Believe, Trust And Follow

Lord, You know that this post has been brewing for quite a while.  I don’t know why You have delayed the posting, but You have.  Obviously this is Your perfect timing.  Thank You for letting me post it now. 

Another three words, Lord.  Three words that have impacted me as I continue my journey with You.  

Believe- believe that God is all He says He is

“We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”  John 6:69

“Yes, Lord, “ she told Him, ‘I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God Who was to come into the world.”   John 11:27

“Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”   John 14:11

Trust- trust that, since He is all He says He is, He is able to take care of anything that comes into our lives

“But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation.”  Psalm 13:5

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this”  Psalm 37:5

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Follow- go wherever He takes you, no matter what, knowing that He will never lead you where He will not keep you

“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere.  Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”  Deuteronomy 13:4

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me.”  John 10:27

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 11:1

Believe, trust and follow... a lesson and reminder that I need so very much in this long and tedious part of my journey with You.  Plant this deep in my heart, Abba Father, so that I may truly believe, trust and follow You as I walk with You throughout my life.  Thank You, Lord, for continuing to grow me up in You.  May all You pour into my life shine through me so that You are mightily glorified.  It’s really all about You.....

Back To The Pandas

Back to the pandas, Lord... You just showed me something about their eating and nutrition.  I never knew that panda bears could be used so powerfully in shedding light on Your Truth.  

On the panda cam, Lord, I just viewed one of the adult pandas eating its bamboo.  Now I know that pandas eat most of the day and need to eat a lot in order to meet their nutritional needs.  You showed me that we humans are like the pandas.  When we “eat” a little of Your Word, we are nourished some but at a minimal level.  However, when we “eat” all day long in Your Word and in prayer, we flourish and come to know You more and more intimately than ever before.  Like the pandas, we receive all we need to grow in You.  That’s what I want, Lord.  More of You, less of me.  Thank You for providing Your Word and drawing me closer and closer to You.  You are so good to me.  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Matthew 5:6

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.  The sun will not beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  Revelation 7:16-17

Black And White

I’ve been fascinated for years, Lord, with your panda bears.  They are so pretty, cuddly looking and playful.  Through the years I’ve kept up with several baby pandas (via a zoo’s panda cam) and watched them become “teenagers” and loved every minute of it.  However, not until today did I see Your spiritual lesson in their beautiful black and white coat.  It all seems so clear now.  

The white of the panda coat represents the times I believe You and all You are, do and say then act on that belief, Lord.  The black portrays the times that I say that I believe yet act as though I don’t.  Lord, I love it when I truly believe and act like it, but I abhor the times when I pretend to believe but act out of fear, confusion and doubt.  Like the boy’s father I waiver between belief and unbelief, but still my heart desires You more and more, Lord.  I am so grateful that You love me no matter what and keep growing me up in You despite it all.  I DO believe, Lord.  Thank You for not giving up on me when I act as though I don’t.  Thank You for forgiving me.  You are so good to me.  

Then there is the obvious, Lord.  I see Your purity in the white and evil in the black.  It’s so clear.  Mostly white on the panda.  You and your purity are victorious over evil.  So simple, Lord.  

Every time I see a panda, zebra, white tiger, sheep, Holstein cow, dalmatian, skunk or penguin, Lord, I will remember the lesson of Your love for me in spite of myself.  I really do believe, Abba Father.  Thank You for loving me anyway and nudging me forward toward greater belief.  

Changes

“See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

I know, Lord, that You never change.  I also know that You are a God Who changes Your children.  You change us from lost to saved.  You change us from babes in Your Word to being saturated in Your Truth and wanting more of You.  You change relationships, circumstances and so much more.  You, indeed, Lord, are a God Who changes Your people and their lives.  

Thankfully, You provide Your all-sufficient grace to walk through and make those changes that You desire in my life.  The last several days have made that abundantly clear to me.  You are changing my life in multiple ways and that makes me cling even more to You.  I don’t fully understand why You are making all these changes in my life, but I will follow wherever You lead me... all by Your grace, of course.  Thank You for Your peace in the midst of it all.

Taking things from my life and eventually adding others..... You give and You take away.  May Your Name be praised and You receive all the glory in and through all these changes.  

Refreshed

Well, Lord, it seems that You want us to return to Duke for further evaluation by two other doctors.  Waiting to find out when.  Thank You for Your perfect timing for those appointments. 

Last night, Lord, You know that I just wanted to quit this headache journey.  I was tired of hurting, tired of being poked and prodded, tired of no true answers to it all and tired of traveling from one doctor to another only to find that they can find nothing that answers the many questions about this headache.  I whined and complained... then I heard the song on the radio “Be Thou My Vision” and You started turning me around.  This journey is not about me.  It’s all about You.  I must “get over myself” again and stop trying to muddle through all of this on my own.  I’ll never make it if I don’t rely fully on You for every step of the journey.  You brought me to complete surrender again, however, I still need Your all-sufficient grace to live out that complete surrender in all of this.  It just seems to get more and more difficult (shouldn’t be surprised by that at all) and my headache hurts more and more with greater intensity.  The battle is getting so much more difficult.  Thank You for continuing to persevere in walking me forward until You reveal all that You want me to know about this constant headache.  

Forgive me (AGAIN!) for my wandering from You and Your ordained journey in me and through me.  I’m so grateful for Your long-suffering with me.  You are so good to me.  

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, and His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  I said to myself, ‘The Lord is my Portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”  Lamentations 3:20-24

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but  not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

One Day At A Time, Sweet Jesus

It’s official, Lord... my theme song now is “One Day At A Time”.  It’s a reminder to me to take one day... no, one moment... at a time.  It’s the only way that I can walk through this journey with You, Lord.  It’s the only way that I can keep my eyes on You as You diagnose and treat whatever gift or gifts that You have for me in my health.  Thank You so much for showing me once again that You are my only Hope.  Though I don’t know what to do, my eyes are on You.  By Your grace I will follow wherever You take me, trusting that You alone know what is best for all concerned.  YOU will make it all possible, for there is nothing that is impossible for you.  How grateful I am for Your unending love, wisdom, and guidance.  Lead and guide me in Your path for me.  I’m right beside You, Lord, with my eyes on You alone.  Please keep me beside You, not walking in front of You or behind You.  You know how I tend to want to get ahead of You.  One day at a time, Sweet Jesus.... one day (moment) at a time.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1-2