Something happened to me on Thursday afternoon as I headed home from work. The sun was setting behind me. It was reflecting in the rear-view mirror of my car, blinding me as I was trying to drive. I tilted my head down so that I could see the road in front of me. When I did, I felt the warmth of the sun shining on my forehead! Catch that!?!? I felt the warmth of the sun in a mirror reflection of the sun!!! Now that is power. This doesn’t happen with a candle or a bonfire. The heat of man-made fires don’t reflect in mirrors, but the heat of God-created fires do. Just stuck me as interesting.
Today was Grandma’s funeral. I have such peace because of the hope I have in Jesus that she is with Him. I am excited for her, that after all these years, she has gotten to see her Maker and Lord. What a glorious day!
The reality that sh isn’t just down the road a ways for me to visit her is sad, but I can’t remain sad for long. She lived a long, good life filled with lots of love - deep, genuine, selfless love. She loved the Lord. Oh, how I know she loved Him! She loved her family so deeply. In pictures, you can see it in her eyes and on her face how much she loved every one of us. And she loved her friends and her church. It has been a good day of celebrating her life. God was glorified in her life and in her death. Praise Him!
Thought I’d share what the Lord showed me this morning.
You’ve heard it said that sheep follow their Shepherd because they hear and know the voice of their Shepherd (John 10:4). Well, this morning God enlightened me to the fact that sheep don’t choose their Shepherd. The Shepherd chooses them.
Really, think about it. Sheep wandering out in a pasture don’t choose whoever the shepherd is out there watching them, guiding them, protecting them. A shepherd chooses his flock. Over time, the sheep get so used to hearing their shepherd’s voice that they don’t follow just any ole guy with a staff; they follow the one they know.
Brother, Sister, follow the voice of the One you know. He choose you.
For other Scriptures on election, see Romans 9, Ephesians 1, John 6:44-45…and tons of others.
I sat out in the backyard for a while a couple of days ago. I like these evenings that are dry and not too hot. I was watching 3 birds flying around waaaaaay, waaaaaay up in the sky. They didn’t appear to be going anywhere; they were just flying. No apparent destination. No apparent agenda, other than flying. Of course, I pondered the question why are they just flying in circles? The initial answer, “because they’re birds; they fly.” Then I thought how incredible it is to do just what God created you to do. For these birds, it’s flying. Granted they do lots more than fly, but flying is what they’re known for; that is their specific, unique pupose – flying. Got me thinking about us humans. God has created each one of us to do something special and unique, something important that He wants each one of us to specifically do. For you, it might be various acts of hospitality or compassion for the hurt and fosaken. For me, it might be teaching or supporting missionaries across the world. For someone else, it might be leading people in musical worship of God or praying for world-wide revival. Whatever the case is, can I encourage you to do whatever it is God’s created you to do….today….right where you are. Even if it seems like you’re flying in circles, you are doing what God created you to do. Just fly.
I absolutely love the power of prayer and unifying presence of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever been praying and felt a heavy impression to pray for someone? How about someone you don’t know? Sometimes during these times of intercession, it is as though the Holy Spirit links you with the person for which you’re interceding. It’s like you are there with them in their circumstances – feeling what they’re feeling, joining with them in the pain or suffering. For me, it is like the Holy Spirit has so impressed their situation in methat I can almost see them. If He has impressed that upon me so powerful, I can only imagine the receiving party must feel the His presence as well. Perhaps they get the feeling that they aren’t alone in their struggle. Oh how I pray that they can feel His presence and sense encouragement and strength from Him.
