possible

Numbering Our Days

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“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – That is a great reminder of scripture, Psalm 90, which urges us to learn and watch the Lord put us into focusing upon the importance of life, of listening to the Lord’s Will for us. Number our days and be productive, yes. Number our days and pay attention, 100%. AND numbering our days gives us something to do while we are waiting – YES. Number our days and keep moving through them making the most of every opportunity.

I have often said that Jesus gives us pause where the devil gives up panic. We have an agenda and if disrupted, many might curse the Lord – but it is our worldliness which is a curse – and we must apply trust – we also must remember when we DO see something that the Lord has led us too – like people and events – to give Him the Glory.

Yesterday I was tired of hearing the wind howling, as it had been for 2 whole days – silly thing to be upset about – but the noise was bothering me – I just wanted the quiet and the change. Whom am I to be annoyed by the wind – that is not my call – there are much worse things in the world. the wind is done now. I also was debating yesterday – was I OK to drive – now that my back is subsiding in pain (still with ice and ibuprofen) – I was – and I both MUST appreciate when I was told and made to BE STILL and now when I am able to move, MOVE.  My craving for chicken made me move – and when I got to the store I met an old friend who was now working there. Cool Lord!  I was looking at the pile of dishes and of laundry and then when I was able to do them – I thanked the Lord.  Just the other day – my bad back made me alter plans and I was able to accept some big balloons for a neighbor who had not yet gotten home from shopping for a party. Interesting timing. And of course my biggest squeal to be sitting quietly and all of a sudden I got the call to go see that wienermobile – wow!  Do number my moments Lord and let me know that I am paying attention to the right things. One more crucial moment on friday (before my back went out), I was telling my friends about something I had done, helping people, and my friend said (with others listening) – “wow, you are definitely going to heaven”  – and I was able to correct gently and excitedly that I was giving a sermon about that exact thing – that it is not our good works that bring us to Heaven – because with man it is impossible – but with Jesus – with God – it is POSSIBLE!  and this was a teaching to three listeners, cool. AH – see trusting the Lord to put us in the right place and right time. He does.

Lord, teach me to number my days and find those ways to glorify and teach about YOU! 

Amen

Psalm 90:1-12

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death – they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Our Jesus Calling devotional book for today is so fitting – as God is – Written by Sarah Young for March 12th  – written as if Jesus is speaking this: “Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, to evidence that you really do trust Me. If you mouth the words, “I trust You” while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow. Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven. However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present. Because you are Mine, you don’t just pass time in your waiting. You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust. Keep your “antennae” out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 ESV 

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 ESV

Puzzle my crab, my world, my life

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Oh… they say if you don’t smell a smelly foul smell, then the hermit crab is still alive. Scary to see body parts strewn about, but he will eat them later. Crazy. Crazy to watch a molt of a hermit crab, especially not so hidden this time as apparently I don’t have deep enough cover, but the crab this time chose the underneath gap between water dishes. Freaky weird. (and I never know how the crab is going to pull itself out of this one – but so far he always has….)

One of my puzzles in life is wondering how God pieces it all together. I don’t believe we are to know or need to know everything, so don’t worry about what is not our job to worry about.  One can marvel, yes!!! Think if God just populated a world with done items (people, animals, plants, places) is inconceivable enough, but we have a living moving system, and growth, new creations, aging situations and spiritual life and growth independent of physical. It’s a marvel, it’s a puzzle of life, especially when someone only sees loose pieces.  (and we never know how the Lord is going to put ourselves as a civilization or people or individuals together forever – but so far we are still here – He has and always will have it ‘together’…)

My mom’s jigsaw puzzles from her birthday were printed by Walgreens on these nifty sticky-backed frames. They looked great pieced together, even from the backside, but that’s not the point. The puzzles were and are to be taken apart to reassemble and that’s the fun part in itself, plus the time to sit and do them. It’s a favorite activity of many, and one that others don’t even want to think about.  I like them, but don’t have time nor make time for puzzles when I feel that I am already puzzling life. There’s nothing wrong with a good puzzle, and the addictive nature leads to sharing and lending puzzles with each other. Instead of “let me see what’s on TV” (junk) – it’s “let me work 10 minutes on the puzzle.”

God’s puzzle for our lives is both vibrantly beautifully shown and then other aspects are hidden to us sometimes when we need to find new light to illuminate it – and other times pieces are hidden until looked for – some pieces may be withheld for years – some puzzles seem too easy but that is the Lord’s way too. Nothing is too hard for God and nothing is impossible – if He says it fits (or fits good enough for now) then He can make it work.

IN OTHER WORDS – LOOK HOW GOD CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE WORK  – IN THE HERE AND NOW AND IN THE FUTURE – IN THIS SMALL SECTION OF THE SMALLEST TIMEFRAME OF THE LARGEST PUZZLE OF THE LARGEST LIFE ETERNAL. 

GOD puzzles us with His world but in whole, He wants us to know He has everything under control – no puzzle for Him – all answers – all known. Let us depend upon God for the KNOWN. And work on the puzzle too – in His Time.

Can we just wait until He puts the pieces together? (the crab and the world and our lives?) I hope so.

Praise You Lord for having it all!

Amen

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Matthew 19:25-26 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”