Weakness is His Strength

Many know this story; but for those of you who do not... Gideon was a man of God. In the book of Judges, we read chronicles of how he led Israel. His name means "Mighty Destroyer." But it was his  faith, not his name sake, that led to the destruction of massive armies. 

In the 7th Chapter of Judges, Gideon led the Israeli army against the might forces of the Midianite and the Amalekite Armies.  He had with him well over thirty thousand fighting men.  They were a force like no other in that time; and, many had heard of their strength and valor. The Army of Israel knew of the fear they struck into the hearts of other nations.  

God also knew of Israel's pride and how Israel would boast of their accomplishments.  He needed the Israelite people to trust in Him alone; not in their own strength. So, being a God like no other ("Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me." Isaiah 46:9), He made a decision like no other.  He advised Gideon to send some people home. All but 300 men. Gideon was to attack two of the strongest armies of his time with only 300 fighting men. 

Judges 7:7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” 7:8. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. 

God was with Gideon and he gave him and Israel victory.  God blessed his faith and his obedience. Gideon believed in God's power...not his own resources. 

Our God is a God of numbers (among other things). I wonder, in my life, what are the areas where I am putting faith in my own calculations and not in my God. My finances? My family? School? What if I used my shield of faith to combat the large numbers this life threw at me instead of counting on my breastplate of righteousness to deflect their attacks. 

Father God, El-Shaddai~ My Provider, I take my hands off of this World and its devices. I trust in You and know You alone are supreme. I need Your perfect strength to fight all of my battles. I let go of the faith I have in myself. I put all hope in You. 

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Trust

An infant learns to rely on the hand that feeds them. In our reality we choose to believe that hand will be their mother...and it usually is. I am not an expert on babies... but I recently had the opportunity to watch a dear friend as she nurtured her baby boy born almost three months premature. At birth, his weight was 1 pound 9 ounces. His head was the size of a tennis ball. He was the most precious little thing I have ever seen. His chocolate skin was so smooth and I remember how shocked I was to see that his tiny hands, the size of a little toy doll's, had the smallest little fingernails on them. It was so sweet how gently my friend cared for him... and really amazing at how he was so comfortable with her touch. Almost as if he knew she meant him good and not harm.

I think babies are pretty smart. They know how to apply total trust in someone or something. Perhaps this is why Christ said we should become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 "And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

If you follow my writing, you see that my life has been turned upside down and wrongside out these past few years... I have learned to give up what I thought was control in my life and focus on placing all hope in the One in Whom hope NEVER dissappoints. Peace has settled on my heart with respect to my chaotic life.... And I am not afraid. He hears me; I trust in His ability to answer my prayers.


1 Chronicles 5:20"...He answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him."

Loving Father, help those who read this to trust in You... Your love never fails ~ Psalm 13:5 "For I trust in Your infailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation."

Baby Jayce's dedication at The Refuge Church ( www.therefuge.net )

Take My Life and Paint it Right

The Master Painter! What imagination an artist must have to envision a masterpiece in lieu of a blank canvas! Me? Well, I see a big white sheet of paper. I can't imagine the thoughts of those who viewed the Sistine Chapel prior to Michelangelo. To them it was just a 12000 square foot building. A chapel designed for worship and nothing more; however, to the artist, it was a masterpiece in the making. He saw the total picture.

The book of Micah was written by the prophet Micah sometime between 742 and 687 B.C. It was a time of absolute mayhem in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Both kingdoms were skipping from one horrible king to another. The armies of Babylon had torn down the temple. The people lived in constant fear of being murdered, tortured, or taken into slavery. But in chapter 4, the prophet Micah begins to speak of a coming peace. Not just peace, but prosperity and restoration of the kingdom. Wow! Was he out of his mind? Was he blind to the destruction around him?
No. It seems that Micah had gotten a glimpse of the whole picture. He believed in the promise of God and knew, despite what was going on around him, God would deliver. Micah 4:12
"But they do not know
the thoughts of the LORD;
they do not understand his plan,
he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor"

God's ways are unsearchable. We will never be able to understand.
Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!" Why is it that I do not understand what is going on in my life? I believe it is because I cannot see the whole picture. When I look at me, I see an empty painter's canvas. Here and there are a few brush strokes of color. But by no means a work of art worthy of display. Nope. Museum quality it is not. But then again, I am not the painter... just the canvas.
See there is an artist whose works are beyond beautiful. His imagination is more than any could hope to duplicate. No one can fathom His mysterious ways; however, they know His art is oh so beautiful to behold. Sometimes, people question His work. What is it going to be? How can He make beauty out of this mess of paint? When will He finish? But He sees the total picture. In His mind, there is no mess...only beautiful colors to work with. And, with a lot of patience, in His time, a master piece develops. Breathtaking in its own rite...


Wow that I could only catch a glimpse of the painting of my life! Sometimes, the promises He has made to me seem so far away. But, knowing it may be a brush stroke or two before it is complete makes the problems I am facing this hour seem so insignificant for my life time. I have to remember that some strokes of the brush are more difficult and some colors are darker than others. But those thumbnails are so tiny compared to the complete picture of my life.

God that I will have the strength today to make it through the uncomfortable minutes of my life; help me see the beauty of the hour. I love you God.