I Have been seeking a lot of things in my heart as of late....I have even started a list called...What if ?....
I write down random thoughts as questions. Questions I hope to be answered.
I talk a lot to the Creator... does He listen? Is He interested? Who is HE ? I wonder.... does this thing called my life really matter? Is there really a purpose for me to be here? Do I have a destiny on this planet?
Several people have written me and asked the same question.... WHY????
What is the point in all the pain we and others have had to suffer in this life?
I have heard most of the pat answers and that is what I usually tell them. You know .... that man has a free will and all of that stuff. But I always feel so lame in my response to these questions.
In truth? I really do not understand... I can not begin to understand the whys and ways of GOD and what this mess is really all about. What I do know is this....
As long as I am alive I know that I have to do the best I can as a human and a child of the Most High to help as many on this journey we call life as I can. I know I am to do what is right in my heart to the best of my abilities to honor the Most High. I know that I am accountable for what I do or do not do in this life and I am only accountable for me... no one else. When my life is over no matter where I end up I want to know I did the best I could to honor my Heavenly Father with what He had allowed me to have and that my life has made someone elses life better for what I had to share.
We all have something to share... something to give... something to do. Nothing is too small or too little... be it a smile, hug or a meal. When we give anything it is never too small, unless you do not give it in love. There is the key... it has to be given in love.
Maybe that is all we are here for...to love one another. Maybe that is what the love of GOD is all about. To just love one another...
Until later,
Judy
THE END OF PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING
(Job 40:1-5)
Have you ever been amazed at how arrogant personal understanding can be towards the matters of eternity? Such understanding often determines what we conclude truth or reality to be. We manage to get the best case together we can about a personal situation. We come up with what we perceive to be an airtight presentation. In our mind there is no way we can be wrong about what we perceive to be right or true.
For Job, he was not only in a fight for his life, but he was in a debate about what he understood or knew about God. Even though nothing made sense, he had to cling to what he knew about the character and ways of God. When he came to the end of the debate, God stepped on the scene. He asked Job if he was the one who instructed Him. God did not have to give an answer for His being or ways to mere man, but man would give an account to Him.
At the end of personal understanding is the awareness that God is beyond any personal understanding, debate or conclusion. God is eternal. Can the finite mind of man possibly comprehend that which has no beginning, is unseen or can’t be marked by any change or ending? The answer is no, but each of us can get glimpses into the orderly, perfect ways of that which is eternal. It is the glimpses into the eternal that puts what is known and understood into perspective.
I have learned each New Year that if I do not gain insight into the eternal, that my world will become very small and tormenting indeed. There is absolutely no hope that can be found in the age we live in. All of civilization and creation is teetering on the brink of destruction. If I cannot see above this present age to see that in the end justice will prevail, good will reign, and holiness will be established as the indubitable standard that will silence all skeptics, I would only be able to conclude that each of us are truly the most miserable of all creatures.
Prayer: Lord, as I meditate upon all matters of Your creation, I must conclude there is no hope or purpose outside of You. Give me greater glimpses into Your heavenly reality. Amen
©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
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Very Good thought for today
I am posting a very though provoking devotion from Gentle Shepherd today...
Since I often think I am the only one out here ( my flesh thing again)... this kind of puts things in perspective..
Love & Prayers,
Judy
GOD’S FOOTSTOOL
(Isaiah 66:1)
Considering God’s universe has been an eye opener to me. In the beginning, as a young child, I perceived myself as the center of the universe, while in my teenage years, I saw myself as the master of my world. Years later I realize how small I was in my thinking and how foolish I became in my teenage years.
Life has a way of proving that regardless of how smart, strong or wise we see ourselves, we really are being deluded by arrogance. When I think that earth is nothing but a small “pale blue dot” in its galaxy, it causes me to realize how small my world is in comparison. Even though I flatter myself into thinking I am in control of my small world, the truth of the matter is I am unable to control it. There are forces greater than me that influence the world I live in.
This Scripture in Isaiah brings out God’s perspective about heaven, the earth and man. We are told that earth is God’s footstool. Such a thought proves to be incredible. How big God must be for the earth to simply serve as His footstool upon which He can rest. The other amazing consideration is that heaven is His throne, and a believer serves as His temple or dwelling place. His throne is related to His sovereignty as God, His footstool to His kingship, and His temple to the presence of His Spirit.
God’s majesty is brought out even more when we consider how He chose earth (His footstool) in the vastness of the universe to put man (His temple) in a perfect environment. His purpose for this was to have fellowship with His creation as a means to enjoy it. Obviously, one aspect of His creation (the universe) speaks of His power and glory, while the other aspect of His creation (earth) speaks of His heart’s desire to be in communion or agreement with that which He has created.
The video “The Privileged Planet,” explains how everything about earth was designed to maintain life, as well as see into the window of the universe. Clearly, everything about creation declares there is a Creator, who is not only intelligent, but He gave the necessary intelligence to man to explore beyond this world to discover His greatness and glory.
We will be seeing how the various dots found in creation are quite important to God. In fact, He was the one who put these dots in their places. Although man may consider all that God has done as being common, the fact that God is behind it sets it apart and makes it important.
Prayer: Lord, we tend to overlook what is important to You because we do not know Your person or heart. However, Lord I know that every insignificant dot has a purpose. Thank You for Your dots. Amen.
©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
Since I often think I am the only one out here ( my flesh thing again)... this kind of puts things in perspective..
Love & Prayers,
Judy
GOD’S FOOTSTOOL
(Isaiah 66:1)
Considering God’s universe has been an eye opener to me. In the beginning, as a young child, I perceived myself as the center of the universe, while in my teenage years, I saw myself as the master of my world. Years later I realize how small I was in my thinking and how foolish I became in my teenage years.
Life has a way of proving that regardless of how smart, strong or wise we see ourselves, we really are being deluded by arrogance. When I think that earth is nothing but a small “pale blue dot” in its galaxy, it causes me to realize how small my world is in comparison. Even though I flatter myself into thinking I am in control of my small world, the truth of the matter is I am unable to control it. There are forces greater than me that influence the world I live in.
This Scripture in Isaiah brings out God’s perspective about heaven, the earth and man. We are told that earth is God’s footstool. Such a thought proves to be incredible. How big God must be for the earth to simply serve as His footstool upon which He can rest. The other amazing consideration is that heaven is His throne, and a believer serves as His temple or dwelling place. His throne is related to His sovereignty as God, His footstool to His kingship, and His temple to the presence of His Spirit.
God’s majesty is brought out even more when we consider how He chose earth (His footstool) in the vastness of the universe to put man (His temple) in a perfect environment. His purpose for this was to have fellowship with His creation as a means to enjoy it. Obviously, one aspect of His creation (the universe) speaks of His power and glory, while the other aspect of His creation (earth) speaks of His heart’s desire to be in communion or agreement with that which He has created.
The video “The Privileged Planet,” explains how everything about earth was designed to maintain life, as well as see into the window of the universe. Clearly, everything about creation declares there is a Creator, who is not only intelligent, but He gave the necessary intelligence to man to explore beyond this world to discover His greatness and glory.
We will be seeing how the various dots found in creation are quite important to God. In fact, He was the one who put these dots in their places. Although man may consider all that God has done as being common, the fact that God is behind it sets it apart and makes it important.
Prayer: Lord, we tend to overlook what is important to You because we do not know Your person or heart. However, Lord I know that every insignificant dot has a purpose. Thank You for Your dots. Amen.
©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
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