Road Bend

For the past two weeks God has lead me down a gentle bend on my road...or shall I say His road. He took me off my comfort course and into a place of tremendous discomfort...it is now over and I am back on track. I coasted for a while thinking this isn't so bad and then one thing lead to another and things did get worse....before they got better....BUT THEY DO GET BETTER...and I am back on my road to joyful adventure... emerged in gratefulness and thanksgiving for Christs' blessings of grace and healing.

We all have road bends....some life changing, some just thought altering, some that stop us in our tracks, some that cause us to find detours to a lifestyle that we have adopted....but road bends do cause us to slow down and reflect on the blessings we have and so often the ones we take for granted. I think most of you will agree.

Most times when I write these devotionals, there is a topic that runs through my mind and then I search Bible verses that seem appropriate for that thought ... this one is different! One of the spots I was directed to was Lamentations 3. Lamentations, what in the world is in Lamentations and where is it in the Bible. Well. it is towards the end of the old testament . . and this chapter is filled with wisdom. . . and it is kind of a fun word to say. . . anything over 3 syllables and I think I am so smart!

Have you ever felt like you have been beaten, all the good has been sucked out of you, your flesh has grown old, you have been dragged and mangled, you have been the target for someones arrows, trampled in the dust and your splendor is gone . . .whoa . . (these words are REALLY the beginning of this chapter) - and that is just a portion of what the writer has been through BUT . . . . in spite of it all this is what he calls to mind: notice the word "YET"!


Lamentations 3:21-25

21 YET this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

So the next time you feel really weary, and life just seems to be barreling down the wrong road and you are thrown a curve...and your comfort zone gets squeezed . . . STOP a minute and go back to these verses in Lamentations. Be consumed in God's Love not the world and its calamities. God is faithful. Be faithful BACK! God will give each of us what we need . . . just hang in there and HOPE - don't let anyone or anything crush the hope you have no matter how small that spark is -

God is still is the business of miracles . . . and you and I have been given the opportunity to witness them in own lives as well as the lives of others. They are all around us! Call on HIS name . . . and EXPECT his wonders!

55 I called on your name, O LORD,
from the depths of the pit.

56 You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears
to my cry for relief."

57 You came near when I called you,
and you said, "Do not fear."

58 O Lord, you took up my case;
you redeemed my life.
and call out to God . . no matter how little or big your concern is . . . he is so interested . . . and he cares so much and loves you so much. Just think about thelast time you confided a heartfelt desire or concern to a dear friend . . . sometimes they didn't even have to respond, they just listened but you felt like a weight was lifted . . . that weight of fear or hope was lifted out of the private darkness that had trapped it. God wants to be that friend . . I know you can't see him, and he doesn't have this audible voice . . . but HE IS THERE. . . .you just have to believe, truly believe that he is WHO HE SAYS HE IS! . . .and call to him!

Dear Lord, You are who you say you are. You have proven that over and over inmy life. If there is someone reading this e-mail who doesn't know you . . .please nudge them gently . . so that they would be willing to ask for you to be their friend and their savior. You are the all knowing God of compassion and love who has made yourself available to all those who believe in your son Jesus. Bless us as we worship your Holy name and let your everlasting hope abide within our hearts. Amen

(Please note here that I am not trying to be preachy . . . I'm reading this and it sort of sounds like it . . . other e-mails might too, but when I write these, they come straight from my heart and I truly am convicted to communicate these words. I have tried often to ignore the pulls that taunt me but have learned that God will keep gently pressing until I obey him so it is just easier to go on and write what he has put on my heart so it won't sit as an idle nag.) . . . sometimes I think he convicts me to write these even if it is only for ONE person he has chosen to speak to through reading it! Sometimes it is ME!


Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!