Hanging out with my "Ebenezer Stone"...

It has been such an insane couple of weeks, I truly can't even find a place to begin. Mostly I think God has just been reminding me that my Ebenezer Stone needs to be dusted off and "set up". (Click the link if you are thoroughly confused.)When I have felt completely lost, I just kept trying to remember "Thus far, the Lord has helped us."

Why do you think it is so much easier to take your own heartache than to watch others hurt? Is it because with your own, you feel some semblance of control? I just don't know. In the last month, we have dealt with so many things attacking the next generation, the Enemy has been fierce in his quest to make these young ones feel hopeless and ineffective. From alcoholic parents to anorexia, from suicide to drug abuse, from tears of self loathing to cries of shame, violence, depression, surgeries, illness- our teens are hurting. And as I look around at the boy selling newspaper subscriptions, or the girl making sandwiches at Subway, I wonder if they know just how special they are to the One who made them. I wonder if they know how loved they are by the people in their life who maybe don't know how to show it. And more than anything, I wonder...is there any way I can tell them, Lord?

I have been hanging out in Isaiah, just because it is such an awesome book. And God showed me just how cool He really is. In chapter 30, verse 18 says "The LORD longs to be gracious to you, therefore He will rise up to show compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are ALL who long for Him."

Oh, how I long for my Lord. To know that He wants to be gracious and compassionate to me and the people I love so much, and all I need to realize how blessed I am is to LONG for him- what a comfort that has been these last weeks. When I look into the eyes of these hurting teens, I so wish I could help them to understand. Our Pastor said it so well on Sunday...basically that we aren't finished yet- we are just in the middle of our story, but the end is sure. It WILL be a happy ending if we love Jesus.

I wish I could tell them:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched.
Nor will the flame burn you." Isaiah 43:1a-2

Now, don't get all bent out of shape. I know this is directed at the nation of Israel, but when I read it as a gentile believer in Yahweh, the one true God- it feels like a promise to all of us, doesn't it? If only I could tell all these hurting kids that God has CALLED them, that it is inevitable that they WILL walk through the fire, but He WILL NOT allow them to be burnt up in it...nor even singed. He will bring them out more beautiful and radiant if they choose to LONG for Him. To trust Him. I remember studying this passage awhile back in Beth Moore's Daniel study, and to come upon it now- when I needed the comfort the most was the sweetest gift. Now if God could just show me how to give that "gift" to these little peeps. <3


Needless to say, walking alongside this has put my own piddly problems in perspective. My son can whine about mowing the lawn and my daughter can talk about boys all she wants. I relish their little quirks and small heart aches, because it reminds me that they are alive, and talking (or fighting) with me. It reminds me that they are dealing with life in a healthy way, and it reminds me again...to tell them how much I adore them and how so very proud and blessed I feel to be their mother.

All in all, I am thankful that God is on His throne and He is working His plan. It is the one comfort in the midst of total madness. I am going to go cuddle up with my Lord and have a nice chat, and then tomorrow I am going to dust off that Ebenezer Stone and remember "Thus far the Lord has helped us" and keep my eyes on the horizon. The end of this story is going to be glorious...

"The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted." Isaiah 30:26

(The pics were just for fun- will try to get some horsey updates for you, Cassie is growing like crazy and we have some fun videos of our "sassy" little filly!)

Why I don't have to know why God does what He does...

This was so what I needed to read today. Often I wonder why God works the way He does, and aren't there easier ways to grow me than pain and suffering, than skinned knees and bumped heads. John Piper made it very clear why God doesn't give us "micro reasons for pain" but allows us to see the "macro reasons" later- we just aren't God. hehehe Pretty good reason if you ask me.

"But we can always object that there are other easier ways for God to accomplish those things. We want to know more specifics: Why now? Why this much? Why this often? Why this way? Why these people?

The problem is, we would have to be God to grasp all that God is doing in our problems. In fact, pushing too hard for more detailed explanations from God is a kind of demand that we be God.

Think of this, you are a blacksmith making horseshoes. You are hammering on a white hot shoe and it ricochets off and hits you in the leg and burns you. In your haste to tend to your leg you let the shoe alone unfinished. You wonder why God let this happen. You were singing a hymn and doing his will.

Your helper, not knowing the horseshoe was unfinished gathered it up and put it with the others.

Later there was an invasion of your country by a hostile army with a powerful cavalry. They came through your town and demanded that you supply them with food and with shoes for their horses. You comply.

Their commander has his horse shoed by his own smith using the stolen horseshoes, and the unfinished shoe with the thin weak spot is put on the commander’s horse.

In the decisive battle against the loyal troops defending your homeland the enemy commander is leading the final charge. The weak shoe snaps and catches on a root and causes his horse to fall. He crashes to the ground and his own soldiers, galloping at full speed, trample him to death.

This causes such a confusion that the defenders are able to rout the enemy and the country is saved.

Now you might say, well, it would sure help me trust God if he informed me of these events so that I would know why the horseshoe ricocheted and burned my leg. Well maybe it would help you. Maybe not. " - John Piper http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1307_Why_God_Doesnt_Fully_Explain_Pain/