Sustained

I just revisited my post on "The Gospel According to Job". As if I ever left it. This past week, this weekend, these nights have been a beautiful symbiosis of my "abiding", and God meeting my needs in very real ways. It doesn't always work like that, I know-- at least not as tangibly or obviously as it has these past days and even weeks. So I thought I would share it here, as an ambiguous acknowledgment, of sorts, of the miracles God is working every day to sustain me. To keep me focused on Him-- His will, His ways, His "plan for me"-- this "story" He's writing.

I've acknowledged the concept of "manna" in the past. I believe what I said then was merely something along the lines of "...am I EXCITED to eat the stuff day in and day out? Nope. But it's good. And it's sustaining." Well, my tune has changed along these lines, lately. The "manna" (His daily provisions and sustenance, as I continue to trust and "abide" in Him) is growing on me, like an acquired taste, of sorts. I'm now finding myself waking up in the morning, eager to partake of the stuff. In fact, now the temptation is to store it up in jars, for another day when the presence of it might not be as apparent... but we all know that that's just not what God wants us to do with manna.

Metaphor aside... THIS is what Christ-following is supposed to be like... Abiding in Him. Receiving His blessings. Not worrying about tomorrow (after all, tomorrow will worry about itself). Eating the manna He provides-- and turning the feeling of a full belly and the hunger pangs alike back to Him in praise... but there I go again, back to that metaphor.

"Sustained" usually sounds like a boring word. It's not exciting, on its cover. But I've learned to love it... to be excited by it... to see just HOW in the world God is going to get me through THIS morning... THIS 3-year-old melt-down... THIS conflict at work-- or dare I say, even this sticky situation at church. Don't get me wrong, I'm not casting myself down from the highest point of the Temple, "daring" God to catch me every morning when I wake up. (Sorry to steal your sermon point from this morning, Pastor Ronn.) I'm abiding in His word. In His truth, and love, and grace, and identity. And He is sustaining me in that. And it's a heck of a lot more adventurous than I'd ever have imagined.

So many of you who read these posts have sent me notes, made phone calls, sent emails, posted replies-- and you tell me you are asking God for just this, on my behalf. Know that your prayers (and mine alike) are being answered daily. I can't explain all the blessings... God is unpredictable and even "illogical" at times, just like any person tends to be. (Call it "free will", I guess...) But I'm not foolish enough (or perhaps pious enough) to not accept the blessings-- the manna-- being laid out before me. So I partake. And I am sustained... in a new way every day. Thank you all-- my close friends and mere strangers alike-- who take the time to make the call, say the word of encouragement, send the note, etc... This is some of the "manna" I speak of. Some of it is how He meets me in prayer-- speaks when I listen... answers when I call. Again... the manna-- His blessings-- are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness, Oh, God!

(I guess this is what you call "having a good night". Another little "miracle"... remember... Sunday nights are usually my worst.)