Tuesday, May 8, 2012

There Is None Like You

In many areas of understanding, none so much as in our understanding of God, we bump up against a simplicity so profound that we must assign complexities to it to comprehend it at all. It is mindful of how we paste decals to a sliding glass door to keep from bumping our nose against it. ~Robert Brault

God is difficult to explain because no words are adequate. Yet in everything I see and do, He’s there. Maybe Mr. Brault’s explanation is the best. We try too hard to explain someone who, though complex, is easily understood—if we’d just open our hearts and minds.

Every night, as the sun begins to set and a cool breeze rustles through the trees, my husband, my son, and I take a walk around our property with our Australian shepherd in tow. God is everywhere we look, in every nuance, sound, and scent we experience. Yellow-and-white honeysuckles trailing on vines, baby birds in their nests crying for food, spring rabbits playing leapfrog with each other—all bear God’s handprint. A supernatural quality transcends our minds and envelopes our senses when we become submerged in nature.

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.  You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Job 42:3b-5
On last week’s post, a comment was posted by Monica. The song by Casting Crowns, Praise You In This Storm, was a song she played repeatedly when her daughter passed away. I visited her blog and read her story, "Where is He in the Storm?" God’s grace and mercy shines through this young mother. Please take a moment to read her story and be blessed.

This was how she described her low point:

We were literally in debt, losing our home, our daughter passed away, our marriage was being hit, my relationship with my children was not what it used to be. I was in the midst of a STORM and I DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD END!! I went to GOD but did not hear Him nor see Him.
Monica lists four things God did to teach her and bring her out of the storm. I hope you’re as blessed by her story as I was.

My prayer for each of you today is that you pause to experience God in His creation and find peace often elusive elsewhere.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. ~C.S. Lewis
Prayer requests from previous weeks include:
·       Unemployment (Several people have requested prayer in this area.)
·       Home foreclosure
·       Health issues – Please pray specifically for healing, comfort, strength, and wisdom in treatment.
            Karen – leukemia
            Courtney – cancerous brain tumor (repeat MRI this month)
·       Difficult family situations including children
·       People seeking God’s will in particular decisions
Please leave your prayer requests in the comment section or email me with confidential requests. I love hearing from you!

Our song this week is "In the Garden (There is None Like You)," by Watermark.



16 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post.

    Please pray for the salvation of people in my family and for healing for my father-in-law (he has cancer). Thank you and God bless!

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    1. You're welcome. I've added these requests to my prayer list. I'll be praying for your family daily. Thanks for stopping by, TC. God bless you.

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  2. another good one laura - thanks. i also read the monica's blog and it was helpful to read that another Christian could not seem to connect with the Lord during a difficult time. i keep trying to feel His presence but feel further and further from Him daily. i am going to try what monica did and just stop the questions and wanting this trial to end and ask for peace and direction.

    prayer requests:
    job for tony
    help for both our depression
    karen's healing (cancer)
    karen's husband,mike, a job
    aimee copeland- 24 yr old who has flesh eating disease from zip line accident last week, she has lost leg and hip now, not expected to live. there is a facebook link for her: Believe and pray for a miracle to happen for Aimee Copeland

    sorry for such a long list

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    1. Thanks, Betty. I thought Monica's blog might help someone. She bared her soul and gave practical advice on how to get through despair. Your list isn't too long. Never worry about that. I've also shared the story about Aimee on my FB page. I'll continue to pray for your other requests, as well.

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  3. Laura, the work you are doing on this blog is so good. I've said it before. I am so thankful for the light shining in you. May you be blessed and filled to full as you continue to empty yourself for others.

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    1. Thank you, Tereasa, for your kind words and the blessing! I'm glad you've been encouraged by my blog and hope you will continue to be. God bless you.

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  4. Hi Laura:

    This is such an encouraging post and I love the quote by C.S. Lewis. God truly is with us through the storms - He doesn't take us around them, but leads us through.

    Visiting from Beholding Glory.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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    1. So true, Joan. C.S. Lewis was a great man. I love his quotes. Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you again.

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  5. Great devotion, Laura. I love both quotes...I'm going to have to file away that Lewis one for future use. And you added in such good thoughts of your own and good verses. Really a good read for me personally this morning. Thanks. And Thanks for hooking up with B&BB. I'm praying that you'll especially feel God's presence this week as you do family and ministry and writing. Blessings,
    Gail

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    1. Thanks, Gail. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate the prayers. Thanks for your consistent encouragement! God bless you.

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  6. I also read Monica's post last week. Sometimes when I am in the storm, I think of others so much worse off than me and it makes me see there is always something to be thankful for.
    I'd love for you to pray for the salvation of my boys.

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    1. I'm praying for your boys, Shanda. God bless you. Always good to hear from you.

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  7. What a great post! I know you have encouraged many who are finding themselves in the middle of a storm.

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. I'm glad you stopped by and were blessed. I look forward to hearing from you again. Have a great week!

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  8. Thank you for sharing a link to this beautiful testimony of God's grace at work in the midst of a horrendous storm.

    Precious.

    Wendy

    P.S. Thank you for linking this post to Scripture Sunday this week.

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    1. You're welcome. Thanks for hosting the linkup! I finally found your blog button and I'm posting it now.

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