When nickels and dimes and pennies start adding up to hundreds and when quarters and dollar bills start adding up to thousands and when tens and twenties make a million, you feel so lost in all the numbers that you know God is at work.
And then a few months later, when two pennies added together makes zero and the few dollars scraped together are never enough and the tens and twenties seem to be snatched from your grasp almost before you realize they’re there…you start to question. And somewhere along the line, when you have to hold your breath when you talk with your husband about money and you get a tight knot in your stomach at even the thought of work or the sight of your purse…somewhere along the line you forgot the time when your little pennies were somehow giving you everything you needed and more and you couldn’t figure out the math.
Somewhere along the line you forgot that with God two plus five equals 5,000. Somewhere along the line God’s goodness became and idea and not a reality. Somewhere along the line you thought that God would provide for the beginning of this messy journey He laid out but that figuring out how to make it to the end was up to you.
Somewhere…
And at a Divine moment in the middle of that somewhere and in the middle of those tight knots in your stomach and in the middle of avoiding talking about the dollars and cents, God stepped in and pointed…He pointed back.
He pointed back to His prior faithfulness and provision in your life.
He pointed back to His prior work in the lives of your spiritual parents.
He pointed back to His provision for all those who have gone before.
In truth, He had probably been standing there all along, arm stretched out, pointing back…and at the same time, gently nodding forward, beconing ahead…beconing to hope.
Isn’t that always how it works? Faith built on the evidence of the past and pointing forwards towards what is to come. Pointing ahead; giving us hope.
Hope.
HOPE.
Looking back can bring hope to the moment where you are so stuck in the now that you can’t see any life in the future.
Looking back and remembering His faithfulness and knowing that His faithfulness is for you too.
Looking back and seeing what He has done and then trusting that He will continue to act on your behalf.
Looking back and knowing that where you are now is right where He wants you, so why would you wonder if He’ll bring you through okay?
Looking back at His goodness shown across all of time and being able to trust that His goodness won’t stop now just because you can’t see a way out.
“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.” 2 Chronicles 16:11-12
I was at the library a few days ago looking for a book by John Piper and some movies for our “at-home date night”. Browsing through the section my eyes happened upon this book cover…
Of coarse I’ve seen this book all over the internet, but when my mom told me she was reading and how good it was, knew I had to read it. But I didn’t want to pay for it right away, so I checked the library…no book. So I started reading Ann Voskamp’s blog. From what I read there, I knew the book would be wonderful.
Now a month later, I happened to be standing in the upstairs isle on the left with it in my hand. My heart was jumping out of my chest! (I am sort of obsessed with books and reading.)
The book is not disappointing. It has sobered me to harsh truths, challenged me to see fully, confirmed beauty that God has been already working in my own heart…to share and create beauty. Not for beauty’s sake, but for the glory of God for He is the source of beauty.
So I encourage you to go pick it up from your local bookstore, rent it from the library, or even borrow it from a close friend. You will be blessed.
Outfit Details:
Shirt – Plato’s Closet; Tank – Old Navy; Pants – Gift (from Ross)
Sweater – Nordstrom Rack (last spring); Shoes – Target (old)
Book: 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp
One little misstep…one wrong turn…one distracted movement…suddenly you’re caught. Just your foot, but you can’t shake it loose. The sand is pulling, sucking, grasping.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand
Merely an annoyance.
No need to worry.
If you don’t look down, it’s easy forget that you’re slowly sinking…
You assume you can pull your self out on your own.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
The more you struggle and pull, the more it grasps and pulls and sucks you deeper. Slowly…oh so slowly at first. And then without warning, you are sinking, gasping, screaming, falling….
His oath, His covenant, and blood Support me in the whelming flood; When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
Grasping out at anything nearby, you realize that nothing around you is solid either. Nearly overwhelmed in the flood of sinking sand, there is but one place to turn…up.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found, Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
And that sure steady hand that was being offered all along is right there
Waiting
Offered Freely
Strong
Sure
Unfailing
Ready to pull you out of the endless, sucking, sinking sand.
He is good…oh so good. And you wonder why you didn’t reach up at the first. Never-the-less, He is there waiting to heal every hurt and bruise, to hold tight to your lost and exhausted mind, to calm and refresh your anxious and fearful heart. He is good.
Ahhh sisters,,,so often I feel caught. So why do I ignore the sand that is sucking me in? Why do I not listen to my Redeemer as He calls my name? Why do I blindly ignore or stubbornly struggle on my own when His hand is freely offered?
Yet in all my stubbornness and struggling and stumbling…He is good.
One little misstep…one wrong turn…one distracted movement…suddenly you’re caught. Just your foot, but you can’t shake it loose. The sand is pulling, sucking, grasping.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand
Merely an annoyance.
No need to worry.
If you don’t look down, it’s easy forget that you’re slowly sinking…
You assume you can pull your self out on your own.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
The more you struggle and pull, the more it grasps and pulls and sucks you deeper. Slowly…oh so slowly at first. And then without warning, you are sinking, gasping, screaming, falling….
His oath, His covenant, and blood Support me in the whelming flood; When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
Grasping out at anything nearby, you realize that nothing around you is solid either. Nearly overwhelmed in the flood of sinking sand, there is but one place to turn…up.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found, Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
And that sure steady hand that was being offered all along is right there
Waiting
Offered Freely
Strong
Sure
Unfailing
Ready to pull you out of the endless, sucking, sinking sand.
He is good…oh so good. And you wonder why you didn’t reach up at the first. Never-the-less, He is there waiting to heal every hurt and bruise, to hold tight to your lost and exhausted mind, to calm and refresh your anxious and fearful heart. He is good.
Ahhh sisters,,,so often I feel caught. So why do I ignore the sand that is sucking me in? Why do I not listen to my Redeemer as He calls my name? Why do I blindly ignore or stubbornly struggle on my own when His hand is freely offered?
Yet in all my stubbornness and struggling and stumbling…He is good.
I had heard this song many times, but the words never really hit me as anything special until it was played during worship at the SE Calvary Chapel Pastor’s Conference that I attended a few weeks ago.
In that moment, the words became so alive, so real, and so powerful. This song has become a heart cry of mine. I hope the lyrics bless you as much as they did/do me.
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning It’s time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes
Chorus: Bless the Lord, Oh my soul Oh my soul, Worship His holy name Sing like never before, Oh my soul I’ll worship His holy name
You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger Your name is great, and Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Chorus: Bless the Lord, Oh my soul Oh my soul, Worship His holy name Sing like never before, Oh my soul I’ll worship His holy name
– 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman
One of the most impacting pieces of advice my husband ever gave me, was a quote from John Piper.
“Whenever your heart starts to be anxious about the future, preach to your heart and say, ‘Heart, who do you think you are to be afraid of the future and nullify the promise of God? No, heart, I will not exalt myself with anxiety. I will humble myself in peace and joy as I trust this precious and great promise of God—He cares for me.’ – John Piper
Sisters, my heart so easily strays. I so quickly listen to the lies of Satan. Lies that bring fear and condemnation. But when I read the Psalms, David combats those feelings with testamonies of God’s faithfulness. No matter how dark the place he is in, David always ends his Psalms praising the Lord.
I want to live my life that way. I don’t want to live in the shadow of Satan’s lies. I want to preach to my heart.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
Ladies, this is my heart and emotions. I need to combat that with the truth of God’s word. This song is a beautiful reminder to me of that.
