I think of full-hearted and childlike abandon to God. I think of the small child stretching free in the warming sunlight. I think of myself. How long has it been since I have allowed my own self to stretch full bodied and free in the Lord, in the light of His face? How long has it been since all of my bones cry out in praise?
Psalm 35 says,
10 All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?” ESV
This abandoned, whole self cry of worship speaks to me. You, O my God, are a deliverer. There is none like You.
Eccelesiastes 11
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb[a] of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. ESV
O, the profound mystery of God and His ways. He works in the unseen and in the hidden. He is life and movement and energy and creativity; He is beauty and breath. I find peace in knowing that I “do not know the way” and yet it is. He does. He breathes; He makes everything. He is at work in ways unseen. I think of this present season. O, Spring. The beautiful object lesson of the unseen work in the darkness springing forth into beautiful life and light. The seed in the ground; the buds on the tree; the mist of green deepening bringing life that was held dormant, secret. I do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb, but I know that it does in the most marvelous, magnificent way. O, praise the work of His hands! For a moment, I rest as that little, outstretched child, in the creative wonder that is He.
Titus 3
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. ESV
I think of my life; I think of the choices stretched before me. I am to be careful to devote myself to good works. I look at their faces, my children; I consider my family, our home. This good work. Am I devoted? I have rich renewal and regeneration through the Holy Spirit. I breathe. I breathe deep. There is washing through the Holy Spirit; there is mercy and generosity. He is the well that never runs dry; He is the open outstretched arms of grace upon grace. He is the mystery moving in the unseen. Let my belief be evident in the action of my life: be careful to devote {myself} to good works.
Lord, You are goodness and lovingkindness. You are mystery and power. You are the One in whom I exult. Let this be true for me. Amen.
Rebecca (offeringsbecca)
Sixty-six books in a year 