Hi There!

I found this in my e-mail box from a good friend, Yolie. Thought you might enjoy...
Love,
Ruth

September 22, 2008

Please Don’t Leave!
Marybeth Whalen

“Do not leave here, I pray You, until I return to You and bring my offering and set it before You. And He said, I will wait until you return.”
Judges 6:18 (AMP)

Devotion:
My two year-old daughter has learned a new phrase that tugs at my heart. Whether I am going on a date with my husband, or walking out of the room after putting her to bed, or just running quickly to the library to return books, I hear the same thing: “Mommy, don’t leave me!” As she has gotten older and more aware of both my presence and my absence, she is much quicker to express the desperate feeling she experiences when I am not with her. She responds with a heartfelt cry—one that is not unique to a two year-old. Whether we are saying it to our spouse, our children, or our friends, we all know that desperate feeling of not wanting to be left.

It is no different in our walk with God. In the story of Gideon, we see him wrestling with many issues that we wrestle with today. Did God really ask me to do that? Am I capable? Am I worthy? Do I have what it takes? And we see him reacting as I think many of us do. We look to God in the midst of our wrestling and say, just like my two year-old, “Don’t leave me while I sort this out!”

The more we walk with Him, the more aware we become of the benefits of resting in His presence. We know what we receive from Him and we crave more. We have felt the warmth of His embrace and we want more time in His lap. We know the power only He can infuse us with and we want to stay connected to that. And yet, as we scurry about in our busy lives, we are likely to look over and accuse Him of leaving us—when really it is the other way around.

I love God’s response to Gideon as he desperately cries out for Him not to leave. Very lovingly and patiently God replies, “I’ll be right here.” I see God saying the same thing to all of us today. As you race to pick up your child at school, you call out over your shoulder, “Don’t leave me!” As you rush off to work, your mind filled with the things you need to do, you say to Him, “Please don’t leave God!” As you carry out the things He has called you to, needing Him more than ever, He lovingly replies, “Go do what you need to do, and I will be right here.” The New American Standard version of this verse says, “I will remain until you return.” He is a God who remains.

Gideon’s story comforts me not because he went on to fight a victorious battle and become a hero in Israel. Gideon’s story comforts me because he knew he needed the Lord and he understood his profound need for God’s presence. He experienced an abiding relationship with God that became his foundation and his fortress. I love knowing that when I desperately call out, “Don’t leave me!” He will lovingly reply, “I’m not going anywhere.” Every time.

Dear Lord, I praise You for being the God who remains. Even though I might run off, I know You are always there waiting for me. Thank You for Your patience with me and Your abiding love. Help me to draw close to Your presence no matter what is going on in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

September Morn

It is September in the UP and the coolness of fall is starting! We've had some steady rain which the dry ground is soaking up.

Mom spent the Labor Day weekend in the hospital. (Sat. till Wed.) The little local hospital took good care of her. Their census was low and so she got plenty of attention. She had a fever after having battled a UTI and was on her third antibiotic. So it was important to check it out. They gave her more antibiotics by IV and hydrated her. Its still a bit of a puzzle but we will keep watch.

It was the hottest weekend we have had (mid 90's) and the day she was discharged the weather cooled dramatically. This was a blessing because she would have been more miserable at home. She is stronger and better but still has a lot of pain and discomfort which are chronic conditions for her. I am so grateful to Chris who is my co-worker in this effort to keep mom well. I am at my brother in law's today getting to use their computer and also watch as they go through the difficult task of trying to go through old things and decide what to keep and what to throw. I have a reputation for wanting to get rid of clutter for people so they are being a bit wary of my advice. ;-)

I will be going on a retreat next week at Gitchee Gumme Bible Camp. I am going by myself and will see how it goes! I hope to show new pics then!