GROWING

We all wish we could be different in some way, don't we? I wish I was more of a supportive, compassionate, affectionate person. I know that I don't have the power to make this happen. It's too hard. Which can be discouraging. But God turns weakness into strength (Hebrews 11:34). And in so doing, His power is seen (2 Corinthians 12:9). I (and we) need to grow in love. We become more loving only after we grow to know God's love better. "We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19 NASB). And what a wonderful process this is! What could be a greater blessing than to experience more and more of the Lord's infinite, tender love, and then to share it with others?

FEEDING CHILDREN

I'm reading Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge. On page 99 she says, "What would youdo with your life if you were free to do anything at all?" My answer: write. So here I am, writing a blog. Lately, the Lord has been using my job to teach me to trust in Him. I recently became kitchen manager at an elementary school. I think I'm going to love my job, but at the moment it's a source of stress for me because I haven't gotten the hang of ordering food yet. In May we had to turn in orders for the first six weeks of meals for the fall. I've been awake at night worrying about whether I ordered too little, or too much. (The storage areas in my kitchen are very small.) I prayed about this, and the Lord reminded me of Jesus' words: "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26 NKJV). So there's nothing to worry about, because the Lord will see to it that the children are fed. Yet I still felt overwhelmed, and I kept asking Jesus, "Will you help me with this job?" His answer came to me from Joshua 1:5,9: "I will not fail you or forsake you...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (NKJV). There it is! God said, "I will not fail you or forsake you." Each of us can confidently know that although things may not go perfectly well (in our thinking) every day, God will not fail us, and we will never be alone. Jesus, please help us to be confident that You will help and guide us. Help us to experience Your presence with us and Your peace in our hearts as we walk through each day. Thank You that Your peace guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

FREE WILL/ PREDESTINATION

This is a difficult subject to understand. It was the topic of discussion at a small group I visited recently. We talked about Romans 9:10-13, where it says that before Jacob and Esau were born, God loved Jacob and hated Esau. It was pointed out that Esau received God's justice, while Jacob received God's grace. In other words, God's condemnation is fair, since Esau sinned (which we all do), but God's grace is not fair. We like grace anyway! Another interesting point that was made is that in Romans 3:10-18 it says "there is none who seeks God" (NKJV). If we were left to our own devices, we would not choose God. He calls us, and we choose to accept or reject Him. Does He call everyone? Certainly He reveals something of Himself to everyone. Romans 1:19-21 says, "...what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (NKJV). God reveals Himself to everyone through creation. I believe this is how He begins to call each person. The real concern here, I think, is this: Does God give everyone a chance to be saved? I think so. It is His desire for all to be saved. We see that clearly in Second Peter 3:9, which says that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). Jesus said, "...other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16 NKJV). This is His heart.