Trusting in His Goodness: Week Eleven - Chapter 11, Expecting Him to Show Up

My husband and I served with Mission Aviation Fellowship for 28 years—12 of those years in Latin America where he flew cross-cultural workers, medical people, teachers and church planters in and out of the vast Amazon jungle. I ‘followed’ his flights via the HF radio in our home, noting his take-off and landing times, how many passengers and how much fuel he had on board, as well as writing down each of the check points he flew over. If he was ever late making a call, I immediately began calling him—hoping to hear his voice assuring me that all was well. I expected him to show up with his plane where he was supposed to be. I looked for him. I listened for him. At times, I even watched the sky for him.

I’ve not been as diligent watching, listening, looking for God through-out my day. I would become nervous or apprehensive if I didn’t hear from my husband every 15-20 minutes when he was in the air. Of course, I had the static of the HF radio to remind me to listen—but in my daily life, with the circumstances that surround me, how much more am I reminded to listen/look for God and enjoy His presence with me? And, yet, I don’t. There are my morning prayers, my devotions, and my time of study. But hours can pass without a conscious thought that my God is with me.

I love the quote Mimi and Shelly give on page 183 from A. W. Tozer. “How good it would be if we could learn that God is easy to live with. He remembers our frame and knows we are dust….” I’m so thankful that He does know me, forgives me, and has patience with me. But, oh how I long to become more aware of Him. Do you? How do you practice His presence in your daily life?

Would you please share with us your holy habits that keep you aware that God is with you—and you with Him? I would love to hear your reflections on the truth of this important chapter and look forward to reading your comments.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week Ten - Chapter 10, Shipwrecks Turned Gorgeous Coral Reefs

As we near the end of this book, I’m getting closer to my 58^th birthday. I can’t really believe I’m this old until I remember all the stories of my life—and then the years really do add up to the present reality of 57 almost 58. In those stories, there is lots of evidence of God’s redeeming power in my life, His transforming work in the broken, ugly chapters that somehow now form a story full of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and power. “Redemption promises not replacement—a wholly new creation imposed on the old—but a transformation that somehow makes use of all that went on before….in the end evil will serve as a tool for good.” (page 166)

If you are like me, you will be caught by the beauty of this week’s scriptures as you read what Mimi and Shelly have written. My favorite was the passage they quoted from the Message in Romans 8:1-3. “With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”

This week, let’s give praise and thanks to our God for His transforming work in our lives. Please share a testimony from your life of God’s amazing ability to take a shipwreck—something broken, and turn it into something beautiful that brings Him praise, glory and honor.

Trusting in His Goodness: Week 9 - Chapter 9, Beyond 'till death do us part'

Themes of love, lies and truth swirl through this chapter on the covenantal aspect of our relationship with God, our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Indweller, Friend and Lover. I found myself reading this chapter as if it was a love letter to me—a letter filled with truth that leads to hope.

My story is different than Cheryl’s—the woman Mimi and Shelly write about to help us understand the truth of God’s covenant relationship with us. Yet, I too have believed lies—I too need to listen and believe the healing truth. You may, too.

Please pay particular notice to the Scriptures in this chapter. Spend time in them. Notice how their truth applies and has been real in your life. Would you pick just one of the Scriptures and share how it impacts you, please? Then, I’d love to hear how being in a covenant relationship with our God has impacted your life. I look forward to hearing from you!

Trusting in His Goodness: Week 8 - Chapter 8, Trusting in His Grip

This week, I met with a woman who has two school aged children who both have severe handicaps. She is from an Asian country, spent much of her life living in Europe and now lives near me in New Jersey. She has known a lot of loss in her life—a lot of disappointment. I admit that I read this chapter with her in mind, trying to imagine how the truths Mimi and Shelly wrote about might impact her.

It is easy to trust in God when it appears He is answering all of our prayers with positive responses. It is more challenging to see Him at work when we’re hurting. Mimi and Shelly talk about giving our hurts to God. Do you have any experience doing this? If you do, could you share it with us, please? Your testimony will help us to grow in our trust.

This week, please consider commenting about your response to this chapter as well as one of the holy habits. I look forward to reading your thoughts.