How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
Psalm 31:19
(NIV)
How great is the goodness you have stored up
for those who fear you.
You lavish it on
those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
Psalm 31:19
(NLT)
How great is Thy goodness
Which Thou hast hidden away
For them who revere Thee…
Psalm 31:19
(Rotherham, as quoted by Amy Carmichael)
I read these words from God’s Word this morning with the day still dark,
before I’d made my list of what to do and how to hurry to get it done.
I was already stressed. Worried. Cramming my mind full of to-do’s. But these words changed my morning… and if I’d let them, would change every one of my mornings.
And so I share my heart with you…
HIDDEN THINGS
STORED UP…LAVISHED ON…HIDDEN AWAY…ABUNDANTLY BESTOWED…
Can this be the key to happiness?
Living on the look out for all these gifts God says He’s wrapped up for us?
Just us who are intentionally trying
to take refuge in Him,
to fear and revere Him,
to run to Him and no one else for protection
from all the hurts and pains and bumps and bruises of life in this world?
Might this not be that missing piece?
That way to what we want?
The way to wake up full of joy?
Dare I hope?
That life is more then lists undone?
That worries cannot rule my world?
That my mistakes and other’s too are not what life is all about?
Dare I believe?
That God has given gifts to me—
just for me
because He loves me?
Dare I search?
For clues to trails
which lead to all He has for me?
Wake up each day with this in mind,
this quest to find His good things stored for me?
Dare I try?
To see those gifts hidden here,
stored up there,
tucked in moments everywhere?
Because if it’s true that changes everything!
From my heart,
Diane
What are some of those good things He’s shown you recently? Any surprises? Would you let us in on your joy? Maybe even post a picture?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
What are some good things God has shown me? God has shown me just how faithful He is. I have been going through one of the hardest times in my life but God has been so faithful in what He has promised me [us] that He will ‘never’ leave me, ( Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”) He will give me ‘strength’ to get through (Isaiah 41:10 & 13 For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. I will strengthen you), and that He hears me when I call out to Him (John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.) He has been showing me more and more that I SHOULD trust in Him. As soon as I start to worry and panic I remind myself to pray and as I pray I feel sudden peace.(Matthew 11:28-30, John 14:27, John 16:33)
Any surprises? YES!!! My sister has been trying to get pregnant for about 8-9 years. She got pregnant the first time and had a miscarriage at about 3 months. 4 years later she got pregnant again (a year ago) went into premature labor at 23 weeks (5 months) and her son was alive for an hour but didn’t make it. This was just so terrible and hard. Since it takes her years to get pregnant, she didn’t expect to be pregnant, but ONLY 8 months later after she lost her son, she calls us and says “I’m pregnant!” It was SUCH a surprise for all of us. God is so gracious! She may have lost her first son, but now another is on her way! She is currently 18 weeks pregnant and we are praying that it will continue to full term. She is almost 30 years old and have been waiting to have children for a long time! She just found yesterday she is having a boy!!! The doctors said “she couldn’t be any more perfect” as in her pregnancy is well. We are praying the good news will continue. They are looking at her very closely right now, and she comes in every 2 weeks and they do an ultrasound and check her, and she gets the progesterone shot every week, as well, so it should be good. But it’s a great year for her and our family!!!! Her husband really wants to be a daddy and she really wants be a mother!
I’m sorry this is so long. I wrote a novel. But thank you Diane for your blogs, and for asking us questions like “What are some of those good things He’s shown you recently?” thank you for making us stop and ponder on that question, think about the “good” things in our lives, because I feel like we don’t do enough of that! So, thank you : ) You are SUCH a blessing and a wonderful lady, and I thank God for you and your blogs that bless me so much!
Blessings!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3182689965464&set=a.3182689445451.160608.1212153523&type=1&theater
Dear Kat,
You have discovered a treasure- fully embracing the good things God is doing in your sister’s life even while suffering in the circumstances of your own life. That kind of unselfish praise- that kind of watching for God will see you through anything. Your “novel” blessed me this morning. Thank you for spotlighting God’s beauty for all of us to see. Diane
The bottom of my big novel is a picture of the baby! I didn’t know how else to post a picture! : )
I tried to see this little miracle, but the page wouldn’t show. I’ll be praying for your sister and her son. Diane
God has shown me that plans change. When you are willing and ready to follow His will, he bestows on you His blessing and peace. I look forward to the coming months <3
Plans change… I think that’s cross-stitch worthy! Learning to love those changes happens only as we put our hand in His and say “Lead on!”
You are such a gifted writer, Diane! God has shown me just how He knows us better than we know ourselves, and like a good Father, He does give good gifts. As a favor to a Director at a campus in Salem, I volunteered to fill in for her for a few days this week. Little did I know that stepping out to do something for someone else that inconvenienced me would be such a blessing. I get more time to pray on the way here everyday. I get to train the employees here, I get to be in a quieter environment to collect my thoughts and I get to be reminded of how blessed I am to have a job in such a tough economy.
I am reminded today that God is incredibly faithful…EVERY DAY!
Thanks for sharing your heart,
Cynthia
That is so great Cynthia! Did your offering to help get you a job? And it sounds as if you love what you’re doing. Thank you for sharing this- I love your all caps EVERY DAY… such a good reminder. Diane
Diane,
It didn’t end up getting me a job (which is totally fine), but it did relieve the stress from the Director I was filling in for. She’s a hard working woman, so I was glad to pitch in.
The great news about the time spent there is that God spoke to me about the importance of allowing myself to dream. It’s a long story, but the end result of time spent in prayer was signing up to be a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity–something I’ve wanted to do ever since I returned from Haiti in October.
His,
Cynthia
It should come as no surprise to me, but I continue to marvel at how (especially as of late) God has been speaking to me, showing me things that I need to read/hear/see right when I need them most. Your blog and Solid Rock have been chief among those things. A few months ago when I was having a hard time, I started a weekly series on my blog called Weekly Gratitude where every Sunday night I take time to sit and reflect on all He has given me to be thankful for that week. I take a minute to not ask for anything but to count my blessings – literally! And each week it brings such joy and peace that I can hardly wait for the following Sunday to do it all again.
With the series John Mark has been teaching these past few weeks, more pieces have fallen into place in my life and Sunday morning, sitting there, hearing his words (and hearing His words!) I finally realized something that I’ve been struggling with for almost a year. Without going into the whole long story (fighting my writer’s instinct!), I realized that I had spent my life praying for everything I WANTED. He gave it to me. I was thankful everyday. But then He took it away and I was so confused. And so I prayed again. And then He gave me everything I NEEDED.
And for that, I have never felt such love
Oh, and my nephew is crawling and his mom sent me a video of him laughing… SO MUCH JOY!
(video in this post: http://laurenmortonfarmer.blogspot.com/2012/01/weekly-gratitude_29.html)
Dear Lauren,
I love so much the miracle that God actually speaks THRU us sometimes! He uses broken, learning followers of Jesus to speak His courage into the lives of other Jesus followers.
I’m going to look up your blog… and I’m so hoping you’re writing about this time in your life. There is gold there! I want to know how it is you “have never felt such love”, even when He’s not giving your exactly what you want… and yet everything you need.
Much love, Diane
Oops, messed up the link! http://laurenmortonfarmer.blogspot.com/2012/01/weekly-gratitude_29.html
What a gift your blog is/will be to so many! I stumbled on it as I was looking for the link to the messages from the Anxiety/Depression series. My husband and I are from Southern California and attend Rock Harbor Church.
We were blessed to get to wander into part 3 of the series and what a gift it was to me, and I am sure to so many. I am one of those mamas that has to fight to keep her head in the here and now, in the peace that is offered in today and in this moment. I can easily slip into analyzing and worrying about all those things that tomorrow holds, especially when it comes to my children. Parenthood rocked my world unlike any other thing ever had. As a perfectionist (ouch), there was no way to do this new thing perfectly. God truly took me to the end of my rope, and so often I felt utterly alone – like I was the ONLY one who felt like a flailing mom. The only mom weary of the repetition of filling zippy cups and serving snacks. The only one experiencing the highs and lows of the moments as a mom. Isn’t it so true that the enemy wants to keep us in isolation and have us believe that we are the “only ones”. For in the light, and in community, is where our fears and worries are exposed and we see – wow, I am not alone, and my story can even encourage someone else.
Your blog is that kind of gift – so many women will stumble on it and find a comfort deep, deep down in knowing that they are not alone and can be encouraged by your morsels of wisdom. So gracious is our God to use us in this way.
All that to say, thank you for sharing your voice and your story and the words that the Lord gives you.
And, I am wondering if you have found the book “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. It is all about these little graces that make up every day – full of miracles are these days that we journey through. I think it would be like honey to your soul. I have read and re-read it 5 times and am constantly giving copies away. It is one of those books.
Many blessings! xo
Dear Ali,
I love Ann Voskamp’s book! So rich and captivating. And she’s rewording an ancient wisdom that we would all do well to recapture- the giving of thanks as a daily discipline- the singing of thanks as our song.
You are most certainly NOT alone Ali. Even though I wanted nothing more than to have a family, to raise my children to love God passionately, I found many days to be a struggle to lasso my will into His. The sameness, the conflict, being “on” all the time… were wearying. Yet now on this other side… those were by far the most Kingdom impacting years of my life. Everything else I get to do is secondary. Gather women around you who give you the courage to do this well, Ali. You’re going to need them in order to keep finding those “hidden gifts”.
Love, Diane