Taste and See

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

God is good. All the time. Yet it is not always apparent, and at times really difficult to see. Other times, like now, in the form of people who God blesses you through, just being able to be there and 'play' and enjoy everything that God meant for community. It is truly a taste of the Lord's goodness, and a great reminder that He is indeed good beyond description.

There is a great amount of overwhelming joy that I am experiencing now. It is appropriate I guess, that before I step out into the new phase of where God wants me that I am once again reminded of who He is at the core, that He is good. And that whatever has happened to me in the past or in the future, He has allowed and lead for the good of me. The good of my relationship with Him.

So, perhaps there are still many questions that are left unanswered, but here in the now, it is simply awesome to dwell in the goodness of God.

For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.
For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.

As much as I try to describe it though, it will never bring justice to what I am experiencing right now, and perhaps it is wisest just to leave it as such: an experience of God's goodness.

Freeze-Frame

You know when a photograph is taken, and the photographer poises his/her camera to get the best angle, best view, to communicate everything he wants in the shot? And then when everything is composed as per the photographer's desires, the shot is taken.

This is how life feels like right now. I am in awe of the literal freeze-frame that I find myself in. Rejoicing and taking full comfort in God's goodness. Reflecting on that which He has allowed me to experience and learn. Everything feels peaceful and like it 'should be.' Like that line in the song Blessed Be Your Name, "When the world is all it should be ..." Not everything at the outset is right and all it should be, but everything inside sure is.

It's a feeling that is difficult to describe, and can only be attributed to God's grace and ultimate sovereignty. Such is the oxymoron of types, "delight of despair." For further reading look up the Utmost (05.24.07) yourself.

Rise to the Occasion...

God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—"By my God I can leap over a wall" ( Psalm 18:29 ). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . ." Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.


May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.

Utmost 05.15.07

God is the master designer. He is the one that calls the shots, the one who has designed me to be who I am and the one who has ordained every chance meeting with those He has put around me. Rise to the occasion. It is difficult, but it is what is necessary for me. Though there are uncertainties, He is gracious, All things work for the good of those who love Him (Rom 828). He promised. He has spoken. What I have to let go to experience Him unfettered... it is all worth it, for what He is going to show me, what He is going to do in me.

It is a step of faith. Knowing that what I give up will be more than made up for, in ways that I cannot imagine nor even begin to devise. It is a leap off a cliff. Well, knowing perhaps more than I need to, here I come ...

Toogood Pond

Today was the day. It's been awhile since I've been able to let loose, and throw a bit of caution to the wind. I met up with a few people whom God has placed in my life. But that wasn't it. Being able to drive with the window down and the music blaring, feeling the intense sunshine; it all reminded me of how blessed I was, and how much God was taking care of me. Hearing that verse again especially brought comfort to me. To know that it wasn't just in my head that was making up all these things, but that He was really speaking to me. That was precious.

Aside from visiting people and catching up, I did something that I usually never do. As I was driving through Markham, with a little less than fourty-five minutes til my next meetup, I felt the urge to stop at a park and just walk about with my contemplative self. Lots had become more clear to me, and I was comfortable with at least a few more things laid at His feet.

I parked my car, and went to Toogood Pond, where people were just strolling about, taking in the warmth and the gentle breeze. I started on the path, and just continued walking, with no real plan in direction, no real ultimate destination, I just walked. It felt somewhat liberating to just be able to go wherever I pleased, with just me whispering to myself, oblivious of the bicyclists and strollers alongside me.

It was just me and my God. I issued words of confession, I asked for strength, wisdom, forgiveness, help. I praised Him for who He was to me, and all He had done in my life and all that He allowed me to experience. I kind of lost track of time and direction, after taking endless bridges and endless paths. I was a little worried that I wouldn't get back to my original starting point, and maybe I would have to send someone to come in and find me. But for the moment, it was just me and God. Lost in the paths, with no clear direction of where to go next, but just keeping on walking.

I paused to think, and it hit me that this was what life was like now. Even driving back tonight in the dark, it hit me again. I remember driving that semi-dirt road (Hwy 7) time and again in the fog last year, and recalling that it was somewhat like my faith journey, where I didn't know where the outcome was. Again, today, I was reminded that I don't know the outcome, and yet, I still continue to barrel at 100 or so knowing that my steps are guided.

Even there in the middle of the well-traveled pathways of Toogood Pond, it struck me how it almost seemed as if I had followed a path in my life of late just like that. I had taken various twists and turns and found myself here, wherever here really was. And yet, it was okay. I looked up and the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the birds were chirping, and yet I was still here.

Delight. Delight in the Lord, delight in the things of God, delight in the things God is doing, delight in the things God is doing in me, my character, my life. Delight in the way that He is stretching me in spite of the pain that it is causing me, delight in the fact He knows the entire plan, but I don't. Delight that He knows the best for me. Delight yourself in the Lord. Trust, Delight, Commit . I've been learning to trust Him, to really trust Him. But today was a reminder of delighting. Delighting in that which He has placed before me, no matter what it is. Now all that is left to commit these things into his sovereign hands.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this ...

Psalm 37:3-5

Focusss

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

It's easy to forget why we are here in the first place, and to totally forget the our calling, and what lasts for an eternity, while getting bogged down in those things that do matter, but matter but for here, and for awhile.

Intercession

Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them. - Utmost 05.04

Seems so logical, and yet it seems I get it messed up so often. Feelings are important, but apparently they're not more important than God's interests. Go figure.

Desires of Our Hearts

The moment that we lead ourselves to believe that there is some amount of control in our lives, God loves to remind us that He is in control. He leads us onto some unknown path where we have to struggle in faith, believing that He has the best in mind for us. We look back and wonder if we have done anything wrong to get us into the position we find ourselves in now. But yet, in asking God whether our desires align with His, we are comforted that He is in control, and as long as we are following Him, it is the best for us.

I am finding more and more that knowing the desires of His heart and separating it from our own desires is very tricky, especially if they seem to align at first glance. But He promises us that if we delight ourselves in Him, we will have the desires of our heart. So God, may my desires be your desires as I enter this new chapter in my life.

3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:3-6