Tough times

The last month has been tough.
My father fell and broke his right femur, and underwent a partial hip arthroplasty, and just returned home yesterday. Through all these times, i stand thankful and grateful that His mercy and grace have been sufficient.
I am very thankful that...

•  His sufficiency was abundant for every situation
• For the goodness and care of friends, and even strangers who all contributed caringly which was overwhelming
• For the absence of unbearable pain and discomfort for Dad
• For the network in Manali of carers and those who help without whom i just would not be able to cope. 
• For the prayers of many all over. 

Planning

Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy plans shall be established

Proverbs 16:3

This verse is curious, because it reverses the natural progression of work. Normally we make plans and the work results from those plans. This verse reverses this order and asks us to first commit our work to God who  subsequently guarantees our plans.We are wired to plan. But in our planning we don't always place Him first. Solomon encourages us to enthrone Him in our daily work, and assures us that He  will establish or set up or erect our plans. Our little steps taken in obedience to His commands leads us into all of His plans for us. 

This is a curious reversal of the order. It uncaps the origin  of our cherished dreams. We plan, yearn and strive for a result. The end result is something that the corporate world instructs us to be SMART about. Our goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. Of late they have asked us to be SMARTER  (with the addition of Evaluate and Revaluate).

Not detracting from the importance having smart or smarter goals, the Bible has much advice on making wise plans with counsel. Planning is one of the characteristics of the wise person. However, there is an essential  heart attitude that takes precedence over the  plan. This essential ingredient is the awareness of God in all our  planning. This ingredient is an all encompassing obedience and awareness of God in all our works. This attitude places us squarely at His feet, where no plans can ever hatch or germinate which are not subservient to His principles. This is the smartest way to plan, at the feet of the Master.

And you know what, He is the one who stands guarantor for our plans.

That is very reassuring.

Wisdom

Oswald Chambers writes in his devotional "My utmost for his highest"... "Beware of becoming wise and prudent".

Wisdom is much sought after, and most of mans life is spent in its pursuit. Neither does he detract from its importance. Occasionally the search can enthrone the goal, and displace God. He writes that all of His revelations are opened to us by obedience. The treasure is unlocked by obedience.

How often we ask for more clarity, and plead for more wisdom, while we sit on our clasped hands, hindering the answer to our desires.

Mountains

Psalm 125:1,2 The Lord surrounds his people now and evermore

Mountains are a persistant reminder of presence. They never move, or go away. They may be hidden, occasionally, by fog or clouds. They may be covered with snow. But they never, ever go away. Living amidst mountains, one can almost feel their towering presence, a testament without words.

How comforting that our Lords presence is likened to mountains.

Following

Oswald Chambers in his "Utmost for His Highest" says, "We slander God by our eagerness to work for him, without knowing Him." A real danger on the road to service is busyness. Being busy detracts from spending time with Him. It is impossible to know Him without having time for Him.

Newness

Quote for the day: "If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself". Oswald Chambers

Verse for the day: "Look, I am making everything new" Revelation 21:7

Thought for the day: 

Look... we rarely do that. We see, but we don't look. Look means behold, watch attentively, pay attention, wait to see.

Waiting is now a rare and vanishing art. In this day of nanosecond technology, we want our answers and our results yesterday. We used to have dial up internet here in Manali. Now broadband has been a luxury for years. Even so, when it is slow, we feel our frustration rising. God requires us to still our souls and be able to wait in quietness.

It is he who is making things new. We struggle and strain at the oars, pushing and shoving at  the incessant waves, inheriting the wind. Far easier for us to pull with the tide of his purpose. But for that we have to first realise and know the flow of that tide.

Newness is from his perspective, one that we will never quite be able to fathom or imagine. Far beyond our conception or imagination are his thoughts. But as the sun rises over the mountains, and one only sees the brilliance fill the sky, it suddenly breaks out after creating a million myriad shadows.

In the shadows is the promise of newness.

A great work

"I am doing a great work."

Nehemiah kept repeating this phrase. He had to face social injustice, arrange the finances, prepare a team, start the building, establish a twenty four hour watch for enemies, face opposition, ridicule, insinuations of being rebellious, death threats and of false testimony raised against him. At each turn, this was the phrase he constantly repeated… “I am doing a great work”.  He was constantly aware of this lodestar and calling despite every adverse circumstance he faced. This helped him stay focussed and unwavering to his task. 

Can we echo this phrase? Nehemiah was building a wall. But in his mind, he was aware of the implications of placing brick on brick and laying mortar.

Our works may be just that now, brick on brick, and mortar. But can we look on it as a great work? Are we aware of the implications of this for the future of our workspots in the warp and woof of time? 

What is our great work?