The Journey--January 2011

January 17, 2011

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’  Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.  You will also defile the covering of your images of silver, and the ornament of your molded images of gold.  You will throw them away as an unclean thing; you will say to them, ‘Get away!’  Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you sow the ground…”  ~Isaiah 30:21-23

 Everywhere I go, in everything I do, I hear a gentle whisper in my heart guiding me to foster care or adoption.  Scripture, pastors’ sermons, friends’ conversations—even if unrelated—I hear it, as though God is saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”  And then I read Isaiah 30:22—about defiling idols and saying to them “Get away!”  Just this last week I found myself on my knees asking God to take away my desires for another baby—something I’ve longed for always, maybe even an idol.  And yet, my husband is not where I’m at.  If this is to be our path, I pray his heart would change also.  Continue to guide me, Lord, into Your ways.  Lead me not astray.  Amen.

 

January 21, 2011

“Look among the nations and watch—

Be utterly astounded!

For I will work a work in your days

Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”

~Habakkuk 1:5

 

Lord,

I do not know what You have in store, and I do not feel adequate to accomplish any great task, but I know that You are God, and I know that all things are possible in You.  So I give my life, my future, my talents, my desires to You that You might use me for Your purposes, for Your glory, to accomplish Your great plans in Your power.  Amen.

 

January 26, 2011

Exodus 14

When the children of Israel were up against the Red Sea, it seemed they were out of options.  The Egyptians were in pursuit and they had nowhere to go.  And yet with God, anything is possible.  He is not a God limited to our world, to our understanding of the possible options.  He makes a way where there is no way.

Lately, I have felt boxed in—trapped by my own dreams and desires.  The evil of selfishness, sadness and grief pursuing me from one direction and the vast, ominous sea of the unknown future hemming me in on the other.  But God has plans and purposes that I cannot see or even possibly imagine.  I don’t know what He will do, but I know I don’t have to plunge into the cold waters alone.  I know His plan will be a good one.  Maybe He’ll part the sea, or maybe we’ll walk on the water together.  Whatever it is, My God is my strength and my song, not my circumstances.  He is my salvation, He is my God and I will praise Him.