God of Wonders

Do you find yourself caught in doubt? Have you ever wondered what God is doing in your life, circumstances or in the world around you?

I wonder what God is doing in this situation?

I wonder what God is trying to teach me?

I wonder when God is going to answer my prayers?

Most Christians will admit to a time in their life where they wondered about God and his plans.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (MSG) “I don't think the way you think. The way you work is not the way I work. For as the sky soars above the earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond what you think.”.

It is comforting to me, in my moments of doubt and wonder, to cling to this scripture. I may never on this earth or in paradise know what God was doing, but God definitely knows what He has in store for us. However, I still can't help falling into moments of wonder.

I wonder what God sees in me? God sees what no one else sees, because He created me and He chose me to belong to Him. This has been part of His plan since the foundations of creation. (Ephesians 1:4-6 & Ephesians 1:11)

Ephesians 1:11 – We were chosen to belong to him. God decided to chose us long ago in keeping with his plan. He works out everything to fit his plan and purpose.

I wonder if God hears my prayers? God may not be appearing to answer your prayers, but what you may not see is what God is doing in the background. We have to trust that He has our best interest at heart, and that all things will be done in His perfect timing. Our prayers will be answered according to His will, not our own.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 – Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when the heat comes, for it's leaves remain green , and it is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

I wonder what God has planned for me? If God does see something in me, if His ways are not my ways, and God is hearing my prayers.... then what exactly is it that God is doing in my life? What does he have planned? Scripture tells us that God knows us well.

Psalm 139:-4 – O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down, you are familiar with my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely.

God knows what we are capable of on our own, and what we are capable of when we let Him guide us. He takes our natural gifts and magnifies them. He equips those He calls & at the appointed time He has called them.

I wonder if others can see what God is doing? Sometimes we begin to wonder if others can see what God is doing, even when we can't. We may be getting better at our prayer life, digging into the Word more, attending church regularly... but are we really different? Are others able to see Christ in us? Are we a good representation of Christ in the world? Growth and change take time. Others may see changes long before we recognize them. But God is working in us so that we become that “new creation” spoken about in 2 Corinthians 5:17. As we grow, God will move us along in His plan. It is a journey, and for some of us the journey will be longer than others.

Colossians 1:10-11 – And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.

I wonder if God really cares about me? I am just one little person in this big world. God cares so much about us, He sent is own son to die on a cross for each of us. You and me. He has known every day we would live before the first was written. He created us, knitting us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). He puts support in place for us, to help us on our journey through this life. This support comes in the form of the Holy Spirit within us, His Word that we can depend on and learn from, our Church and sisters in Christ that we can lean on and grown with.

I wonder what will happen if and when I mess up? I am not perfect. In the parable of the prodigal son, we see a son who was raised just like his brothers... but went off on his own path. But when he returns home, his father accepts him, arms wide open and tends to all his needs. (Luke 15)

God isn't finished with us yet. We will stumble and fall sometimes, but God doesn't give up on us. He welcomes us back with open arms.

I wonder what I ever did to deserve the love that God has for me? Nothing.

God loves us, because God is love (John 4:8)

God loves us, because God created us. (Genesis 1:26-28)

He loves us when we don't love him. He is faithful to the faithless (2 Tim 2:13)

I wonder if God knows how much I love him and how thankful I am for his blessings in my life?

What are you doing in your life to answer that question?

* Written for the TC3 Women's Ministry Devotion Blog

They Believed Her!

Have you ever read a book for the second or even  hundredth time and you catch some sort of small detail that seemed to escape you  in all the previous readings?  You wonder how you could miss it, since it was  there all along... in black and white.  Plain as day.  Yet until this very  moment, it never stood out.    I believe this happens not because the book or  story has change (that is impossible) but because the reader has changed.  They  have grown as a person, their life experiences have changed and perhaps there  have been people who have influenced the reader to see things differently or  even pointed out the hidden jewel.

Scripture is called the “Living Word” because the  Word lives within us.  In a printed Bible, the chapter and verses do not change.   They are constant, unchanging.  Just like God.  Yet we can take a verse that we  learned in Sunday school, that has been repeatedly read, taught and referenced over a life time... and suddenly, one day, see it in a whole new light.   This  recently happened to me regarding John 4:1-42, the classic Samaritan Woman at the Well story.

Every time I have read this passage or about it,  it has come from the point of view of the woman.  How broken she was, her shame  and her guilt keeping her separated from her community; and a pattern of  repeated mistakes.  I think this is common because we can all related to the  woman at the well.  It was during Sunday service, that Pastor Gordon took this  piece of scripture and presented it form the point of view of Jesus &  related it to our own experiences in evangelism.

I am not going to repeat the service, you were  there or can watch it on the church's vimeo channel.   We wrapped up with verse  41, where she has brought the towns people back to Jesus & “because of his  words, many more became believers”.   It was in my continuing to read through  verse 42 that I found my hidden jewel.

John 4:42 They said to the woman, “we no longer believer just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man is the Savior of the world.”

In the passage we read that  when Jesus revealed to her who he was, she left the well, leaving her water jar behind.  She went to the town and told the people of her encounter.

She left more than her water  jar at that well.  She left her shame, her guilt, her past, her mistakes behind.   All of the things that kept her isolated from her community, were no longer  important.  Her encounter with Jesus was greater than any of those things.  To  the point that she would run back to town and tell everyone.  

AND THEY BELIEVED HER!

* Have you ever found yourself, stuck at the well?   Trying to avoid your past, hide your guilt and  shame?  Avoid those who you feel will judge you?

Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV) – For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 Our sins are washed away, we  are made a new creature in Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and find  our confidence and strength in HIM!

* Have you worried or doubted  your ability to share the Word with others, because you think that you are  unqualified?  Or, that your history has ruined your credibility?

 1 Corinthians 4:20 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.

 The Lord will give you the  strength to do what He has asked of you, He equips the called.

 * The Lord softened the  Pharaoh’s heart to listen to Moses and if we ask of Him, and have faith in  Him... the same will be done for those we encounter!  They will believe.

John 4:42 - They said to the woman, “we no longer believer just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man is the Savior of the world.”

Some of use will be called to  plant seeds, some will tend to the fields, and others will work the harvest.

 But, all things will be used  for the glory of God.... even those things that bring us to well.  Find your  power in Him, pray for His hand to guide you, and leave your water jar at the  well.  You do not need it any more.  Be filled with the Living Waters.... see  the Word through new eyes.  You have walked away from your sin.  You do not need  to be a Pastor or teacher, just a person who is willing to tell others about your  encounter with Jesus

* Written by Gena McCown for the TC3 Women's Ministry Devotion Blog