Micah 1 - God takes the witness stand against you. ""The trial begins with no defense attorney and with God as prosecutor, judge, and jury." 66 LL
Micah 2 - HE has had enough. There's no one to speak for you before God and His Jury. Wow. HE is the Ultimate Judge. I'm on trial and guilty, always---but forgiven, always. There's no preaching sermons that tell how you can get anything you want from God. No.
Micah 4 - Other people live however they wish, picking and choosing their gods. But we live honoring God, and we're loyal to our God forever and ever. On that great day," God says, I will round up all the hurt and homeless...I will make a strong nation out of the long lost, A showcase exhibit of God's rule from here to eternity.
Micah 6 - Listen now, listen to God: "Take your stand in court...Have I burdenened you, worn you out? How can I stand up before God? An armload of offerings? My newborn child sacrificed? No. HE has already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.
My husband and I just met with a trusted, dear friend who stirs us deeply in conversation about where we are with God. I'm struggling today with depression. I will enter and embrace my confusion. I will wait in Hope for God to show up. When I read Micah 7 this day, I just wept. Who has the answers on how to live---no man does. Maybe there's some good interpretation of truth. But only HE is the Truth and the Way. "Will we permit Truth to humble us? Will we accept emptiness as the path to knowing God?" 66 LL We can go to God and expect Him to meet us and HE is. Here's what God says that spoke to me in my discouragement on arriving at places after six decades of life that I never expected.
Micah 7 - I'm overwhelmed with sorrow...but me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me. Don't, enemy, crow over me. I'm down, but I'm not out. I'm sitting in the dark right now, but God is my light. I can take God's punishing rage. I deserve it—I sinned. But it's not forever. He's on my side and is going to get me out of this. He'll turn on the lights and show me his ways. I'll see the whole picture and how right HE is. And my enemy will see it, too, and be discredited—yes, disgraced! This enemy who kept taunting, "So where is this God of yours?" "Unless I AM a God Who pardons sin, Who in mercy and compassion hurls your self-centeredness into the depths of the sea, you are doomed." 66 LL. One Day! I'm going to see Him and all of this with my own eyes— Oh! That will be a Day!
There is NO ONE who has a corner on the market on truth. Not C.S. Lewis, Eugene Peterson, Lawrence Crabb---no one. HE is the Truth and the Way and the Life. All our attempts fail in words and actions but still we can find the Truth and the Way. We've dealt with some really hard things this past 24 hours and I'm left with confusion. God is not the Author of my confusion but I must embrace the mystery of this moment and trust our Good God in midst of not knowing. Would you please pray for me this day as I face it with a depression that I don't want to be a part of. I'm just sobbing as I type this: Please pray Micah 6:8 What my God requires of me: To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk HUMBLY with my God. I need to know that someone is praying for me. And I believe you will if I ask---thank you!
ReplyDeletePraying for you Angie this day and this week as you enter such a huge loss and face the brevity of life and a Good God Who has taken care of you and your family. Jeremiah 24:6 says He has been good to you to this day...and forever more. My prayers and love, Bev
ReplyDeleteBev, I'm praying right now for your heart to feel His love and for you to rejoice again. I know He has something good for you in this mess. Transitions are hard enough anyway, but you have been stripped of every refuge but Christ Himself. He wants something big of you, and you shine through. Remain at His feet. Words are optional. Just linger with Him. He will restore you. He loves you so much, Bev. Sending hugs and love, Annette
ReplyDeleteBev, my dear friend, I am praying that God meets you in this depression. I know that things are difficult but am so encouraged by what I see the Lord doing in you during this time. You bless us everyday with your words and prayers and I pray that God will allow us to do the same for you.
ReplyDeleteAngie - I just read about your mom's passing. I'm praying for you as you grieve this huge loss.
After the last few days' readings, I'm remembering why I don't read the minor prophets much! :-). Am grateful for 66 LL helping me to make sense of it for me and to see the lArger perspective, not just God ranting against Israel, Edom, and Ninevah.
ReplyDeleteThis is very convicting to me. It's certainly causing me to examine my motives and expectations. I'm not enjoying seeing myself in the gloating over others' misfortunes, in the demanding that God do what I want, in Jonah's temper tantrums, in listening to false preachers tell me what I want to hear.
Am I ready to truly confront my sin even when most of the culture, especially the Christian culture, tells me that I'm such a good person?? Ugh. I know it's not true - I see what's in my heart - but it feels better than the alternative.
"it's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously".
At the coast with family and friends this weekend. Am in awe of the small glimpse of God's infinite power in His creation. Truly amazing.
Praying for you in earnest. God will lift you out of this, for you are seeking His face and His alone.He is upholding you with His righteous right hand..He has His right arm encircling your shoulders and holding onto you and holding you up. He is doing a great work in you and thru you. I see Him when I read your words. Hold on, Our God will show up, He is mighty to save! Love you and praying for you.
ReplyDeleteBev, I am praying for you today. God is with you. Imagine all the precious pearls strung around your neck, giving you hugs today. You are a precious pearl. You are loved. I am so in awe of what God has done, He has such confidence in you, He keeps drawing you closer. Rest in His arms today. Be still and know He is God.
ReplyDeleteAng, Precious Pearl, you are loved. Know the love and prayers of the Pearls are with you. Rest in His arms. God is drawing you close to Him. What a blessed assurance to know your Mother is in the arms of God today.
Bev,
ReplyDeletePraying that God will overwhelm you with His love...He WILL receive the greater glory thru your life...you are walking it out...one step...one breath at a time. Abba Father sees you trusting His heart when you cannot see His hand. He does not take this act of love toward Him lightly.
Praying sister!
Donna
Bev,
ReplyDeleteYou are so loved. I so wish I could speak the words that would immediately restore your joy. Only God can speak those words to you deep down in your soul. I look forward to next weekend when I see you and can hug your neck and speak with you face to face to let you know what a difference you make in my life.
The walk with Jesus is all about perseverance. I am thankful for your perservance especially over these past two years. God has not brought you this far to leave you now. I know that you know God has not forsaken you.
I pray God will provide sweet rest for you tonight and tomorrow morning you will feel refreshed and realize that you made it through this day and you will make it through another one...because God is faithful and always will be.
That is who God is FAITHFUL and TRUE.
This is a song of Love I must sing to my Siesta Mother Pearl.
Sylvia
Beverly Brandon,
ReplyDeleteGod is not finished with you yet.
I want you to look around.
Look around this dark, sad place you are in right now and breathe deeply.
You should smell the scent of spikenard and fresh clean linens.
IF YOU HAD A LIGHT you would see a body wrapped in linen, prepared as a burial cloth.
NO chest rises and falls. NO breath slips between the lips. This body is dead and you are in the TOMB with Christ.
I've felt this for myself. A time of deep sorrow. Grave-like stillness. No glimpse of Glory here in this darkness.
But breathe deeply the scent of Spikenard and linen. And feel the promise that Resurrection Power is about to break forth in your life. The time of being in the Tomb with Christ and experiencing the death of our Saviour gives us a greater hope for what He has prepared for us.
God is not finished with you yet. Sit with Him. Keep watch. Enter your rest. We will experience His Power in our lives. I know it!
Father, I ask for Bev to feel Your Presence with her as she goes through this time of loss. I pray that every corner she turns will be another opportunity for You to reveal Your love and care over her. She may not see the promise yet, but she can see the hope. Father, I ask You to give Bev the ability to rest in Your time of quiet solitude and give her strength to endure until Your Power raises her up to experience the Living Christ abundantly preparing her way. Give her her Daily Bread. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Thank you very much for your words that sink deep in me and mean much! Isaiah 50:10.
ReplyDeleteBev, we will not light our own lights in this darkness. He alone is our Light.
ReplyDeleteLove the verse and the chapter you gave.
John 1...
This is why I love you, Pearls. What sweet ministering today! His Word is Life!
ReplyDeleteI'm not giving up.
ReplyDeleteMet some random precious older folks tonight in my old Fort Worth neighborhood and shared dinner with them; shared cancer stories with them; shared WHO God is and why I'm not giving up in midst of loss.
These 80-something-year-olds asked a host of questions about God and what HE was like. I want to be a life learner like that.
Such a privilege to share an evening with them. God was there.