In His Presence

 

 

¹ In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.

⁴ Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:1,4-5

 

 

 

Another school year is coming to an end and I am amazed at the things God has taught me, especially in the last few months.  I have been learning that know matter what the circumstances look like, God is faithful.

 

The beginning of last month it was my turn to lead staff devotionals.  This is something I have dreaded since I came to BFA and in the past two years I have been able to avoid it, but this time there was no getting out of it.  I have been thinking about it since it was assigned last August and wondering what I could possibly share with these people who I feel have so much more knowledge and experience than I do.  Then a couple of weeks before it was my turn, I was at a ladies brunch with church.  The speaker led us into a  time of worship where God was clearly speaking to me.  She was talking about true worship and what hinders that in our lives. What keeps us from deep communion with the Father? It is when we let sin and fear enter in because we have forgotten who God is. We must confess our fears to Him and trust Him take their place, fear of not doing what is expected, fear of being left out, fear of not being ready when opportunities present themselves.  All of  these fears cause us to shrink back before the unknown, wanting assurance where we must have faith. We hesitate to follow Christ, afraid that the cost will be to great and we might lose out on something else.  But he assures us that:

 

I took you from the ends of the earth, I called you, I said "You are my servant" I have chosen you and have not rejected you; so do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand 

Isaiah 41:9 -10 

  

 

This is an affirmation about something that I had been contemplating, but was afraid to step out in faith and do. I needed to trust Him and let go of fear and things from the past.  I knew what steps to take, but I hesitated.  After about a week I finally made some phone calls and trusted God with the results, and His words were confirmed in everything that happened.  I still do not know the long term results of my decisions, but I do know that God is in complete control of the situation and He is going to guide me through this as long as I keep my eyes on Him.  

 

I was able to share this in the devotions and He strengthened me to get through it without getting over emotional (which many of you know is not easy for me.)  I am continueing to learn to let Him be in control and not to try to do things in my own strength.  Now I know I can let go of my fears and come  into God's presence and worship Him with awe and wonder because His love and grace cover all of my shortcomings.  The song at the link below expresses it better than I can:

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZyT2fEK3I

 

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

 

⁵⁷ You came near when I called you,
and you said, “Do not fear.”

^{58 You, Lord, took up my case;
you redeemed my life.}

^{Lamentations 3:26-26,57-58}

 

 

 

Amazing Grace

¹⁶ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 

¹⁸ “What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. ¹⁹ For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.  
1 Chronicles 17:16, 18-19

As we celebrate the beginning  of another new year many times we look back and reflect on what has happened in the past. As I look at this past year I mostly see the difficulties that have happened.  Yes, there have been many good thing also, but what stands out are the struggles.  Then this verse came up in my quiet time today and it makes me think about how even though it has been a tough year, God has brought me through it and in the process has drawn me closer to Him.  Even though, just like David said, "you know what your servant is really like ... you have done all these great things"  

The fact that I am still here, on this earth, in Germany, at Black Forest Academy, etc., is only by God's grace.  I do not deserve and have done nothing to earn this privilege.  I am humbled that I am part of this story, this tapestry that He is weaving.  To be a small thread in the picture of His work to redeem us and love us, is more than I can comprehend, how and why am I significant?  Again, it is only by His grace, His provision and sustenance that I am here.  He gives resources, talents and interests to us to use for His glory and to spread His love to those who do not know Him yet.  God works through all of us who trust Him, in His own way and time to accomplish His goal, which is our salvation.  We many times do not comprehend His methods, He says:

            ²⁴ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 

1 Corinthians 1:24-25

Through Christ we have the power to continue on to complete the work set before us.  As I look ahead into this new year, I do not see and end to the struggles that we all face, but I know with confidence that God is with those who love Him and that HE will continue to uphold us, sustain us and if we allow, use us to further His purposes in world. 

      ...'tis Grace has brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home (because) ...God who called me here below will be forever mine...

 I pray that as we enter this new year that we all will rely on His amazing grace to lead us closer and closer to Him and ultimately to our final home, in and for His glory.