Saved by Grace Thoughts 11.07.2009

Hello!

My goodness.. it’s been since July since I last wrote one of these. I didn’t realize how much time had passed- and there’s so much to write about!

But in the midst of “so much to write about,” I have a confession. Part of the reason for not writing one of these is not just because of busy-ness, but an overall distraction from observing the world around me and taking time to reflect those things in Christ. Living in a city hasn’t caused this, but it certainly doesn’t help. The real cause is my own negligence in reading God’s word consistently… what a terrible spot to find myself in! Yet God’s grace comes and comes again.

Over the summer, God showed an aspect of himself to my husband and I that I don’t think I’ve ever seriously pondered. Our God is an unexpected God. We were having difficult times, and suddenly – unexpectedly – God provided through various means. It’s a good reminder that despite circumstances, He is still caring for us and can do that in ways we never would have dreamed. As I think about it, this makes sense… God provided “manna” in the wilderness for the traveling Hebrews to eat and they didn’t even know what it was. He saved his people countless times in totally unexpected ways, like anointing David (far from being of kingly stock, in human terms) to be a King, and using women in His plans too – hardly something expected from a patriarchal society. Jesus even came unexpectedly; that is, as the kind of Messiah that would save people’s souls, not just from the hands of the Romans. He died in order that we might live, which surely the disciples didn’t quite expect when it happened! So thinking about it this way… I guess I ought to expect God to be unexpected, both in what he does and how he does it. It humbles me, and reminds me that that only God can be God, that his faithfulness supersedes my unfaithfulness. It brings me back around to the cross, to Jesus' feet to acknowlege him as Lord.

Psalm 68:8
O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

2 Timothy 2:16-18
If we died with him,we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.


Love in him,
your sister,
Yvonne