It's been a long while since I posted to this blog (and thanks for the nudge - fbafs!) lots have happened, which I should have testified about, but didn't. So here's a quick rundown:
So, God surprised me this month. Really. There I was, minding my own business, wondering how this and that would happen (you know the drill), and I received a phone call asking: What about that trip to Spain, then?You see, it was a birthday party for a close relative, and I'd been invited to cross the Atlantic for the celebration. It wasn't even on the 'this and that' list I was considering, but I decided, hey, God can at least listen to a prayer about it. Next thing, I was on my way to Malaga! Oh, the beauty of it all! I'll never sing another worship song about mountains, hills or seas without replaying the photograph emblazoned on my mind. It was absolutely glorious. God was so real in the middle of His creation, I could not but applaud Him. The Rock of Gibraltar was a refuge during a battle three hundred plus years ago, and the feeling of being securely hidden inside the Rock was beyond words. I could gush endlessly about the experience, as e.g, to my mind, nature guards the Spanish. Everywhere we drove in Malaga, we were watched by the mountains on one side, and the seas on the other. And the Spanish culture - just, wow. They are brave enough to build their homes right up there in the high mountains, and feel secure, then take life and just live it. It was, in some places, like stepping back into times unsullied by modern advancement.Needless to say, I am grateful to my Father in heaven, for making a way for me to enjoy Him that much more. It was a glimpse of His power and might like I couldn't have envisaged, no matter how much I tried to conjure it up.I'm back in the land of reality now, but the memories of the watchful mountains will stay with me. The reminder that God will make a way when asked, and the knowledge that I face a future that He's spoken of, and is clearly able to make come to pass, makes my heart say:Thank You, Lord and blessed be Your glorious name.
I just read a moving post from a fellow forum member about how she worked for over five years on a book, and after a few setbacks, had an editor of a publishing house accept the manuscript. Together they worked on getting it published, then the editor rejected her work. After a year of the publishing company's time and expenditure! The lady in question appears to have accepted the disappointment with grace, and I pray the Lord continues to strengthen and open more doors for her. But the questions start to arise - was all that time wasted? By everyone involved? (the company was a Christian Publishing house), and where was the Lord along the journey? What does the writer do now? Submit elsewhere, or give up the project? This can be a real dilemma.I have no words of wisdom for the writer, seeing as I'm in the throes of such a setback. Although mine may be of my own making - I decided to take a short cut, that's turning out not to be so short. I guess the thing to do is, as they say, 'keep on keeping on'. Whatever you're doing today, however many setbacks you've had, God ultimately has a plan for your life - never mind how far off the plan you may think you are.On a slightly similar note, I read something by another writer the other day, which I'm going to insert here, because it's so encouraging:__________________________________________________________________....I believe that God has certain people in mind for some special tasks, though he may use others if they prove unfaithful. I do not believe that every aspect of every person's life is equally crucial to God's plans. For one person, God will make it extraordinarily clear what work they should pursue, but leave the choice of who to marry unclear. For another, whom they should marry will be made certain, but not where they should live. For another, God will dictate what role they should play in the church. Some people will be highly constrained by God in many aspects of their life, others in only a few. Personally, I believe God made it clear whom I should marry, insisted I go on a certain mission trip with the exact group I went with, and also guided me to take several jobs. (Some jobs I have worked at I am not sure of!) Many other details of my life SEEM like chance or my choice, but I know God is sovereign. I do know that I have strong conviction of God's will concerning some aspects of my life but lack it with regard to others. I believe it is sound advice to other Christians to EXPECT God's strong guidance in at least some matters, and his more mysterious walk by faith guidance in others. My father gave me some good advice when I was planning for college. He suggested studying Physics because it was a solid foundation for sudy in most of the sciences - Math, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, etc. Even if I decided I did not like Physics, it would not be a waste of effort. He was right. If you are not sure about God's will for your life, until you discover your own unique gifts, concentrate on the basics of learning things that will help you no matter what you end up doing: bible study, prayer, fasting, caring for the poor, etc. Read widely, find an accountability group or small group. Learn how to listen. These activities (and others that may occur to you) will prepare you for a life of service to God.____________________________________________________________________I, like most people, wish I had a crystal ball into which I can gaze (even occasionally), so I don't have to take the wrong steps in life, but the Lord's ways are for us to discover what each day holds, complete with ups and downs. I guess the thing to do is, as the above writer has said, listen and learn.Have a purpose-filled month!
