My brother came to me this morning with a blog post he had just written, with the proposition of posting it on my blog. :) So here is a post from Master Caleb. ---------------------------------------------- What do you think of when you think about giants? Most commonly we all think of great Goliath, the tallest of the tall. We all know the story, how a young Israelite boy goes to face a 10 foot super man who no one has ever tried to tackle. The giant is now probably laughing his head off as he sees his short opponent taking a few small stones from the dried up creek bed. But David is being guided by someone higher-- even than Goliath. Now the giant is swinging his sword, making it flash against the morning sun. He sees short little David putting into his leather sling one of the stones he has just collected. Goliath, thinking he is well equipped for victory, decides that his helmet is not needed and tosses it aside. As he turns to meet his little "enemy" he feels it-- the stone that came flying from David's sling seconds earlier. He screams out, "Aahhhh" while falling helpless to the battle hardened ground. And there stands David looking at the giant, who God, through him, has conquered.
Has that ever happened to you? Do you have giants to face? You may say "No! Where would I find any?" But do you think there is a giant that is greater than ten thousand Goliaths? Have you ever thought that we face a giant every day? We all do. You may not see it, or even hear its roaring but it's as real as the air you breath. It is self. The thing that appears when Mom tells you that you're on dishes, or when Father says that we are going to get fire wood today. We all know this giant don't we? May we pray that God will make us victors.
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It was a simple thought, but one packed with power. My brother was telling me that he had been contemplating the other morning how water can only produce an accurate reflection when perfectly still-- how we can only produce an accurate reflection when perfectly still. That thought really struck a cord with me. The depth of it's meaning is something I'm still trying to get my mind around. Just as the restless water produces a distorted reflection, we produce a distorted reflection of our Maker when we allow the storms of life to shake our trust, or when we become so frazzled by the business of life that we lose sight of Him. It's no accident we are told to "be still" and know that He is God. A complete reflection of our Jesus can only shine from the heart that is perfectly still. That rules out anxiety, which is really just a lack of trust. It rules out the all-consuming business that leaves no time for Him. It completely dispenses with frustration of any kind. Instead this reflection requires trust. The kind that believes in the heart of it's Savior, even when it doesn't understand. It asks us to be willing to accept His plans instead of our own, without having a "grown up tantrum." We've all seen the little child's version, but do we ever consider that sometimes we throw grown up "internal" tantrums when God says no? This summer has given me plenty of opportunity for them (like even this afternoon when I found out there are only four more GED testing dates this year at the "local" college before the new GED comes out, and two of them are on Sabbath, and one we are likely traveling, and the other will probably be booked by the time I get the necessary papers. :)) But I'm learning that real peace is found in giving Him the pen. I had definite aims and deadlines, ones that I'd prayed about and thought were right for the last few months. But sometimes He knows we need the gentle push towards deeper surrender and reliance on Him that disappointed plans will bring. And then, we can either struggle or surrender. But the restless water caused by the struggle reflects the Image poorly. This reflecting Him... It calls for time daily to come apart and learn of His heart. Only the individual who knows the Master can reflect Him... It asks us to be still. So still that not only the world-- but also our Maker-- can see His face perfectly reflected in us. It's the kind of stillness that only comes through trust.
*Be all at rest and let not your heart be rippled, For tiny wavelets mar the image fair, Which the still pool reflects of heaven's glory. And thus the image He would have you bear. *Streams in the Desert Photos taken at NJFC Credits: father :) |
Hannah Rayne20. Lover of Jesus. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Servant. Fan of the kitchen. Graduate of Masters of Biblical Counseling.
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