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Topic: Great (07/06/06)
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TITLE: DO WE KNOW OUR GREAT GOD? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Carol Shaffron
07/13/06 -
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The impressions were persistent, unmistakable for weeks.
Working as hostess at a buffet type restaurant, barely making it anyway, and knowing the word, "…you don't work you don't eat."1 hindered my immediate acting on the impression. I was not thrilled to be without something to eat!
When finally I handed my manager the two week’s notice I felt immediately lighter.
Three months into following Jesus on this path of explicit trust I still possessed such truly great peace it was extremely surprising! My gas was disconnected; I was showering or bathing in cold water. Or I had to boil water on my stove if I wanted a warm bath. Thank God for the hot summer days we were having!
Nothing in a savings account, I meditated on the word I had, "…my God shall supply all your need according to HIS RICHES in GLORY by CHRIST JESUS."2 ; "God is well able to supply all grace and every heavenly blessing so that you always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work."3
hhhmmnnnn
I wasn't about to buy anyone groceries or pay anyone else’s rent or bills as my own were increasing. But "Thou wilt keep him in Perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on thee."4 became my reality.
Watching my car being towed away that morning I could almost see satan dancing gleefully before the Throne screeching, "Let's see your precious child's reaction now! She will view this as your betrayal, for sure and throw a hissy fit! She’ll blame You for failing her again and turn her back. I’ll have her in my clutches and jerk her strings!”
It would be a lie to say my emotions weren't somewhat tumultuous! $9989 was being ripped from my hands as I watched helplessly from the sidewalk. And if the vehicle sold, I would still be responsible for $3000 and have nothing!
Declaring daily, "It is written, 'If the thief be found he shall restore seven fold'5 -satan you owe me and if you take anything else, you will owe me even more." Nevertheless the loan company was not waiting any longer on a promise maybe of a payment if/when I got a job and a pay check. And none of my family or brothers and sisters at church came to my aid. I silently wondered if anyone really listens to God during the week.
Silently in my heart of hearts throughout that day I could only whisper, "You alone O Lord are worthy. You alone are worthy of all honor and of all glory. You alone O Lord are worthy of praise and adoration and of my worship, You alone, O Great and Mighty God."
"I will not bow down to pain or anger! I will not bow to emotions! You alone O Lord are worthy of all honor. I will not give honor to the flesh that desires to stay in control. Only You are worthy, Great and Mighty God."
Facing disconnection of my electric service, telephone and internet, I welcome God’s stripping me of all independence and delight in KNOWING complete reliance on God alone! It's both terribly, terribly frightening and awesome coincidentally.
Our greatest privilege is to KNOW God! All this other stuff can be a great deterrent to spending time alone with God. I am greatly privileged to receive the myriad facets of HIS Glory He is revealing to me in the loss of all familiar comforts.
To KNOW God as Love, God as Peace, God as Father is my heart’s greatest longing. To KNOW God as Provision even in the face of having everything stripped from me on which I have come to rely for comfort is a great adventure of faith I never imagined or conceived would be so enthralling.
There is no room for pride as it is only by Grace that God moment by moment empowers me to continue to trust Him implicitly, and to praise and worship HIM.
I have a vision of my new Log Home and new vehicle, yet in daily nitty gritty - being identified with Christ, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but the life I now live I live by faith of the Son of God who loves me and lives HIS life through me."6 I can attest firsthand to the song writer’s words, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
The word becomes my nature . . .
1. 2 Th 3:10 all verses Online Bible edition 2.00.04 av paraphrase
2. Phil 4:19
3. 2 Co. 9:8
4. Pr 6:31
5. Is 26:3
6. Ga 2:20
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