When God is In Control

In the stoic German household I grew up in, emotions such as crying were frowned upon. Instead you were tough, took matters into your own hands and did what was necessary to fix the situation. More often than not my stinking thinking caused me to mess things up even worse. Having developed an ever deepening relationship with my Good Shepherd, I've found out that I don't have to put on a tough facade and that it is OK to cry. Boy, did I shed a lot of tears for a while. Since he is all knowing, there is nothing I can hide from him anyway. Nor would I want to. The enemy is the one who beats you up with your sins, the Savior forgives and restores relationships. Over the years, I've learned to trust again. 

Even with the best of intentions, sinful humans that we all are, we will at times fail each other. Not so my Messiah, who promises to never leave or forsake me. The testimony of my life is that in the way and measure that I've needed him my Jesus (Yahshua in the Hebrew) has always been there for me. He's never rushed me faster than I am able to go. Healing and setting free is like pealing off the layers of an onion. One layer at a time the onion is pealed, healing tears and all, and as our flesh dies, we become an ever more brilliant reflection of the Master.  

When God is in control no matter how nasty it looks, everything is in control. God's past faithfulness produces assurance as to his future provision.

WHEN GOD IS IN CONTROL

When God is in control,

Though it may not seem so,

Our flesh may protest,

Things look bleak,

Everything is in control,

Our all in all,

The all powerful one,

Who is all wise,

Perfect love,

Knows what's best for us,

His timing is flawless,

Waiting can be tough,

Our flesh detests it,

Wants too fix it,

Get it over with,

But only makes it worse,

But the God who sees,

Leads us step by step,

Changing us into his image,

The promise keeper,

Never leaves or forsakes us,

Provides our every need,

When too weak to walk,

Our Good Shepherd carries us,

Uses every trial for good,

Turns each test,

Into a testimony!

It Wasn't The Nails

Have you ever stopped to think about what held the Savior to the tree. He who with his Father created the universe and all that is in it, wasn't held there by the nails in his hands and feet. Also he could have called 10,000 angels who were waiting to rescue him. It had to be love. Total, unfathomable love for us. You and I, whose righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), should have been crucified. We should have suffered and died, as Gorden Jensen so beautifully puts it in one song he wrote and sings. Oh the width, and length and depth and height of God's (Elohim in the Hebrew) love for us (Ephesians 3:17-20).

IT WASN'T THE NAILS

It wasn't the nails,

That held you to the tree,

The angels we ready,

Wanted to rescue you,

You didn't have to die,

As a sinless sacrifice,

For our sin,

You didn't have to come,

Live among sinners,

Heal the sick,

Set people free,

Teach the truth,

Proclaim the kingdom,

Endure ridicule,

Temptation,

So why did you come?

If it wasn't the nails?

What held you there?

Why did you suffer?

Willingly endure torture?

Separation from the Father?

Carry our sin's weight?

To our human minds,

It's beyond understanding,

It could only be love,

Your total love for us.