Unseen Hand of Protection

This weekend my niece was nearly fatally injured when her horse stumbled and fell while running a rodeo event.  This incident has consumed my mind the past two days, she walked away and the horse was fine but something profound had struck me.  As these pictures have been reviewed many times, I can't help but believe an angel was positioned between my niece and the horse.  God's saving hand is obvious in these photos, but what about those times He saves us when we are oblivious?  His presence is always with us but how often do we acknowledge it?  How many times do we say "Wow, that girl was lucky?" 

In this situation, all the credit could have been given to the horse. Horses have instincts that can help them move quickly to avoid a collision, so it would be easy to say "Wow, look at that horse, he's trying to keep from falling on the girl."  Or, it can be seen as the mighty hand of God intervening into a situation for His honor and glory. This horse story is not unlike many other death defying stories. I'm sure, at some point in life, we have all had at least one story where something equally amazing has happened to us. When something this profound does occur, where do we go with it? Since we walk away unharmed, should we move on our way, unchanged, and a month later it is forgotten. On the contrary, it should be remembered and pondered as to why we were spared, when some, in the same circumstances, were not spared. 

Why does he save us so faithfully?  Why save one but let another die?  For those who fear God, Psalm 106:8 tells us exactly why he saves us: 

"Nevertheless, He saved them for the sake of His name,

that He might make His power known." 

He saves us so that we will make His power known.  This thought is so big to me, that He...the Almighty, the Creator of the universe, wants to use me to make His power known? 

So He doesn't save us just so we'll be happy, or so we can move along in life without a major catastrophe messing up our plans, but He saves us for the sake if His name.  His name is power, His name is life, His name can break strongholds, His name trustworthy.  There is a great and awesome purpose for which He saves us, so that we might uphold His name and tell others of His power.

Pslam 111:4 tells us that "the works of the Lord were made to be remembered."  To forget is to be defeated, to remember is to have victory.  We must remember on a daily basis.  This type of remembering is what gives power to our daily walk and its what He will use to make His power known through us.  Let us remember what He has done for us!  Psalm 103:1-5; 21-22 "Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.  Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.  He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.  He fills my life with good things so that my life is renewed like the eagle's.  Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!  Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.  Praise the Lord."

    

Ashes

This morning as I was building a fire in the wood stove, thoughts came to mind as I was carefully looking for ambers still alive from the night before.  There weren't many, and of those, they were tiny and almost void of heat.  As I stirred the ashes and found those tiny ambers here and there and piled them in the middle, then added small kindling particles, I could feel a rebirth of warmth.  When breath of air was added to it, it didn't take long for those near cold coals to burst into a flame.

Encouagement works this same way in the lives of believers.  Sometimes we get so weary from the fight that our lives do little to bring warmth to ourselves, much less anyone around us.  However, when just a few come together and begin to discuss God's living word, or when music in our ear reminds us of the power of His word, that breath of encouragement can quickly turn cold embers into flames of fire.

This was my experience this morning as I took Seth to work.  Just the day before, I had been voicing disbelief, comparing myself and my family to others, feeling inadequate...you know how the story goes, but was encouraged by my son.  As Seth spoke to me of how the story of Joseph was inspiring him, it breathed life giving encouragement to my soul and reproved me at the same time.

As I was headed back home, I continued to be encouraged by Chris Tomlin through these words:

Precious Cornerstone

Sure Foundation

You are faithful to the end

We are waiting on You Jesus

We believe you're all to us

Let the glory of you name

be the passion of the church

let the righteousness of God

be a holy flame that burns

Let the saving love of Christ

be the measure of our lives

We believe You're all to us

Holy son of God

Sent from heaven

Hope and mercy at the cross

You are everything, you're the promise

Jesus you are all to us.

It is God's righteousness in us that becomes the "holy flalme that burns" and the "saving love of Christ" should be the only "measure of our lives".   2 Corinthians 10:12 says "For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding."

I'm thankful that my thinking was set right for today.  If you are feeling weary from the fight, put praise and worship music in your ear, call a friend who will give you His word, or read the Psalms of David and adopt his habit of remembering God's works and wonders, it will comfort you

(Psalm 119:52).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoXPhuDVp4U

Unlikely Heros

I don't know about you all but I enjoy hearing or reading bits of encouragement that come from the lives of my friends. I am so blessed with a host of friends and family who are all on the same pursuit, that is to live life with an intentional purpose. As I receive encouragement, I would like to share it and I want to encourage you to do the same. It is good to encourage one another so I hope you'll join me in this endeavor. A friend encouraged me to share these following thoughts so I hope it encourages you.

Don't ya just love to read stories about people who rose above their circumstances and did something great? Ya know, the kind of stories where the most unlikely guy rose to the top even though everything was against him. These kind of stories encourage me because I am like the most unlikely type, but the exciting thing is that the "unlikely type" is the ones God chooses to use.

God is all about stories, He wrote a great many stories of underdogs rising to the top. Our heavenly Father so delights to show Himself strong in those who are weak. He delights in creating stories like a child slaying a giant. . . like decreasing an army to a modest size, smaller than its foes, then giving the victory with clay pots, torches and horns. How about a giant fish that swallows a man or finding money in a fish's mouth to pay the taxes - that'd be nice! Better yet, using a group of uneducated fishermen to turn the world upside down.

When we remember these stories of God's power it will strengthen our faith. So don't let any of your weaknesses speak louder than God's power. Those of you who know me well. . . be faithful friends to remind me of this when I forget.

The eyes of the Lord search the earth to show Himself strong in those whose hearts are completely His. The Lord wants to show Himself strong in us. He wants to give us the power to be unlikely heros. May we believe in His power and remember what He has done.

King David remembered these kinds of stories to comfort himself....
Psalm 119:52 I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O LORD, and comfort myself.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

If any of you decide to send notes of encouragement. . . please put me on your list. Thanks!