After a very busy two weeks, preparing for gallbladder surgery, recouping from surgery, the joy of Thanksgiving with the children home and family for dinner, and preparing to preach Thanksgiving weekend (5 venues) I have been so keenly aware of God's faithfulness...aware of the gifts he has given us...overcome to the point of tears with His goodness.
- 29 1/2 years married to a man I still adore
- a beautiful daughter in law that loves my son unconditionally.
- a son that leads a vibrant growing ministry and aspires to do what he does with his whole heart for the Lord. Such a teachable spirit.
- a son that is passionate about his dreams...sensative...focused.
- a daughter that loves the Lord with all her heart and seeks his will and desire for her in all aspects of her life. A daughter that is strong, oh so strong
- a mother that has taught me to be a strong woman....she has modeled commitment to family and sacrificial love.
- First hint of mission support for our future
Evan now I have tears in my eyes at the goodness of God. How could he love me so much? Me.
And at what cost did that love come? It came with the sacrifice of Jesus. Fully God and fully man. Man meaning he hurt...beyond what I want to think about...when they killed him on the cross...tortured my King.
What is my sacrifice for Him? I believe we are called to serve the least of these oversees. Child head of households. But I pull back at the cost. I want to follow Jesus with love and joy. I'm afraid of the sacrifice of not being with my children. God, I can't imagine that seperation. But you know that don't you. You were seperated from your son for a short time as he bore my sin. That was excruiating for him and you. But, you did that becuase you loved me. You sacrificed for me because you love me.
Kroll writes in today's online devotion:
2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV)
24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
When David went to build the altar and make the sacrifice, he was presented with what seemed like a great deal. Araunah offered to freely give him both the land for the altar and the oxen for the sacrifice. But David rejected his offer. How could he make a sacrifice that cost him nothing? The two were incompatible.Too often when it comes to sacrifice, Christians are looking for a bargain. We want the most sacrifice for the least expense. We wants lots of gain but little pain. Yet such a combination simply isn't possible. A sacrifice is only worth what you pay for it.
If there is no cost on my part how can the sacrifice be as sweet?
Lord, make me aware of the sacrifices I make for you...financially what we will give to benevolence Thanksgiving offering....financially to align our future with your desires...time to be with you sacrificing sleep...
Oh, "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say you are my God."
May I demonstrate to you with sacrifice how much I adore you my God.
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