I was reading Acts 3 this morning about the crippled beggar at the gate. It really caught my attention when Peter told the cripple to look at him. Why was the beggar not looking?
Was he so used to the routine he was no longer really paying attention?
If the people going by didn't hesitate or slow down did he just move on to the next?
Was he not waiting long enough, or paying enough attention?
What if Peter hadn't said look at me?
What a blessing he would have missed.
The crippled beggar wasn't expecting much, just a temporary fix. He was ready to settle for much less than what was about to be offered.
So what if we aren't listening when God says look at me?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Quiet Years
Brian nor I could sleep last night, so we spent lots of time talking philisophically about all things Biblical. I'd like to say we have it all figured out now.
I could say it.
But of course it wouldn't be true.
One thing we did talk a lot about was Moses. I am so fascinated by Moses right now. Especially the years he spent in the desert. Not the years with the Israelites, but the ones he spent with sheep.
What was Moses thinking in his early life-the day he went out to watch his people labor under the Egyptians rule. What took him out there? Curiosity, pride, thankfulness he was raised a prince? Did he go out there already knowing and angered about the injustice, or did God move his heart while he watched? Did God ignite a passion in Moses out there? He saw a need and he wanted to help, to make a difference. He made a rash move, killing the Egyptian, and I'm sure it seemed right at that moment.
But it didn't turn out well. The Egyptians turned on him, I'm sure the Israelites hated him. Moses quickly saw he was a rejected leader.
And found himself in the desert of Midian for a third of his life.
And that is the part that interests me the most.
One of my favorite verses is 1 Thess 4:11- that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. I think Paul must of had Moses on his mind when he penned that verse.
So what did Moses think about all those years out there? Day after day he watched sheep. Day after day he lived a normal, quiet, drudgery type existance. Did he regret? Did he wish things were different? Did he go back and relive that day often? Did he long to go back and do something? Did he worry about his people? In his heart did he know there was more?
That is a lot of alone time to reflect. That is a lot of time to realize he was nothing special. That is a lot of time to simply live life and learn.
And become very humble.
So humble that when God finally called Moses back, he was sure he wasn't God's man for the job. But God had done a great work in Moses during those quiet years. He was now equipped (even if he didn't know it) to follow God's plan and not his own.
How do we feel when we find ourselves in Midian? How do we handle the learning times?
Do we realize everything is God's timing and not our own? Do we get impatient, complacent? Or do we get quiet and listen and grow and wait?
I could say it.
But of course it wouldn't be true.
One thing we did talk a lot about was Moses. I am so fascinated by Moses right now. Especially the years he spent in the desert. Not the years with the Israelites, but the ones he spent with sheep.
What was Moses thinking in his early life-the day he went out to watch his people labor under the Egyptians rule. What took him out there? Curiosity, pride, thankfulness he was raised a prince? Did he go out there already knowing and angered about the injustice, or did God move his heart while he watched? Did God ignite a passion in Moses out there? He saw a need and he wanted to help, to make a difference. He made a rash move, killing the Egyptian, and I'm sure it seemed right at that moment.
But it didn't turn out well. The Egyptians turned on him, I'm sure the Israelites hated him. Moses quickly saw he was a rejected leader.
And found himself in the desert of Midian for a third of his life.
And that is the part that interests me the most.
One of my favorite verses is 1 Thess 4:11- that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. I think Paul must of had Moses on his mind when he penned that verse.
So what did Moses think about all those years out there? Day after day he watched sheep. Day after day he lived a normal, quiet, drudgery type existance. Did he regret? Did he wish things were different? Did he go back and relive that day often? Did he long to go back and do something? Did he worry about his people? In his heart did he know there was more?
That is a lot of alone time to reflect. That is a lot of time to realize he was nothing special. That is a lot of time to simply live life and learn.
And become very humble.
So humble that when God finally called Moses back, he was sure he wasn't God's man for the job. But God had done a great work in Moses during those quiet years. He was now equipped (even if he didn't know it) to follow God's plan and not his own.
How do we feel when we find ourselves in Midian? How do we handle the learning times?
Do we realize everything is God's timing and not our own? Do we get impatient, complacent? Or do we get quiet and listen and grow and wait?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Not Always Easy
Man, when did life get so crazy?
A friend asked today how I had ever had time to work. I'm not sure actually.
Quitting has given me such a chance to focus on pressing needs with my family and kids and the people God puts into my life. A chance to focus on God more. I'm thankful I took the leap.
However, I also tend to turn some (maybe lots) of that focus into worry.
But God has promised rest.
I was thinking about that as I read about Moses sending the twelve spies to check out God's promised land in the book of Numbers. A land God had already told them was good, and was theirs. How all but two had come back speaking gloom and doom, and the Israelites began freaking out and doubting God's promise. They had the promise of God's rest, but they expected getting there to be "easy street". Not filled with people who hated them. I love what the two positive spies, Joshua and Caleb say in response: If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us to that land and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. Do not be afraid of the people of this land. The Lord is with us.
If God is with us, then why do we so often fall back into self-reliance and self-focus and unbelief when the path is no longer easy? Oh it's easy to say we believe, but when things block the path, I personally tend to react with panic first. It isn't always so easy to get the words from my head to my heart. It often takes some time and lots and lots of prayer.
So I asked myself what is God's rest?
To me it is a place where even when we are faced with a walk of faith (i.e. something other than God just handing us what we ask for) we have utmost confidence in God being who He says He is-trustworthy, loving and good, with perfect plans for us.
A friend asked today how I had ever had time to work. I'm not sure actually.
Quitting has given me such a chance to focus on pressing needs with my family and kids and the people God puts into my life. A chance to focus on God more. I'm thankful I took the leap.
However, I also tend to turn some (maybe lots) of that focus into worry.
But God has promised rest.
I was thinking about that as I read about Moses sending the twelve spies to check out God's promised land in the book of Numbers. A land God had already told them was good, and was theirs. How all but two had come back speaking gloom and doom, and the Israelites began freaking out and doubting God's promise. They had the promise of God's rest, but they expected getting there to be "easy street". Not filled with people who hated them. I love what the two positive spies, Joshua and Caleb say in response: If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us to that land and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. Do not be afraid of the people of this land. The Lord is with us.
If God is with us, then why do we so often fall back into self-reliance and self-focus and unbelief when the path is no longer easy? Oh it's easy to say we believe, but when things block the path, I personally tend to react with panic first. It isn't always so easy to get the words from my head to my heart. It often takes some time and lots and lots of prayer.
So I asked myself what is God's rest?
To me it is a place where even when we are faced with a walk of faith (i.e. something other than God just handing us what we ask for) we have utmost confidence in God being who He says He is-trustworthy, loving and good, with perfect plans for us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)