music in the wind

“There is nothing above, under, or around you that is not determined by his counsel and will… I strictly hold to the doctrine that God has decreed all things that come to pass and that he rules over all things for his glory and good. What have we to fear?
…At sea, when the waves dash against a ship and toss it to and fro, some panic because they think that this is all chance. But believers see order in the waves. They hear music in the wind and are at peace because the tempest is in God’s hand. Why then should we fear?
…In all this world’s convulsions, in all temporary distress and danger, we can remain calm, collected, and boldly say with confidence, ‘I know God is here and all this is working for my good.’ ‘Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling‘ (Ps. 46:2).
…Think on these things.”

-C.H. Spurgeon

the mere edges

You’re driving down the highway and you hit a horrible thunderstorm. You can hardly see a thing and need to slow down significantly. Brilliant flashes of lightning strike up ahead. Your flashers are on and you hope everyone else puts theirs on too. Finally, you make it to your exit. As the ramp wraps around, you find yourself right on the edge of the storm. You can see the deep, dark clouds full of violent flashes on your right. Incredible. There’s something about a thunderstorm that amazes you. Then you glance to the left side of the road and see the most glorious peach-colored sunset. It’s colors are slightly muted due to a layer of thin white clouds, but the sun’s rays pierce through as it make its descent. Behind you, soft purples and clear blues steal the rest of the sky. And you can’t help but squeal in delight as a double rainbow emerges.

This was the picture of my drive up to Saratoga the other night. I thought about trying to take a picture, but my little phone camera wouldn’t have been able to do it justice. I was completely in awe. So much so, I nearly stopped driving.

It was nuts.

Upon reaching my friends, I couldn’t help but explode with my story and start telling them what I had just seen. I was so amazed that I was practically dancing. haha :)

I’m someone who marvels at the little things, but it’s not often that God strikes such an overwhelming awe in my heart as he did the other night.

This morning I was reading a little bit of one of my favorite authors (C.H. Spurgeon), and he said this, “When we are overwhelmed with wonder, we are humbled by the reminder, ‘Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!'”

mmmm…. Even the most captivating and glorious things on earth are mere glimpses and shadows of the vast awesomeness that God is. Just think about that for a minute…

The most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen…. is only just the edge of his beauty.

It’s so easy for me to lose sight of that awe and wonder. It’s easy to slip into routine and take things for granted. It’s easy to get lost in the details and not see the whole picture. To not look up to the creator. To not see his fingerprints all around you.

Let us not lose that sense of awe!

There’s too much beauty not to look.

imagine these colors…

…next to these clouds

it’s pouring…

Have you ever had someone pray over you and speak truth to your heart about things you didn’t even think you were struggling with? Or things that you hadn’t been able to pinpoint before the moment they prayed? I had one of those moments this past Monday. And of all the places you might guess for this to happen, it happened right in my own classroom…

As I was walking back from dropping my children off at art, the parents of one of my students were waiting for me in the hallway and asked if they could pray for me. They followed me back to my room and after asking me what I needed prayer for (to which I gave a generic answer of energy and diligence in my work) they proceeded to pray directly into the deepest needs/desires of my heart. It brought me to tears. Here I was, feeling unworthy and feeling discouraged and God used two parents to lift me up and to set my gaze where it needs to be.

God is so good.

Just earlier that morning I had read the following quote from Spurgeon – “It is well to have longings, and the more intense they are the better. The Lord will satisfy soul-longings, however great and all-absorbing they may be. Let us greatly long, for God will greatly give. We are never in a right state of mind when we are contented with ourselves, and free from longings. Desires for more grace, and groanings which cannot be uttered, are growing pains and we should wish to feel them more and more. Blessed Spirit, make us sigh and cry after better things, and for more of the best things!”

The night before, we had just read Psalm 20 in church – “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! …May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! …Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

You often hear it said that when it rains it pours. Well, God poured his assurance and love over my life this week. I pray that he does the same for you.

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. -Psalm 107:9

Straight Forward

“The Lord and no one else shall save me. I desire no other helper, and would not trust in an arm of flesh even if I could. I will cry to him evening, and morning, and noon, and I will cry to no one else, for he is All-sufficient.” -CH Spurgeon

I read that early this morning before I had my quiet time. It’s a little snippet from his devotional based on Psalm 55:16, “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” Once again, Charles Haddon hit me right in the heart. He proclaims with such boldness and certainty that God alone will be his help and strength. I wish I could do the same. At the end of my last semester at the Grove and right before my third summer at camp, God kept pounding this very idea into my head – run to me first. Through several scripture verses, several song lyrics, and several other Spurgeon quotes, he gently reminded me of his supremacy and the dependency I ought to have on him.
It’s very easy for me to run to other things first instead of to God. To a friend, to a journal, to my own thoughts. However, God calls us to run to him first. I fell in love with the way that Spurgeon captured this idea – “Straight forward makes the best runner: run to the Lord, and not to secondary causes.” I want to run straight forward. Yet, some of those little side roads and “shortcuts” seem so inviting… Which is why I need constant reminders of where my eyes ought to be set. (Thanks for those, God)

Remember to run straight. Set your eyes on Christ. Because when we fail, when we are tired, when we are weary in body and spirit, he will be there for us to rely on. He will pick us up. He will give us grace to carry on.

“How he will save me I cannot guess; but he will do it, I know. He will do it in the best and surest way, and he will do it in the LARGEST, truest, fullest sense. Out of this trouble and all future troubles the great I AM will bring me as surely as he lives; and when death comes, and all the mysteries of eternity follow thereon, still will this be true: ‘the Lord shall save me.’ This shall be my song all through the autumn day. Is it not as a ripe apple from the tree of life? I will feed upon it. How sweet it is to my taste!” -CH Spurgeon

Bountiful

“Let me be bountiful, and liberal; for so shall I be like my Lord. He gave himself for me: shall I grudge him anything?”   -CH Spurgeon