Discerning Whitewater

I have taken roughly a month (with a couple exceptions) off from writing here, with a lot going on and a need to evaluate the purpose here. More on that at a later time….

September 28th was a very bittersweet day for me.

Since March, I have been working from home. My kids have also been “schooling from home”. Being the single dad, I have gotten at least double the face time with my kids. Throw in there a few camping trips this summer, and there was a need that was met.

Steven Furtick reminded me of this, with perfect timing.

I have had a couple other big life events happen over the last few weeks. I paid off a financial debt. I also met up with some friends I had not seen in years for some much needed rest and relaxation. And a birthday.

Throw in the stresses of work, COVID-19, and some untimely interpersonal relationship problems.

And God has been telling me I am starting a new season in my life. I have been coasting for the last year, slowly but surely growing my Faith at a comfortable pace.

Comfortable is a dangerous word.

On my heart is the need for intentional action. Intentional love. Intentional growth at an uncomfortable pace.

1 Kings 17 NIV

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

² Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ³ “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴ You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

⁵ So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

⁷ Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ⁹ “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” ¹⁰ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

The coasting was needed, but my brook has dried up. And with this, there has been a lot of turbulence.

I drove in to work last week, thinking about, in particular, a broken relationship in my life. It is a tough one.

The sun caught my eye that morning. It was a great showing of Glory.

I saw another friend posted a pic of the sunrise that morning.

And, thinking about the broken relationship…. what came into my heart, “Do you trust me?”

Yes, I trust You.

A concept from a book I read, Real Life Discipleship by Jim Putnam, inspired me.

I am responsible for my part. Trust the Holy Spirit to do It’s part.

Yes. I trust You. You will do your part with Your Timing.

Which leads me to this last weekend. Having done much praying and having received much direction… and much Grace……

Jeremiah 31:25 NIV –

²⁵ I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Always. Our God is good. Our God is Faithful.

Much Peace to everyone this week.

~mike