Ramblings on a TUESDAY

I know it’s not Monday or Friday, but it’s been quite a day and I just felt like I needed to share my thoughts with you…

Lately I’ve conveyed the fact that my busy-ness seems to be stealing my spiritual peace, and yesterday I wrote about it in my blog. I received a much appreciated comment from one of my readers and found such encouragement in her words. She wrote, “I too struggle in this area so please know that you are not alone,” then she went on to include the following prayer “Donna, I pray that we all FIGHT for time with JESUS, that we FIGHT for peace and stillness in our everyday lives, and that we FIGHT for spiritual wholeness.” Last night as I prayed to God, I thanked Him for the blessings of the day, including those people He brings in to our lives when we need to be reminded, taught, and encouraged.

... I guess He thought that I hadn’t quite gotten the message because it continued throughout my day today…

As I was driving to work, my heart felt heavy. I prayed to God, but my thoughts wandered and I had trouble focusing on MY list of concerns.  Finally, I just cried out, “I need your help Lord. Please show me how to achieve spiritual peace in my life. Is all of this “busy-ness,” my doing or something you are calling me to? Are the things that “consume me,” my will or yours? Is my motivation, “all about me” or is it truly to Your Glory?”

… Stillness, followed by “no answer,” or so I thought…

I got to work, turned on the radio and the song Motion of Mercy by Francesca Battistelli was playing. What beautiful words! They grabbed my attention right from the first verse which started off with “I was poor, I was weak, I was the definition of the spiritually bankrupt condition.” Wow!  As the song continued the words of the chorus were just as powerful, “Changing the way and the why we are, that's the motion of mercy.” But, it was the ending of the song… “Living for the lost, loving ‘til it hurts, no matter what the cost” … that revealed once again, how God speaks to us through the words of others.

… but He wasn’t done yet...

Each day I receive an email containing an encouraging word from scripture (via K-Love).   How was I not surprised when I read today’s verse?  Micah 6:8,  “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

… God speaks again, but that was still not the end of it…

I follow the writings of a missionary named Michelle who is serving in the Sudan. A link to her website has been provided at the bottom of this post. Anyway, last week her blog brought me to my knees, both in tears and prayers. Her story (blog dated July 22, 2011) was about a little girl. Here is just a small sampling of what she wrote, “I come walking out of the markets to be introduced to a little girl with burnt orange rags tied on by a plastic bag. Her hair matted and eyes wild, she stares and rocks. … This little one of eight, with special needs, severely abused by men, desperately hungry and tormented by demons. OF course we take her home. SHE is the reason why I came here five years ago.”  By the way, they've named her Mercy.

Yesterday Michelle continued the saga with a powerful story about the reality of her work (blog dated July 25, 2011). She shared an amazing story about the dangers they faced just yesterday.  Again knees, tears and prayers.

Today Michelle’s blog talked about what love looks like in her world (blog dated July 26, 2011). Several of her thoughts caught my attention, especially in light of my thoughts and prayers over the last few days. She wrote that love looks like…

… laying aside the necessary and the pressing for the eternal that outweighs them all
… seeing beyond what is visible to what is true
… trusting Jesus really does have a plan for getting done that which needs getting done
… and her final sentence said, “Love looks like lessons in Mercy.”

… God used the words of others, one more time…

Today I was reminded, taught and encouraged. Through the words of others, God revealed some pretty amazing things:

… doing Kingdom work is never easy, no matter what our calling may be
… we all face unique challenges and have prayer needs, but we are not alone on the journey
… my "busy-ness" is okay, because God calms the “chaos” when I “seek” Him
… my heart is heavy, not because of my own suffering, but because of the burdens of others that God has laid upon my heart
… He knows our needs and answers our prayers, in His way and in His perfect timing
… I need to continue to listen and walk humbly
… and most importantly, I was reminded that God’s mercies really do begin afresh each day!

Today I am fighting for time with Jesus.

Today … God spoke.
God’s Peace, Donna Weaver


Michelle’s blog from the Sudan:
http://fromtheunpavedroad.com/

Song - Motion of Mercy:
Words and Music by Francesca Battistelli / Ian Eskelin
from the album Hundred More Years