"I will remember the deeds of the Lord, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." Psalm 77:11
Through the different seasons of life, I am finding how desperately I must apply the pure truth of this text to me. Through each season, we must record all the beauty that God has done and is doing with deep praise and adoration. I find myself now in a season where it is so vital to remember the times when God revealed Himself to me. He did in such a way that I could never deny His love and the depth of care He has for me. He uses times from the past where He clearly moved mightily to remind me He is faithful. In remembering those times, He grows my confidence that I am His. That I am one of His sheep, that He calls me by name, and I know His voice!
When He moves, take note. Write it down, record how He is moving. I promise you, even when you feel the farthest from Him, you will still see the glimpses of His presence and how He is acting and showing you that He is still there. He is with you and will never leave. You see His great faithfulness and consistency while He is drawing you closer to Him.
WN
Friday, December 13, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
He is faithful, good, and just
The Christmas season is upon us and our little town is in full swing of all that the season entails: icicle lights hanging from buildings, a nativity scene on the main square, Walmart adorned with green and red sales tags all over the store and the downtown lamp posts lit up with snowflakes...and during this special time of the year I find myself truly learning for the first time, a lesson I should have learned when I was 17.
Last night my wife and I were driving home from a Christmas Party for our work. Before I got married this summer, many people told me that for only a woman would I change some of my stubborn boyish habits that I should have out grown once I graduated high school: my horrid cave man like manners, an unawareness of myself in relation to things around me causing them to break, an ingrained habit to do most things 100 miles an hour, and my proud, stubborn, New England attitude behind the wheel of a car.
During the whole process of dating, engagement, and marriage, godliness has been a major matter close to my heart. I have been praying for godliness in all areas of my life, and God has been faithful to show me where I need to grow. I understand godliness as simply a devotion to have the attitude of Christ in all circumstances. And as a disciple, of course I want to be a godly husband and leave a godly legacy for my children. I feel there is an opportunity to grow in godliness every day. Thankfully, God has used my wife to help me grow in some of those immature habits I mentioned. And this Christmas season, The Lord is really showing me that I drive like a selfish, impatient New Englander. More than that, its not just the way I drive that is ungodly, but it is me. When I get behind the wheel, I become easily irritated, impatient, a zealously-haughty complainer and completely me focused. It doesn't help that I grew up in an area of the country, (New England), where arrogance and pride rise from earth each morning like hot mist from city sewer grate. I am serious. I really believe there is a deep seeded pride rooted in generations of people in that area of the country. Its funny now, living in Ohio, thinking about the New England prideful mentality. You can even see it in the term "New England". Its like we think we are a separate part of the United States. As you cross the border from New York to Massachusetts you will commonly hear things like "Well get used to it, you are in New England now". Massachusetts drivers are so selfish, people have dubbed them driver's "Massholes".
All that being said, that is no excuse. My selfishness comes out when I drive. I am ungodly behind the wheel. So the last few weeks, this has really come out, and finally I have started working on it. Instead of flooring it on yellow lights I stop, and realize an extra 30 seconds out of my day will not kill me. In Ohio, most people drive under the speed limit and are actually self-less. So this "slow and steady, I will get there when I get there" mentality just escalated my "me-first" attitude. So instead of letting nice courteous people annoy me, I have tried to become more like one of them. But last night, despite my realization that I need to change, I feel like the Lord just put a seal on it and said "Josh, this is it. You need to love Me when you drive. And you have a family now".
We were coming home from the Christmas party and there is a two lane road in Amish country between our work and the town we live. We had a great night talking with our co workers during dinner and were thinking back to our conversation. I noticed a local cop parked off the the left. There are only two or three cops in that little town and this section of the road rarely patrolled. So we passed him, and he just stayed parked. Everything was normal. My mind started wondering back to dinners conversation and my eyes were on the road, but my foot was on the gas pedal. You can guess what happened next. I have it in my mind that this road is 65 mph, but it is really 55. So I sped up to my usual 65-70 range. A state police car on the other side of the road passes us, pulls a U-turn and pulls me over.
Speeding Ticket.
After a great night with my wife and co workers. After a trying to be a more godly driver. During the Christmas season!
But all that doesn't matter. God is just. He is merciful, but He is just. I needed that ticket. Yes, I could have slowly gotten better and changed. But I needed a harsh reminder. I needed to be disciplined. There were many times the past few years I could have been pulled over and should have been. This time I wasn't even trying to speed. But again, God needed to teach me this lesson. He knew a $hundred and change ticket plus a jump in our insurance would get my full attention.
So all this being said, I am thankful. Of course I wish I didn't have to pay the cost, but I am thankful I have a good Father who knows what I need, and gives me what I can handle. I am thankful it was not an accident that it took to get my attention again(that has happened before). I am thankful that He answered my prayer, is making me godly, is giving me applicable sermons illustrations that make me look foolish and Him great, but most of all, that is a faithful, good, and just Father that loves me.
Merry Christmas
JN
Last night my wife and I were driving home from a Christmas Party for our work. Before I got married this summer, many people told me that for only a woman would I change some of my stubborn boyish habits that I should have out grown once I graduated high school: my horrid cave man like manners, an unawareness of myself in relation to things around me causing them to break, an ingrained habit to do most things 100 miles an hour, and my proud, stubborn, New England attitude behind the wheel of a car.
During the whole process of dating, engagement, and marriage, godliness has been a major matter close to my heart. I have been praying for godliness in all areas of my life, and God has been faithful to show me where I need to grow. I understand godliness as simply a devotion to have the attitude of Christ in all circumstances. And as a disciple, of course I want to be a godly husband and leave a godly legacy for my children. I feel there is an opportunity to grow in godliness every day. Thankfully, God has used my wife to help me grow in some of those immature habits I mentioned. And this Christmas season, The Lord is really showing me that I drive like a selfish, impatient New Englander. More than that, its not just the way I drive that is ungodly, but it is me. When I get behind the wheel, I become easily irritated, impatient, a zealously-haughty complainer and completely me focused. It doesn't help that I grew up in an area of the country, (New England), where arrogance and pride rise from earth each morning like hot mist from city sewer grate. I am serious. I really believe there is a deep seeded pride rooted in generations of people in that area of the country. Its funny now, living in Ohio, thinking about the New England prideful mentality. You can even see it in the term "New England". Its like we think we are a separate part of the United States. As you cross the border from New York to Massachusetts you will commonly hear things like "Well get used to it, you are in New England now". Massachusetts drivers are so selfish, people have dubbed them driver's "Massholes".
All that being said, that is no excuse. My selfishness comes out when I drive. I am ungodly behind the wheel. So the last few weeks, this has really come out, and finally I have started working on it. Instead of flooring it on yellow lights I stop, and realize an extra 30 seconds out of my day will not kill me. In Ohio, most people drive under the speed limit and are actually self-less. So this "slow and steady, I will get there when I get there" mentality just escalated my "me-first" attitude. So instead of letting nice courteous people annoy me, I have tried to become more like one of them. But last night, despite my realization that I need to change, I feel like the Lord just put a seal on it and said "Josh, this is it. You need to love Me when you drive. And you have a family now".
We were coming home from the Christmas party and there is a two lane road in Amish country between our work and the town we live. We had a great night talking with our co workers during dinner and were thinking back to our conversation. I noticed a local cop parked off the the left. There are only two or three cops in that little town and this section of the road rarely patrolled. So we passed him, and he just stayed parked. Everything was normal. My mind started wondering back to dinners conversation and my eyes were on the road, but my foot was on the gas pedal. You can guess what happened next. I have it in my mind that this road is 65 mph, but it is really 55. So I sped up to my usual 65-70 range. A state police car on the other side of the road passes us, pulls a U-turn and pulls me over.
Speeding Ticket.
After a great night with my wife and co workers. After a trying to be a more godly driver. During the Christmas season!
But all that doesn't matter. God is just. He is merciful, but He is just. I needed that ticket. Yes, I could have slowly gotten better and changed. But I needed a harsh reminder. I needed to be disciplined. There were many times the past few years I could have been pulled over and should have been. This time I wasn't even trying to speed. But again, God needed to teach me this lesson. He knew a $hundred and change ticket plus a jump in our insurance would get my full attention.
So all this being said, I am thankful. Of course I wish I didn't have to pay the cost, but I am thankful I have a good Father who knows what I need, and gives me what I can handle. I am thankful it was not an accident that it took to get my attention again(that has happened before). I am thankful that He answered my prayer, is making me godly, is giving me applicable sermons illustrations that make me look foolish and Him great, but most of all, that is a faithful, good, and just Father that loves me.
Merry Christmas
JN
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