God is so good, and His timing is perfect!! Even His “waits” can be full of excitement!
As I say this, I am in a weird (but wonderful) moment of waiting. When God led me to write last year, I was amazed that He would choose to use me that way. Just when I’d gotten used to the idea of being a writer, and was working on the next project, I felt really sure that God had pushed the pause button. This was not writer’s block. It was very clearly a “full stop”. I immediately thought, “Oooo God must have something different in mind.” And not, “Whaaaa, what am I going to do????” (Thank you Holy Spirit for your hard work in sanctification. I know I’m a hard one to work with sometimes.) But God has led me to new ideas, and He has pointed me toward new learning since then. I am still waiting to see just what He will do with all of this, but let me just say—Our God is always up to something new and wonderful. When I think back to all last year brought—
- I wrote and published His Will: Your Abundance
- I got to help my incredible friends with their film Show Me Your Glory (in theaters nationwide this May)
- All along the way, I have grown deeper in my walk through so many amazing studies
- I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities to disciple others at my amazing church
—I am stunned! But when I look at where He seems to be leading me now—wow!! I trust in His good plans, and I am committed to waiting for His direction. For now, He has paused my second book. I feel certain that He will bring me back to it when I’ve completed what He has for this season. There is so much joy in trusting Him to guide our “what’s nexts”!! I thought I’d share the opening for this second book (release to be determined! PTL!). Please pray that He will guide me, and that I will be obedient. Again, thanks for joining me in this beautiful new place!
Holy Assumptions: Renewing Our Minds to Love Like Christ
Introduction
Have you noticed the sunsets lately? At least once a week, someone I know posts a photo of a sunset that captivates my imagination and sets me off to praising God for His artistry. I’m not sure if they are really becoming more and more dramatic as time draws nearer to Jesus’s return, or if I simply appreciate everything more as I age. My house sits atop a hill that faces west. We have a big porch bed and rocking chairs on the long front porch. Looking out across the yard, we can see for miles—no houses, only trees and sky in the valley below (oh, and a distant highway, but I choose to look past that). When the golden hour comes, we often pour some sweet tea, sit in the rocking chairs, and gaze at the new artwork God has created for us. Sometimes, the sky looks like it is on fire—a glowing red—blazing across the horizon and the sun a flaming orange ball that still burns bright, claiming its last moment of majesty before slipping off to bed. Other times, the soft pinks, blues, and yellows swirl around in a mist—a peaceful prelude to sleepy nighttime prayers. And then there are all of the variations in between—soft pastels splintered by vivid turquoise streaks—like God changed his mind at the last second and decided to jazz this one up a bit, just to keep things interesting. I cannot look at one of His sunsets without thinking, Wow!! That’s my God!
But the other day, I got to wondering if painting the sky is fun for Him. Does He love to do it simply because He cannot withhold His love from us when we think to look up? Does He love to take our breath away with His majesty? Or are the heavens praising God because we forget to?
His majesty is easy to recognize in the sunset and the mountain peaks. We can see it in the stars of night, in the cool evening breeze, and in the glistening sea. But do we see His majesty in His most loved creation? Oh, it is there to be sure. When He made us, it was not a simple, “Let there be…” (if you can call anything simple that springs from the Almighty). No, when He made us, it was a “Let us make.” The Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit collaborating together to make us in their image. So, yes…the sunset should pale in comparison to what we see when we behold their favored creation, the one that was made with more than intent…the one that was made through and for love.
When the light coming through the windows of my house shifts, and I know sunset has begun, I grab that sweet tea and my husband and head to the porch fully expecting to see something beautiful—something that only God could produce. And so it should be when I look at one of His favored creations. I should fully expect to see something grand. I should be waiting with anticipation, being careful not to miss it. I should be looking at each one of His kids with holy assumptions.