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Footsteps
This an area to share moments in our life in which we
realize the significance of God. These are our daily
footsteps.
God's intelligence and supreme justice!
Job 42:2
I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of
Yours can be withheld from You. (NKJV)
I often wondered how God’s will is done when we are
given free will. If man is able to make his own choices, how
does God always have His purposes completed? I was given
insight to this a few days ago and I am still reeling from
the amazing intelligence of our God.
My son bought a tuxedo business and when we went into the
place we found quite a few clothing items missing. I was not
happy. Of course my son just took it all in stride but I was
really mad. I thought there is no way to get those clothes
back and this was not fair. How could someone take things
that did not belong to him anymore? He had sold everything
and was already given the money. However he decided to take
some of the clothing with him. I knew that we could not get
those things back. I did not see any remedy for this
situation.
Then all of a sudden out of
frustration and anger I said, “Okay, God I trust you. You
can take care of this situation.” However I must admit in my
mind I thought of all the possible solutions. I thought God
could make them return the items because that seemed to be
the only solution to the problem.
Immediately after I spoke those words the phone rang. My son
was on the other line. He said, “Mom guess what? I just
booked two weddings. Isn’t that great for my first day? This
is the slowest time of the year and I just got a really big
order”
Then I realized God
intervention for the situation. He allowed the previous
owner to take those items and not return them because of
mans free will but to balance the scales of His justice He
gave my son more business to make up the difference for this
injustice. I continue to marvel at God’s justice and His far
superior intelligence. His ability to have His purposes
fulfilled it truly amazing. What a great and might God we
serve!
Giving for the RIGHT reason?
This is the time of year we think of sharing with
others. I often think what makes Christians different from
others who are caring and kind. Those who believe that their
good works get them into heaven make me feel inadequate when
it comes to giving. They know how to give till it hurts.
People donate time to soup kitchens, give to “Toys for Tots”
programs and make gifts for children in other countries
through the “Operation Christmas Child”.
I was reading about the Secret Santa world of Larry Stewart.
Larry Stewart is a man who for 25 years gave away over a
million dollars. He found destitute people and would hand
them a $100 bill and say it was from a Secret Santa. He
started this in Kansas City. They now have a website
dedicated to being a Secret Santa. Their goal is to have a
Secret Santa Club in every city in the U.S. Although Larry
Stewart died two years ago from cancer his generosity is
being demonstrated in others. Anonymous donors gave away
money this year which had a stamp on the bills stating it
was from a Secret Santa and it mentions Larry Stewart.
What a legacy? What generosity! What Did God say to Larry
Stewart when he went to heaven? Do you think God said Larry
you have such a good heart don’t worry you can come into
heaven you are just what we need here in heaven. I can
guarantee that God did not say this if Larry had not
accepted God’s gift of His son Jesus Christ. No person on
earth truly knows what was in Larry’s heart but God knew.
Outward appearance would dictate that he should go to heaven
but God has only one way for us to enter heaven and that is
through His son, Jesus Christ.
So what makes us different? We must give out of a love for
God. Our first responsibility is to love God. Too many times
in church we are told to do good things for others but we
must always first do good things for God. Church should
direct us to know God not to just help others. Although
helping others is important, don’t forget your first love
and remember especially this time of year that God was
extremely generous and we should be extremely grateful for
such a wonderful gift as Jesus Christ. We need to examine
our heart and make sure we are giving for the glory of God:
not for the glory of self.
"Have a nice day"
While at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, I saw all the
scraps of paper in the wall. I was in awe. I was sure this
wall could never fall because the paper alone would keep it
standing erect. Every visible crack was filled. The height
that it covered was also truly amazing. I could not imagine
how someone got that high up on the wall. After looking at
the historic site and being totally stunned by the amount of
paper in the wall, my Jewish friend and I were getting ready
to write our note. We had the covering over our head and we
were both very quiet.
I
was convinced this was one of the most important events of
my life. I had no idea what I was going to write. As I
looked at the wall, I realized something. People came to
this wall to insert their petition to God. I began to wonder
what God would want. What would God write on His note if He
could write a petition? I wrote on the note “Have a nice
day”. This was my prayer for God to have a nice day. The
weight of everyone wanting something from Him must be
astounding and truly heartbreaking. Do we ever think what
God wants? I know that I don’t always think about God’s
needs, wants, and
desires. I cried and backed out of the area. I was not
allowed to walk forward until I reached a certain line and
then I was able to face forward.
I
was walking back to the car with my family and I was
communicating with God. I asked God how I could make His day
happy. I thought about it. My husband loves to verbally
share his daily life with me so I asked God to share His
life with me. All of a sudden, the most incredible, intense,
and overwhelming feeling of disappoint came over me. I do
not believe that it lasted more than a second before I told
God please take it away. Of course before I could finish
saying those words the feeling was gone.
To
say that it was a feeling of disappoint trivializes the true
nature of this feeling. I really do not have any words to
describe this feeling in any other way. I did not feel
depressed or even sad. It was total and complete
disappointment. He then said to me I feel that every day. My
puny physical body could not tolerate a small moment of this
disappoint but God feels it everyday all day long. I cried.
I had asked God to share His life and I was unable to listen
and understand all His pain. I cry today when I think about
that feeling. I can never take away the hurt God endures and
continues to endure because of all of us. I told God that I
would try each and every day to bring joy into His life
because I could never take away the disappointment He
experiences every day.
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