Saturday Morning Ramblings

It is a morning to remember. Each person in my family slept LATE. Both girls slept past 7:30!! That is huge around here. Everyone has had breakfast and we are all just sort of lounging around for a little while. I love it.

Last night on Twitter, LifeWay shared that the focus passage at the Living Proof event in Wyoming this weekend, was Psalm 66. Since I (and probably you too) have friends at that conference, I wanted to read the passage and pray for my friends. After we tucked everyone in, I crawled into bed and read Psalm 66.

I found myself grinning at God. I started the passage and got down to verses 5-7:

"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot, come let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations, let not the rebellious rise up against him."

I am re-reading a little book called "The Red Sea Rules". I told you about it here. Of course the verses in Psalm lined right up with what I am studying right now. Love it when God does that! So cool.

As I read on to verses 10-12 "for you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through the fire and water but you brought us to a place of abundance." I could not help but think of this quote from the very first "rule". (You can find it on page 6)

"The Lord occasionally does the same thing with us, testing our faith, leading us into hardship, teaching us wisdom, showing us His ways. Our first reaction may be a surge of panic and a sense of alarm, but we must learn to consult the Scriptures for guidance.

So take a deep breath and recall this deeper secret of the Christian life: when you are in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there or allowed you to be there, for reason perhaps known for now only to Himself.

The same God who led you in, will lead you out."

For some reason, the Casting Crowns song "Praise you in the Storm" keeps running through my head. Sometimes it's in those really difficult seasons that we have the opportunity to bring our God a sacrifice of praise.

It's hard isn't it? But how pleased He must be when we make the choice to praise Him regardless of the circumstances. Even when you feel like you have an impossible river in front of you and the enemy behind you, go on and praise Him and watch what He does. What would happen if we took our selfish eyes of off ourselves and became completely enthralled with Him?

His majesty and glory are far greater than the circumstance in front of me today. So far the Lord has been my helper, my guide and my constant source of LIFE! He never changes so I can rest knowing that the same God who led me here, will lead me out and on!

He makes me want to sing...

Psalm 66:1-2
"Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious!"