God is Working!

"Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." ~Ps. 40:5

As I reflect on the goodness of the Lord in my life, almost always a song(s) comes to mind. Just now, it's..."Lord, I'm amazed by You!" Well, okay, let's just listen to it...this is an amazing video...too good to pass up!

This first month of the New Year the Lord has been doing such a work of healing and renewing hope in me. He is SO Faithful! I'm far from having all the answers but step by step God continues to grow the seeds of faith in me and restore what has been broken. Often we pray days on end; month after month; even years for certain things we know are the will of the Lord. Sometimes we see God working in those areas (whether literally or spiritually); sometimes we don't. But, whether we see or we don't we can know God IS working!!! We rarely understand His ways (I Corinthians 13:12) but the demonstration of His love is undeniably certain. He WILL turn your mourning into dancing. He WILL turn the ashes of your life into something beautiful. He WILL take your broken heart and lovingly mend every torn fragment until you are whole again...over and over and over (if we allow Him to) as we continue on this journey called life.

As 2009 unfolds, God is reminding me that the little I sacrifice for Him (understanding that in this land we know nothing of real sacrifice) results in a HUGE reaping from heaven's storehouse. And not necessarily physical, monetary or tangible benefits although He supplies every earthly need in my life and home according to His riches in Christ Jesus. But the real life changing benefits are not food or clothes or "things" at all. God is working out His plan in ways that I've asked for years and years that He would accomplish.

God is working in my son's lives. Sometimes we don't comprehend how conflict affects the younger generation; how much they can discern by watching our lives. Since the day God opened my womb for the very first time and exerted His creative power over my body to bring life, He not only planted the seed that became Benjamin Chance Webb but He planted a fire of desire in me that has burned and continues to burn not only for my son's but for the generations to come to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). Yes, when we ask to know the power of His resurrection we must also embrace the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. But it is through the demonstration of God's power AND the fellowship of His sufferings that we experience the God of our salvation at a new level. A depth of knowledge; of knowing Him, that surpasses any surface knowledge we may have previously experienced.

In Psalm 39, we see David transformed from a person of anger who says in so many words, I'll put a muzzle over my mouth because whatever might come out now I'm sure I'll be sorry for...to a person humbled by the realization that God is his hope and He alone could save him from his sin and himself. (Charles Spurgeon comments on verse 2: trying to avoid one fault, he fell into another. Using the tongue for evil is a sin of commission, but not to use it at all involves an evident sin of omission.) The Psalm begins with him silencing himself; even from saying anything good and ends with his heavenly Father quieting him to hear His voice say follow Me.

I love verse 7 because in his brokeness the servant says to the Master, "Now, Lord (Adonai), what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You."

He has come to the place of surrender. He remembers Who is in control. His soul has found rest in Christ alone. He's found the place of knowing God's power in quietness and trust. The place of hope!

As this new week begins, let's celebrate our hope in Christ. And let's share the goodness of our God with the world. To God be the glory, GREAT things He has done and is doing!!!