My Resolution

The end of this year brings thanksgiving for all that God has been and done in my life.  He has blessed me in innumerable ways this year.  His Presence in my life has blossomed in ways I cannot describe nor always understand.  I have seen His love, mercy, faithfulness, grace and peace in places that seem impossible.  I have seen Him be Who He is and I am awed and amazed every time.  Thank You, Lord, for drawing me closer to Yourself in 2011.  

As I think about making New Years resolutions, I can only find one resolution that I will make for 2012... I resolve to continue following Him wherever He leads me.  I realize that this sounds very non-specific, but, if I will follow Him on His path for me in 2012, I will be and do everything that He wants me to be and do.  Of course that means that I may go to places where I don’t really want to go, but, by faith and His grace, I will thrive in those places and in Him through it all.  THAT’S the part of following Him that I love.  He shines through it all.  I want others to see Him, not me, in all that I am and do.  “He must increase, but I must decrease...” (John 3:30, KJV)  That is my overriding desire.  It’s all about Him.  

“Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight.”  Psalm 119:35

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew 6:33

Waiting... still

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”  Habakkuk 2:3

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  Psalm 27:14

“Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”  Micah 7:7

“The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.”  Lamentations 3:25

The Lord always knows just what I need to hear when I grow weary of waiting on Him.  Thank You, Lord.  You are so good to me.  It’s coming, Lord, it’s coming.  I need your grace to wait until it does.  Thank You for providing just what I need.  

In The Bleak Midwinter

It’s a rarely sung Christmas carol, but I love it.  It speaks of the birth and majesty of my Lord and gifts that are given to Him.  Though each verse speaks to my heart, the last verse is my favorite.  It is all about what I can give to the Lord in response to Who He is and all He has done in my life.  That verse melts my heart every time I sing or read it. 

In the bleak midwinter,
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God incarnate,
Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But His mother only,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him:
Give my heart.

As I find myself in my own “midwinter” time and journey, this carol reminds me that the Lord is indescribable, perfect and holy.  There is nothing I can give Him that He has not already given to me.  He has no need for a computer, an iPod, a special toy, clothing, cookies, a coupon for a meal out or a gift card.  He has no need of earthly things at all.

This year I asked the Lord to show me what He does want me to give Him as my Christmas gift to Him.  He graciously showed me what He wanted and I gladly did just that.  The joy in my heart as I did it was “full”.  I could not stop grinning with joy.  It was unlike anything I might feel when giving a gift to others, even though that gives me an excited heart and delight.  But, there is nothing like giving Him my whole heart.  Just as the little drummer boy (yes, I know he is not in the Biblical nativity story), I too desire to always give Him the only things I have... my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength, ALL of me.  I just want to be what He wants me to be and do what He wants me to do.  It is the very least I can do.  It is my heart’s desire.  I am Yours, my Lord, and will follow You all the days of my life... all by Your grace.  Merry Christmas, Lord.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Mark 12:30

Dust

Lately the Lord has been showing me many scriptures that deal with death.  I began to wonder if He was preparing me for what is yet to be as a result of this constant headache... my transition from living on earth to living eternally with Him in Heaven.  I had forgotten that He had already told me that I would not die but that He would be glorified in my living with the results of this headache.  I was really wondering what He has in store for me in my health, so I just told Him what I was wondering (as if He didn’t already know...) and laid my heart before Him.  He responded and this is what He said.

“He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”  Psalm 103:14

“And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  Psalm 139:16

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7

“When He heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’”  John 11:4

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  Genesis 50:20

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”  Hebrews 10:36

No, God did not have to tell me these things, but He knows I am dust (sooooo human) and gave me His peace that passes all understanding to face whatever He has for me in my health.  He will take care of me in it all.  Humbly I thank You, Lord, for coming to earth, dying on the cross, being resurrected to give life eternal and saving me.  Please keep my eyes on You.  I again surrender all to You.  May Your will be done in and through me.  It is my heart’s desire to follow wherever You lead me.