How many of you realize that God is in all truly good things that touch a believer's life? Amen?
My dog is so loyal that, I noticed yesterday, when I went into the kitchen to use the computer, he followed me and laid out on his side on the tile floor for a nap, underneath the table where I had my computer propped. How comfy was that? Probably not very. For years, every time I take a nap on the weekend (and buddy, you better believe that's often), if I absentmindedly shut him out of the room, he will lay across the bottom of the shut door, on the outside of the room, patiently waiting for mommy. A few times recently I have sent him on up to our bedroom after Gary has gone to bed to "take a nap" (that's Charliespeak for time to lay by Laurie's bed for awhile). I nearly tripped over him going in to go to sleep later because he was laying by the door, waiting for me. He could not get to me, so he did the next best thing. He flanked the door that led to me. In all of creation, next to human beings of course, it's tough to find any living thing that approaches a dog for loyalty and selfless love. Charlie has an entire family that loves and is devoted to him. We have yet to figure out why or how he senses that he is my dog (he was a gift to me eleven years ago). God just decided to make him that way, to give him to me as a tangible reminder of His love for me.
Charlie, though a wonderful example, is just one of many expressions of love, just one of many precious gifts God has given me over the forty-plus years I have walked this broken sod. I was reminded of him because he is, OF COURSE, right here in my study at my feet.
Sometimes, in the heat of battle, I take my eyes off of Jesus, who the Bible says is the "author and finisher of our faith." I forget that I am not to fight the battle, but only need to be still, as God told Joshua. I will be most victorious when I am only looking at Jesus, only basking in His perfect love and understanding that He has his arms of protection around all that matters most to me. If I focus on what He is doing, rather than what my enemy is threatening, the battle will be won, and won handily. He said this to Joshua, that mighty warrior: "For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." (Joshua 1:5b, NLT)
My friend Emmanuel Chekwa once told me, when I was looking for a job, that I should be filled with "joyful expectation." That phrase has never left me. I pull it out often and I have quoted it to others. When we have a need, we should excitedly look to see what our Father is going to do! He takes EXCELLENT care of His children.
My dog is so loyal that, I noticed yesterday, when I went into the kitchen to use the computer, he followed me and laid out on his side on the tile floor for a nap, underneath the table where I had my computer propped. How comfy was that? Probably not very. For years, every time I take a nap on the weekend (and buddy, you better believe that's often), if I absentmindedly shut him out of the room, he will lay across the bottom of the shut door, on the outside of the room, patiently waiting for mommy. A few times recently I have sent him on up to our bedroom after Gary has gone to bed to "take a nap" (that's Charliespeak for time to lay by Laurie's bed for awhile). I nearly tripped over him going in to go to sleep later because he was laying by the door, waiting for me. He could not get to me, so he did the next best thing. He flanked the door that led to me. In all of creation, next to human beings of course, it's tough to find any living thing that approaches a dog for loyalty and selfless love. Charlie has an entire family that loves and is devoted to him. We have yet to figure out why or how he senses that he is my dog (he was a gift to me eleven years ago). God just decided to make him that way, to give him to me as a tangible reminder of His love for me.
Charlie, though a wonderful example, is just one of many expressions of love, just one of many precious gifts God has given me over the forty-plus years I have walked this broken sod. I was reminded of him because he is, OF COURSE, right here in my study at my feet.
Sometimes, in the heat of battle, I take my eyes off of Jesus, who the Bible says is the "author and finisher of our faith." I forget that I am not to fight the battle, but only need to be still, as God told Joshua. I will be most victorious when I am only looking at Jesus, only basking in His perfect love and understanding that He has his arms of protection around all that matters most to me. If I focus on what He is doing, rather than what my enemy is threatening, the battle will be won, and won handily. He said this to Joshua, that mighty warrior: "For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." (Joshua 1:5b, NLT)
My friend Emmanuel Chekwa once told me, when I was looking for a job, that I should be filled with "joyful expectation." That phrase has never left me. I pull it out often and I have quoted it to others. When we have a need, we should excitedly look to see what our Father is going to do! He takes EXCELLENT care of His children.
No comments:
Post a Comment