And I have been remiss.
Wednesday night we enjoyed Stone-made chicken enchiladas, mixed greens salad, and butterscotch brownies with pecans. While I am at it, ask God to protect Brother Matt, even now driving to Seattle to deliver a car to one of his children.
Today was another good day. Disconnected with "Bob" at about 11:00, then back to work for a short afternoon. I was able to find the nearly $3,400 mistake in my thus far crowning achievement at work: a nearly year long effort to develop a spreadsheet allowing me to forecast expense activity for operations that the actual bills run on average of three to five months in delay. I had an ideas that a good friend helped me develop into a fantastic use of Excel. It is great when I can find the solution, even more to have the strength and concentration to keep at it.
And that brings me to the primary topic of discussion. What is it we mean "to persevere?" we move in and out of the elements of the day, mostly planned through the desires that we have to get things done, only to be surprised when God interrupts. I dare say that most interruptions are not welcomed by us, for at best it might mean a significant alteration to your plan, but it might not be the kind of interruption that goes much beyond that sort of irritation. Otherwise, the interruption likely brings with it much more: uncertainty, fear, doubt, despair, a struggle for the heart and mind.
Where do those go for the necessities to face this kind of interruption, when faith in God is not their life? To live as if life is a series of random chance occurrences that just happen I believe leads down a road of consuming frustration and fear. Is it any wonder that we try really hard to fill our lives with that which we think will affirm for us our control over us?
The interesting part of this is that it takes a certain faith to believe that you have control over the things in your life. And when life throws a curve ball, you go to that place where you have faith you can once again demonstrate your ability to control things and you find that there is nothing there. What to do?
God's way does require faith. But his faith, given to us as a gift, generating a softened heart to hear his call also gives assurance that through the stormy interruptions, though the way ahead is obscured (for our benefit, I will add), we have this calm hope and a peace that the outcome is already in the hands of the one who loves us so completely, even to his death on a cruel cross, paying the debt I owe for my transgressions against this holy God. And this hope and peace is secured in us by his Spirit, living in the soul place long ago created for just that indwelling. What an expression of lavish love that God would design that he should live in the hearts of men, to be their God and we should be his people.
Why is it difficult for others to see? I think the number one reason is expectations. The rest of the world (non-believers) looks to those with faith to see that it matters to us. Yet we behave as if our faith is that which we don during the one day a week exercise and when things in our world go awry. We are to be his always, live as the adopted sons and daughters that his love has made us now to be. And his promise to be our shepherd, staying by us, lovingly guiding us to the prize, the day we enter into his rest in Paradise, is our great joy, even in the face of the clouds in the life. We don't get to see the outcome when we continue to face interruptions, but God does, and that is all we ever need to know.
Thanks ever and all praise to the One, true sovereign God overall things, for his work in my life and giving me eyes to see it.
A most delicious meal tonight. Ham a cheese Mac Metzger with onions, Caesar salad and pumpkin pie with cool whip.
Thank you, too, for your continued prayers. God bless you.
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