So I feel as if I always start these little posts like I am in the middle of a conversation with someone...like a great friend, or with your mom or your grandma....you know the kind I am talking about...the kind of conversations you pick up like you never left each others side, you just pick up right where you left off...I feel like that today. I also feel like I am in the middle of an ongoing conversation with the Lord, and this post is no pause in that conversation either. Yesterday Toby and I had the opportunity to gain some of the most precious advice and encouragement from a very dear mentor and today as I begin a thoughts on my heart I am pressed to share some of the advice we were given. I don't know where you are today. I don't know what circumstances you find yourself in, but one thing I know is that someone is probably pressing through something. Pressing in to God and holding on to the knot in the rope with all you have. Maybe you are trusting the Author and Perfector of our Faith more than you ever have. And if you are, you are not alone. We are there
Yesterday we were reminded of the story of Job. The majority of the time I only see the middle part of the story of Job and so quickly identify the heartache and suffering he endured. But what about the beginning?
In the beginning of Job he is described as such a precious man to God, righteous...meaning that he was in "right standing" with God, blessed, wealthy and established. And then Satan goes to God and they have a little chat. When they talk Satan discusses the fact that Job only loves God because God has hedged him in and given him abundant protection, security and blessing. And as the conversation continues God hands Job's circumstances over to Satan to test Job's devotion.
He simply says to Satan, "No, not Job. Job loves Me regardless. Job loves Me, trusts Me and knows that I will not forsake him."
I don't know about your reaction to that part of the story, but Toby and I were blown away in a new way yesterday. Heard the story many times before, but never the heart of God behind the words.....We were encouraged to look behind the curtain of our life right now..."as is"...not as a public relations brochure...trying to present our lives as something they are not right now...but as is.....
So we peeked behind the curtain, and saw the sweetest scene unfolding...
I'll give you a short scene:
Satan: But that those Trotters only love you based on the hedge you have given...
God: No, not Toby, Cari, Cade and Ainsley. Those are my children and they love Me regardless. They love Me, trust Me and know that I will not forsake them in their weaknesses. You have permission to their circumstances, I know they love Me.
Satan: I know, but one thing I am going to do is not sell their home on their "ideal" schedule? That is going to shake their love and devotion to your "plan"for their lives....
God: They love Me.
Satan: I am going to make them really busy and time together hard to come by...that'll get 'em.
God: They love Me. I know they love Me. They trust Me.
Satan: I am going to tighten up their finances and make it "seem" like there will just never be enough.
God: They love Me. They know I will and have abundantly provided for them. They know I will not forsake them in their weaknesses. They love Me. They love Me. I love them too much. I love them too much.
Sound like a familiar scene? I am sharing that with trust in my heart that we are not alone. That was a scene described to us in an effort to pull back the circumstances of "life" curtain and position our hearts accordingly. To say I was humbled would be the understatement of the year! God has a lot of faith in us and how little I give back to Him. Oh, He loves us!!!!
He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.
Don't be dismayed, disrupted, or deterred from God's best life for you. If you only have one knot left in the rope to hold on to....HOLD ON AND HOLD FAST! I was reminded yesterday that the number one stresser in my life is...drum roll please......ME!!! Yes, I - You - we all try to make life a lot harder than it is...Don't make your circumstances as complicated as possible...keep it simple. God loves you. He will NOT leave you or forsake you in your weaknesses!!!!
And He believes that you love Him...the person and character of Jesus. I know that yesterday I was really hit in the mouth with where my devotion lies and I got my heart set right...it lies with the life and character of my Jesus!!!
He loves us. He loves you. And He will NOT leave you or forsake you in your weaknesses. He bought us "As is". He didn't buy they Public Relations Brochure to your best/perfect life....He paid for you "As is"...and He is on the Throne of every circumstance of our life. He is in control and in complete Authority.
I love you today if you are reading this. I am saying a prayer for anyone brave enough to look at life "as is" and view it as a great and mighty adventure and be more in love with Jesus when their head hits the pillow every night! Praise God for His mighty hand of provision, praise God for the Hope of salvation and the peace of Heaven! I have included a handful of pics that represent what I am so thankful for in this season of life and I am rejoicing in the Lord today....smack dab in the middle of a crazy awesome adventurous life!!!! God is good and He has taught me to say in this season of life that it is well with my soul...that His grace is sufficient and that Christ's plan controls our lives!!!
Love to you today,
Cari
