January 22, 2007
Reflections on 2006
At the beginning of this year, rather than make New Year’s resolutions, I looked backwards at 2006. I spent one whole afternoon reading through my journal and thanking God and marveling at so many promises fulfilled and areas of growth through challenges.
I thought I’d simply share a few snippets from my journal to give you a snapshot of my heart in 2006 and God’s faithfulness to care for it so tenderly, yet powerfully, especially through His Word. (I’ve also included a few pictures from the same time frame.)
“God, I want to be whatever size and weight you want me to be. I relinquish my opinion on what that should be. Whatever the weight, I need your help to get there and stay there. Like everything else in my life, I am unable to do anything in my own strength. I admit my inability. Please have Your way in me as I submit to You. Please fill me with Your power as I admit my weakness. Give me faith to believe you have heard and are faithful to answer. Thank You.”
“I felt led to fight for the peace of our family. There is so much strife between the kids. I asked God what I should fast from. I was surprised when He told me to offer the sacrifice of praise. Bummer. I wanted to fast food and lose some weight as a side bonus. I have been going into my closet with my ipod and portable speakers and singing and speaking praise and worship. It makes sense. I’m learning that the root of the strife in our home is pride. So worship directly combats that pride. Also, elevating and exalting Jesus puts our puniness in perspective producing humility. Also worship enters the spirit realm and it permeates the atmosphere of our home driving out the prince of this world with the presence of the Prince of Peace.”
“Genesis 19:16 – “And while he (Lot) lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord, being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” Two things jump out at me in this verse. First, it is so encouraging that even when we drag our feet in obedience, God in His mercy, will grab our hands and lead us to safety if we are His. Secondly, once again, God saves the whole household. I love that about God’s ways and I’m grateful.”
“Genesis 19:29 – “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” What comfort. God honors and answers our prayers for our relatives. God will save and rescue our loved ones even if they are in the middle of sin of their own volition. God will send rescuing angels to grab them and pull them out of their sin and provide a place of safety for them. All because of our prayers.”
“In my Bible study today Beth Moore wrote something that struck me with deep conviction. “Sometimes we do only what we must to get by on a project because we have 15 other projects nipping at our heels. We’re pushed too hard and too fast to go the extra distance excellence demands.” Wow! This is so true in my life. I was feeling pretty discouraged and like I had been letting God down with all my crazy busyness. I quieted my soul and asked God to search my heart and show me how to serve him with excellence rather than barely keeping it all together. While mulling it over, the word “contrapuntal” came to my mind. Since this isn’t a word I’ve thought of since I first heard it from a musician I was dating over 20 years ago, I figured it must be the Holy Spirit. I went to Dictionary.com to look it up. The definition is “having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together.” Musically, this means rather than the more common way to write music which is one melody strengthened by corresponding harmonies, contrapuntal is having more than one melody that work together to create their own harmony of sorts. “So, what does that mean in this context, God?” I think God is telling me that I’m not creating a cacophony with a bunch of discordant responsibilities in my life but they really are all working together. I perceive my main melodies to be: wife & mother, ministry (public & personal,) relationship with Jesus, stuff that must be done in life. Steve suggested to me that God was giving a word of encouragement. My life was not out of tune or out of control, rather God was doing a complex work that all worked together to create something with a unique depth of beauty.”
“Luke 1:71 - Zacharias Prophecy “That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.” What struck me about this passage was the fact that I’m sure the Jewish nation had in their minds what this prophecy meant – they would have a king who would deliver them from oppressive rulers. But God had something different in mind. I think I probably do that often. I assume I know what God is going to do or how he’s going to do it. It would be better to lay down my expectations and simply open myself and surrender to His will, whatever it is.”
John 16:13 – “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” This verse seems to refute what many teachers preach, that God doesn’t speak to us, except through His Word and that prophecy is not for today. I get the opposite from this Scripture. It seems to me that Jesus is specifically saying that He will send His Spirit and He will speak to us and guide our steps and even give us a heads-up on the future.”
Golly, I’m not even through March yet. I’ll continue reading and share some more next week. Happy New Year! (I know it is a bit late but I’m running a bit late in every area this year.)
Posted by weblion at 05:11 PM
