sat night, as i was driving home from the boise airport i saw some bright lights in distant darkness. i didnt' think too much about them as i was anxious to make good time and get home to see my hubby and son after being away for 5 days. being late at night, the roads were fairly clear. as i continued east, i noticed that not only were the lights still showing up at times, but that they were getting brighter. i remembered that earlier in the week i had heard the weatherman say there was a chance of lightning.
as i got closer i noticed that each time the lightning occured, the sky would be lit up in a purple glow. i had seen photos of lightning but always assumed that the photographer had added something extra to the shot to get that purple. there was sheet lightning, stretching across the sky and then a bolt that would strike vertically on the horizon. being so far away, it was a majestic show just for me. i was in awe of the colors, the power, the light .... but then it got closer, or i should say i got closer to the storm. the rain started and the few cars around me and i slowed down. visibility was an issue as well as the lightning that now seemed to be right in front of our vehicles.
driving is not my favorite activity since mike's accident. and driving at night, in the rain, on the freeway is even less palatable. throw in a lightning storm and a panic attack could be in the forseeable future. but as i was debating whether to move to the side of the road and try to wait out the storm, the story of the disciples in the boat when the storm arose came to mind. even with Jesus sleeping in the boat, they were anxious for their very lives. i too, was feeling anxious. the power of the storm made me fear for my safety. but just as the Lord had been with the disciples in the boat, He was also with me in the car. as i reflected on the disciples plight and my own, the Lord brought peace to me as i drove my van thru the rain and lightning. soon i was able to look at the lightning and revel in the awesome power of the storm that God created and put on display for me to witness. i was reminded of what majestic power and might He wields.
as i continued on in my travels, i could no longer see the lightning ahead of me. instead the lightning flashed above my head and i saw the brillance thru my periferial vision. and then it was behind me. the rain softened and soon disappeared. the flashes of light just a distant vision in my rear view mirror.
Exodus 20:18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 06, 2007
the watch
up til a couple years ago, i had one watch. i had had it for a very long time. it was perfect. it had an unconventional shape, what is called a franklin, it kind of looked like a shield laying on its side. i got lots of comments and compliments on it. it was silver and went with everything i wore. i wore it every day and even had the wristband replaced when it broke. i loved that watch, i never had to think about which watch to wear, and i knew it was just right for what i wanted, telling time.
then i lost it! i was heartsick. i called the store where i thot it might have been dropped, i looked around the parking lot where it might have fallen out of my pocket, you see it had broke and i was carrying it in my pocket until i could take it to the watch repairman.
i found another watch but it wasnt' the same. then i found a watch that had lots of different wristbands to change in and out, but it wasn't the same. i even started beading and made several new wristbands for my watch, but it wasn't the same.... it hasn't been the same since i lost my watch.
what does this have to do with anything? maybe nothing, but in my ponderings i have thot about my search for comfort when hard trials, difficult circumstances, or unpleasent situations occur. its like i'm looking for that perfect watch, that one that will fulfill every need, bring comfort, and be the best fit for the occassion. having had my perfect watch i know what to look for, and in my spiritual life having Jesus i know what to look for. so WHY do i seek other things instead of Jesus when the real thing is the best thing for me? i don't know ....
it's like i'm window shopping and along the street there are vendors everywhere with loads of goodies. one vendor has creamy donuts and soft baked chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven. mmm! yummy. but not what is needed when i'm searching for a watch. the next vendor over has books, lots and lots of books to read. i get stuck there reading and leafing thru the interesting texts. but a book is not a watch and is not what i need. another vendor has the latest dvd, another the latest jewelry and jeans. but none are what i want or need!
and so it is when seeking Jesus. He's not right out there in one of the vendors carts. He is tucked away, and i must seek Him, look for Him, pursue Him. it may take awhile, but the pursuit is worth it. and when i find Him, He is all i need.
there are many psalms that speak of waiting on the Lord. one of my favs is ps 33:20 "our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield."
won't you wait for the Lord with me? He's worth the wait!
then i lost it! i was heartsick. i called the store where i thot it might have been dropped, i looked around the parking lot where it might have fallen out of my pocket, you see it had broke and i was carrying it in my pocket until i could take it to the watch repairman.
i found another watch but it wasnt' the same. then i found a watch that had lots of different wristbands to change in and out, but it wasn't the same. i even started beading and made several new wristbands for my watch, but it wasn't the same.... it hasn't been the same since i lost my watch.
what does this have to do with anything? maybe nothing, but in my ponderings i have thot about my search for comfort when hard trials, difficult circumstances, or unpleasent situations occur. its like i'm looking for that perfect watch, that one that will fulfill every need, bring comfort, and be the best fit for the occassion. having had my perfect watch i know what to look for, and in my spiritual life having Jesus i know what to look for. so WHY do i seek other things instead of Jesus when the real thing is the best thing for me? i don't know ....
it's like i'm window shopping and along the street there are vendors everywhere with loads of goodies. one vendor has creamy donuts and soft baked chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven. mmm! yummy. but not what is needed when i'm searching for a watch. the next vendor over has books, lots and lots of books to read. i get stuck there reading and leafing thru the interesting texts. but a book is not a watch and is not what i need. another vendor has the latest dvd, another the latest jewelry and jeans. but none are what i want or need!
and so it is when seeking Jesus. He's not right out there in one of the vendors carts. He is tucked away, and i must seek Him, look for Him, pursue Him. it may take awhile, but the pursuit is worth it. and when i find Him, He is all i need.
there are many psalms that speak of waiting on the Lord. one of my favs is ps 33:20 "our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield."
won't you wait for the Lord with me? He's worth the wait!
Saturday, September 01, 2007
a quote i just found
years ago michael and i read a biography of george mueller and were deeply impacted by this godly man and his life. i was reading another blog and found this quote by him. i just had to share it.
“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man may be nourished . . . I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it.” --George Mueller
George Mueller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealing with George Mueller, Written by Himself, Jehovah Magnified. Addresses by George Mueller Complete and Unabridged, 2 Vols. (Muskegon, Mich.: Dust and Ashes, 2003), 1:271-1:272.
looks like i need to find this book and read more from one of my favorite godly saints.
have a great labor day weekend! gail
“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man may be nourished . . . I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it.” --George Mueller
George Mueller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealing with George Mueller, Written by Himself, Jehovah Magnified. Addresses by George Mueller Complete and Unabridged, 2 Vols. (Muskegon, Mich.: Dust and Ashes, 2003), 1:271-1:272.
looks like i need to find this book and read more from one of my favorite godly saints.
have a great labor day weekend! gail
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