The Simple Walk

I have just realized that I have not sent out a post since the new year began - Happy New Year, all! Our January 1st dawned (12:05 a.m.) with a phone call that a dear friend and saint of God, Eddy Grant, was called home to be with his Lord at 11:15 p.m.  What a way to start the new year for Eddy -to be present with the Lord! We will miss him, but we'll be together again someday. He and my dad, along with so many other of their friends, are together with the Lord right now. It is a joy to think about.

This morning I read the account of Martha approaching the Lord Jesus as He neared Bethany. The statement, "Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died," was followed up with, "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." That faith that Martha was showing really spoke to my heart.

What is it about living in America today that has taken our faith away? Where is the simplicity of walking step by step with Jesus and expecting Him to answer prayer, sustain us in trials and take away the sin in our lives as we yield it up to Him? Don't get me wrong, I know MANY, many Christians who live this way. Why not all believers? When the Bible says that we can hide God's Word in our heart, that I might not sin against Him, why don't we? Bible memorization used to be the first thing I would work on when I opened the Word in the morning. I try not to make 'resolutions' in the new year, but if there is one RESOLVE I have this year, it is to spend time daily in memorizing God's Word and asking Him to use it throughout the day, to remind me and sustain the morning 'renewal of mind' that took place that day.

One other thing that led up to these thoughts was a statement my Mom made the other day. I can't quote her, but she was relaying the fact that she had been grumbling and complaining to the Lord about some situation in her life. At the lunch table she said something like, "the Lord does not want me to grumble and complain". He truly does NOT want us to do this. Why can't we just take, "do all things without murmuring and disputing..." as God's Word on that subject. I am thankful for a mother who does!

As I mused on these things, I am again thankful for living in a little cabin in the woods, somewhat away from the hustle and bustle of 'life'. Right now the water and our kitchen drain are both frozen, but no matter (and I do mean, really, "no matter". Here is where taking God's Word literally meets "life"), because the Lord is right here with us in our warm little house and His Spirit sustains our hearts.

Praise the Lord (and only by His grace) that we can truly say:

"Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife." Prov. 17:1

I love the Lord so much and pray that I will love Him more, hiding His Word in my heart more in 2013 "...that I might not sin against God."

I am so glad that you ventured up our snowy road to Darling Hill this morning!!