The Right Time

Do you ever notice God has the greatest timing ever? Do you ever think it sure doesn't feel like it? I've been reading the gospels and noticing how Christ always shows up at the right time, responds at the right time, provides at the right time, etc. Everything he does is always at the right time. It might not seem like it as we read the stories, but we always discover it was. That got me thinking of other places in Scripture where we see God stepping in at just the right moments.

The last couple days I've been thinking a lot about Abraham and his willingness to obey in faith as he prepared to sacrifice Isaac. As he climbed the mountain, was he thinking my son is dead? Did he sense that God may do something greater? Had he lost hope of becoming a great nation? I can't begin to imagine the thoughts he wrestled with on that walk. Even more I can't imagine what he felt as he raised the knife to kill his son. But at the last possible second God shows up and reveals a greater plan.

I've been wrestling with several things the last few weeks. Trying to make sense of the journey God has me walking right now. I've been quite frustrated this week with the ways Satan appears to be attacking not only me but those around me. Yesterday, at what seemed like the last possible moment a simple phone call changed everything. And because God is just that amazing, after some a good coffee conversation and a couple more phone calls, God has blown me away...once again.

God never fails. He always seems to know what just the right time is. I've got my idea but it usually is far from accurate. Tonight I'm thankful God knows me better than I do. I'm thankful for people who are willing to be obedient so God can use them. I'm thankful for the incredible faithfulness of my Abba.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts"

Without words

I've been staring at my computer screen trying to put into words all the thoughts in my head. Needless to say, two hours later...it isn't happening. So I'll share with you the words that are playing on repeat in my head tonight.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. - Ephesians 3:22

Come, let us return to the Lord! He has torn us in pieces, now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. - Hosea 6:1-3

30 Day Bible Challenge: Mark

Mark is probably the gospels I've spent the least amount of time studying. I'm not really sure why that is.

Mark, for me anyway, draws my attention to the spiritual battle we are in more than any of the other gospels. Perhaps it is because Mark jumps into the story right at the beginning of Christ's ministry. I also think Mark makes it evident the role our faith plays in this battle be sharing several accounts of Christ healing people because of their faith.

I smile every time I read about Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) because DJ Olson use to start our camp staff training by teaching from this passage.

I'm still working through some thoughts on Mark 14:1-9. Maybe I'll share those thoughts in another post.

Some thoughts on Luke should come tonight if I have the chance. I'm a little behind in the blogging portion of this challenge.

30 Day Bible Challenge: Matthew

Last week I joined my friends DC and Brooke on a little 30 day Bible challenge to read the New Testament. I decided I would blog some thoughts and observations along the way. I'm sure there will be very few profound thoughts and lots of thinking out loud. I guarantee most of the thoughts will seem random. It's how I am.

I, and I assume most, usually read the Bible in smaller chunks, but I think there is a lot of value to reading larger passages as well. It helps me get a better grip of the big picture of God's story. It also helps me connect with the story itself. Here are a few other observations.

• I don't remember the Matthew being so descriptive. As I read through the book, I found myself imagining every detail of the scene. I would say it reads like a novel, but DC stole my thunder on that one.
• I found myself connecting with people like John the Baptist and Peter much more than normal.
• This was a much more emotional read than past reads.
• Christ took advantage of every opportunity he had to teach.
• Hypocrisy is in no way one of Christ's favorite things. (Matthew 23)

If I have a chance tomorrow, some thoughts on Mark.