I Need Thee Every Hour

October 12, 2011 • Blog, Christian Life • by
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For the last several days I’ve had that hymn in my head. “I need thee every hour, every hour I need.” The line has been playing over and over again on repeat, the truth sinking in deeper and deeper.

For the last several months, God has been teaching me that truth in ever deepening ways. It is interesting though, that to learn that truth, so much must be stripped away. My wife and I have been put into a position of complete dependance upon God, depending on Him for everything. And He continuously provides. But only just enough.

Just enough is frustrating. Just enough is challenging. I don’t like just enough. Just enough means that every day I have to trust that God will once again provide just enough.

Over these last couple months I’ve been reading the story of the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. Every day God provided for their needs, but only just enough for that day. Every morning manna would fall and every evening it would rot. There was no long-term security, just today.

I think it’s interesting how difficult it is for us to trust that the future will be like the past. If God provided manna every day for 30 years, why was it still difficult to trust during the 31st year. I think it is because we all long for some level of security, some sense that we can take care of ourselves. But even when our bank accounts and cupboards are full, our security is only an illusion.

So once again today, I turn to God and say “I need thee every hour.”

A Confession

October 10, 2011 • Blog, Christian Life, Scripture • by
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So I have a confession. Even though I’ve been a Christian most of my life I never really got into reading the Bible. I know. Its bad.

Everyone always talked about having quiet times and I had deeply powerful times with God, mostly through prayer and worship. For whatever reason, daily Scripture times never became part of my routine with God. Which is weird because I love theology.

A couple months ago though, I started a daily reading plan on YouVersion.com. I read about 4 or 5 chapters a day, split between the Old and New Testaments. Its nice because I always have access to it through my iPhone app or online. YouVersion has been a huge help in making Scripture part of my daily routine and this past week I missed a couple days of reading and I could sense that I missed them.

If you’re looking for an easy way to get into Scripture daily then definitely check out YouVersion.

Liminal Spaces

September 28, 2011 • Blog, Faith • by
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I’ve been reading the story of the Israelites in the dessert for the last few weeks. I find the whole thing quite fascinating, especially the connections I am finding to my own current situation. I really felt like God was leading out of my last position but hasn’t opened up anything else yet.

I’m in the middle.

The same kind of thing happened to the Israelites. God called them out of Egypt but didn’t just bring them straight to the Promised Land, no he took them on a circuitous route through the dessert for 40 years.

These times, these spaces after we’ve left one thing and before we’ve arrived at whatever is next, are called liminal spaces. I’m fascinated by this concept because so often we want to just pass by and get through these times in our lives and yet I feel like it is in the liminal spaces where we are most vulnerable to God’s work.

I think, sometimes, the liminal space is the destination.

The destination is not whatever is on the other end of the liminal space, but the liminal space itself. God could have easily delivered the Israelites straight from Egypt to the Promised Land but God knew they needed that liminal space.

Liminal spaces force us to rely on God in a completely vulnerable way. The Israelites relied on God for everything. For food, water, security, shelter, direction. He met their needs daily but never gave them more than they needed. That’s actually a surprisingly tough spot.

Just yesterday I was journalling and complaining to God about Him not getting me another job yet. But I felt so convicted because God is providing, everything, for Tovah and I right now. We’ve been able to pay all our bills. Feed ourselves. Get around. Pay rent. What more do I need?

Liminal spaces are not easy but in this one I’m seeking to find some peace and let God bring me to my promised land on His schedule, not mine.