daily IMPACT by selahV

WHY?

I don’t understand. It makes no sense. It’s not fair. What did she do to deserve this? How could this be a good thing? What good could come of this?

Ever hear those statements made or questions asked?

I have. In fact, I’ve asked and stated them all, at one time or another in my life—more so, when faced with the unanswerable circumstances. Yet occasionally, the same things pop into my mind and sometimes I entertain their presence for a second or two. Sometimes longer. Praise the Lord that He has left me His Spirit to guide me through the stages of bringing them under the captivity of Christ. Dwelling on the unanswerable leads to places I dare not walk alone. It hurts where I go and when I get there and even when I try to return back from whence I came. So best not to release the thoughts to the devil’s hands.

Why do the horrors, abuses, losses and destruction meet us every day? In part, it is sin. Sin has wiped out the perfect world God once planned for man. There is another answer, though:

“Whether it be for correction or for His earth generally or for His mercy and loving-kindness, He causes it to come.” Job 37:13 Amplified

It comes from God for our good and for His purpose. More times than not, we will know the purpose. It is the lesser times we find ourselves questioning that we must accept God is God, and His purpose is His to do as He sees fit.

“[Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?]“ Job 41:34c Amplified

God giveth and God taketh away. He blessed me with two sons. He took them away. They were not mine to own forevermore in this earthly life. Yet, in knowing Him, I will always know them in my heart and in eternity. I cannot tell you how I railed against my Lord for what I perceived a horrible mistake on His part. But, His loving-kindness, mercy and grace covered even that weakness of my flesh and He is glorified in any strength shown from it. selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, hariette petersen, Nov. 27, 2007] 

WHEN YOU WONDER WHY?

Why me?  Why this?  Do you ever wonder why?  Do you feel guilty for even daring to ask?  I have.  I've had times when the loss was so great in my life that I cried, not upon my pillow in a quiet voice in the silence of my darkened bedroom.  No.  I've screamed it with all the angst and heartache and brokenness my voice could muster in the public streets for all the world to see.  At times, my why was resolved with the still small voice of God and a touch of warmth from the Comforter pouring Himself out upon me.  Other times, I've felt alone, abandoned.

The psalmist did the same.  Prophets have cried out.  Kings.  Our Lord cried out on the cross.

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?  Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.  BUT You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel."  Psalm 22:1-3. [caps and emphasis mine]

It's odd that we, who think our God does not hear us in the darkness of our nights and the bright light of our grief and pain, continue to cry out.  If it were so futile, if God was so deaf, if God was so far away, why would we bother?  Because deep in the recesses of our tribulation, emptiness and agony, we know that God is God and God is steadfast and sure.  We may question our circumstances, our losses, our trials--but we know that ultimately our answers are in God.  And we cry out in search of them.  We may not feel our God hears, but all scripture denounces that lie of Satan.  We may not think God is present, but Jesus, our King, says differently.  "Lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the world."

With every "why" I've ever voiced, my God's assurance has answered.  With every darkness I've ever encountered, God pierces with Light and gives me faith to dispel the doubts of my human fraility.  So when you wonder why, remember we may never know all the answers.  We have the Answer--Jesus is Lord of all and has overcome the world.  selahV

[© SelahV Today, hariette petersen, 2008] 

BEYOND THE WOMB...

It's amazing when you consider all that most of us are given when we are born.  The ability to see, touch, smell, taste, think.  None of these things are possessions in and of themselves.  Yet the very essence of life lends itself to wonder.  Some of these are enjoyed as God-given senses and abilities throughout our time on earth.  Some people waste the gift of life and never truly enjoy its fullness.

"...naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21.

Thirty-seven years today, my son entered this world.  A few years ago he left this world.  The Lord gave him to me for a while--to love, to cherish, to enjoy.  The Lord has taken him home now.  While he took nothing with him but his soul, Chad's treasures of love, kindness, generosity and goodness preceded him.  I know many of these treasures. His two little girls remember many of the best of all he was to them.  So even though he is not here in body, he is always here in spirit.  For we are all one in Christ.  And in Christ, we know he lives eternally--just as we do.  "Blessed be the name of the Lord."  Indeed, He is blessed!  selahV

[© SelahV Today, hariette petersen, 2008]

WHERE I AM, NO ONE ELSE IS

Every now and then someone challenges my words.  Every now and then I challenge another's.  But there are some words that cannot be challenged, only accepted and obeyed.

"Today is the day of salvation."  Right now.  Not tomorrow.  God has a great plan and He has made me a part of His plan.  When I am faced with a situation, He gives me free will to choose between obedience to Him or rebellion against Him, then He pours out His grace upon me no matter which way I go.  That's not to say, His grace makes me any less accountable for the action or inaction I take in life.  But it does mean God loves me in spite of myself.

"Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:  and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are laborers together with God;..." 1 Corinthians 3: 8,9a.

If I choose to play when I should work, then the work I should have done goes undone.  He didn't plan on you doing my job.  That is why you are called to do what you are called to do, and I am called to do what I am.  I'm here, you are there.  Where I am, no one else is.  I think that means I need to take great care as to how I use God's blessing of life and grace, don't you?  selahV

[© SelahV Today, hariette petersen, 2008]

WHEN I CAN'T DO MORE AND MY BEST IS NOT ENOUGH

It's strange that on any given day I am faced with something in my life bigger than myself, my means, my ability and my mental capacity.  Backtracking and assessing my life, there's never been a day I haven't needed God.  Not one.  This is not to say that deplorable conditions await me with each sunrise.  No.  This is to say I know without one shadow of doubt that there is no way on this green earth I could make it without my Creator's provision, protection, grace, mercy and intervention.

I am glad I know this.  I take comfort in knowing that each crisis I face is not up to me to solve.  I am grateful to know God wants me dependent upon Him.  He takes great pleasure in knowing I look to Him for the answers to the unanswerable.  To seek Him for truth in a sea of lies.  To rest in Him when the seas and winds rage about me.

God truly amazes me.  Every day of my life.  He amazes me.

"O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirst for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is." Psalm 63:1 

We learned this week that my husband stops breathing several times a night while he is sleeping.  Aside from me sitting up all night to punch him when he does this, there is nothing I can do about it.  We will learn on Thursday the measures we need to take to help him.  But every breath is ultimately in God's hands.

Today I learned that my father's diabetic induced and perpetuated infection on his leg has gangrene setting in.  He's blind but for a few shadows.  His heart is not strong enough to keep the fluid pumped off from around his heart and body.  Doctors do what they can, but that's just it.  They do what they can.  The rest is in God's hands.

"So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.  Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." Psalm 63:1-3. Amplified

Life is filled with everyday battles.  Grief.  Loss.  Rejection.  Persecution.  Everyone has their own war to wage with life.  But clearly Christ gives us an abundant life so immeasurably incomprehensible that the battles are mere shadow-boxing events.  In Christ I find the help I need to think clearly, to rest in the turmoil, to hope in a better life, and the contentment to cope with whatever results come from tribulation.

When I can do no more, when my best is not enough, I rest in Christ alone and trust all else to Him.  selahV

[© SelahV Today, hariette petersen, 2008]

EL ELYON~~ WHO HAS GIVEN

My life.  It’s not mine to hold.  It’s not mine to control.  It’s mine to release and yield back to the God Most High, El Elyon.  Above all the false gods, God is Sovereign.  In Him we can trust.  He reigns supreme, there is none other like Him.  For all that is made and ever will be made is created by His hand.  There are no other gods before Him.

With 318 trained servants, Abram fought four kings to recover his brother’s son, Lot, when he was captured.  “Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High [El Elyon], and he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth.  And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand!” Genesis 14:18-20.

Whatever good comes to me, whatever befalls me, passes through the hands and permission of El Elyon, God Most High.  I can rejoice in life, or I can grumble and complain.  I can give God the glory or I can blame Him for the trials and tribulations.  But no matter what, God is God and nothing can change it.  I can balk, recoil and strain at the problems, or I can  have faith and trust in His mercy and justice to be meted out in His good time.  I can reject what I face or face what I reject with acceptance that He is in control.

Just as God delivered Abram’s foes into his hands, God delivers us from our foes.   Again and again God gives to us the blessings we do not deserve.  He fights our battles and restores us to Himself.  As Christians He has given us all of heaven and earth in the blessings of His Son.  Can we not trust Him in all things?  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2008]   

SO LITTLE WE KNOW

I wrote the main post on sbcIMPACT today. It is about God’s Sovereign Hand in my life. While so much of my 59 years has been spent struggling to overcome rejections, abandonment, heartache and cruelty of others, I can still say with the psalmist:

“How great are Your doings, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep. A man in his rude and uncultivated state knows not, neither does a [self-confident] fool understand this: That though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to be destroyed forever. But You, Lord, are on high forever.” Psalm 92:5-8.

People may hurt us, offend us, ridicule us and attack us. Folks may gossip about us, point fingers of accusation toward us and do all unspeakable evil against us. They may ignore us, abuse us or distrust us. But it doesn’t matter. God is on high. He is above all the earth. He weighs the hearts of His own. He cares for His children and wants only the best for us.

Even when we think life has dealt us raw deals, and people are doing the same. It doesn’t matter. God is in control. He knows each hair on our heads. He knows our going out, and our coming in. He knows our lying down and our getting up. He is ever-present and always available. And even though He is on high, He came to earth to let us know how very much He loves us and that He has us on His mind each and every day. selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]