I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
No matter how old you are or how “creaky” you feel, thank God for each day you have had on the earth and for all the ones He will give you. We don’t know how many years we will live, but we do know that we are called for a purpose and we will be here until that purpose is fulfilled. Jacob lived long enough to see Joseph again, to bless Joseph’s sons and include them in the twelve tribes and to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. Let’s all be like Jacob and leave this world blessing others!
I know that I know that God is working things out, but like other humans, I have a tendency to keep pestering Him and asking that old question, “When, God? How long is this going to take?” I have learned that what I should be asking is “What lesson can I learn from this?”
As some of you on the prayer team know, our grandson was severely injured in an accident on his one-wheeler last week. He was rushed unconscious to the ER, underwent numerous tests and is banged up pretty good. His diagnosis is concussion, fractured clavicle and ruptured ear drum. I was blessed to hear that he had no brain damage and was happy that he could go home, be watched by his mom and go see specialists this week. Well, yesterday, he went to the ENT and it seems to be a “hurry up and wait” scenario since he was sent home to wash out his ear with hydrogen peroxide since there is too much blood present for the specialist to see well inside his ear. He goes back next week for another exam. Meanwhile, he is wearing a sling for his broken clavicle and has an appointment with Ortho on Thursday. Tempted to ask how long my beloved grandson must suffer before the healing comes, God has slowed me down and reminded me to ask what I can learn from this situation. For one, I am learning to pray and trust and to know how quickly things can change. I am learning that God knew what happened long before I did, had His hand on Tyler and is continuing to heal him, even if I don’t see much progress. Finally, I am learning that not all healing that has to be done is happening in Tyler. All of the family was affected by this accident that suddenly disrupted our lives, so I am learning to pray for each family member to get the takeaway that they need from it.
The Lord was not caught unaware or surprised by this event. He is always the same and continued on in His calming and loving way. He embraced us in our panic, gave us Scriptures to quote, friends to pray with and an overwhelming sense of peace because He is in control. Always in control and always working. That’s my God!
May your day be blessed with the assurance of God’s love and His always acting on your behalf to work things out in a way that glorifies Him.
When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior almost five decades ago, I did not know all of the benefits that I would receive from my relationship with Him. I just knew that I had read the Book of John, knew that I was a lost sinner without Him and asked Him to forgive me and live in my heart. One of the most special benefits that I have found in this relationship is that my heart is new, not the same at all as before salvation.
This verse from the prophet Ezekiel was written to the nation Israel and part of the prophecy about their restoration. But isn’t it true of each of us Christians, too? God has given us a new heart, one that is open to His Spirit and to hearing the cry of others who are lost just as we once were. I cannot hear a siren of an ambulance without praying for the person that they are rushing to rescue. Why? Some would say because I was once in that vehicle rushing to a hospital after a stroke. But that isn’t the reason because I have been praying after that sound for years before my stroke, that God would comfort the person, give wisdom to the caregivers and medical personnel and give peace to the family members. I can only attribute my call to prayer as a change in my heart. Pre-salvation, I would hear a siren and just keep on with my busy life. Now, I feel I am much more open to God’s Spirit and His leading me, not only into prayer but in going to places and to doing things that I may not be comfortable doing but that I feel a strong pull of the Spirit that He wants me there doing what He is calling me to do. I am thankful for this verse in Ezekiel because it confirms what I knew had taken place on February 28, 1973. My heart changed and I became a new creation in Christ.
Think about all of the changes in your heart and how the Holy Spirit has led you since you came to know the Lord. Be mindful that He is a creative God and is ever changing us, for our benefit and for His purposes. But, like a gentleman, He waits to be asked in. I hope that you have invited Him into your heart and that you are finding great pleasure in living for Him. I know that I am!
I’m praying for God’s best for you today and that you will pause, consider the beat of your heart and how God has changed it into a new heart that is beating for Him. Have a great weekend! Be blessed to be a blessing! 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/20
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 