Sunday, October 17, 2010

... Unmerited Favor......

...He has already done all that I will  ever need for me.. He, by dying on the cross has reconciled me with the Father, He has paid the penalty for my sin that would have separated me from my Creator and kept me in this place  (hell = eternal separation from God)... He had no reason to ever do anything else for me.. I didn't deserve the gift of His salvation anyways... Grace, the unmerited favor...
But.. like I said earlier today... His love surrounds me like a blanket, it keeps me warm and protected, I can take it with me wherever I go.. so I did... first, I went to pick my daughter up...


Hostile situation # 1.... I got to the Dance Studio where she had the rehearsal .. and she was gone.. drove there for nothing, she had gone home with another dancer's mother, they were done an hour earlier..forgot to call me to let me know.. got home, there she was and her first words to me were: "I am sorry Mami...." (about the conflict the night before)
Answer to prayer # 1


Hostile situation # 2  went to see my father... prayed on the way to have a quiet and gentle spirit and stay under the protection of my Father in Heaven... discussion turned out well... God is meeting my needs...
Answer to prayer # 2


Next situation, not hostile, but potentially disappointing...
worked wonderfully, even had an amazing chance to share the gospel resulting in this person very close to me asking me to read to him from the bible...
Huge answer to prayer # 3


You can be sure that I am going to praise my Lord for all He has done for me today... I am loving Him more now than I did earlier...why? because He first loved me..why? because He showers me with His favor... why? because He has never let me down... even when situations didn't turn out as well as the ones today....why? because sometimes He gives us exactly what we are asking for... How cool is that?


This morning... my most amazing pastor read to us from Psalm 91.. using it to explain what it meant to stay under the umbrella of God's protection by submitting to Him and those He put in authority over us... that's what happened today.. that's what is happening every day of my life, no matter the circumstances...



He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

  I will say  of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."

  Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.

  He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

  You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.

  A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.

  You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

  If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

  then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.

  For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;

  they will lift you up in their hands,
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

  "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

  He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.

  With long life will I satisfy him
       and show him my salvation."



Thank You Lord...

... submitting... I am loving it!!

Went to church this morning all by my lonesome.. was a little subdued... huge conflict last night with my youngest... I am a little scared how her teenage years will work out... not off to a very good start... the "Ex" traveling to NYC... that was "our" place.. can't even count anymore how often we have been there together in the last 18 years.. not too sad, just another realization of loss...
So anyways... church.... so many amazing friends there... many hugs and loving words.. met someone who I couldn't wait meeting.. didn't expect her to be at church.. cool..
Worship.... drawing close.. makes me smile... a smile born from a never ending fountain of joy... His love.

Then, the great Pastor.... best used vessel of God in all eternity... (I just LOVE my pastor...) preaching.. on 1 Peter 2:13-3:7.... some of this has been the passage in JOG this week for me as well..
Anyways, you know you are not in step with the world when a sermon preached on submission makes you giddy with joy and happiness... I guess this is the truth.. I am not of this world,  I am a stranger, but chosen by God, my citizenship is in heaven.. the sanctifying work of the Spirit in me has made that clear to me a long time ago: Submission to God and to your husband is a wonderful gift from Him who cares more and knows us better than even we do ourselves ( after all, He is the manufacturer!!!!!!!!) 

Staying under the umbrella of His protection is the safest and most rewarding place anyone could ever be in. I guess, even though I never had that warm and cozy and safe feeling in the arms of my earthly father I definitely know it and feel it physically from my Heavenly Father. I am blessed beyond anything that He would even have this for us... following Him closely, drawing close, obeying and trusting... really, even in the bleakest moments of the last year, this has been a love drenched place... this is where the smile comes from...

cleaned my house when I came home and then sat outside on my deck, the warm autumn sun shining on me and my puppies as I was sharing my rice cakes with them... and I just couldn't help but worshipping Him again... His love is warm, it wraps itself around me.. I can take this love wherever I go... so it will come with me today... when I have to face a few hostile situations.. Praise God