In Praise of God

If you are a regular visitor to our blog, I am sure you have noticed that this time of year is busy. (In other words: it has been awhile since any of us have posted!) For days now, I have been thinking “I have got to write something for the blog.” Then today, as I was checking e-mail and once again thinking, “I really have got to write…,” I ended up reading a blog by Tim Challies.

Challies’ thoughts were on parenting, but they served a further purpose. I was reminded of what a precious privilege it is that believers get to come together and share thoughts about God, whether in person or through the means of a blog.

No matter what activity you are thinking you have got to do, I think you will find encouragement and challenge from Challies’ blog post today (September 24: “Got To’s and Get To’s” at http://www.challies.com). I know his thoughts have impacted the way I will think about many things…but especially about what a gift it is that I get to blog about the works and ways of God!

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,

And the LORD listened and heard them;

So a book of remembrance was written before Him

For those who fear the LORD

And who meditate on His name.

Malachi 3:16

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.

Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;
twice I have heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man according to his work.

Ps. 62:8-12

I ran across this old photo today. I took it after a moderately big Nebraska snow. As the snow on the roof had begun to melt, the packed snow slid down…down…down the roof until it stopped in this unusual, precarious position. As I recall, I moved fairly quickly to pull out my camera to document the interesting effect of snow both on the top AND bottom of the winter scene…because I knew it wouldn’t last long!

I never doubted that the ultimate demise of my snow-awning would come. All evidence pointed one way (in this case, down!). And I was right.  It actually stayed up there for longer than I had originally anticipated, but before the day was done…the snow-awning was gone.

The coming of our Lord, our entrance into rest, the end of trials - all of these are near. The evidence points only one way (up!).  It may seem slow, but it will not be long. God is faithful in orchestrating the end, and we must be faithful as we eagerly await His Day.