MY GOOD, HIS GLORY

On Wednesday, September 28th, I was finally ready to embark on my cross-country journey...

The car was packed, and I had shared many wonderful times with friends before I left my home in Thunder Bay. I had no idea what awaited me that day, or how the particular Scripture I read and meditated on that morning would be just exactly what I needed.

I had filled up with gas and then begun driving out of the city...it had only been about 20-25 minutes, when at the intersection of Hwy 102 and Mapleward Road my car died! There was a gas station on the right hand side, so I pulled off and stopped. After trying unsuccessfully to start the car, I called my mechanic (who was at his shop) and he said that he would take a look at it if I could get it there. I then called the tow truck and my friends with whom I had stayed the last few nights -- all these phone calls were courtesy of the kind man who operates the gas station -- and within 1 hour the car was at my mechanic's auto shop.

It wasn't long before we discovered that it would be a costly repair to fix the car, which was already leaking oil pretty badly. I called my dad and he recommended that I rent a vehicle to make the trip out west, since I wasn't planning on keeping the car once I arrived in BC anyway. This turned out to be quite a bit more expensive than I desired, but really my only option, since I really needed to get on the road. And God even provided a surprise monetary gift to help with the expense -- He is SO good!!

Here I am with the 1997 Chrysler Intrepid all packed full the night before I left:

Here is the 2011 Ford EDGE that I rented from Enterprise for the trip to BC:

The trip went very well...I drove from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Elm Creek, Manitoba in 9 hours and didn't encounter any wildlife, nor did I sense exhaustion until I reached my destination - PRAISE THE LORD! On Friday, Sept. 30 my mom arrived in Winnipeg by plane and then we drove for the next 3 days together, arriving in Ashcroft, BC on Monday around 4:30 pm. The rental vehicle was very nice, except that the seats were not comfortable on our backs.

After getting settled in my new "temporary" home, on Thursday I opened up my devotional journal and read what I had written down on the morning I left Thunder Bay as I meditated on Psalm 73...

I love how Asaph ends this psalm:

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all your works.

Sometimes we need to come to the end of ourselves to realize that God is our strength and our portion.

Lord, may it be true in my heart that I desire nothing on earth besides You.

I agree with Asaph that it is good to draw near to God - we see the short-sightedness of our vision and the goodness and faithfulness of the one in whom we've put our trust. And the reason why we've put our trust in Him is so that we can declare all of HIS works, not ours.

Lord, help me to see Your hand in everything, and to declare Your works even when it doesn't make sense to me. Thank You that You do not forsake Your own and that You care about all that concerns us. May I trust You more and more each day.

It is NOT a coincidence that I was reflecting on God's goodness in the midst of circumstances we cannot understand on the day where my travel plans would need to be adjusted...and it didn't take long for me to see just how good God was in all that transpired that day --

- my car died (literally) in front of a gas station, not on the highway in the middle of nowhere
- my mechanic was at his shop early that morning and was able to tell me what was wrong
- the car rental company went the extra mile to help me out with the unexpected expense
- God provided some extra funds to help with the trip
- I had safe travel the entire time and a reliable car to drive

As children of our loving Heavenly Father, we know that all of the things we experience are for our good and His glory, because He has promised to "never leave or forsake us" and that "He will complete the work that He started in us."

SWEET HAPPINESS

I believe that true happiness only comes from giving freely of ourselves to others in love. I think this is partly what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote in Philippians 2:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.

Jesus Himself also said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Over the last few days, I have had the opportunity to give of my time, my energies and myself to others, and I have discovered that it has made me so happy to give just because I want them to know they are loved and cared for. I have been happier doing things for others than just pleasing myself, and so what began as a desire to bless someone else also became a blessing to me.

This reminds me of a passage from Hannah Hurnard's book 'Hinds' Feet on High Places:'

The Water Song

Come, oh come! Let us away –

Lower and lower every day.

From the heights we leap and flow

To the valleys down below.

Always answering to the call,

To the lowest place of all.

“I don’t understand,” said Much-Afraid after she had listened for awhile. “The water seems to be singing so gladly because it is hurrying to go down into the Valley, and yet You are calling me to the High Places. What does it mean?”

“The High Places,” answered the Shepherd, “are the starting place. It is only up on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour himself out and give to others.”

Much-Afraid still didn’t really understand, but now as she listened she heard the wild flowers singing the same sort of song.

This is the law by which we live –

It is so sweet to give and give.

After that it seemed to Much-Afraid that all the little birds were singing the same kind of song.

This is the joy of all winged life above –

Happy it is to be able to love.

I also believe that it is because I have tasted the goodness of the Lord and been with Him that I have been enabled to give and give joyfully and happily, and I pray that this desire and passion continues to grow. How much our world would be transformed if the family of God lived this out day by day!