Thursday, April 29, 2010

Did you see Him?

When you saw that flower in its simply beauty contrasted with the complexity of the highway that it grew besides, did you marvel at the paint and not the Painter?

When you made eye contact with the little girl who offered you a big smile as she was being wheeled around the grocery store with her mom, did you compliment the mother and not the Father?

When you were interrupted from your daily grind by someone asking a question, needing a hand, wanting someone to talk to…did you remember Who you were helping?

When that topic of conversation came up for the Nth time, could you feel Him as He was prodding your heart and asking you to dwell on it, or was it just coincidence?

Did you see Him today as you walked into the coffee shop, out of the grocery story, and through your front door?

Did you hear Him today as you conversed with His creation, spoke with His children, and enjoyed His melody?

Did you thank Him today for the wonder of the full moon, the accomplishment of a job well done, or the peace of finishing another day by His grace alone?

Or, like me, did you forget that you are child of an amazing Father who delights in conversing with you?

He delights in lavishing us with every good and perfect gift. He enjoys speaking to us through His creation, gently calling us away to spend time with Him…

Lord, may we see you even in the most mundane tasks. May we hear you even in the most common of sounds. May we know you better even in the midst of understanding our surroundings less.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

the un’s of our faith

Unexpected. Unknown. Unplanned.

If I were asked this week what three words defined my life right now, it would be these.

I didn’t expect that to happen. I didn’t know things would turn out the way they did. I wasn’t planning on having things go that way.

Tonight, I know that God knows. I know that what I didn’t expect, God expected. What I didn’t know, God knew. What I didn’t plan, God planned.

He knows because He is all knowing. He is all encompassing in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom…and even when we question and doubt and wonder if He looked down on our predicament and think “wow, didn’t see that one coming, ok, lets roll with it and see what happens…”…He still knew.

His ways…higher.

His thoughts…greater.

His love…better.

He has comforted me and those around me time and time again over the past few weeks, days, and even hours, with the reminder that just because we didn’t expect it to happen…He did. Just because we didn’t know that it would turn out that way…He did. and Just because we didn’t plan on having things go differently that we wanted…He did.

And He loves us.

And He knows us.

And His grace is sufficient for us.

Oh, what a beautiful God we serve! May we seek to desire more of the Un’s in our faith that bring us to a deeper understanding of the One who knows, plans, and expects!