Monthly Archives: February 2019

God’s Omniscience: Take a Number! -Karla

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 When I was a child in the early 70’s, life was a little more carefree. The things that might have caused an adult to be inconvenienced or annoyed were actually little pleasures to me. You can probably think of some examples. For instance, when a kid on the elevator quickly pushes all the floor buttons so they can see them light up. To the adult who is in a hurry, this means an added delay for the appointment.  When a child squirms around and gets distracted as he/she is getting in the backseat. Instead of buckling up themselves, the parent has to take a deep breath not to be frustrated needing to be somewhere in minutes.

Other little annoyances have nothing to do with time, but keep adults from talking or concentrating on the task at hand. A kid thinks it is funny at times to repeat your every word you say or imitate your every action and just die laughing.  Meanwhile you are standing with your hand on your hip trying not to lose your cool.

Take a Number Machine

Though I am sure that I did many of those fun things when I was very young, I remember one that brought me great joy! When I was around eight or nine, living in a small town our out-to-eat choices and shopping choices were a little limited. We often drove to Cleveland, TN for outings. If we were there for the day, our trip usually included a light lunch and a stop by Dunkin’ Donuts. It was popular in those days to have a “take-a-number machine” on the wall. I would try to grab that number before any of my sisters. Why I considered that fun, I have no idea, but it brought me some sort of pleasure to have the ticket in my hand and wait for them to call our number.

No Ticket Needed

 As an adult, I have come to Jesus so many times to pray.  He is always there for me. God is good like that. He NEVER asks me to “take a number”.  In fact, He is not really just there; He is here. I have the Holy Spirit with me at all times, no number required.

“I love the Lord, because He has heard

 my voice and my pleas for mercy.  

 Because He inclined His ear to me,

 therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”

Psalm 116: 1-2

  
Recently, I discovered Psalm chapter 116.  What comforting words! He is there for me when I am saddened, unsure of decisions, or life is unfair.  He is amazing. When I call on Him in prayer, He is with me no matter if it is because I have lost my keys for the 1,000th time or if I am hurting with pain. He does not make me wait my turn when I need His help even if it is because I have sinned.

The Psalmist goes on in verses six and seven to discuss how the “Lord preserves the simple” and reminds us to rest in our Lord. You know, there is no line to wait in when life is too much. “Be still and know He is God” (Psalms 46:10). He reminds me to rest in His understanding of the situation, not my own. He will deal with the issue in His most simple way. Bringing myself lower than my God, I am allowing Him to take control.

As I come to Him for comfort or for solutions, in His timing and His ways, He will take control of the circumstance. On my part this takes some serious trust. For His ways are not my ways, but His ways are far superior.  In allowing Him to guide me through the issue, I have the benefits of His steadfast wisdom and guidance during the meantime while waiting for resolutions.

God’s Omniscience

Time and time again.  He requires no ticket for me to hold while waiting on Him, nor does He require one from any other person.  I sometimes think, how cool!  God, in His omniscience, has the ability to hear us all at once and treat us with individual care.  Gracious! That is amazing. At least once a week I find myself telling my students, “Okay, guys.  Remember I only have two ears that connect to the same brain. One at a time please.”

 How can I repay God for His diligent, loving attention to me? I can’t! His love doesn’t work like our minds do. There is no repayment.  However, I can share what God has done for me, and pray that others will see that He will do for them.

“I will offer to you the sacrifices of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord

in the presences of all His people.”

Psalm 116: 17-18

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Comfort: Shaking Like a Leaf- by Donna

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    A few Sundays ago, a young man, who is close to our family, came to my house. He was dealing with some things and came to share his heart. As he spoke, I glanced at the tears that sporadically trickled down his face. But, my focus was on his hands. Oh, how they were shaking. I noticed his entire body was quivering. I wanted to just hold him in my arms and comfort him. However, he was much bigger than me! 

    The next day in the car, the song “Hold me Jesus” came on.    

          ” Sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all

       When the mountains looks so big

          And my faith just seems so small

       So, hold me Jesus cause I’m shaking like a leaf

          You have been King of my glory

          Won’t you be my Prince of Peace.”

    When the lyrics, “shaking like a leaf”,  were sang, I thought of the boy who I wanted to comfort. I pictured Jesus holding him. He was in much better hands than mine. And it was clear from our conversation, that he knew God had him close. What a sweet and comforting thought. The Almighty holding us tightly when we need solace. 

The Shepherd

    This incident reminded me of a dark night years ago when I watched as Karla shook from despair. I remember feeling so helpless, but I knew God was there with us. All my life I have heard Jesus referred to as the Shepherd. “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to his heart.” Isaiah 40:11. I believe our Shepherd was holding Karla close to his heart.

A Mother

     While looking at verses about comfort, I read Isaiah 66:13. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” This reminded me of a time I was distraught. It really spoke to me. The day after I brought my baby girl, delivered by C-section, home from the hospital, the Blizzard of ’93 hit Georgia. We were stuck in the middle of 200 wooded acres with no heat, no water, no phone, no power…not much of anything! My mama had come to stay a few weeks. We were surviving on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fruit from the basket someone sent as a gift to the hospital. The thermometer in the house, which only went down to 32 degrees, was bottomed out. To keep warm, we were all lying under blankets. Mama on the love seat, me on the couch and my husband on the floor. We all took turns keeping the baby warm. Whoever had her would lay her on their stomach and cover her in a blanket, leaving only a small air hole. When she would awake to eat and be changed, we would pass her to the next person.  

    So many trees had fallen that the driveway was not visible. We were stuck for five days, until someone came and “cut” us out. Trees had to be sawed and removed for us to get to a road. Living so isolated from everything, Georgia Power estimated our electricity would not be restored for another week. So, the sensible plan was for us to go stay with relatives in town.

Mama

Already emotional from hormones, this news devastated me. I wanted to keep my baby girl home. All her “new things” were at home, where I wanted us to be! I did not want to stay with relatives. Upset, I went in the bathroom and sat facing forward on the edge of the toilet lid. I began sobbing like a baby. My mama came in the bathroom. Amid my tears, I felt mama ease her small frame behind me, as she too straddled the lid. She encompassed me with her loving arms and just held me. I was twenty-six years old, being held by my mama! To this day, I cannot remember this moment without tears. Though we were both sitting on the toilet, it was such a precious memory.  When I think about Isaiah 40:11, that is what I picture. Just leaning back and letting Jesus wrap His arms around me and love on me when I am shaking like a leaf.

Revelations 12:4

    Life is hard. Sometimes we are the one shaking like a leaf, and other times we are watching someone we care about suffer. During the bad, we sometimes feel like God is far away. But He hasn’t left us. He will comfort us. He will comfort us like a shepherd, like a mother. And we have the promise of Revelations 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOon2xQNZX0

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