GOD'S WISDOM, OR MINE?

As I sank into preparations to teach about the wisdom of God this week, a great opportunity sprung up suddenly to rest in God's wisdom.  Our ten year old grandson Leo accidentally popped himself in the eye with an exercise band.  The immediate excruciating pain and blindness prompted a hurried trip to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital where he was quickly sent on to Harborview Hospital in Seattle.  At this point we have absolutely no idea what God is working out, but, we can be completely confident of this--He is wisely working out a perfect plan that is so superior to what our plans might be that there is nothing to compare.

Consider these thoughts that I love from AW Tozer. 

"I've got to decide whether I shall go my way or trust blindly in the wisdom of God.  If I trust blindly in God's wisdom, God promises, 'I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight' (Isaiah 42:16)." 

"But if a man wants his own way, the Lord will let him go his own way.  We have to decide as Christians whether we insist on our plans and ambitions, or whether we will take God's way.  If we insist upon our plans and ambitions, we imperil everything we have, because we lack the wisdom to know how to do it.  You dare not run your life."

God is working out in His perfect wisdom good things for our Leo's life.  May we rest in Him.

See you Thursday morning for a good discussion of the wisdom of God with great practical applications to our daily lives.

OMNISCIENCE AND MY LIFE

Hebrews 4:13  "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

The great theological word "omniscience" may seem unrelated to you on a daily basis. But actually, it should bring either terror, or seriousness and delight to our lives because it has to do with God knowing everything--everything.

In our self-willed and independent-minded state we generally overlook the fact that the God of the universe knows absolutely every detail about our thoughts, words and actions. When we sink into understanding this more fully we surely must be moved to bow before Him in great humility and ask for forgiveness. Knowing that He loves to forgive, then brings our hearts to delight that He knows our every heartache, difficulty and pain--and that He wants to be with us through it all.  

God knows and cares just as much about the person who ignores Him as for the one who embraces Him.  But the one who ignores God misses the point of his life and therefore looks for purposes that end up being mundane and unfulfilling, and difficulties have no meaning. Yet there will still be an accounting to God.   A big part of the delight the one who embraces God enjoys is the understanding that God does know every detail of their life; what bliss in seeing purpose of life and what comfort in trials, sorrows and disappointments.  

"Hebrews 4:13b "...but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

This Thursday morning we will continue our study of the attributes of God with a focus on His omniscience.  Don't forget that there is a women's retreat this Friday evening through Saturday afternoon at Camp Gilead.  If you would like to ride with me, let me know and register online at campgilead.org.

ARE WE STILL AROUND AFTER WE DIE?

Funerals and memorial services give us good reason to think about our own passing from this world.  After all, death comes to everyone and we would quite foolish to ignore something so certain.  With the passing of Billy Graham and a dear friend Jerry Gary during the past couple of weeks I started thinking about a poem written by Mary Frye in 1932.  This poem very commonly is found written in the pamphlet you receive during a service for a deceased person as to how that person is still here and you can find them in the winds and snow, etc.  It has always struck me as an incredible wrong train of thought.  So, I've taken the liberty to write it as I would like it for my funeral some day.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

But, I am not a thousand winds that blow.

I am not the diamond glint on snow.

I am not the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am not the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,

I am not the swift, uplifting rush

Of birds in circling flight.

I am not the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I am in Heaven on high

More alive than ever, you see,

Because Jesus rescued me.

To God be the Glory!

Ladies, see you on Thursday morning to talk about this incredible God that offers to rescue every man, woman, and child.  2 Peter 3:9  "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Ezra's painting of Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara seemed fitting for my musings today. :)