What Do You See?

He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain" (Exodus 3:12 ESV).


This is what Moses saw when the Lord spoke to him: a barren rock jutting out of the landscape; little, if any, life; certainly not a place to be desired, after all, it was on the back side of the desert. A place of desolation, of barrenness, and one that was not desired by the average person.



But that is not what the Lord saw. The place despised became a place of Presence, surrounded by a peculiar people delivered by the One who had heard their cries, seen their sufferings, and witnessed their afflictions. Desolation had been replaced with population; barrenness with life; and personal despair with hope. Yes, through obedience and faith the vision God had for his people would come to pass, it would be accomplished to His glory!




Do you see all that the Lord has for us as we walk by faith in obedience? I do.

Encouragement

Our service last night was blessed with the comforting and gentle presence of Holy Spirit. In it two distinict words we given to me and they came in two different times of our service. I share them here for your prayer and counsel.

"The enemy has your ear. The words of doubt, loneliness, despair come against you; the thought to rest for but a moment is whispered into your thoughts. But the renewing strength of the Lord is within the enemy's site; he wishes to distract --- to detain. Awaiting you is the sound of those prayers that have been heard, the voices of encouragement at the place of rest the Lord has established for you."

"A great tree, the tree of His promise stands before you and the fruit looks ready. But it would be bittersweet if plucked now. It's maturation isn't complete, but be encouraged by its fruit nonetheless for it was but a shoot when I first heard your cry---your prayer. It is My work that has sown this promise in you."

How exciting it is to serve the God who knows what we have need of even before we ask!

Dad

For nearly 12 years I looked after dad's affairs and watched his Parkinson's, systematically and so very effectively, take away his life: first his farm, as he could no longer be there alone doing what he loved to do; his everyday functions, and the humiliation of the uncontrollable; his speech, and the pain of seeing his mind work but his mouth not respond; his ability to eat, and the last ditch surgery of 2/20; and then, my last time to be with him as I expressed my love and let him know that he was going home.

The last two weeks have taken a greater toll then I know, even with God's wonderful grace and warmth. I sleep but wake up tired, little things trigger big emotions, and memories are more vivid then ever. Grief's work is astounding; the business of death wearying. Roger's words at the service so captured dad's life, their comfort still speak; the supporting words from friends refresh; the long arm of the Lord strengthens; Diane and the kid's love uplifts.

Thanks dad, for being a good man who worked to make things easier for me.