Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20 ... I Kings 21 - 22 "Don't try to get out of anything prematurely"
1 Kings 21: 25 Ahab, in open defiance of God , set an alltime record in making big business of evil." So many kings with so much control of their kingdom and lives. Ahab did penitively submit and God blessed his repentance. I Kings 22:5 - "Before you do anything, ask God for guidance." Seems to me that they looked at prophets like Micaih as "doom and gloom." Wonder if today, Christians are making the same mistake. Someone asked me this week---"where is the joy in all of this, seems like so much doom!" Oh! The joy isn't in our circumstances---it is in HIM---He plunges us into a sea of joy - Ezra 6:22 but sometimes I'm not there yet. So, what lingers with you as you close the book of I Kings today? For me, it's valuing God's agenda of holiness over managing my life and my family well. Am I more concerned with letting God form Christ within me than I am with being right, doing well, leaving a mark, managing it all well? Galatians 4:19 - oh, that Christ be formed in me and you! And as I sit in a Dallas hospital while my daughter is in surgery having a suspicious growth removed from her thyroid, I am deeply encouraged to read the verse 66 LL quotes at the end of this chapter: "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come to you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help." James 1: 2-4
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Ooops. I did my post last night and pushed draft instead of publish. My mistake. So sorry I missed having it up. My daughter Blair is in surgery here in Dallas for the next 2 hours. Thyroid lobectomy for suspicious growth on her thyroid. The nurse just called me in the waiting room from the OR and with tears in my eyes I picture the Great Physician with my girl hovering over. She is in Good Hands! Thanks for your prayers.
ReplyDeleteBlair is out of surgery. Went very well. Removed half of her thyroid and tumor. Preliminary path on tumor is benign. Hurtle Cell Adenoma. Thanks so much for praying. She is in recovery. God is good, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteSo thankful Blair did well today. I continue to pray for you all. With a grateful heart for you-Love, A
ReplyDeleteBeautiful news, Bev.
ReplyDeleteI just love that word...benign.
And I spent time in the chapel at the hospital my brother is in tonight. I sang songs, hymns to God.
I Am Satisfied
He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Need
Sweet Hour of Prayer
and a few others...of course, I was all by myself in there and the room is soundproof.
Then I read those verses you posted today as a prayer. I just love them. I wrote them on an index card after reading that chapter in 66LL. Tonight they became my prayer.
Tell Blair that in my heart, I'm sending her a cup of lemon and honey tea to soothe her throat after the surgery. On our plates are melt-in-your-mouth lemon shortbread cookies. And a heart-shaped, cream-cheese and raspberry jam tea sandwich. We are sharing our favorite visual thoughts from the book of Revelation. The crystal sea...the emerald rainbow...saints like pillars in God's temple...The Man on a white horse...His eyes blazing...
beautiful thoughts to make her day a little brighter!
Love you both very much.
Praise the LORD God Almighty for what HE was able to accomplish through the doctors and medical team to extend Blair's health today. You provide so much strength for Blair, I must believe as she has watched how beautifully you have honestly trusted the LORD with your own health issues.
ReplyDeleteBev, you continue to remain in my prayers as well as Blair and your precious family who teach me much about the power of the LORD when I trust Him no matter what.
A Song I must Sing to You!
Bev - So thankful to God that surgery went well and that He gave you His peace in the midst of it!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as to what lingers from 1 Kings. It is putting personal holiness ahead of efficient management or success. In some ways, that seems so hard to do, and in other ways, it feels so freeing.
It's being aware in every circumstance of what's going on in my heart. Am I trying to manipulate to get my way? Am I insisting on being right? Am I demanding to be understood? Instead, in those situations, I am trusting that God will show me what's in my heart and choosing to let go of my way and turn to His ways. I do want Christ to transform everything about my heart and mind.
I was talking with my husband last night about all of the relational hits we've had over the past two years, in the midst of having two children. It's been insane. But we both see God doing so much in us that we are grateful for each opportunity to grow closer to Christ.
You're right, Bev. The joy is in HIM, not our circumstances.
Cici, you honor your LORD well in the midst of a little chaos~
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