Started this last night then the computer crashed ;-(
I haven't written in a while – moves, hospital visits (for Dad), holidays, and life in general have gotten in the way. I do intend to do my Advent devotions again so you'll see a few more tidbits in the next month.
How was your week? I know that it was Thanksgiving week here in the US? How was that for you who celebrated? Our family was together but we saw Dad go back to the hospital on Wednesday (he had just come home the Wednesday before). We received word that our uncle Jerry passed away on Tuesday (my sister Tina, my niece Alexis, and I made the trip down and back on Saturday for the funeral). We celebrated Thanksgiving in shifts – eating and visiting Dad in the hospital. Doesn't sound like a good week does it?
But somewhere in the midst of all this, I realized that as much as I complain about my life and my problems, I must admit that I am blessed. I've got a great family, a wonderful wife, and though money is tight, we are not going to go hungry. Scripture says, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not His benefits". I guess this is all part of my thoughts for this Advent season – I've been thinking about gifts and giving.
My hope and prayer is that we all can look past the circumstances and truly see what really matters. We are blessed and we can be a blessing (I thank all the friends who are blessings in my life!). As we move from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I pray that you will remember to bless and praise the Lord and forget not all of the benefits, all the good things that He has given you and I.
Be well,
Steve
Again, it's been too long in between posts but a lot has occurred since I last sat down to write something here. We have had a number of meetings – some personal, some church related, all focused on the future. In this season of Lent and the call to sacrifice, it has struck me at how hard it really is to give up thinking mostly about myself.
Recently, I took some time and got away from everything – home, church, even Kathy – and spent some time just listening for God's voice. I watched two videos – PBS Presentations "A Taste of Passover" and Veggie Tales' "The Girl Who Became Queen". The first was a night of music and readings associated with the celebration of Passover and was both moving and funny. The second is Big Idea's take on the story of Esther and was moving and funny also.
Passover, from a Christian perspective, is a foreshadowing of the grace of God as played out on Golgotha's hill at the cross. We move from the celebration of Purim to the celebration of Passover and I see in both celebrations a moving from bondage to expectation and hope – Esther saved her people's lives by her actions, Jesus saved His creation by His actions.
What always comes to mind when I think about Esther is Mordecai's challenge to Esther – that she was born for "such a time as this". It is interesting that God is never mentioned in the book of Esther but the story is one full of God's presence and His grace. God uses Esther to bring the people to a place of relying only on Him so that He could show His love for them.
I have gotten wrapped up in my health problems, trying to figure out my future, and realizing that I have been striving to control things far beyond my reach. I finally scheduled a doctor's appointment and after two weeks of dread, I went and it was not a bad experience at all – and I got a clean bill of health!
I have long held that one of God's signs of His favor toward me is blessing me with seeing hawks (which I dearly love) – a few days ago, I saw 3 in less than 5 minutes – just outside the house! I've seen one daily for about 2 weeks. And on returning from the doctor, I saw the most beautiful and largest red-tailed hawk I've ever seen!
I told God that I would praise Him whatever the outcome and I'm definitely praising Him now! This was my wake-up call and I'm not going to let it go to waste! I've spent nearly 2 months building some good habits. To go back to my previous habits would be a waste of God's grace. I may not be here to save a whole race of people but I am here for "such a time of this".
I can't make a hawk appear on my own but God can. I can't see the future but God can. I can't do much but He can do it all. I can only rely on Him because He can and will provide. So if in this season of Lent, I'll sacrifice my foolish pride and surrender to His love and mercy, God will lead me to the place of hope and rest.
Lord of all things on the earth and in the sky, praise you for your wonderful creation! In the beauty of the red-tailed hawk, we see how you engineer both small and great. In the hands of a young queen, we see how a people can be saved. In the blood of the Lamb, we see how we can be restored, renewed, redeemed. Lord, show us the ways that we are called to action in "such a time as this". Remove our prideful focus on self and give us eyes to see as You see. In the name of the blessed Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.
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