February 28, 2012

  • God of the little things

    Psalm 103
    Joni Eareckson Tada

    Is God concerned about the details of your life? Does he care about the "little things"?
    Piles of dishes need to be done. The washer leaks a big soapy puddle on the floor-and you've got people coming in an hour. Little things.

    Nobody else seems to notice or pay that much mind...so why should God? After all, isn't he the God of the BIG things? Isn't he the one who spoke swirling galaxies into the vast frontiers of space, who measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and calculated the dust of the earth (Isaiah 40:12)?

    Why should this great, awesome God notice the tears that came to my eyes this morning at breakfast-when no one else noticed? Why should the Creator of the universe care about the worries that kept me awake until two in the morning? Why should the mighty Sovereign of eternity be concerned about the fact that I'm late for an appointment and can't find a parking place?

    Sure, the Bible says he has compassion for his people. But isn't that sort of a "general" compassion for humankind? Isn't that an arms-length kind of compassion? Just how intimately is God involved in our small, petty problems? David says he has the compassion of a father.

    I remember my father having a kind of intimate, heartfelt compassion with me. Often when my dad would be busy at his easel, I'd sit on the floor at his side with my crayons and coloring book. Sometimes he'd set his brushes aside, reach down and lift me into his lap. Then he'd fix my hand on one of his brushes and enfold his larger, stronger hand around mine. Ever so gently, he would guide my hand and the brush, and I would watch in amazement as, together, we made something beautiful.

    This is the kind of love our God has for us. Fatherlove. The kind, gentle compassion of a dad who deeply cared for his sons and daughters. Maybe you never had a dad like that...but you do have such a father.

    Let God's big hand close gently over yours. With his help. even the discouraging scribbles of your life can become a masterpiece. Nothing would delight a father's heart more.

    ________________________________________________________________________________________

    Tonight I went to Joyce's fellowship and although it was awkward for some moments and I'm not sure if i'll make it my long term fellowship, I was glad and blessed for the messages that I received. We watched a short clip about the needs of this world and how the gospel really needs to be spread to the needy. Then a girl shared about her testimony of when she was trying to spread the gospel to her aunt in Taiwan, and I learned of a story about a girl who was diagnosed with cancer but became healed by the power of God. On top of the miracles and signs that I heard from multiple sharings, I also received an envelope that I chose containing a bible scripture. Rose told us to pray about the scriptures that we received and I THINK I know what God wants to tell me. It was from Galatians 2:20:

    "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

    Then after I came home and checked facebook, I bumped into a documentary talking about how there's only 3% of the population in Vancouver who believe in Jesus. All else are either athiest, gay, or other types of religion. "We have become a city that is extremely tolerant...no, the word I should be using is embracing culture of diversity", one of the man in the documentary notes. And I agree with that. If someone comes up to me and argues with me that there is no God I wouldn't know how to argue with that. And that's sad.

    A friend of mines showed me a promo clip of Vision School not long after I came back from Sweden. Teaches you how to become a missionary. And that reminds me of my promise to God a while back in 2010 fall...that I would dedicate time for missionary work. 2 years straight or on and off. Doesn't matter when. Except I don't know how. Or where. and what exactly.

    I really need to focus on what is truly important in our lives now. Not really the job, the fame, the money, relationships, family, anything, but spending time with Him, the almighty and awesome Jesus =]. Lose myself to Him.