He is Good

Was reading through some letters the other day that were sent to our church from missionaries we support. It’s always so cool to hear how God is working in far away places!  The recent letters were re-capping the past year and different things God had done in 2011.  One paragraph stood out to me in particular — “We have experienced much joy, a little sadness, great victories and minor defeats, real trials and wonderful blessings. Through it all, the Lord has been gracious and good, as always. What a great God we serve.”  I’m sure that could sum up in a few words what most of us could say about 2011.

Yeah, last year had it’s ups and downs, joy and sadness, victories and defeats, trials and blessings. I love the perspective this ends up with though — Through it all, the Lord has been gracious and good, as ALWAYS. What a GREAT God we serve! Just this morning I was thinking of some things I had wanted to happen last year that didn’t happen and found myself thanking God that He was, and is, in control! He wants the best for us so much that He doesn’t just give us everything we want.  We can’t see the whole picture, but God can. I’m so thankful for that!  

Sometimes we have to follow Him even when we don’t want to.  I remember when we first moved to Guam. I didn’t want to come at all, but at the same time there was a peace in my heart that God wanted me to come. So I came. Now I don’t ever want to leave! God knows what’s best. Every. single. time. 

At the end of 2012 I have no idea where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing, but I do know that whatever happens, wherever God leads me, no matter what joy and sadness, victories and defeats, trials and blessings come my way I want to be able to say, “Through it all, the Lord has been gracious and good, as always. What a great God we serve!”

“Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart;

for consider what great things He has done for you.”

~1 Samuel 12:24

Living With an Eternal Perspective

“What will you do this week that will count for eternity?" I Read that question on a friend’s Facebook status tonight. What awesome words to live by!  Just made me think of how many ways my outlook and purpose in life would change if I really lived by that each day. My overall goal in life is to live with an eternal perspective, but just breaking that down to “what will I do this week?” or “what will I do TODAY that will count for eternity?” creates a lot to think about.  I know there are changes I need to make in this area for sure.

If I did away with everything in my life that won’t make any difference in eternity, what would be left? If I changed all my desires and things that I hoped for to being in perfect alignment with God’s desires, what would my heart look like? If changed everything that I strive for and aim to accomplish each day to what God sees as important for me to accomplish, what would my days look like? Of course, as imperfect people we won’t ever be able to live a perfect life like that, but just living with that eternal perspective each day and keeping our focus on eternal things will bring us closer and closer to accomplishing that goal.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

~Ephesians 2:10

What will you do this week that will count for eternity?  What will you do today that will help accomplish your goal for this week?

The Red Sea Rules

It’s a little tiny book packed with awesome truths from God’s Word…The Red Sea Rules.  The account of God parting the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass through and then crushing the pursuing enemy with the very same waters is incredible! The same God who parted the Red Sea is the same God who does whatever it takes to crush our enemies, lead us out of difficulty, and always makes a way where there seems to be no way. He’s a God of the impossible! God allows difficulties to come our way, but He always leads us out.

Red Sea Rule 1

Realize that God means for you to be where you are.

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon.”

~Exodus 14:1-2

The sea was before them, Pharaoh’s hosts behind them, and the mountains around them. And all this, be it observed, permitted and ordered of God.

~C.H. Mackintosh

Red Sea Rule 2

Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.

Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, “They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.” Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.

~Exodus 14:3-4

If we could only look upon a difficult crisis as an occasion of bringing out, on our behalf, the sufficiency of divine grace, it would enable us to preserve the balance of our souls and to glorify God, even in the deepest waters.

~C.H. Mackintosh

Red Sea Rule 3

Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them…So the Egyptians pursued them.

~Exodus 14:5-9

The great tyrant has not forgotten you, and he designs your capture and re-enslavement.

~Charles Spurgeon

Red Sea Rule 4

Pray!

When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

~Exodus 14:10

Their fear set them a praying, and that was a good effect of it. God brings us into straits that He may bring us to our knees.

~Matthew Henry

Red Sea Rule 5

Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.

Moses said to the people: “Do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

~Exodus 14:13-14

I am waiting on Thee, Lord, to open the way.

~J. Hudson Taylor

Red Sea Rule 6

When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.

The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”

~Exodus 14:15

I have found that if we go as far as we can, God often opens up the rest of the way.

~Isobel Kuhn

Red Sea Rule 7

Envision God’s enveloping presence.

The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.

~Exodus 14:19-20

For your Van-guard is the Lord, and your Rear-guard is the God of Israel.

~Isaiah 52:12 (Rotherham)

Red Sea Rule 8

Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

~Exodus 14:21-22

There came a mighty wind like a wedge and split that sea wide open, clear to its center.

~B. H. Carroll

Red Sea Rule 9

View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

The Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.

~Exodus 14:30-31

I know He tries me only to increase my faith.

~J. Hudson Taylor

Red Sea Rule 10

Don’t forget to praise Him.

Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:

“I will sing to the Lord,

For He has triumphed gloriously!

The horse and its rider

He has thrown into the sea!

The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

He is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

~Exodus 15:1-2

Wash your face every morning in a bath of praise.

~Charles Spurgeon

*Taken from The Red Sea Rules, by Robert J. Morgan