Far: This is the last post for January. The post from 'proverbs27thlock' emphasizes living short and living long. Twenty-six days have passed, and what have I done for the Lord and others? What is my daily focus? With 339 days left this year, what is living long? (I recommend reading his post). I usually write my posts/ideas before reading others.
I see how far away I am from accomplishing some of my goals. My writing is about revisions and getting to the final stages for submissions. But I have revised two stories that I think are submission ready. Community is about reaching out to international students, learning Korean, and inviting people to church- two opportunities this past week.
Re-memorizing scriptures and a daily bible study laced with prayer. I was having trouble quoting a scripture I know from memory- yep, gotta use it or lose it.
What affects my living short and long? Procrastination and distractions sometimes are the order for the day. I am like grasshoppers who forgets to look up for guidance.(Yes, there is a bible verse, can't remember where.) So begin the day by looking up and inviting God to order my steps.
Say what are God's patterns in each season of life.
God designed each season of your life to bring the fruition of His will. Thereby, God reveals Himself uniquely to your spirit so that I can know the Father, the creator of this world. What would I say to the Father? I think of the Father as ominous and exacting, yet even in the Old Testament, I see kindness and willingness to listen and even change His mind. Kate used the word shutter to think this morning in her video. Grief does make one shutter. I did not have a kind earthly father, and after the divorce, I never saw him until I was an adult. So, I will admit to having a skewed perception of the Heavenly Father. The words Kate used to describe grief were enigmatic and illusive. I remembered the melancholy impression from childhood as I watched my grandson wishing his father was present. This image is not what God intended when He first designed the family unit. The father was to represent the heavenly Father by providing a safe place, protection, and security - a home filled with love and care. The heavenly Father is teaching me about Himself. He wants me to understand Him as the Father, someone I can come to and sit, talk, and listen to.
What is God’s pattern of love in my life? What do I know, what have I seen, why are prayers unanswered, when do prodigals return, and how will things be restored. God did not save me to lose me in doubt and fear.
The Bible doesn't explain God, the Father; it declares Him. God is a spirit to be worshiped in spirit and truth. How can a spirit be known? Fact: Nothing preexisted God. The three in one spirit existed and, by His word, spoke the world into existence. Jesus is our visible manifestation of the Father; now we have His spirit within. Our Father wants us to have a relationship with Him.
The story of the prodigal son is about the Father and Israel's rejection of salvation for the Gentiles. The older brother is Israel. The younger brother is the Gentiles. The Father would have smothered them in unconditional love, but the older brother was unwilling. God, the Father, established Israel as a beacon to the world. Micah 6:8 says He has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you. The Father desires us to know Him and trust Him as Job did.
The rich young ruler was willing to follow certain rules but he wasn't willing to love Jesus above his worldly possessions or his worldly POV
So, I need to look at my patterns of doubt, questioning God about unanswered prayers. In my depths of despair, do I still trust, like Job? Do I find rest in Him (Ps 23)? When do I rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance? My patterns are mine and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have discernment to discover more about the Father.
brontebrown2 