KNOWING GOD THROUGH HIS GOODNESS

Yesterday morning I felt too ashamed to come before God and ask Him for forgiveness over something I repeatedly did.  I begin most days at dawn in the presence of the Lord in worship and listening for His voice of pleasure and fellowship, and for any assignment He may have for me.  Two days before I’d been given some assignments to complete.  I made my notes before ending prayer so when I returned from work I could carry out my mission.  However, when I got home I prepared and ate dinner in front of the television (a very draining distraction for me).  After eating I just sat there watching meaningless programs, too tired to get up.  I then fell asleep, waking up several hours later and went to bed.  Despite my good intentions to complete my assignments I had succumb to the same scenario for two days.  And each morning I got up apologizing to God for failing to do what He had asked me to do. 

But on this particular morning I came to our secret place convicted and overwhelmed with grief over my sin.  Instead of just asking for forgiveness, I also asked for deliverance that I may accomplish His purpose. Before pulling out of the driveway in route to work I was still praying when I received a Bible Verse text of the day on my phone. 

“Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.” – Psalm 25:7 [Amplified Bible]

Tears of gratitude filled my eyes as I processed this truth.  God’s forgiveness is based on His goodness---- (grace, mercy) and not my performance of good deeds!  I can never earn God’s forgiveness. All my righteousness is as filthy rags before Him.  It is only when our righteousness is a response to God’s goodness (grace, mercy, forgiveness) toward us that it is accepted and He is glorified.
When I got home from work, unwinding in front of the TV didn’t even cross my mind.  Instead I meditated on God and His goodness as I joyfully prepared dinner, ate, and completed my assignments.

MORNING REFLECTIONS

up before dawn
coffee brewing
scattered thoughts
by candle light writing
how blessed i am
God is so good to me.

children grown
with children of their own
husband gone
home alone.

life is still good
with God it's even greater
abiding in Him
and He abides in me.

OUR FATHER IS ALWAYS AT WORK!

Jesus said the Father is ALWAYS at work.  We often miss God working around us because we don’t know what His Work looks like, nor do we know when He’s inviting us to join Him because we spend so little, if any, quiet time in His Presence. 

There’s nothing more fulfilling than being able to discern where God is working and joining Him in that work.  Last week God invited me to join Him in His Work in the life of a certain individual.

About 8pm there was a knock on the door.  “Who is it?” I asked, no one answered.  I looked out the window and saw who I thought was my older brother but when I opened the door I saw it wasn’t him, it was someone unknown to me. 

“May I cut your lawn, ma’am?”
“For how much?”
“Do you have a back yard?” 
“Yes” I replied. 
“Let me take a look, you don’t have any dogs do you?”
“No.”
He went around the back of the house to look and returned. “Ma’am, I’ll cut your front and back yard for $20.00.”  

While he was cutting the grass, I went back to my writing.  In my mind I saw Abraham when he welcomed visitors and rushed to prepare a meal for them.  I became overwhelmed with the need to prepare dinner for this man that asked to mow my lawn. 
“Make some cornbread!”  I heard the Holy Spirit say.  So I quickly got up and made some cornbread, and heated up some spaghetti and my last piece of fried chicken.
 “What else Lord?” I asked.  As soon as the question left my mouth I thought about the “Knowing God Personally” tracts on my desk.  I ran upstairs and grabbed one and placed it with the napkins and fork atop the covered plate of food.

When he finished, I gave him the $20 and the food I had prepared. 
“God told me to fix you dinner” I said.
“God told you to fix me dinner?” he replied with a look of skepticism.
“God said you hadn’t had your dinner, and to fix you a plate to take with you.” 
“I didn't have dinner. I know there’s a God because you just proved to me that there is!  Thank you.”
 
As he walked away from the house I could hear him say, “I’ve got dinner!  Thank you, thank you.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

On April 25th my mother would have celebrated her 77th birthday.  She died on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2006 at 11:30pm.

 I never realized how much my life mirrored my mother’s life until recently.  As teens and young adults we witness the weaknesses of our parents and vow never to make the same mistakes they made.  And many times without realizing it (perhaps because we judged without knowledge) we find ourselves walking in their shoes.

 I’ve also followed her in the good things she accomplished in life.  She was an avid learner and teacher of the Word of God.  I too share her passionate devotion to God and His Word.  We both served (and I continue to serve) as ministers in our local church, and we’ve written teaching materials and booklets to edify and encourage the Body of Christ.  In her mid-fifties, my mom wrote a religious column for a community newspaper (Bulletin-Chicago). Since July of last year I’ve been writing a Christian column for a south suburban community newspaper (The Shopper-South Holland); I’m in my late fifties.

 One form of writing my mother excelled in was poetry (a form I struggle with).  The following is one of her favorites.

“The Harmony of Life” by Cordelia Ann Miller

Life is full of harmony somewhat like a song
Full of the good that we have done
And also full of the wrong.

Smiles and laughter, sorrows and tears
Follow us all down through the years
The miracle of birth, a part of each day
And the mystery of death, quietly slipping loved ones away.

Yet, life is good I say
For we know that to live is to die
To laugh and be happy and then to cry

And as I grow on in years
I find life sweeter even with all of its sorrows and tears
For I’ve found the hope and joy of ages past
And it’s built on God and I know it will last.

 I’ve found the light of life at last,
A light that cannot be surpassed
By the sorrows and tears life before me besets

 Yes, life is like a song full of harmony
As long as my God walks along beside me.