Thursday, November 29, 2007
My Father Sits on the Throne
".... we know that all things work together for good for those who love God ..."
Well, as I said to the Dakar Academy staff yesterday morning, I've been thinking about God's sovereignty a lot lately. You know that that idea has often been at the heart of much theological debate and conflict, but in the Scriptures, it is primarily offered to God's people as comfort. God is on the throne. He rules History. And best of all, He has adopted us who have received Jesus as His children.
But, of course, that doesn't mean I am not reluctant to accept the plot line as He has written it. I was talking with Bill McC, a friend who teaches at DA. He was describing a frustrating situation and ended our commiserating about it together with, "It's probably a good thing I'm not God." We laughed at the old joke and I added, "I'm glad you're not God, too! And I'm glad I'm not God either. In fact, I never wanted that job. Shoot, I don't even want to be a hero, like Aragorn or Gandalf. I just want to be a hobbit. Not Frodo. Maybe Pippin." Or the innkeeper Butterbur. (Guess what I'm almost done rereading! The ring just went into Orodruin) Or switching stories, I definitely don't want to be George Bailey, the Jimmy Stewart character in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." And too often feel like I am.
I think that I've always been a reluctant leader. From that first study group in elementary school when the other kids voted me to lead... Well, maybe not always. But lately I've certainly done my share of grumbling about what God has asked me to do and to give up doing.
Foolishness on my part.
Stupid, in fact. But God, in His love, has seen fit to remind me of the comfort of His Kingship, instead of taking away these privileges to serve and sacrifice.
And worrying about the robbery from last week has driven me to that same set of comforting thoughts. God was not surprised by those two young men in the street. He knew what what in my car. He knew what kind of shape I'm in. None of it somehow caught Him napping. And God knows what He's doing. He's smart and He's at work. He knows what He means to accomplish in me. And in those kids. And in my network of loved ones who have heard of it. And He loves me, and them, and you.
"Do not worry... Look at the birds... your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important that the birds?"
So, I'm actually doing better today than before the robbery, believe it or not. I'm thankful for my life and pushing on, reminding myself of these things often.
And rejoicing in the good gifts of God in my life. Like my son Jonathan. And his crazy 7th grade class at DA.
And Allison, who cut her beautiful long locks and gave the extra to charity for a wig.
And friends like Howard S. in Lewisburg who made me laugh with this email thought:
But, of course, that doesn't mean I am not reluctant to accept the plot line as He has written it. I was talking with Bill McC, a friend who teaches at DA. He was describing a frustrating situation and ended our commiserating about it together with, "It's probably a good thing I'm not God." We laughed at the old joke and I added, "I'm glad you're not God, too! And I'm glad I'm not God either. In fact, I never wanted that job. Shoot, I don't even want to be a hero, like Aragorn or Gandalf. I just want to be a hobbit. Not Frodo. Maybe Pippin." Or the innkeeper Butterbur. (Guess what I'm almost done rereading! The ring just went into Orodruin) Or switching stories, I definitely don't want to be George Bailey, the Jimmy Stewart character in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." And too often feel like I am.
I think that I've always been a reluctant leader. From that first study group in elementary school when the other kids voted me to lead... Well, maybe not always. But lately I've certainly done my share of grumbling about what God has asked me to do and to give up doing.
Foolishness on my part.
Stupid, in fact. But God, in His love, has seen fit to remind me of the comfort of His Kingship, instead of taking away these privileges to serve and sacrifice.
And worrying about the robbery from last week has driven me to that same set of comforting thoughts. God was not surprised by those two young men in the street. He knew what what in my car. He knew what kind of shape I'm in. None of it somehow caught Him napping. And God knows what He's doing. He's smart and He's at work. He knows what He means to accomplish in me. And in those kids. And in my network of loved ones who have heard of it. And He loves me, and them, and you.
"Do not worry... Look at the birds... your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important that the birds?"
So, I'm actually doing better today than before the robbery, believe it or not. I'm thankful for my life and pushing on, reminding myself of these things often.
And rejoicing in the good gifts of God in my life. Like my son Jonathan. And his crazy 7th grade class at DA.
And Allison, who cut her beautiful long locks and gave the extra to charity for a wig.And friends like Howard S. in Lewisburg who made me laugh with this email thought:
There is indeed great cause for rejoicing. Namely, that you were not injured when you were in hot pursuit. Cornering a fleeing felon is not always the best policy for the average missionary, who, in the discharge of his duties, is not customarily carrying a blackjack and a snub-nosed revolver to defend himself. That's the big reason for thanksgiving.Hey, two ideas for my Christmas list!
