February 14, 2009 – Valentine’s Day with Jesus – And Reflections on God’s faithfulness throughout my Ministry Years from Psalm 105

I was reading Psalm 105 during our prayer time at Session.  Given where we are as a church and my own reflections the last few days I am amazed at what I a read.  It is all about how the God who has led me all my life led the Israelites…God orchestrated both the good and the bad, both the pleasant and the unpleasant, both the struggle and the victories. 

Here are some excerpts:

4 – Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…7 – He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

8 – He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham (and me)…10 – He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:  “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”

Father, what portion is mine to inherit?  What do you have for me?  You have given me so much – even when I have been unfaithful…what do you have now? 

These next verses reinforce God’s deep involvement in every affair of our life:

12 – When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.  He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings; “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” 

Father, you have taken care of me as a woman in ministry.  As a woman I am often the minority, often overlooked or undervalued (unintentionally most of the time!)  Yet you have been my protector.  You did not allow me to be oppressed and You rebuked those with power around me who could have done me harm.

16 – He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food and he sent a man before them – Joseph, sold as a slave.  They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. 

The king sent and releases him, the ruler of peoples set him free.  He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. 

Father, I know I have suffered at times and didn’t understand or see your bigger plan.  I have sat in places of confinement like Joseph and wondered what would become of my future and had you intervene and had YOUR WORD prove me true…truly that is the story of South Hills and my leaving there and YOU giving me the opportunity to live out your love for YOUR church in another place.  Have YOUR way again LORD.

23 – Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.  The LORD made his people very fruitful; HE made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts HE turned to hate his people.  HE sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.  They performed his miraculous signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham.  He sent darkness…HE turned their waters into blood…He spoke, and there came swarms of flies…HE turned their rain into hail…HE stuck down their vines and fig trees…HE spoke and the locusts came…Then HE struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood. 

37 – HE brought out Israel laden with silver and gold, and from among the tribes no one faltered…HE spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night…They asked and HE brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven…HE opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert. 

42 – For HE remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham.  HE brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for – that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. 

Father, it is evident in how the Psalmist recounts what you did for your people, when they were the nation of Israel, that YOU are “Large Marge In Charge”, YOU are sovereign and in charge and have purpose and plan for all you do!!  Sometimes I cannot see this or I cannot imagine that YOUR purpose and plan could include little me – little female me – who loves YOUR church and the body and loves to see people come to know you and grow in their love and intimate knowledge of you.

Yesterday I almost grudgingly met with a woman– a 60’s something woman who has connected with our 50-60’s singles ministry.  From all outward indications this woman is a mess…three failed marriages, poor financial decisions, and a spiritual history from the Episcopal church to many years as Mormom…yet as she shared her story it is ABUNDANTLY EVIDENT that you have been there all those years and even used her significantly and spoken to her and she has come to know your love for her.  What a reminder of who you are and how you work, in every person's life...mine included.

And now, whatever comes…I know YOU are with me and YOU are in charge and I submit to YOU!!

Comments

[Melinda Groth]

I savored this! Thank you for putting out there to be gleaned from.
Resonating with me: as I walk though a particularly stark, difficult time in our family, I am reminded of the fact that you noted: there is plenty of evidence that He has been ABUNDANTLY faithful and alongside us the whole way.