God Still Talks!
I have to tell y'all what happened..... I'm living in a hotel... in the middle of relocating.... I've been incredibly busy... learning a new job... driving back home to be with my family most weekends... and until we sell the old house it'll stay this way... I've known all along that God has a purpose in this delay... after all He's big enough to even control the housing market... and what had been booming, now seemed to be busting... but I knew... thanks to God's Word... that this was one of the things in His "all" in Romans 8:28 that is working for my good... (to make me more like Christ).... so I've maintained my patience.... until yesterday....
My company has a very nice relocation package, but the temporary housing (paying for my hotel) is coming to a close... it's only initially good for 60 days, which is up next week.... so two weeks ago I started the ball rolling in my company trying to get an extension.... then last night I got an email from my boss saying I had to submit the request through the relocation company, which would then send it back through my company... now I'm faced with not having any where to live (one of my personal "fear generating" events)... Last night I started to get very upset about it.... If I'd only known... I could have submitted it to the relocation company 2 weeks ago....
This morning I awoke prayerfully asking God to lead me in this... I know that part of this experience, like many others, is all about me trusting Him.... but I felt this morning it's also about me learning to control my temper... self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and I recall a couple of months ago praying for this specific gift... self control...
I should tell you also that one of my biggest fears is that I go out into the world making my own choices as opposed to following my Lord. You know if Jesus is Lord of my life, then I'm supposed to follow Him. Point of fact, is that one significant way I've always messed up in my life is when I do not follow, rather I try to lead... so I frequently pray for His guidance... it's the only place to be... in the center of His will... looking / listening and following His guidance!
As I was saying.. This morning I felt the Holy Spirit telling me this was about me learning about self control... I was not to get angry OR fearful... as I sat down preparing for my quiet daily Bible study... I prayed... Lord, please, if I'm where I'm supposed to be... please let me know... Give me a special message just for "THIS DAY."... Then I actually apologized to God for the short notice... after all how could He answer that kind of question immediately... as I opened the book I've been reading from, a daily devotional... "Thoughts for the Quiet Hour" by D. L. Moody... written some time ago.... today's verse was part of Joshua 24:15....
Choose THIS DAY whom you will serve...
Wow!!!!
It's the ONLY question, that matters... everything else fell away... I burst into tears... so humbled that my Lord loves me enough to speak to me... and that he planted his answer through Mr. Moody long ago... knew exactly when I'd read it, what I'd ask before hand... who am I but dust?... and disobedient dust at that... that almight God would take the time and effort to speak directly to me? ... No one... I'm no one... not worthy... not good... but LOVED and REDEEMED...
I choose... yes, I do... I choose... GOD... can you hear my joy? My Almighty... All Knowing... All Loving... All Providing.. GOD... YES! Him will I serve... with every fiber of my being... for eternity... He and He alone... knit me so skillfully together in my mother's womb... knows how many hairs are on my head... loves me... answers me... MY GOD is indeed the ONLY AWESOME GOD!
I bend my knee... I bow my head... I sing... songs of great joy.... THIS IS MY STORY... THIS IS MY SONG... PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG!!!
ps... I didn't get angry or upset... my house isn't sold... my temporary housing is closing down on me... I don't have an extension... BUT My God has it in control.... I can wait on Him!