New Leaf!

Have you ever done this? Turn over a "new leaf," that is. God gave me a gift over the past twenty-four hours or so, that I didn't see at first sight. These past two months have been a time in my life when I know that God is doing some intensive surgery on my heart and life. It's been painful some days, confusing, and I've questioned absolutely everything including my ability to see clearly the fruition of "here is the way, walk ye in it." Studying Genesis and now entering Exodus has given me just enough light through the curtains to see, but just a shadow that it is I Am, that I Am, who walks ahead of me. Amazingly, He never gets completely out of my sight, but wants me to keep coming towards the sound of his steps. Much like that of someone in the woods at night as they walk over the pine needles and the rocks on their way. You can't see them but you can hear and sense that they are there. This life of faith is nearly impossible, and I see that more than ever before. Scripture states that "we see through a glass darkly" until we finally see Jesus face to face. Abraham waited for over a century to have his son of promise by the woman he loved, and then his long-standing faith in his God was stretched again when he was told to take his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Moses' mother, Jochobed, only was able to keep her baby for three months before she was driven to put him in a hand-made basket and send him sailing down the river. She didn't know what would happen to him, she only knew she needed to do something in order to save his life from the reigning Pharaoh. Joseph grew as a boy within the boundaries of the faith of his father, Jacob, and depended solely on what he had been taught to be true. The complexities of Gods' requirements of us are often in such sharp contrast to the simplicity of the faith of a child. The thought & song that has continued to run through my mind this evening is Holy, Holy, Holy. Above all else God is Holy. You will hear it while you read this post. I am awestruck by God's holiness tonight as it compares to my frequent faithlessness. How can He even bear to look at my lack of trust so often? Undeserving doesn't even scratch the surface, does it?

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Maybe recognizing His Holiness is what we need to begin understanding it all. I think it's a start...;-)