Feeling really blessed of late. It’s been a while since I posted, because I have been very busy working. Work that is a blessing from God, after He told me to go to Ukraine for a missions trip, and blessing that followed obedience.
When the opportunity arose, I saw it as not possible. Money. It was a tough beginning to the year, I run my own computer support business, and I couldn’t imagine making enough to take 10 days away. My wife told me in no uncertain terms that you cannot expect God to bless us if we don’t obey Him. “You’re going.” is what she said.
So after the decision was made, work started pouring in. Now I’m leaving on Wednesday, the bills are paid, and I get to have some fun and hopefully do something mighty for the Kingdom just because I said yes.
This year has been about listening and obeying, digging deeper, and being willing to root out whatever in me gets in the way of what God wants to do with me and through me.
What have I learned about Him? Well, I think that He is relaxed. I think that God enjoys blessing His children like I like to bless mine. Now when my kids try to control the situation or whine for no good reason, things get a bit more difficult. If they are always asking about the agenda in a controlling manner, I’d just assume NOT take them for ice cream like I was secretly planning. If they treat each other badly, lie, or disobey, I am forced to discipline them out of duty as a loving father.
If I view my father in Heaven as gruff, judgemental, or harsh, then I don’t draw near to Him (who wants that!) and then I miss out on fellowship with a loving, generous, peaceful God who seems to like to surprise me by meeting my every need, and several more desires that I wouldn’t even have asked Him for.
Nice report, huh? It’s true, I’ve had plenty of work, so finances are better than I had hoped for. My wife and kids are awesome and healthy, we have a beautiful home and both our cars work. It’s easy to love such a generous God.
But I THANK him daily. I thank Him and praise Him passionately, and I seek His presence. I also TRUST Him. I know that life can’t always be this good, and I know that someday it might become disasterous. But in what other than God could I place my trust? To think that I can manage this life is laughable. There’s no politician, no stable currency or investment, no place that will always be safe from all kinds of disaster. Just the assurance, that my loving, generous Father in Heaven actually does care, and will see me though any hardship.
The truth is, if I lost every physical thing today, I have already been blessed with Salvation, and then with so much worldly blessing that to be anything other than eternally grateful would be ridiculous.