glory of creation

Growing up in Southern California meant I had a view of the beautiful mountains to the east and a little set of hills, the Jurupa Hills, just to the west of town. I always knew my directions because I could look at those mountains. They would be snow capped and beautiful in winter, green in Spring, and brown and sometimes hidden by smog in the hot summer.  After I grew up and would be driving those traffic filled freeways, I would have plenty of time to talk to the Lord and look up at those mountains. A verse I often found great comfort in was Psalms 121:1.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

I knew I could always see those mountain tops and see the glory of God in full view. He had created those mountains just to remind me daily that He is greater than all I could ever face. I could look up at those mountains and see the effects of God's mighty power in creation. I could find encouragement in knowing He placed those mountains, He can certainly take care of my concerns.

Leaving California a few years ago meant the loss of that view.  I didn't realize at the time how I would miss that view.
I have a new view now of fields being farmed. The rolling hills in front and behind my home speak of the hard labor of farming. I have learned that farming takes more faith in a Creator than most other occupations can imagine.

Farmers yearly use everything they know scientifically to help produce a healthy crop. They are out preparing the fields as I type. They spray, they plow, they rotate crops, they have a system for keeping the soil healthy. I do not know all the details, but I do know once the seed is in the ground, all those farmers can do is wait and pray for weather that will benefit  the crops.  Last year, flooding eradicated  some major farm land across the Midwest.  Drought has come at times. But overall, all a farmer can do is trust that the seeds will grow, and pray for a good year.  Being in a somewhat rural community, I hear a lot about prayer. We hear people pray and participate in praying for our neighbors. We have seen God answer prayers and provide in mighty ways.

My view of life has changed a bit since moving but I still know the God who placed those mountains also sends the rains,  causes seeds to grow, and has set in motion the seasons that mark time and growth. I still miss that mountain view but my view now has a lot to offer with changing seasons and beauty in each season. Matthew chapter 6 now makes so much more sense.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?   Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?   Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?   And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:   And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.   Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?   Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?   (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.   But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.   Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:25‭-‬34 KJV

When I begin to feel distressed or discouraged, when life seems to come along with the hard times, I can go sit on my porch and just look around at the glory of God in action. I find encouragement as the birds find food in the dead of winter or the butter cups begin to peak through the ground. As the crops grow tall and are harvested, I see God's provision for those whom have placed trust in Him. I love to sit and admire the work of God in His creation. I find comfort and peace knowing the One who created all this around me.

I am reminded again, that His power is great, His love is strong, and He will answer every need. When I call on His name, He hears me. I can find help in a time of trouble, comfort and joy when needed, and peace in a storm. God has placed us on an earth that speaks of His mighty deeds. It is the evidence of His love for us and His creation meant to provide for us and give us a home. We can see the deed of creation all around us.

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
Isaiah 49:13 KJV

As I see the wonder of creation around me, I am inclined to praise my God, my Savior. He does not forget, nor ignore us. He takes delight in us. What greater encouragement can be found than knowing the God of creation. God is good and He is always good.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 KJV

just a delay

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Exodus 32:1 KJV

As I read this verse, I really focused on that first line, "And when the people saw that Moses delayed."
Moses was busy with God, getting direction and law, communicating with the God who had just miraculously delivered Isreal from slavery in Egypt. They had seen the mighty deliverance of God with the plagues in Egypt, had walked across the sea on dry land, and had seen God provide food and water. Yet, the minute they feel like He isn't really there, the moment Moses is delayed, they choose to turn from God and make an idol. They talked Aaron into making a golden calf and began to worship it so loudly that Joshua, waiting up on the side of Mt. Sinai, thought they had went to battle. God knew what they were doing and sent Moses down to the camp. He was ready to destroy them. If it had not been for Moses reminding God of His promises to Isreal and Abraham, Isreal would have faced the wrath of God.  Moses returned and in his anger and disappointment, reprimanded and punished the people. On that day, three thousand were slain for this great sin.

We need to take this as a lesson. How many times have we turned to sinful ways all because we think God has delayed to bring about a blessing for us. We may whine or go back to our old ways of living because something didn't go the way we thought it should. The whole time, God was preparing something for us, but we may not have seen it taking place. We get upset and frustrated, and return to old ways of thinking. We may ask 'where is God' and 'is he even doing anything for us?'  How disappointed he must feel when  we do this.  Just like Isreal, we turn to an idol. Maybe not a literal idol, but an idol, nonetheless. 

When we feel there is a delay, we need to turn to God rather than turn away. Isreal could have waited, just as Moses had asked them to do. We need to choose to pray, get into the Word, and seek God when we aren't finding what we think we need. God may be preparing a blessing while we wait. We jeopardize the blessing with impatience and fretting when all we need to do is remain steadfast and firm in faith.

I have remembered thy name, O Lord , in the night, and have kept thy law.  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  Thou art my portion, O Lord : I have said that I would keep thy words.  I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.  I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
Psalms 119:55‭-‬61 KJV

We can keep the law of God, follow His word, and continue to worship Him as we wait. The delay is for our good. His delay is for a purpose that will being good.  So rather than giving up and giving in to the despair and temptations to run to an idol, let's be strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and wait on the Lord. Afterall, it may just be a delay for good to come to pass.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 18:30 KJV

Wait

We sometimes go through seasons when God is working on our hearts and minds. We may not recognize it at first, but He is pulling us to  a new place, removing parts we don't  need anymore, and and making us a little more like Him. I am finally realizing I am in one of these seasons.  I know God is reaching into the depths of my heart and working on me.

I think we start out thinking we may have finally mastered some spiritual matter, such as, trusting Him, only to realize we have so much more to learn. My husband and I have been on a journey together growing in our walk with God. It has not been an easy few months, but I am realizing all the difficulties we have been facing are really God placed opportunities for growth. I have realized I only thought I had learned to trust God. Now, I am learning even greater trust and faith.  I have seen God perform some mighty things in our hearts the past few months that at the moment, felt like I was being overwhelmed and beaten by life.  Some prayers we have prayed for quite a few years are being realized and answered. God has taken us through a valley that felt burdensome, only because there was great reward waiting.

We do not always realize as we go through the valley that we are really heading for a blessing on the other side. We may even get our eyes on the struggle, the darkness, and the hardship of the journey. We may cry out to God with fear trying to take hold, wondering why we are in such a place, but God only asks we trust Him. While it felt tempting to give up or wallow in self pity, several verses have flooded my heart and Bible study these past few weeks, as I have needed to seek out a source for hope and strength in the journey. I have had to recall and remember all I know, and that is God is always good.

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
1 Chronicles 16:12 KJV

I will remember the works of the Lord : surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
Psalms 77:11 KJV

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord .
Psalms 27:13‭-‬14 KJV

I wait for the Lord , my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psalms 130:5 KJV

As I read these verses and prayed, I know God spoke one word to my heart. "Wait."

I get in a hurry to rush through the valley. I get in a hurry to find my answer and what I think needs to be done. But God says to wait on Him and He will bring to pass all that He has for us. He already has set in motion the right paths and answers we need. He is working on my heart to prepare me for that answer. My husband and I have talked several times that we know God is preparing us for more in His service, but we are also needing to learn some things from Him. He has changed our hearts.  He has placed a deeper love for one another and for others. He is pulling out the harmful, bitter roots we may have allowed to take root, and replacing it with compassion. He is removing hurt and fear, and replacing with trust and peace.  Some of this we didn't even realize we were holding on to, but God knew it was time for some deep cleaning and restoration. Do I like it as He does this? Not always. But I am seeing the reward of submitting to His work in me.  Do I feel like He is done? No! I realize I am far from finished in His sight. I have a mess in my heart only He can help me with. I am so thankful He is still working to make me more like Him. He has not given up on me. This past week, we have seen God provide, protect, and begin to heal hurts that have run deep. He is answering prayers for souls we have prayed over for a long time.  It is only the beginning,  but He is doing something we could never had accomplished on our own.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord .
Isaiah 55:8 KJV

While I may have kicked and screamed a little in the process of being corrected and changed, I now realize God was just working on me to take me to a new place in my relationship with Him.  I am on my way to understanding that my ways are not His ways and my thoughts are not His thoughts. His ways are much better than mine and I need to just trust that He is taking care of me and all we need.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:3‭-‬5 KJV

I am more determined to obey God and just wait. Wait on His work to be accomplished in my heart, wait on the good He has in store, wait on His leading. And wait on others I  the sense of serving them however God sees fit.
May we all learn that we need to wait in hope, wait in trust, wait in faith. Wait on God for He is good. Thank you Lord, for working on me.