Rivers of blood

  "Why is there no peace...? Why do our brothers and sisters lie in piles of blood?  Why does Al Shabab seem to rule more than You do?"

 

      WHY?!? This word resounds through my mind as I stare in shocked numbness at the screen, watching as our brothers lay down their lives for Your sake; their dieing breath evidence of their faith as each man dies with Your name on his lips. WHY?? Why are such atrocities being committed against Your people Lord??  Why do You turn a blind eye? Where were You as our brothers blood stained the ocean scarlet; as their noble heads fell upon the sand? Were you not listening to your people's screams as we cried out to You??  

Did You watch it all happen and do NOTHING?!?

  Yes, God does see all things, and YES He did know these things were going to happen. In fact, He warned us about them (Mat. 24: 2-14). That doesn't mean He doesn't care, that He isn't listening or watching.We look with out earthly eyes and see only blood and death. He looks with His Sovereign eyes and see ALL. He sees the heart wrenching pain and sickening slaughters, but He also sees the ultimate outcome; the glory and beauty that will come of this.

     We weep with our brothers and sisters. We cry out with all our strength to a God who appears to have "turned a blind eye to His creation." We feel like the Israelites; stranded in Egypt for 430 years before God answered and delivered them. But that's just it: He DID answer. It took 430 years for His plan to be established, for His people to be ready for salvation, before He could act. God did not and never shall turn away from His children (when they're walking in righteousness and holiness.) We cry out now and He hears, but the time isn't right for His salvation. We watch in horror and pain as the world dissolves into evil. A bloodbath of martyrs flows across the sand causing the earth to groan in labor pains as we wait for the day of the Lord. It may seem as if Satan has the upper hand now; that he will win in the end. How can God win the war after losing so many "battles?" But we must remember, we serve the REAL GOD and all of this- every part of it- are part of His ultimate plan. Not one event in history has ever caught Him by surprise or been out of place. every being, supernatural and earthly, answers to God. Even Satan. God is allowing Satan to unleash his havoc now, but when his time is up God will come roaring  like a lion to save His people!!

"..Even when it seems there is no sound except the dripping of blood. YOUR tears are bigger than ours. YOUR heart broken in more pieces. We live on in the pain only because YOU are sovereign."

 "For the glory of God!"

 

Grace as new as the dawn

 "As the daystar crowns a new horizon, 
Night's silence is sundered and Light's symphony rings.
Divine rays colour the low-lying clouds 
a veritable plethora of hues, both bright and subtle. Cottonwool-spun gems are arrayed, 
layered and drifting about on the morning wind.
Heaven shows itself in the sky." 

-Dawn beckons by Stephen Purcell  

                            ~*~*~*~

    God has put so much of Himself into His creation. Even the very sunrise is a glimpse of His glory. God freely pours forth His love and grace upon His people every day. Every morning before I even awake, He is there. Waiting, watching. Delighting over me in song. (Zeph. 3:17), eagerly anticipating the moment I wake up so that He can be talk with me and walk with me throughout my day. It doesn't matter that I haven't done anything to deserve this love or grace, and I know I certainly don't deserve His forgiveness. But it's there all the same. I've sinned against Him and walked away from Him more times than I can count.  I've allowed myself to get busy and neglect my relationship with Him, but through it all He never withdrew His grace or love.

The truth is, I will never be able to live up to or deserve this grace, this love. He knows this, but He doesn't care. You see, He loves us not for what we could be or do but rather, for who we are in HIM. God's love and grace is never failing. It is everlasting, infinite, overflowing. It pours forth from His Father's heart towards His children. No matter how badly we sin or how far we stray, He will always be there, ready to forgive and forget. To pour forth his grace and remind you of His love.

               "Your  mercies are new every morning;

 great is Your faithfulness." 

Lamentations 3:23

"For the glory of God!"