Late..
Dearest Fellow Seaweed Soup Peeps,
I realise I have missed I think several Sundays now and although I may have some good excuses I'm sure they won't be "good enough". In any case, I'm here now.
I just firstly wanted to say thanks for being such good listeners on that last Friday. I think it was good to get some of those things off my chest since it's very hard to talk about things like that with people who know the people I'm talking about. Don't get me wrong though- those people I mentioned (thankfully not by name) are wonderful people who are really making a difference for the Kingdom. The only thing is that sometimes the way we all go about it may not be the best.
I think all of you will also know that I am really close to my dad in the way that I respect and love him as a father so I sometimes feel that things that happen to him aren't very "fair". It constantly amazes me how he can just shrug his shoulders and says, as you heard "God gives and God takes away". I'm sure most of you at the very least will know what I mean when I say that I feel bad when bad things happen to people that are close to me. I praise the Lord for the grace and comfort that He gives in battles such as these, for the armour that we can equip ourselves with, for the friends and family that He surrounds us with, for His own presence which brings peace. He goes before us, he guards our rear... I wonder why we still stand trembling at the thought of battles and the enemy.
It really is true, you know, and I pray and hope that you have all or will all experience this song "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look FULL in His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace". How true?! I was talking with my dad not too long ago about the awesomeness of God. So awesome is He that people couldn't utter the full name that we so often see as "Yahweh" (YHWH) that some would just say 'Yah' before falling flat on their face in fear and reverance. Why do we not come before Him with fear and trembling as we should? (Psalms 2:11) Have we not fully seen or realised what a powerful God He is that he could just ZAP us off the face of the earth if He should want even though we know He loves us dearly and desires for ALL men to be saved?
How much we should be able to say with the Psalmist (psalms 63)
O Gos, You are my God; EARLY will I SEEK YOU; My soul THIRSTS for you, My FLESH (even my flesh) longs for you... Because Your loving kindness is BETTER THAN LIFE.... When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You (already) have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice..."
May we all serve the Lord and each other together with fear and trembling, bringing glory to His beautiful name. I sincerely wish you all a truly God inspired Christmas and blessed New Year whereever you may be going. I'll tell you about my trip once I get back.
From a sister (and it's so nice to have such a HUGMONGOUS family... =0),
Debbie
