this summer was no exception of good conversations between many different family members and friends. i am blessed. one conversation that i want to write about happened with my uncle alan while we were celebrating my grandmother's 80th birthday. i asked him a couple of questions regarding faith and different cultures and i knew that my question couldn't be answered by someone better than him, since he is probably the most well-traveled person i know.
what my uncle taught me, and something that has been continually stirring in my mind ever since is the fact that GOD is the one who has taken the initiative and is continuously pursuing me (us). there was such a wave of joy that came over me after i first started thinking about this, and i still feel joyful today.
why?
because i serve a God who is actively seeking me out, no matter how far i go, no matter how badly i mess up. i think that this was even more apparent to me as i studied the book of david with my church this summer. through david's life God showed me how he was the one who:
-made a covenant with david
-led david through many trials and tribulations
-fought for david (steve jolley's sermon on the story of david & goliath pointed to the fact that God fights our battles for us -- Deut. 1:30)
-forgave David (sinning with bathsheba was a pretty big slip unfortunately)
God was the one who did all of the above. david messed up pretty badly, but God was faithful and carried david through so many different seasons of life (running away, being king, being sinful and then turning in repentance).
as i look at that story, and think about what my uncle taught me about God's role in our lives and his sovereignty, i am overcome with peace and thankfulness because i see God fulfilling his promises, seeking after his people (who are incredibly screwed up), and walking with them every step of the way. yes, we should strive to seek God out in every part of our lives, but only because God did it first.
i'm reading deuteronomy (side note: i am definitely skipping some of the more tedious chapters) and am encouraged by God's love for his people and his deep desire for their obedience. i leave you with two verses which both demonstrate God's initiative in our lives and his desire for us to follow him wholeheartedly. how blessed i am that HE has initiated a relationship with me and has provided a book full of his promises -- fulfilled and waiting to be fulfilled.
Deuteronomy 1:29
"The Lord your God is going ahead of you.
He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt"
Deuteronomy 10:12
"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?
He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul."
P.S. picture above taken on an early morning hike on camp winnipesaukee during the GCSM retreat (a wonderful time if i might add!!)
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