JUST NOODLES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 56:3-7

³Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree." ⁴ For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant- ⁵ to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. ⁶ And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant- ⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

I was reading in Corinthians this morning and came across the passage below.  It is encouraging to me that God uses humility and love for Him rather than eloquence or human ability...He uses weaknesses rather than strengths to reveal His power and His strength.  It is encouraging because I fall into the inarticulate and weak category...it is enocurgaing because everyone wants their life to be significant...to matter.  I am very glad that real success...real significance is dependant on His ability and not my own. Paul was not a gifted speaker (at least that's what he says)...he most often didn't write things by his own hand...he claims to be foolish...and yet God used him in exactly those avenues because Paul loved the Lord.  I am glad Father is not a performance driven Father or I'd be forever lacking.  I'd be forever comparing myself to the next guy or my gifts to someone elses.  I'd be forever longing to be somewhere I am not.  I am glad I can just relax and let Him use me as He sees fit...wherever He has me...abilities or not.  How great is our God!

1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.' When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

Well, this morning I had a brief quiet time..for some reason my volume on the alarm clock got set to zero and the last couple mornings getting up has been a struggle.  I kept thinking " why am I not waking up to the alarm" :)  Helps if the alarm is actually making noise I guess :).  Anyway...so I was reflecting over Romans 10 this morning and came across these verses....

 

Romans 10:20-21

²⁰And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." ²¹But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."

I am not going to open the whole "did He choose me or did I choose Him discussion"  with these verses.  Even though that's a good thing to think and talk about...it's sort of not something I think that we'll really appreciate opr even understand fully until we get home to heaven.  But as I thought about these verses I just kept thinking presently how true this is.  I've struggled finding the balance lately of living life and having the Lord on the forefront of my mind with everything...living for Him in whatever I am doing.  And I kept asking myself if I am hot, cold, or lukewarm.  I have to say...I feel warm, but not hot.  And the rub of it is I can't somehow generate hotness on my own.  So this morning I was just asking Father to heat me up a little...to find me...when maybe I'm not seeking Him as much as I want. 

Of this I am confident...that He is faithful!

Well,

As I reflect on this past year, I am AMAZED at the changes around even my small life and how in the middle of the whirlwind of change, God has been the "steady eddy" He has been and continues to surprise me and amaze me!  First on the list of amazing things is how He never gives up on me.  I struggle from time to time with this issue or that and in the middle of it all, I find Him unmoving...unshakable...pursuing me.  I give Him the praise and the glory...because honestly He deserves it.  As I look around...so many changes...so many friends and family's lives that look so so different from even just a year ago.  AMAZING.  Then I look at the changes in my own life and how He continues to refine me and change my character for the better. 

 

This past year He has used so many people to shape me and mold me to be better than I was just a year ago...more confident in His ability while less confident in my own...and being ok with that ironically enough :)  If you are reading this...it is likely He has used you in this capacity to help shape me...let me be the first to say thanks :) 

 

He's also used a relationship with a very special young lady named Tara this past year to help shape and refine me.  She has played a very unique and special part of my life...and....last night I asked her to marry me and strangely enough...she said yes :)  So...looks like we're getting married soon :)  Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.  I ask that you keep them coming!  :)

 

Our God is good!   Not because the circumstances are good right now...but just because He IS good!!  I am grateful that His plan prevails amidst my attempts to take control for myself :)  I hope those mutinous attempts to take control get less and less as I get older :)

 

To Him be the glory forever!