Category: Spiritual

Numbers 11:11

He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?

Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. When “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope,” the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.

 

Go Dawgs!

At the beginning of the year, I resolved to let go of my tendency to take on life by myself and to become reliant on God, through Jesus Christ.  So this morning I thought I’d post on what has happened so far this year.

In 2011, God used events to show me that I really didn’t trust him.  And it was true.  As a result, I was consumed by anxiety. World events that I could see frightened me.  Part of the reason I worked so hard was fear of tomorrow.

So I “let go, and let God.”  I repented for my unbelief in not trusting the one who created me, had shown me such mercy, and showered me with blessings of a loving wife, son, and family.  My prayer life changed.  In addition to my morning prayers, I talked to Him all day long, thanking him, asking for help and guidance in nearly every task I undertook.  If I felt the old feelings of fear and doubt, I told Him.  My belief and trust grew.

I got a contract job in January with Nortel maintaining software.  A few hours a week. When I got my first paycheck (first one in a few months) I felt confliction about tithing.  So I told Him  I trust You with my life, so what is money?  I wrote out a check for 10%.  A few days later, I got a call from my Insurance man on a Friday evening.  They were going to cut my costs on home insurance and almost half on my car insurance.  He said, “I can tell you are looking for a catch, but there is none.”  There wasn’t a catch and I did save a chunk.  Coincidence?

In February, I got a new customer to develop a business website. At the end of March, my Nortel contract was supposed to end, but I got extended for 3 more months.  I continued to look for employment, and got some interviews, but no job.  I stayed buried in the Word.  I watched world events continue to spiral downward, but instead of the fear I used to feel, I felt expectation of how He would protect me from what I saw happening.  Any time I did feel anxiety, I told Him, and the stress would leave.

I helped do some work with a friend and got to meet George Herring.  In exchange for the work, he trained me.  I always thought my weakness was skinny arms and legs, but George made me learn about my core muscles.  My body and my will got stronger.  Ask me about Snow Bunnies sometime.

In April, I began to look for retail space to try to launch Tech Harbor/Loganville Linux.  It was going to be expensive, and most places wanted a 24 month contract.  It seemed so risky Suddenly, a place in Loganville opened up.  I met the owner, Butch, to look around.  Butch was a Christian and willingly testified about being covered by the blood.  “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, and trust that God will help you.”  I prayed on it for a few weeks. I signed a lease on May 1.

The next day, I got a call from a recruiter about a Drupal job and I was excited.  I interviewed on the phone, then on-site.  On Monday I will start a 5 month contract with Turner Broadcasting doing Drupal sites for NBA.com.  I have worked on Drupal since 2008, and had dreamed being a big-time Drupal developer.

So what I’ve learned is this: I don’t know what the future brings, but God does.  He can be trusted to do what He said he will do for those that trust in Him.

So today, I give him all the Praise and Glory to God, for the things he has done for me, to the Holy Spirit, who has comforted me these 142 days, and to Jesus who shed his life to save me.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

[thethe-image-slider name=”Thankful”]

 

I read somewhere that we are created in God’s image.  And one of the gifts bestowed upon us is that deep inside every man and woman is a special space “I am that I am”.  A gift from I AM.

Here’s a song to ponder on that one.