[Thoughts]

I have this cool book called “his thoughts said…his Father said…” and it’s kinda like questions presented to God and His answers. Check this out…

GNATS
His thoughts said, “When I would seek Him whom my soul loveth, confusions like flies buzz about me.”

His Father said, “Press through these confusions as though wouldest press through a swarm of gnats. Take NO notice of them. Be not stayed by them. Be not occupied with them. BE NOT entangled by them.”


I was talking to my best friend last night and sharing some fears I’m struggling with. In one case I was telling her I was afraid that people I see growing were going to be derailed…that the trials and distractions would surely come and they’d give in and slide backwards…and I realized something this morning…I am. In all my fear that people I care about are going to lose progress I am allowing that fear to derail me. I am not trusting God and I am allowing fear to have a place in my life it doesn’t belong. I am focusing on the gnats that have come. So I read a little further in this (very cool) book and found…

PRESS ON, PRESS ON TO THE SUMMIT
His thoughts said, “The coil of circumstances is beyond anything I ever experienced before.”

His Father said, “all this assemblage of complicated circumstances is the massif of the mountains thou must climb. There is a way among the boulders of the moraine, between the seracs of the glaciers, over the snow-bridges that cross the crevasses, and around the overhanging snowfields and up the precipices and long arêtes. There is a way through the deep shadows that will seem to bar thy path at times. PRESS ON, press on to the summit.


This so impacted me I shared it with my close circle of friends saying: "It’s a forward journey. Let us all press on (sounds like VanDorsten!), and know we’re not alone. God has brought us all together and He’ll see us through all the changes. But let’s not move backwards. It’s been so exciting to see all God is doing in each of your lives and I’ve really seen us all grow a lot these last few months…not that we don’t still mess up (but then we wouldn’t need a Savior)…it’s just the enemy doesn’t want us moving forward so we need to stand guard and press on. I’ve so enjoyed the memories we’ve made, places we’ve gone and things we’ve all shared this summer. We’re moving forward, taking risks and clinging to God for our outcomes. As hard as it is to grow up, let go and face new risks it’s life…and it’s opposed by the enemy as Eldridge would say. But even as I started tanking yesterday God was faithful to remind me this morning to press on…let’s not let any gnats distract us… "

I'm so blessed to have people to share my wandering thoughts with...

[Tune]

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life.” [A. W. Tozer (1895-1963)]

My words would only take away from this quote...