wasting away, as we abide in our Lord our souls are lifted up as an eagle, soaring over our difficult pasts, our regrets, our failures, so that our remembrance of them is dim, and we instead see more clearly the beauty of Him Who has called us. The youth of our souls has been restored because they can never grow old and die, but rather they will live on forever in His glory.
That is His gracious and merciful lovingkindness.
There is no higher form of lovingkindness than to give up one's own life to save that of another. And God not only saved our mortal lives, but our eternal souls. He could have stopped there and the gift of eternity would have been enough. But He continues to show that lovingkindness as He imparts to us His very character of peace and joy and wisdom and all that we need if we will but open our eyes to the gift He gives us of Himself every moment of every day.
How can you pass on to others the gift of God's lovingkindness?
In David's psalm, he speaks to his own soul, reminding himself that our God is worthy to be praised and worshipped. That His very name is holy and one that is worthy to bow down to. As David does, may we who worship God as our Lord daily remind ourselves of the endless benefits that have been borne out of our relationship with Him and for those benefits we should be eternally thankful.
Our every sin has been forgiven by the sacrifice of the blood of the Son of God. He temporarily gave up His throne and then His very life to redeem each of us from our own pit of sin so that we could live with Him forever.
That is lovingkindness.
In that salvation that we have received God heals our soul's infirmities. As we seek after Him, He purifies our hearts and our minds so that we are no longer bound by sin as we once were. But we are set free from the chains of bondage as God's Holy Spirit ministers to us and comforts us daily, through every trial and decision and heartbreak and then rejoices with us in every mountaintop experience. He trades our sorrows for His joy, holding us close to Him as He promises to never leave us.
That is lovingkindness.
He redeems our lives from the spiritual darkness in which they were and brings us into the light. He encircles us with His endless lovingkindness and compassion so that there is nowhere we can go without them. And as a perfect parent, He gives us all things that are good for us.
And though our bodies are wasting away, as we abide in our Lord our souls are lifted up as an eagle, soaring over our difficult pasts, our regrets, our failures, so that our remembrance of them is dim, and we instead see more clearly the beauty of Him Who has called us. The youth of our souls has been restored because they can never grow old and die, but rather they will live on forever in His glory.
That is His gracious and merciful lovingkindness.
There is no higher form of lovingkindness than to give up one's own life to save that of another. And God not only saved our mortal lives, but our eternal souls. He could have stopped there and the gift of eternity would have been enough. But He continues to show that lovingkindness as He imparts to us His very character of peace and joy and wisdom and all that we need if we will but open our eyes to the gift He gives us of Himself every moment of every day.
How can you pass on to others the gift of God's lovingkindness?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
An Angel's Point of View
I have a friend who has a 7 year old daughter with blonde ringlets that would make you think she's an angel, albeit a very precocious one.
So the other day my friend, her husband and their two young children were gathered in the older brother's bedroom after having moved around the furniture. The brother's bible was lying on the floor and the younger sister was standing on it. My friend saw this and said to her, "Don't stand on your brother's bible, that's the Word of God." To which the daughter said, "But it's in my way. And besides, it says we're supposed to stand alone on the Word of God!"
An angel I tell you.
So the other day my friend, her husband and their two young children were gathered in the older brother's bedroom after having moved around the furniture. The brother's bible was lying on the floor and the younger sister was standing on it. My friend saw this and said to her, "Don't stand on your brother's bible, that's the Word of God." To which the daughter said, "But it's in my way. And besides, it says we're supposed to stand alone on the Word of God!"
An angel I tell you.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Who Is God? Part 1
Let Him Who Glories, Glory in the Lord
Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
If we possessed all the wisdom and riches of Solomon so that people came from afar to behold the wonder of it all, or all the strength of Samson so that our reputation was known far and wide, the glory of them would only be shades of gray compared to the brilliant glory of knowing our God.
There are people who believe that it is impossible to know Him. That knowledge of Him is too high and lofty to attain. And indeed, He is the High and Lofty One. But God tells us in Jeremiah that He desires for us to know Him. He desires it so much that He did not remain in the heavens, but He came down as the Son and dwelt among us to show us Who He is.
And Who does God say that He is?
He is the LORD, the self-existent One. He is the one and only Eternal God. He is the great I Am. To know Him we must first know this and acknowledge it in our hearts and receive Him as the Lord Whom He is. Once we know Him as Lord, we can begin to know Who the Lord is.
He proclaims that He is a God who not only possesses lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, but He faithfully exercises those characteristics in our lives. He is not a God Who is uncaring or silent, but He is a God Who is active in the lives of His creation.
Have you ever thought that God didn't care or perhaps wasn't even aware of your hardship? Because we can't always see Him working in our lives does not mean that He isn't. Sometimes He is weaving together the details, taking us through a purification process which when completed, will reveal the imprint of God's own Son upon our lives.
If you are going through a trial right now, I pray that you will not fall into the trap of thinking that God's heart is hardened to your suffering. He has compassion on you and He is near to you. Who knows what beauty He is preparing for you through it? Ah, yes, He does.
Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
If we possessed all the wisdom and riches of Solomon so that people came from afar to behold the wonder of it all, or all the strength of Samson so that our reputation was known far and wide, the glory of them would only be shades of gray compared to the brilliant glory of knowing our God.
There are people who believe that it is impossible to know Him. That knowledge of Him is too high and lofty to attain. And indeed, He is the High and Lofty One. But God tells us in Jeremiah that He desires for us to know Him. He desires it so much that He did not remain in the heavens, but He came down as the Son and dwelt among us to show us Who He is.
And Who does God say that He is?
He is the LORD, the self-existent One. He is the one and only Eternal God. He is the great I Am. To know Him we must first know this and acknowledge it in our hearts and receive Him as the Lord Whom He is. Once we know Him as Lord, we can begin to know Who the Lord is.
He proclaims that He is a God who not only possesses lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, but He faithfully exercises those characteristics in our lives. He is not a God Who is uncaring or silent, but He is a God Who is active in the lives of His creation.
Have you ever thought that God didn't care or perhaps wasn't even aware of your hardship? Because we can't always see Him working in our lives does not mean that He isn't. Sometimes He is weaving together the details, taking us through a purification process which when completed, will reveal the imprint of God's own Son upon our lives.
If you are going through a trial right now, I pray that you will not fall into the trap of thinking that God's heart is hardened to your suffering. He has compassion on you and He is near to you. Who knows what beauty He is preparing for you through it? Ah, yes, He does.
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