Hi everyone,
Once again, it has been ages since I wrote anything. I have an inspirational thought, but first, because it's been so long I want to give you an update.
We have had just celebrated Jeff's birthday, and it was so good to have all the family over. It wasn't just a celebration of his birthday, but of a shared journey and the gifts that has brought us..... (like grandchildren!)
I also want to tell you about 'Desert Rain Ministries' and my new and improved book, "Fistful of Diamonds, living on full when life serves empty" The website can be found at http://www.drministries.com/ and there you will find some information about us and what we are about! You will also see that my beautiful hardback giftbook will be available soon. (hopefully before Christmas)
I have another book on the way, "Desert Rain - the promise and process of personal renewal" in which I share some principles of seeing our own personal 'desert' whatever that may represent, come to life. Let me say, the photos and gifts I spoke of above are evidence of that promise and process. God is so good!
NOW TO MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU
Gen 32:24-31 "Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket in of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let you go unless You bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?"
He said, "Jacob."
And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."
Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there.
So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."
Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip."
There are a few points I want to draw from this.
The first is that Jacob was left alone. You may be in that place right now.
Alone.
I'm not talking about that nice 'aloneness' where we enjoy some peace and quiet, I'm talking about alone with our pain, our fears, our failures, our sinful selves. Alone, facing the reality of what we really are, looking at an ugly reflection in the mirror of life.
It's when we come to this place that the miracle of the presence of God becomes some wonderfully real. When all the support systems of a 'neat' life are taken we get to know that God is really present.
The weird thing is that instead of yielding to His magnificent Lordship, Jacob took him on in a wrestle!..... Hang on, that isn't quite as weird, I think we have all found ourselves sometimes 'wrestling with God', as futile as that might be.
Jacob was pretty stubborn, when the Lord saw he wasn't going to win, in His power, love & sovereignty reached out and weakened Jacob at his hip. Why? So that Jacob would finally be in a position to receive instead of fight.
Next, why in the world did the Lord ask Jacob what his name was? Surely He knew. Because in order for Jacob, to get his fresh new name, Israel (Prince with God) he had to face the fact that he was currently Jacob (he who supplants, tricks and trips up another). We cannot step into our future without dealing with our past. And the best place to deal with our past is in the presence of our Saviour King, Jesus Christ.
The Lord could have spared Jacob this long dark night of struggle. After all, God can do anything, right?
But without that lonely dark night I don't believe Jacob would not have been able to say, "For I have seen God face to face...."
Verse 31 says, "Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip."
Let me encourage you that the sun WILL rise on you, inspite of the limp that you may come out of this night with. You WILL be able to say with Jacob "I have seen the Lord face to face, and lived". You will come out of this dark night with a new name, a new future, and a new confidence in who God is in your life.
Yes, He could have spared you this lonely dark night, but He knows the sun will rise on you bringing in a new day of bright hope and joy.
For those of you that I know, who are going through a dark night right now. Please hear me. Your name is on my heart and on my lips in prayer often, particularly in the night when I have those wakeful moments.
Much love,
Lynda
