My Week With God

“Comfort, o comfort, My people” says your God.
“Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her that her warfare has ended,
That her iniquity has been removed,
That she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins

Isaiah Ch 40

“My” people-affectionate love. “Abba” Father
“Your” God- “I belong to you. And you belong to me.”
“I am yours, you are mine”
“Come all you who are weary and burdened. I will give you rest.”
“Don’t Worry.”

There were a few plans I had, some places I wanted to go for vacation but they fell through.

But that was okay because I had a week with God.

I laughed, cried, got angry, wrestled and quarreled.
It’s interesting how my relationship with God can be so similar to other relationships.

There were two main themes to what God had showed me.
His fatherly adopted love and his great sovereignty, even over me and my fallible heart.

The Book of Hosea is what was referenced to bring me to salvation fifteen years ago
Wow, has it really been that long?
How the time has flown by

When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more I called Israel,
the further they went from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them.

This is some pretty affectionate love. Love I so desperately need but could never earn.






One day last week the Lord brought me to this scripture in 1 Kings. A prayer from Solomon.
Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
1 Kings Ch 3

Do my prayers please God or are they self centered?

Do I pray for one man’s struggle that may live as far as Africa?

Do I pray prayers that I will never see the result of this side if Heaven?

Do my prayers please God?

…The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this…
Amazing. God Almighty was moved by one man’s prayer. He was actually “choked up” by Solomon’s prayer.

Another day I was angry because of my sin areas. I felt that God wasn’t helping me enough. I want a quick cure for my sins so that I can “move on”.

Then God gave me a picture of my son, Sean, knocking on my door. When I opened it Sean has lost much weight, had been in trouble with the law, track marks in his arm, and disheveled clothes on, yet he was turning to me for help. (This was just an image)

What should my reaction be?

Would I give him a card with the closest methadone clinic? Would I send him away for help? Or would I bring him in, clothe him, feed him, counsel him, and let him rest?
…It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them…
God wants to do this with me. He wants to walk me through this. Not give me a quick cure or whip me into shape like a harsh taskmaster.
…I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love…

It’s funny the way even my sin can “help” my relationship with God.

Then there was further encouragement
I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.
You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you.
Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.
You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.
I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you.
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high
Leviticus 26
Each line of this scripture conveys a great promise!


Then another day I read about God’e sovereignty at the birth of Christ
Angels visited the shepherds
Yet the Pharisees were visited by no angels nor did they see a star
The wise men saw a star that “stopped” over the manger
There is actually more if you want it (haha)
But this was a small poem God put on my heart:


No one so good, no one so great
Maker of the Galaxies, death was your fate
Omnipotent, yet bled for my sake
No one so good, no one so great

Sweet Father

Mercy

Many spears that I have thrown

I have chased you, all alone

through the desert



Tender

a bruised reed you will not break

A smoldering wick you will not take

Despite the evil



Gentle

My Lord ,You’ve played your harp for me

Though my spears I throw endlessly

You’re my sweet David



Loving

Who should have many opportune time

Raised your great sword that’s stronger than mine

For you have spared me



Gracious

You have honored me, oh God

Because of the name I bear

Though I’m so sinful