Lately I have been fighting it seems many dark nights of the soul. You know, where you wake up in the wee hours of the morning and it seems everything horrible you ever did rushes in to torment you in full force.
I start wondering about my very existence and if GOD can even love a spud like me. I feel about as flawed as any person on the planet and at those times can even understand why certain people in certain religions have the urge to punish themselves until they drawl blood.
One thing I have to say good about those awful nights is getting up and seeing the sunrise. As I go outside and fight the elements caring for my critters I get almost a sense of accomplishment in that I survived another night and am plowing on into another day.
My life might not have not been what I wanted or expected but it is what I have been given. For all the good and all the bad of it I am here. For some reason the Creator decided to put me here and so I am assuming He has a purpose even if in the most part I am clueless.
I struggle always in my relationship with my Heavenly Father only because I am sure I make it way more complicated then it needs to be. I admit I have not reached the stage in my life where I can always lay down in peace and just have blissful faith all the time. If any of you have reached that stage in your life please let me know. I would love to meet someone who has attained that.
I often struggle with the human in me... fighting the flesh is a full time war...and I do not always win over the flesh. But in my struggles I am finding a realness in my relationship with my Creator that I do not think I would have otherwise.
So with saying all of that here are two new devotions from Gentle Shepherd... they really touched home with me in a very big way and I suspect they will you all as well..
GOD Bless....
Judy
REALITY CHECK
(Job 38:1-4)
Job is a man that I can often relate to. He struggled with the issues of life that do not make sense. He knew about God, yet understood that his present situation was eluding him. He understood spiritual matters in part, yet his present knowledge of such matters brought nothing but confusion and darkness to his soul. The final conclusion he had to come to was that he really did not understand.
It is vital that as believers we occasionally gain a true reality check about our part in the scheme of things. In reality, we are nothing, but our incredible Creator put a price on us when He redeemed us back from the hopeless state of death brought on by sin.
In considering how there are many galaxies that make up the unfolding universe before us, we must remember that even God’s creation cannot contain His power and glory. In light of such a perspective, we can only marvel at how our Creator would choose man out of all of creation to establish a relationship with Him. He would form him from insignificant dust to become a living vessel that could intimately interact with Him, as well as choosing him to house His Spirit, reflect His glory, and commune with Him.
When was the last time you considered your life in light of creation? Take time to consider creation, and then, remember how the Creator desires to have a personal, intimate relationship with you.
Prayer: Lord I am awed by Your creation, overwhelmed by Your greatness, and humbled by the incomprehensible reality that You actually desire a relationship with me. Lord, thank You for regarding me in spite of the vastness of Your beauty, works, and perfect ways. Amen.
STARTING POINT
(Isaiah 44:6)
When I start a new year, I meditate on the purpose for my existence. Why am I here in this place, at this time? Clearly, something cannot simply exist without a purpose or reason. Am I fulfilling my reason for being? There was a time in my quest to come to terms with the “whys” behind my existence when I rationalized that perhaps I must come to terms with my beginning. What marks my beginning: My actual conception in the womb or the beginning of all creation? Clearly, to understand the ending, I must start from the right beginning. After all, the beginning will line me up to the finished purpose or goal for my life.
This consideration in regards to the beginning of a matter brings each us to the big debate: Something had to be eternal to bring about a matter. Was energy eternal or is God eternal? Regardless of the debate, something had to initially exist in order for something to come forth. Life can only come out of life or that which possesses the source of life.
The other aspect of the debate can be clearly observed in creation. Everything in our universe is winding down including the energy that is present in our world. Granted, almost everything has a peak, but like the wind after hitting its peak or potential, it will digress downward into a place where it will cease altogether. Everything is digressing where it is subsiding into a state of ruin and decay. Therefore, such elements as energy could not be considered eternal or the substance behind all that we see. This is why the Bible’s record of creation is so incredible. It clearly states: “In the beginning, God...”
This simple statement found in Genesis 1:1 says it all. All matters of life, creation and purpose can be found in the reality of God. In Him everything existed that was, became and will become. The answer to my question was simple: my existence began with my Creator.
Thought: God is all inclusive. Everything stands completed in Him, whether in design or purpose, and it will all come forth to perfection in His timing.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Good Morning to a New Year....
I thought I would start this year off with this Gentle Shepherd devotional.
It is very fitting for the day and something to contemplate on...
Love & Prayers,
Judy
INCOMPREHENSIBLE
(Genesis 1:1)
As we start a New Year, we must strive to put the past in perspective as it fades into the background, regard the present as a point of meditation in light of a new beginning, and the future must be considered in light of hope and expectation. In order to do this we must know how to look beyond ourselves to embrace the purpose for today in light of the expectation we should presently live in for tomorrow. How can we do this?
In the beginning of each new day the heart must always ponder the reality and matters of God. Recently, I watched a video about the wonders of God. The video showed how incomprehensible our God is when it comes to our finite minds and understanding. This comparison was brought out in light of God’s incredible creation. For example, when the earth and sun were compared to the larger stars of our galaxy, the earth became invisible in light of the enormous size of these stars.
The comparison of earth to some of the stars caused me to think about my life in light of the vastness of God’s creation. According to the video, I began as the size of a period at the end of a sentence; therefore, where would this place me in comparison to the universe? Even though we think highly of ourselves, such a comparison reveals just how foolish we can become in the darkness of our ignorance, delusion and overrated arrogance. Clearly, in our humanity, we have nothing of significance to offer or to add when it comes to the vastness of God’s abilities or His creation.
The universe around us should cause us to pause and consider the greatness of God, along with our personal limitations. We will never be able to comprehend the vastness of God. We must beware of becoming too big in our opinions about personal abilities, while remaining small in our understanding of God. We should keep in mind at all times that each new day allows us the opportunity to discover more about God as a means to keep our human frailties in a proper perspective. If we accept this daily opportunity, we will be able to live in light of our future expectation.
Thought: In our attempts to comprehend God, we often make Him small, while inflating our personal biased understanding about the matters of life and eternity.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
It is very fitting for the day and something to contemplate on...
Love & Prayers,
Judy
INCOMPREHENSIBLE
(Genesis 1:1)
As we start a New Year, we must strive to put the past in perspective as it fades into the background, regard the present as a point of meditation in light of a new beginning, and the future must be considered in light of hope and expectation. In order to do this we must know how to look beyond ourselves to embrace the purpose for today in light of the expectation we should presently live in for tomorrow. How can we do this?
In the beginning of each new day the heart must always ponder the reality and matters of God. Recently, I watched a video about the wonders of God. The video showed how incomprehensible our God is when it comes to our finite minds and understanding. This comparison was brought out in light of God’s incredible creation. For example, when the earth and sun were compared to the larger stars of our galaxy, the earth became invisible in light of the enormous size of these stars.
The comparison of earth to some of the stars caused me to think about my life in light of the vastness of God’s creation. According to the video, I began as the size of a period at the end of a sentence; therefore, where would this place me in comparison to the universe? Even though we think highly of ourselves, such a comparison reveals just how foolish we can become in the darkness of our ignorance, delusion and overrated arrogance. Clearly, in our humanity, we have nothing of significance to offer or to add when it comes to the vastness of God’s abilities or His creation.
The universe around us should cause us to pause and consider the greatness of God, along with our personal limitations. We will never be able to comprehend the vastness of God. We must beware of becoming too big in our opinions about personal abilities, while remaining small in our understanding of God. We should keep in mind at all times that each new day allows us the opportunity to discover more about God as a means to keep our human frailties in a proper perspective. If we accept this daily opportunity, we will be able to live in light of our future expectation.
Thought: In our attempts to comprehend God, we often make Him small, while inflating our personal biased understanding about the matters of life and eternity.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)